“You mean, did I see the body and not report it. No, I didn’t walk this morning. I was-under the weather. Does this body have a name? Or do you want me to identify him, if I can? Is that why you’re here?”

Standing face-to-face with Mallory, Bennett found it difficult to measure his man. It would have been more useful-and more comfortable-inside, where he could have sat across the room and watched the play of emotions.

“We’ve identified the victim, sir. But I’d like to ask you a few questions first, if I may. Can you tell me where you were last evening and early this morning?”

Mallory was nothing if not quick. The truth began to dawn on him, and there was something in his eyes that startled the inspector. Relief? Anger, certainly, and then something else. A very real fear.

“He’s dead, you say?”

“I haven’t said,” Bennett responded. “If you’ll just answer my questions-”

“It’s Matthew Hamilton they’ve found, isn’t it?” For an instant Bennett thought Mallory was going to take the lapels of his coat and shake the answer out of him. “Isn’t it!”

“Why should you think that, sir?” Bennett asked, keeping his tone level, unchallenging.

But Stephen Mallory was already out the door, shoving him aside and racing toward the bicycle that Bennett had left against the gatepost.

He caught the handlebars, dragged the bicycle with him, and opening the door, tossed it high and into the rear of his motorcar. He wheeled to reach the crank, but Bennett was there, trying to catch him around the shoulders and wrestle him to the ground. Mallory threw him off with the strength of a madman, Bennett thought, as he found himself hitting a fence post with a crack that made his head swim.

It was all the time Mallory needed. He’d brought the engine to life with the crank and was already stepping into the motorcar when Bennett charged him again, tackling him around the hips. Mallory kicked out with his free leg, bracing himself with the frame of the door and the steering wheel. Bennett’s breath came out in a long whoosh! Then Mallory was free and throwing himself into the driver’s seat, reaching for the gears.