Walsh shrugged his shoulders .sx " Can we ignore the possibility at this stage ?sx " .sx " What about someone we haven't considered at all yet , Chief ?sx " Brenda asked , her brown eyes looking shrewdly at Walsh .sx " You mean someone not directly connected with the Satanists or Trent ?sx Someone who just happened to be about at that remote spot at that early hour of the morning ?sx You'd have to assume some entirely random motive , Brenda .sx " .sx " What about seeing naked revellers having an orgy ?sx That might have flipped an unstable mind into sex and violence , though it doesn't explain the disappearance of Joanna .sx She'd have been assaulted and raped , I suppose , in which case one would have expected to find her body at the site as well , " Brenda suggested .sx " Not if the person was an unstable male .sx He could have taken her away with him , keeping her a prisoner for a while .sx Didn't something like that happen in Cannock , a few years back ?sx " .sx " Yes ; Reg , and he turned out to be a multiple killer over a long period of time .sx I hate to think that we might have one like that , down here , " Walsh replied , anxiously .sx " Maybe there's something in what Mrs Dubonis was saying about evil spirits being out and about , " Brenda suggested .sx " They say there's a devil in all of us , waiting to get out .sx 'Lead us not into temptation' , the Lord's Prayer says .sx Maybe the temptation just happened to turn up in that place , at that time , " Finch remarked .sx " We'll keep the evil spirits out of this , if you don't mind !sx " Walsh instructed .sx " Reg , you go out to Wandlebury , and talk to the owners of the place .sx That might give us a new lead , and you've got Tomkins to sort out .sx Brenda , we don't know enough about Trent's and Joanna's friends yet .sx You work on those .sx There might be enough jealousy or rivalry amongst them to account for a murder .sx There're also the friends and relations of these Satanists to check out .sx One of those might have taken a dim view of what was going on , and tried to do something about it .sx In the meantime I'll have a word with Packstone .sx It's about time his team came up with their reports on the cars and clothing .sx " He reached out to feel the coffee pot , which was cold .sx " It's all right , Chief , I'll get some more , " Brenda offered .sx " It's a pretty unpleasant thought , you know , that Trent's killer may have got that girl hidden away somewhere .sx Not difficult to think of what he might be doing to her , either , " Finch remarked , when Brenda had left .sx Professionals though they might be , it was still easier to talk about some things when she wasn't there .sx " I know , Reg , I don't like it either .sx Whatever way you look at it , this killer is quite cold-blooded .sx It's true , as Packstone said , that in a fight for the possession of a weapon such as a spade , the kind of swinging blow that cut Trent's throat might well have been unintentional , but there's no sign of rashness or panic in the killer's subsequent behaviour .sx Psychologically , that's worrying .sx He could kill again , neither should we assume this is his first time , either .sx I've got Records searching for any similarity in any of the unsolved murders during the past twenty years .sx When they've done that they can feed all the names involved into the 'missing persons' computer .sx The truth of the matter is , though , we don't know enough about him yet .sx " .sx " Or her !sx A woman could wear size nine and a half trainers , but I don't see what else we can do at the moment , boss .sx " .sx " That's right , we must follow up what we've got , but we may find Joanna Silvers alive , and then it'll be easy .sx If we don't , we'll just have to plug on , regardless .sx " .sx Brenda Phipps came back into the office with a fresh pot of coffee .sx She put it on the desk .sx " Thanks , Brenda , you're an angel , " Walsh said , smiling at the slim Detective Constable .sx " With all this devil stuff about , the odd angel won't come amiss , boss , " Finch smiled .sx " Less of the odd , " Brenda scowled .sx The telephone rang .sx Walsh picked up the receiver .sx The other two gathered from his words that the doctors had found no signs of sexual abuse in their examination of Mrs Houndell's daughter .sx " Thank goodness for that , that's one problem the less , " Walsh said , relieved .sx " Reg , pass me those aerial photographs again .sx " .sx " There's couple of these I'd like my own copies of , boss .sx See here on this one , " Finch pointed to an aerial print of the ruin in the wood , and the field to the south .sx " The sun's low enough to throw crop shadows .sx The wheat grows better where the soil was once disturbed , less well where there're foundations beneath the surface .sx Barely detectable on the ground , but enough to throw a shadow when the sun's at the right angle , " Finch continued , enthusiastically .sx " The dark marks here , along this side , could be the post holes of the wooden stockade that would have surrounded the priory originally , and these other lines are the foundations of walls .sx It's a pity the wood covers most of the site , we could've got a fair ground plan .sx " .sx " There're other marks on some of these photos too , Reg .sx What do they signify ?sx " Brenda asked .sx " This ring , here , might be a ploughed out burial mound , but these smaller marks are probably more post holes .sx It could be that the site was inhabited before the priory was built , but it would need a proper excavation before one could hope to identify the different occupation dates .sx " .sx Walsh interrupted .sx " Very interesting , Reg , but I just want to see if we've missed any old chalk pits on our search plan .sx Keep the prints in order , don't get them mixed up .sx " .sx 11 It was a tall , elderly , silver-haired lady who opened the front door of the big house to Reginald Finch .sx " You'd better come in then , Sergeant .sx We can't stand here talking on the