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the position of the body, the fact of the car being locked, the keys gone, and the wallet empty and cast away. Heā€™d put something about the cause of death when Gilly came through with his report. Finally, he noted the holdall with Barneyā€™s clothes and those of a woman, most likely his passenger.

On the right-hand side he wrote WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT b. WATTS. Here he laid out, in point form, his home life, his workā€” including his demotion, which he had kept from his wife. He sketched out nights away, the argument at work with Finch, and his reputation for pursuing young girls before the war: Tina, his wife, possibly a woman connected to Finch.

Across the bottom third of the page he drew a line and under it wrote NOT KNOWN and listed the location of keys, the reason for the position of the car at the ferry turnoff, the passenger, the reason for the argument with Finch, and who had emptied his wallet.

Staring at the lists, he wondered how the right and left columns were related. It was possible that it really was just Wattsā€™s unlucky day, Ames thought. He was happily on his way to a tryst with someone, picked someone up, had a heart attack, and was robbed and left for dead. He put his pencil down. Two possibilities presented themselves: Watts was going somewhere with a woman and began to experience the heart attack. The woman, instead of trying to help him, took advantage of the situationā€”stole his wallet and locked him in the car so he wouldnā€™t give chase. Not exactly murder, but was there a statute somewhere about not offering aid? Or Watts was alone in the car and on the way to meet someone and had the heart attack; a passing hitchhiker, or motorist for that matter, stopped, saw Watts was dead, helped himself to the wallet and keys, and drove off.

He added to the NOT KNOWN section: ā€œHow much money did he have on him, and where the hell was he going?ā€ He threw his pencil on the table, watched it bounce and roll off the desk, and, cursing, went to retrieve it.

ā€œChasing mice, Ames?ā€ Sergeant Oā€™Brien had appeared in his doorway and was watching with interest as Ames scrabbled under his desk where his pencil had rolled.

Ames pulled himself out cautiously to avoid hitting his head, stood up dusting his knees, and said with defiant dignity, ā€œYes, Sergeant Oā€™Brien?ā€ It was unusual for the desk sergeant to haul his considerable frame up the stairs.

ā€œDo you have a moment, Sarge?ā€

ā€œHave a seat,ā€ Ames said, waving his hand graciously at a chair that looked a bit small for his colleague.

Oā€™Brien sank gratefully onto the chair and then pulled it forward. ā€œItā€™s about the young darkie.ā€

Ames could detect no animus. ā€œYou mean Constable Terrell,ā€ he said firmly.

ā€œYes. Itā€™s just that the other lads, well, I mean, he keeps himself to himself, if you see what I mean.ā€

ā€œNot entirely. Are you saying they donā€™t like him?ā€

ā€œNo. Not exactly. But he doesnā€™t help by being a loner. He doesnā€™t, you know, shoot the breeze and the like, like the rest of them.ā€

Ames looked at Oā€™Brien, feeling a little at sea. ā€œPerhaps heā€™s just hesitant. He is new. Has anyone asked him for a beer? Heā€™s a vet. So is Pritchard, isnā€™t he? They could go to the Legion.ā€

Oā€™Brien looked noncommittal. ā€œPeople say things, you know, out and about.ā€

ā€œFor Godā€™s sake, Oā€™Brien, what people? What things?ā€

ā€œYou know. They ask about people on the force. Sometimes on the phone I get, ā€˜donā€™t send the darkie.ā€™ Like that.ā€

ā€œSo youā€™re telling me that the men donā€™t ask him to join them after work because people might disapprove? Iā€™m not surprised heā€™s standoffish. What do you think he hears from people when he does go out?ā€

ā€œI hadnā€™t thought of that.ā€

ā€œNo. I suppose not. How are people going to get used to the idea if we canā€™t even stand by our own? And while weā€™re at it, what do you think the inspector would think about it?ā€

Oā€™Brien, who had never addressed Ames with any real deference before, heaved himself off the chair and said mildly, ā€œYou do have a point, Sarge.ā€

Ames watched Oā€™Brien clomping out the door and shook his head, exhaling a long breath. If there was ever a time he could use the steadying thoughts of Inspector Darling, this was it.

ā€œSergeant.ā€

Ames heard Terrellā€™s greeting to Oā€™Brien just outside in the hall and winced. Terrell must have overheard part of the conversation.

ā€œSir?ā€ Terrell said with a quick knock at the door. ā€œPaper will print our request to the public for information.

ā€œExcellent. Next stop, the rail yard. Letā€™s see if we can track down Craig Finch.ā€ He stood up, drumming his fingers lightly on his desk, and cleared his throat. ā€œIā€™m sorry about what you might have just heard, Constable.ā€

Terrell shook his head. ā€œDonā€™t trouble yourself, sir. Iā€™ve heard worse. And for what itā€™s worth I thought you handled it well.ā€

ā€œNo, he hasnā€™t been at work,ā€ the foreman said when they asked after Finch. ā€œInfluenza, he says. Between Watts dying and Finch on the sick list, Iā€™m pretty short-handed. Mind you, I donā€™t need anyone spreading germs around here, but he couldnā€™t get back fast enough for me.ā€ The foreman lit a cigarette, apparently deciding to extend the break provided by Ames and Terrell turning up.

ā€œWas he at work on Tuesday?ā€ Ames asked. He wasnā€™t sure how relevant this question was as it seemed to him highly unlikely Finch was going anywhere with a man whom he appeared to hate.

The foreman shook his head. ā€œDonā€™t think so. No, because I was short that day as well.ā€

ā€œOne of your men said thereā€™d been an argument between Watts and Finch. Did you hear it?ā€ Ames asked.

ā€œHeard about it. Something to do with a woman. Now, I found that surprising. Finch is a married man with kids in high school. Watts is married too, for that matter. All I heard is one

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