Part 22 (2/2)

As it was coming up to lunchtime they decided to have a sandwich and Norman joined them. While Heffernan was at the bar ordering their food and drinks, Wesley began the questioning gently so that Norman had no idea that he was being interrogated.

'I expect you've heard about the recent murders of Charles Marrick and Simon Tench. And a man called Christopher Grisham was found dead up in Chester a few weeks ago.'

The man's mouth fell open for a second. 'I ... I hadn't heard about Christopher. That's awful. I can't believe anyone would want to ...'

'You knew all the victims?'

'Yes. I taught them all. They were at Belsinger School. All in Tavistock House. You don't think ... ?'

'Think what?' It was Heffernan who spoke, impatient with Wesley's kid glove approach.

'That their deaths are connected with the school in some way. But I don't see how they could be. I mean ...'

'We're keeping an open mind at the moment. However, Belsinger School appears to be the only thing the victims had in common. As far as we know they didn't remain friends after they'd left school. In fact they lived very different lives.'

Norman sighed. 'That's hardly surprising. They certainly had nothing in common at school. Simon Tench was a nice lad. Highly intelligent. Chris Grisham might not have been as bright as Simon but he was a pleasant, quiet boy very good at art if I remember rightly. No trouble to anyone.'

'What about Charles Marrick?'

There was a long silence. Then Hedge looked Wesley in the eye.

'In my opinion, Inspector, Charles Marrick was evil. I suppose these psychiatrists would have a fancy name for it but I'm old fas.h.i.+oned. I taught a lot of boys during my time at Belsinger but I've only come across one who could be described as truly wicked and that was Marrick. He had no empathy for the feelings of others, you see. It wasn't that he didn't realise he was hurting people, he just didn't care if it gave him pleasure or advantage. He was completely amoral his only creed was if I want it, it's mine and d.a.m.n the consequences. And he was manipulative. He used people, Inspector. And somehow he always ended up getting away with it. He could be very charming when he wanted something. But I saw through him even if others didn't.'

Wesley and Heffernan looked at each other. This time it looked as if they were getting somewhere.

'You're the second person to describe Marrick as evil, Mr Hedge,' Wesley said. 'We've spoken to the boys' housemaster, Mr Dean. He runs a bookshop in Morbay now.'

'Indeed.' His expression gave nothing away.

Wesley decided it was time to tackle the subject that was foremost in his mind. He took a deep breath. 'Mr Dean told us that you and the late headmaster of Belsinger, Mr Hadderson, were close friends.' He watched the man intently. His face was impa.s.sive but he sensed that he was hiding deep emotions putting on a familiar mask to conceal his feelings. Just as he had done for so many years at Belsinger. He was used to the charade.

'Did he?' Hedge took a sip of coffee.

'I can a.s.sure you, Mr Hedge, that whatever you tell us will be treated in confidence. If we're to catch whoever killed your former pupils, we need to know everything.'

Hedge took another sip from his cup, something to do with his hands while he thought. Then suddenly he seemed to come to a decision. 'If you must know, Stanley and I were lovers,' he said suddenly, looking at the two policemen to see if their faces had registered shock. When he saw that they were both looking at him with polite interest he carried on. 'We came from a generation that treated our kind of relations.h.i.+p as a crime, Inspector. In fact you could go to prison for it. We had to be very discreet. We knew that if our relations.h.i.+p came to the ears of the pupils' parents ...'

'They might not be as tolerant and understanding as ...'

'Quite, quite. As you can imagine we went to great pains to hide our ...'

'But Marrick found out?' It was a pure guess on Wesley's part. But it was worth a try to see if the question hit its target.

Hedge's face turned red. 'How did you know?'

'Did he blackmail you?'

'He was far more subtle than that. He goaded Stanley. He knew that he was in a position to ruin him. Nothing was ever said openly, of course. Just hints, insinuations. And he implied that he'd think nothing of making false allegations concerning our dealings with the boys in our care. It would have been complete rubbish of course but filth sticks, Inspector, as I'm sure you'll know. It would have finished Stanley's career and mine. Ruined the school. And the school was Stanley's life so he adopted a policy of appeas.e.m.e.nt which, in my opinion, is always a mistake. Poor Stanley thought it was his only option. I told him to call Marrick's bluff but ...'

'You and Stanley must have been very relieved when Marrick left the school.'

Hedge nodded.

'I understand that Mr Hadderson took his own life,' Wesley said gently.

A shadow of pain pa.s.sed across Hedge's face. 'Yes. But that had nothing to do with Marrick. He discovered he was ill. A brain tumour. He was a proud man. He couldn't face the indignity of a slow death ... of losing his faculties and being dependent on ...'

'I'm sorry,' said Wesley and Gerry Heffernan muttered something that sounded sympathetic a split second after like an echo.

'Did you, er ...' Wesley searched for the right words. 'Did you ever suspect that his death might not have been suicide?'

Hedge looked shocked. 'No, not at all. But ...'

'But what?' Heffernan leaped on the moment of doubt too eagerly in Wesley's opinion.

'No. Of course he killed himself.'

'He didn't leave a note?'

Hedge shook his head, still shocked.

Wesley decided to change the subject. The man obviously believed there'd been nothing suspicious about the death of his partner in life. But Mortimer Dean had spoken of a cut throat. Perhaps it was just a coincidence. Or perhaps it was worth investigating further.

'Can you tell us anything else about Charles Marrick? Anything at all.'

Hedge frowned. 'There was something shortly before he left. But Stanley never told me what it was, which was unusual. We didn't usually have secrets from each other.'

'You've no idea what it could have been?'

Hedge shook his head. 'Whatever it was was kept very hush hush. I suppose Marrick's housemaster might have known Mortimer Dean.'

'When exactly was this?'

'I think it must have been towards the end of term after the exams when things were a bit more relaxed than usual. I can't be sure, of course, but that was the week Marrick disappeared. Nothing was said, of course, but I sensed it. Things weren't right.'

'So Marrick disappeared before the end of the term?'

'Most of the teachers were glad to see the back of him if the truth were known. There was a strange atmosphere in the school during those couple of weeks till the summer term ended. I asked Stanley if something was wrong but he said he couldn't tell me. It was a confidential matter.'

'And he never mentioned it again?'

'Never. I had the impression it was something he'd rather forget.'

'And the other victims Simon Tench and Christopher Grisham?'

'It was after they'd taken their GCSEs, Inspector. The boys were demob happy, filling in time. Then Simon transferred to a sixth form elsewhere and Chris didn't take history A level so I had little to do with either of them from then on.'

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