doorstep , can we ?sx " she exclaimed , when Finch had told her why he had come .sx " The estate was so much bigger , in my grandfather's day , " she said , pointing up at her ancestor's dark portrait over the fireplace in the spacious , chintzy sitting-room , and shook her head , regretfully .sx " But so much of it had to be sold off when he died , for the taxes , you know .sx So you want to talk to me about the stone circle , do you ?sx Now , is it a school party you want to bring , or are you doing a study of them at college ?sx " .sx " Well , neither , actually .sx Like I said , I'm a policeman , and I'm interested in the Druids and their summer solstice ceremonies , " Finch replied , fondling the ears of one of the golden retrievers , which had come to rest its head on his knee and gaze up at him with soulful eyes .sx " My grandfather had no time for the Druids .sx He was a general , you know , and used to say it was all poppycock and balderdash .sx Well , that's how they used to speak in those days , wasn't it ?sx Now , Father had completely different views , much more liberal .sx I suppose it was because he was at Oxford when free-thinking became fashionable .sx He used to tell us girls what he said to a gentleman who actually came to ask permission to hold a celebration inside the ring .sx " I know there are more kinds of worship in this world than my own , " he said , " but if you'll give me your word as a gentleman that there's nothing in your way that would give offence to me or to my wife , then you can hold your service .sx " That was before we girls were born , but I believe a service has been held there every year since , except during the wars , possibly .sx I wasn't there then , of course .sx " .sx " Do you mean that you know who these people are ?sx That they come each year ?sx " Finch asked , in surprise .sx " Oh , yes , of course .sx Well , that is to say , the Leader comes each year , to ask permission , and he always gets the same answer , just as my father gave it .sx I suppose it's become our own little tradition , and I must say , on the few occasions I've watched them , they do keep to their word .sx It's a little like an ornate Harvest Festival service in long white gowns , really - without the fruit and vegetables , of course , but quite inoffensive , " she added .sx " I'd very much like to talk to the Leader , myself , if I may .sx Do you know his name ?sx " .sx " I don't , but my secretary , Miss Willis , is sure to .sx She only comes in on Tuesdays and Thursdays , so you'll have to come back tomorrow , won't you ?sx Would you like another cup of tea ?sx " .sx " Perhaps I might telephone her , instead , if you'd be good enough to let me have her number ?sx " .sx " Of course .sx Was that one or two lumps of sugar ?sx " .sx " You never went near that local of yours that night , so you've told me one lie already , Mr Tomkins .sx How can I be expected to believe anything you've said ?sx " Finch asked , reasonably .sx " It's easy to get things mixed up , and I'm sorry .sx Now I've told you the truth .sx I came back here to the office that night , I had a lot of work to do on some softwear sic !sx . Crikey , anyone can make a mistake , can't they ?sx " the other replied truculently , his eyes glinting with anger .sx " Well , " Finch said , " I already knew that , as a matter of fact !sx Our patrols at night are pretty efficient , they take note of cars parked outside shops round here .sx Yours was outside at ten o'clock , but it wasn't there when they came round again at eleven .sx So you must have gone out again .sx " .sx " I went out for a coffee , yes , that's what I did .sx " .sx " Your coffee break lasted until nearly three o'clock in the morning then , did it ?sx Because your car wasn't seen again that night , and there was no light on in the office at the back either .sx How do you account for that ?sx " .sx " Easy !sx I parked it round the corner , in Riverside Road .sx Force of habit , I suppose , that's usually where I park during the day .sx As for the light , well , they wouldn't have seen it , because it wasn't on .sx The tube's on the blink and the flickering gives me a headache , so I worked just using the angle-poise on the desk .sx " .sx Finch got up , reached over to the wall , and switched the light on .sx After a few moments the tube lit up .sx It flickered and the starter butted noisily .sx " Satisfied ?sx " Tomkins scowled .sx " Not really , " Finch admitted .sx " You don't fill me with a lot of confidence .sx However , you might as well tell me who this urgent softwear sic !sx was for .sx " .sx " Triton Roofing , they wanted the whole format of their sales analysis changed .sx " .sx " When did you give it to them ?sx " .sx " Yesterday .sx " .sx Finch said " Thanks , " got up , and walked out .sx star .sx The fleeting expression of annoyance on Richard Packstone's face as Walsh opened the door signalled a warning .sx " Five minutes , Richard ?sx That's all .sx I just want to know how things are going , " Walsh said , apologetically .sx Packstone sighed reluctantly , but lowered himself into his chair and leaned forward , with his elbows on the desk .sx " It's pretty hectic in here , " he replied .sx I'm trying to get my priorities right , and at the same time keep everything else moving forward .sx So you'll have to be patient .sx I've got four people out with your teams searching the ditches , barns and old marl and lime pits ; that's made me shorthanded , and there's the bits and pieces they're finding that need to be checked out .sx We've surface-examined five cars and a motor bike for prints for you , but we haven't even started the lab work on the minutiae from the interior scrutinies .sx We've not finished with the material from the priory site yet , you see , and it wouldn't be sensible to neglect identifying what might be important primary and positive data , would it ?sx Brian , over there , is working on the hair samples you got from the Silvers girl's bedroom , though .sx