by Malcolm Rose
“Mmm. It might be true, of course, but anyone could come up with something pretty convincing with five hours to think about it.” The message was not the clincher that Luke was hoping for. He closed his eyes and took three deep breaths. Then, perking up, he got to his feet and said, “I’m going to see Jade.”
At once, Malc began to hover, ready to accompany him.
“No, Malc. On my own.”
“I recommend...”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come as well.”
“Explain.”
“Because you might not approve of what I’ve got in mind.”
“If it affects the case, I must be present.”
“What do you want, Malc? I think I can crack it tomorrow morning if you keep out of it, or do you want to be in on the idea and stop me because it’s... unconventional.”
“You have a habit of using words loosely. Do you mean illegal?”
“Ms Thacket was right. I’ll do anything to solve a case. But I promise you, it’s not really illegal. Honest, Malc. It’s just that the law wouldn’t approve. It’s not official procedure. If you really want to see me finish this one off, you’ll stay here so you don’t hear anything you’d be forced to send to The Authorities.”
Malc was silent for a few seconds and then said, “My power level is less than optimum. I will remain here to recharge.”
On his way out, Luke said, “Thanks, Malc. And nicely put, by the way.” He hesitated in the doorway, his expression more cheerful than it had been all evening. “That’s the thing with you, isn’t it? You never lie.”
“The programming of every mobile aid to law and crime allows only the truth. It is a central principle of the law. Without it, trust in the system breaks down.”
Luke nodded. “Perfect,” he muttered before he disappeared towards Jade’s quarters.
****
Jade’s hand shot to her cheek. “Hiya,” she said as cheerfully as ever. But her bloodshot eyes told a different story.
“Are you all right?” asked Luke.
“Fine. Great, actually. I’ve just... I’ll tell you later.”
“Tell me what?”
“Later.”
“Tell me now.”
“No,” she said. “I can’t.”
“If you can tell me later, you can tell me now. Come on. Spit it out.”
“All right, all right.” She took a deep breath. “I’ve just got my first posting. It’s brilliant. I’m very happy. You ought to see the equipment they’re going to give me. They said they want me – me – to be the future of music, Luke.” She paused before adding, “I’m going to Sheffield.”
Luke needed all of his strength to celebrate with her. “That’s fantastic. Sheffield’s the place to be for music. Excellent. I’m really pleased.” But he couldn’t keep it up. His control deserted him and he let out a tiny telltale moan. “When do you go?”
“Next weekend.”
“Next weekend?”
She nodded.
“So, we’ve only got a week.”
With eyes bright and moist, she said, “That’s right.”
Luke hugged her and whispered, “Congratulations.”
“They said I’m going to be really big in music. Like you in law.”
“I bet they’re interested in your spotlight sound.”
“Very.”
“Me too.”
Jade pulled away from him a little. “What do you mean?”
It was difficult for Luke to drag himself back to the case when Jade had just announced their separation. But he needed his job to distract him from the coming loss. It was too painful to think about. He said, “I’d like you to help me with something.”
“Anything,” Jade replied.
“You’re doing the music for Ms Kee’s memorial tomorrow, aren’t you?”
Jade nodded. “From the balcony.”
“Perfect. If you record a few words from me now, you can distort them, can’t you?”
“Yes. But how do you mean?”
“I mean, make my voice sound flat and neutral. Synthetic really.”
“Like Malc’s, you mean?”
“Exactly.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Everybody was required to attend the ceremony. Filled with the overpowering scent of lilies, the Great Hall was seething with students and staff. In the traditional manner for a memorial, the younger pupils were sitting in straight lines in front of the stage. The older students, from Year 6, were standing. Furthest back were the ones who, like Luke and Georgia, had graduated but not yet left the school. The instructors and other staff were standing solemnly around the outside. The only sounds were the speakers’ tributes and an occasional suppressed cough. Spotlights were trained on the flower-strewn stage and the hall itself was dimly lit.
