‘But it could be him.’

‘Presumably.’

‘Do you know the man?’ asked Leeming.

‘If it’s Jeremy Oxley, I know him extremely well,’ said Colbeck, ruefully. ‘And this will not be the first time that he’s committed a murder.’ He rose to his feet. ‘We must leave immediately, Victor. I have a copy of Bradshaw in my office. That will tell us which train we can catch.’ As Leeming got up from his chair, Colbeck turned to Tallis. ‘Is there anything else we need to know, Superintendent?’

‘Only that I’ll be watching you every inch of the way,’ said Tallis. ‘And so will the general public. They must not be allowed to think that anyone can kill a representative of law and order with impunity. I want to see Oxley dangling from the gallows.’

‘So do I,’ said Colbeck, teeth gritted. ‘So do I.’

Madeleine Andrews was working at her easel when she heard the familiar footsteps outside on the pavement. She was surprised that her father had returned so early and her first thought was that he might have been injured at work. Putting her brush aside, she rushed to open the door. When she saw that Andrews was apparently unharmed, she heaved a sigh of relief.

‘What are you doing home at this hour, Father?’ she asked.

‘If you let me in, I’ll tell you.’

Madeleine stood aside so that Andrews could step into the house. As she closed the door behind him, another fear surfaced.

‘You haven’t been dismissed, have you?’

He cackled. ‘They’d never dare to sack me, Maddy.’

‘Then why are you here?’

‘It’s because I was the driver of the death train.’

She gaped. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Sit down and you’ll hear the full story.’

Madeleine lowered herself into a chair but she had to wait while her father filled and lit his pipe. He puffed on it until the tobacco glowed and gave off a pleasing aroma.

‘What’s this about a death train?’ she asked.