Giordano Bruno Thriller Series Books 1-3: Heresy, Prophecy, Sacrilege. S. J. Parris
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it is the work of someone who can wield a longbow,’ I said pragmatically. ‘Though I think at this distance even I could hit a target that was tied to the wall and already dead, so we are not necessarily looking for someone with any great skill in archery. Whoever it was has staged this murder very carefully so that we would link it to the other.’
‘So that you would link it,’ said the rector. ‘Foxe, the false martyrdoms – this is your theory, Doctor Bruno.’
‘It was suggested to me by someone unknown,’ I reminded him.
‘Yes, don’t you see? That paper you showed me, cut from Foxe. This –’ he gestured wildly at the corpse in the corner – ‘has been done for your benefit, knowing that you would understand the reference.’ He stared at me incredulously, as if it were my theory that had delivered Coverdale to his fate.
‘But the killer could not have known that I would be around at this precise moment to witness the discovery,’ I objected. ‘Yet – it does seem that he wanted to make sure you would not miss the martyrdom reference this time and fail to make the connection with Roger Mercer’s death.’
‘So it must be the same person?’ The rector looked up at me, his eyes filled with anxiety.
‘Norris owns a razor, you know,’ Slythurst spoke up suddenly. ‘Shaves himself every day, if you please.’
I considered, rubbing my own beard.
‘A razor and a longbow. Someone is keen for the evidence to point to Norris, that seems clear.’
‘You think it could not be him?’ the rector asked, still looking up at me like a child craving reassurance.
‘From the little I know of Norris, I cannot believe he would commit so showy a murder and then leave behind a weapon that points directly to himself. Besides, what could be his motive?’
‘James hated the commoners, he was always railing against them. You heard him yourself at the rector’s supper,’ Slythurst said.
‘Hardly a reason for one of them to kill him,’ I retorted. ‘On the other hand, someone who bitterly resented the presence of commoners might think to kill two birds with one stone, as you English say – to despatch Doctor Coverdale for some reason yet unknown, and leave evidence incriminating Norris at the same time. There were marks on the staircase, footprints – if we had more light I could examine them, but I fear the rain will have washed away the trail outside by now.’
‘Walter – could you go down and ask Cobbett for a lantern? Doctor Bruno is right – we must look at the room carefully before we jump to any conclusions, and it is too dim. And a basin of water,’ the rector added. ‘We must wash that mark from the wall before the coroner is called.’
Slythurst’s eyes widened.
‘Surely, Rector, that mark is part of the evidence? It may have some significance – we should not tamper—’
‘Those are my instructions, Walter. Now please do as I ask.’
Slythurst looked from me to the rector with momentary outrage at being ordered like a servant, but unable to think of any reason for defiance, he turned on his heel and a moment later we heard his footsteps thundering down the stairs.
‘Doctor Bruno?’ With a great effort, Rector Underhill heaved himself to his feet and grasped me by both wrists. His bombast was all deflated and he looked old and frightened; I found I pitied him the scandal that would break in the wake of this second death. ‘You foresaw this, and I did not. I dismissed your theory about Foxe – it seemed to me preposterous, and it suited me to avoid damage to the college by allowing myself to be guided by others, James chief among them, in presenting Roger’s death as an accident. But I must humble myself and acknowledge that you were right – it seems a madman is targeting the Fellows in these horrible travesties of Christian martyrdom. Perhaps if James and I had not scoffed at your idea, he would not be dead.’
‘If it’s any consolation, Rector,’ I said, patting his hand gently, ‘I think Doctor Coverdale was already dead by the time you were ridiculing my theory on Saturday night. But I will say it again – someone in Lincoln College knows who did this. He is very likely one of your number.’
‘You are determined that it is the same killer?’ He was still grasping my sleeve.
‘It seems so.’
‘Then there may be more victims to come, unless he is stopped?’
‘I don’t know, Rector. Until we know why these two were made martyrs, we cannot predict this murderer’s intent, or what he hopes to gain by making his handiwork so ostentatious.’
‘Doctor Bruno …’ The rector’s voice cracked, and he hesitated, trying to breathe evenly. ‘I know the college cannot hope to keep this hidden from the world. But these murders will be the end of my rectorship – perhaps of the college. We are not as wealthy as some and if the benefactions dry up, the rich students will look elsewhere. And it is not just for myself that I fear, Doctor Bruno – what are the prospects for my daughter if I no longer have Leicester’s favour? Hm?’
He shook my arm with some force, as if this might extract a quicker answer.
‘Your daughter has her own qualities to recommend her, with or without the earl’s patronage.’
Underhill shook his head.
‘That is not how it works in society, as you must know. Among the good families of Oxford she is spoken of as ungovernable. It is only my standing with the earl that makes her any kind of prospect – without that, no respectable man will take her to wife. She should not be in such a place as this if her mother will not chaperone her, but I am a foolish, indulgent father and I cannot bear to send her away. Yet every day she spends in this college damages her reputation further.’ He took a deep breath and I saw that shock had forced all his emotions to the surface; I half expected him to break down weeping, but he gathered himself and continued, ‘The Earl of Leicester must hear this dreadful news, of course, but how much better it would go for us if he were not to learn of it until we could also present him with a murderer apprehended. Do you see?’
‘You must hope your coroner and magistrate work quickly then,’ I said, pretending not to guess at his meaning.
‘That is the thing – they do not. And they lack the subtlety to comprehend a crime of this nature. I fear they would blunder into corners of college life that would seem curious to all except men of learning, like ourselves. Whereas you …’ He let his implication hang in the air, regarding me with an expression of wary hope.
‘I, sir?’ I raised my eyebrows with exaggerated surprise. ‘A foreigner? A Catholic? A man reported to practise magic, who openly believes the Earth goes around the Sun?’
Underhill lowered his eyes, and released his grip on my arms.
‘I beg your forgiveness for my hasty words, Doctor Bruno. Fear breeds such prejudices, and we are a fearful nation in these times. And now fear visits us even in this sanctum of learning …’ His voice died away and he looked helplessly towards the far window, away from Coverdale’s corpse.
‘Are you asking my help in finding this killer?’ I said briskly.
He turned to me, a faint hope in his small watery eyes.
‘In ordinary circumstances, I would not think of imposing on a guest – but it seems this killer wants you involved. The paper you showed me – I thought someone was making sport with you, but with this –’ he raised a hand again behind him towards the body – ‘perhaps you can draw him out before there is any more blood spilled.’
‘Then you believe he will find more victims?’ I said, perhaps too sharply.
He turned to me and blinked rapidly, shaking his head.
‘I only meant – because it seems clear we are dealing with a fiend who is either possessed or mad—’