The speeches were not that long – together they lasted an hour – but to an edgy Luke they seemed endless. From his position near the back of the hall, he glanced upwards but all he could see was the base of the overhanging balcony. He couldn’t see Jade above him but he was comforted to know that she was there. He glanced sideways and caught sight of Ms Thacket, her head bowed. Luke suspected that she was hiding her face in case it revealed a lack of grief. In front of him was the unmistakable figure of Ed Hoffman. When Luke looked the other way – to his right – Georgia gave him a faint smile. Beyond her, at the far side, Rick Glenfield was staring into the distance, listening to the tributes. The caretaker’s expression suggested bewilderment and near panic. In the corner, Ella Fitch was standing with a remote control in her hand. Behind Luke, Malc hovered like a faithful friend.
Within the next hour, Luke would arrest Demon Archer or, if he was wrong and his prime suspect was innocent, he would be disgraced. He took a deep breath, trying to keep nerves at bay.
Eventually, the final speech brought the formal part of the service to an end. Ella pressed a key on her remote control and the level of general lighting increased. The staff and students were then free to break ranks but the ceremony continued. Everyone was invited to share drinks and fond memories of Ms Kee in small groups. It was considered disrespectful to refuse either, so no one left. The Great Hall was awash with whispers, mostly praising Ms Kee’s dedication to the school and her relentless pursuit of discipline.
They would not be the only whispers. From the balcony, Jade Vernon was providing the perfect atmosphere with music – not too loud, not too soft, not too morbid, not too merry. She was also making the final adjustments to a probe that looked like the barrel of a gun.
Underneath the balcony, Georgia made for Luke. “How’s it going?” she asked. “You were asking about cats and rattlers.”
Georgia could hardly have picked a worse time. He needed to concentrate on his plan. He had to get near to Ed Hoffman in a position that Jade could see. “It’s... fine. Thanks. I’m sorry, Georgia, but I’ve got to...”
She put her hand on his forearm. “Did you hear Ms Kee’s pairing plans before she... you know?”
The easiest option was to pretend that he didn’t know that they had been chosen to be partners and move away, but Georgia did not deserve deceit. “Yes,” he answered. Struggling for the words, he said, “You know, anyone would think they’re really lucky to be paired with you, Georgia. Me included. But...” He hesitated and sighed. “Look, I...”
“It’s okay. I know about you and Jade. I understand.”
“Oh?”
“Friendship and pairing are two different things, aren’t they? You can still be friends with her.”
“But Jade and me, we’re...”
“The two of you are close, but worlds apart, Luke. Sorry, but that’s the way it is. The only thing I don’t know is if anything’s changed because of Ms Kee.”
Malc interrupted. “When I searched all of the Deputy Head’s files, I discovered that the latest batch of pairings were provisional. Yours has not been authorized by the Pairing Committee. Once a new Chair has been appointed, the p
airings will be reviewed and approved.”
Georgia paused for a moment and then said to Luke, “Well, I guess we have to wait and see. But I just wanted you to know I’m pleased.” With a smile, she turned and walked away.
For a moment, Luke didn’t move. He watched her retreat and felt sad that the Pairing Committee would almost certainly put her in an awful position – somewhere between him and Jade. That would be Ms Kee’s legacy. He also felt guilty that he’d be forced to hurt her feelings because he could not let go of Jade.
Luke manoeuvred his way through the gathering until he was somewhere near the centre of the Great Hall. Looking up over his shoulder, he spotted Jade leaning on the rail of the balcony, looking down at him. He gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. In return, Jade pointed left, telling him where he needed to go.
Following her guidance, he collided with Ella Fitch almost at once.
“Good, isn’t she?” the technician said.
“What? Who?” Luke asked.
Ella nodded in the direction of the balcony. “Your friend. She creates a good atmosphere.”
“Oh, yes. Better than good.”
