An Act of Evil by Robert Richardson Page A

conference for first thing in the morning. I don’t like newspapers but publicity may be of assistance.” Madden’s icy gaze swept his audience again. “Don’t waste time. Follow procedures. I want results.” He turned towards the door. “All leave cancelled,” he added and left the room.
    It was gone midnight when Jackson returned to Punt Yard but there was still a light showing from the living-room window. He spoke briefly to the constable Madden had left stationed outside the house, then rang the bell. While he was waiting for someone to come to the door, he looked at the nail hole above the lock. It was quite shallow; obviously whoever it was had risked only one quick blow to avoid unnecessary noise. Michael opened the door and led him through to where the others were gathered with their shock. His look erased any lingering hopes they had been clinging to.
    “ I’m very sorry,” he said. “It is Miss Porter’s hand.”
    Melissa put her face into her hands and began to weep as Tess, her features contorted with controlled grief, slipped her arm around Maltravers.
    “ We’re grateful to you for coming to tell us, sergeant,” Michael said quietly. “This must be very difficult for you as well.”
    “ Thank you, Canon,” said Jackson. “There is something else as well which we need to know about. Did Miss Porter tell you she was going to have a baby?”
    They stared at him. “How the hell…?” Maltravers began.
    “ There was something about the hand which showed it. I can’t remember the word the police surgeon used but it’s definite. Miss Porter never mentioned it?”
    “ Not a word,” said Maltravers. “But it does explain her relationship with Rebecca. I never noticed any signs though.”
    “ Well, apparently, it might only have been about three months so it would not have been all that visible. But that was a very loose dress she wore at the Chapter House.”
    “ Everything she wore was like that,” added Tess.
    “ The question is, have you any idea who the father might be?” asked Jackson.
    Tess and Maltravers looked at each other, then both shook their heads.
    “ Diana has plenty of boyfriends but none in particular as far as I know,” said Maltravers.
    “ Very well. I won’t trouble you further at the moment but if you do find anything about who it might be please let us know. I’m sorry to have had to tell you the worst news. We’ll let you know as soon as anything happens. Goodnight.” Jackson turned to leave the room, then paused. “Oh, just one other thing. The basic facts of what happened tonight are being released to the Press Association. I’m afraid you will find the publicity distressing but it may help us to find Miss Porter, which is the most important thing at the moment. It’s all right, Canon, I’ll let myself out.”
    As they heard the sound of Jackson closing the front door, Melissa lifted her eyes from the handkerchief which she had been crumpling between her fingers on her lap.
    “ I know you don’t think much of this sort of thing, Augustus,” she said, “but I’m going upstairs to say some prayers.” She stood up and held out her hand to Michael. “Will you come with me please, darling?” They left the room together.
    “ Come and sit down,” Tess said to Maltravers and he sat on the chair by the fireplace while she curled up at his feet holding his hand. For a few minutes he sat impassively then his face suddenly crumpled and he began to cry with a terrible adult intensity. Tess knelt up and put her arms around him, rocking him gently back and forth as tears streamed down her own cheeks.
    In the incident room, Madden’s team had checked with nearly forty hospitals, including most of the London ones. There were no reports of anyone being treated for a severed hand.

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    REBECCA WOKE EARLY in the morning and the house was suddenly filled with childish laughter and demands and an unreal edge of normality as Press, television and