Ella came very close to him and whispered, “Be careful, Diamond. Just because Ms Kee’s not with us any more doesn’t mean you and Jade Vernon... There’s plenty more like Ms Kee in The Authorities. You can’t sabotage every javelin that life throws at you.”
“Yes. I know. Thanks.”
Using his considerable height to locate Ed Hoffman and Ms Thacket, Luke carried on edging towards them. When he was only a couple of paces away, he stopped and found himself next to Mr Cadman. The science instructor was not wearing his sunglasses and hat. Luke guessed that it was a sign of respect for Ms Kee.
“I ought to come clean about something you pupils never knew,” Mr Cadman said. “You only thought of Ms Kee as someone who handed out punishments but, behind the scenes, she was very supportive of science and criminology. She was also very proud of many students – particularly the troublesome ones who came good in the end.” He gazed significantly at Luke and then looked around to check that he would not be overheard. Lowering his voice, he said, “Have you learnt any more about poor Arlene? And who she gave snake venom to – if that’s what happened?”
Deliberately, Luke did not keep quiet. “I’m very confident I know what happened.”
With his back towards Luke, Ed Hoffman glanced over his shoulder and sneered.
“And?” Mr Cadman prompted.
“And what?” said Luke.
“What’s the story?”
Luke smiled. “You won’t have long to wait.” He took a quick look at Jade and nodded again.
****
Jade had three short recordings of sampled voices. The first was her own and the other two belonged to Luke but they did not sound like him. She had modified them to sound like a machine.
Down below her, Luke was talking to Mr Cadman but he had also got himself into a position near Ed Hoffman. She squatted so she could line up her spotlight transmitter precisely. Luckily, Ed was standing still as he talked with Ms Thacket. Jade adjusted the probe so that her recorded voice would be focused on his right ear. The first transmission would be a trial to check that he could hear her words. They were words that Luke had chosen to unsettle and annoy Ed.
Convinced that she’d got it lined up, she flicked a switch to send out the tight beam of sound. “Brilliant, Luke! You’re a diamond investigator.”
At once, Ed turned round and, looking puzzled, glared with hatred at Luke.
Ed’s reaction meant that Jade’s sound system was working beautifully. He had heard the voice in his ear, like a whisper. No one else reacted so she knew that the sound had hit the right spot. It had flown past everyone else in total silence.
Jade aligned the probe again in case Ed had moved his position. This time, Hoffman would hear a flat voice like Malc’s. With luck, he’d think it was Malc’s. And knowing that a mobile aid to law and crime never lies, he’d believe every word. She waited for the next signal from Luke and then let loose the ghostly message.
“I have just received the results on the syringe. It has both Ed Hoffman’s fingerprints and Ms Kee’s blood on it.”
From the balcony, Jade watched Ed spin round in horror. He stared at Luke and then at Malc. When neither of them made a move towards him, he turned away again. For the brief moment that she could see his expression full on, she glimpsed surprise but not denial. The blush on his face was probably nothing to do with embarrassment and everything to do with anger, possibly even madness. In that instant, Jade knew that Luke was right. Ed Hoffman had murdered three people.
She knelt down, ready to fire the final recording.
****
The trick was working. Jade’s aim was spot on. Luke heard Ms Thacket say, “Are you all right, Ed?”
In shock, Ed muttered, “Yes.”
Yet his manner told everyone nearby that he was slowly crumbling under a pressure that they didn’t understand.
Luke glanced up towards Jade. That would be enough to get her to beam down the last message that would be inaudible to everyone else in the vicinity.
Luke tensed, wondering how Ed would respond when he thought that he heard Malc say, “I confirm there is now sufficient evidence to charge Ed Hoffman with murder.”
Five seconds later, Luke got an answer.
Ed swung round again. This time, there was a knife in his hand.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
There was an audible gasp from everyone who could see what was happening. Right away, they drew back and left a small arena in which Luke faced the formidable figure of Ed Hoffman.
Luke stood like a statue, unable to move. The only part of him that was still working was his brain. “Don’t do it, Ed. Look, you’ve got lots of witnesses and Malc in record mode. You can’t get away with it.” He tried to sound normal but his voice quaked.
Ed was smirking as he prowled around the ring of people, not yet closing in on his prey.
A drop of sweat ran down Luke’s left cheek. While talking to Ed yesterday afternoon, Luke had convinced himself that he’d discovered the identity of Demon Archer. Two of Ed’s answers just hadn’t added up. But Luke didn’t have quite enough evidence to convince the law, so now he had to extract a confession in front of witnesses. It was very dangerous because he needed to provoke Ed even more.
Luke said, “People who go running round the animal sanctuary get willowherb seeds on their trainers. But you got them on your ordinary shoes. You don’t run in them. You were lying when you said you didn’t go to the park. You met Arlene.”
“Trying to be clever in front of an audience again, Diamond?”
“Arlene gave you the snake venom in return for stopping the trade in cats. You told me you didn’t know who was involved, but Ms Thacket did and she talked to you about it. So, that’s another lie.” Luke was praying that he was right. He had written off Ms Thacket as a suspect because she would not have admitted that she knew who was smuggling cats if she had been Arlene’s contact. Fixing his eyes on Hoffman, Luke said, “And there was that wood polish and sawdust in detention. You got a bit of the wax on Ms Kee when you bumped into her on Wednesday, and you left some sawdust in Vince’s quarters.”
Ed had completed an entire circle around Luke, like a stalking animal. All the while, he was creeping closer as if he intended to spiral in before taking his victim.
Seeing the vicious knife in Ed’s hand, no one else dared to move.
Luke knew that Malc would have already put out an emergency call for assistance but the guards would be minutes away. Before they arrived, Luke needed to build a rock-solid case against Ed. So far, he had remained tight-lipped. Somehow, Luke had to taunt him into revealing his guilt. After all, Ed had nothing to lose any more because he thought the case against him was foolproof and he was about to be charged. Luke had only to catch him out and then stay alive until help arrived.
“How did you find out about Vince Wa
inwright? Did you see him coming back with cats one time when you were on a run? I bet you did.”
Still no response.
“What about the soot on your shoes?” Luke continued. “Nothing to do with overdone toast. You tried to burn your green shirt, Ed. The one you wore when you killed Vince. But it didn’t work. There was a bit left. I’ve got it.”
“You make me sick.”
“It’s a funny weapon you used to kill him.” Luke shrugged, pretending to be baffled. Giving Ed an opportunity to prove himself superior, he asked, “Why?”
“Don’t you know anything?” Ed snarled.
“I thought so, but you’ve got me beat with that one.”
“Huh. You’re no diamond if you don’t know glass cutters have got diamond edges.”
That sentence justified Luke’s tactics. It was the statement that would condemn Hoffman because no one but the murderer and Luke knew how Vince had been killed. Yet Luke could not feel relief while Ed still waved the blade back and forth menacingly. In his quivering voice, Luke asked, “Why did you kill them, Ed?”
“You know why.”
“Tell me.”
Ed came nearer and nearer, still grasping the knife in his hefty fist. “I hate you. You cheated with that javelin. You cheat over everything. You made me look a fool.”
“But you killed three people – because you hate me!”
“They were nothing. Just pawns.”
“You should’ve killed me.”
Ed laughed. “Not good enough. I wanted you to suffer. I wanted to see you ruined. An investigator sent down for murder!” He paused and then continued his prowl. “But it’s all changed now. You can have your wish. If I can’t get you convicted, I’ll sentence you myself. A diamond cheat deserves the death penalty. You know that’s what I’m going to do, don’t you?”
The people gathered around gasped again but did not dare to intervene. Further back, staff and students strained their necks to see what was happening.
“No, you won’t,” Luke replied. “Everyone’s watching.” Now, he could feel the sweat running down his back and soaking into his shirt. His heart was beating at twice its normal rate and his stomach was churning so much, he thought that he was about to vomit.