‘You are almost certainly right,’ agreed Michael. ‘But the cold application of logic means he must remain a suspect until he can be properly eliminated. Of course, we should not forget what we saw with our own eyes – namely Drax quarrelling with Kendale not long before he died. Kendale had motive and opportunity, too.’
Bartholomew supposed he did, and Chestre’s lads were certainly belligerent enough to dispatch a landlord who was threatening to raise their rent. ‘I do not feel equal to tackling them today.’
‘We could not, even if you did. We do not have sufficient evidence, and they will make trouble if we level accusations without it – trouble we cannot afford.’
‘That has never stopped you before.’
‘Kendale will whip the hostels into a frenzy of indignation if I do not have a watertight case, and I do not want to see the Colleges in flames.’ Michael grinned suddenly. ‘Incidentally, your students told Langelee that you have been overtaxing yourself in the classroom, and he has ordered me to keep you away from the hall today, lest you find yourself unable to manage the camp-ball later.’
‘The sly devils!’ exclaimed Bartholomew, half angry and half amused by their effrontery. ‘They have not enjoyed being grilled these past few days, and see it as a way to earn a respite. It is not me they are protecting, but themselves.’
Michael laughed. ‘Well, I am grateful to them, because I need your help this morning.’
They left the College and walked up St Michael’s Lane, then turned left along the High Street, aiming for Celia’s house. They had not gone far before they met Dick Tulyet.
The man who represented the King’s peace in the county was slightly built with a youthful face that encouraged criminals to underestimate him. None ever did it again, and the people of Cambridge knew they were lucky to have such a dedicated officer to serve them. Tulyet had worked well with Michael in the past, and there were none of the territorial tussles that usually occurred between two ill-defined jurisdictions. That day, however, he was scowling, and did not return the scholars’ friendly greetings.
‘I did not provoke Dickon into stabbing me,’ said Bartholomew, immediately defensive.
‘I know.’ Tulyet’s expression softened when Dickon was mentioned, and Bartholomew was amazed, yet again, that he should be so astute when dealing with criminals, but so blind towards his hellion son. ‘And he says he is sorry for attacking you.’
Bartholomew doubted the boy had said any such thing.
‘You should not have given him a sword,’ admonished Michael. ‘Matt might have been killed.’
‘The hero of Poitiers?’ asked Tulyet dryly. ‘I doubt it! But that is not what is vexing me today. I am peeved with you, Brother. Drax was a townsman. Ergo, as you always say, his murder is mine to investigate. But you have been exploring the case without consulting me.’
‘You can work together from now on, then,’ said Bartholomew, thinking his students were going to be in for a shock when he returned. ‘Michael is on his way to speak to Celia.’
‘Not so fast,’ said Tulyet, grabbing his sleeve as he turned to leave. ‘I have a bone to pick with you, too. But first, I will hear why the good Brother has been trampling all over my authority.’
‘You have never objected to me trampling before,’ said Michael, stung. ‘Besides, it is likely that Drax’s killer is the same villain who has been stealing pilgrim badges, and who poisoned Alice. But we can collaborate now if you like. I am more than happy to share all I have discovered.’
Tulyet sighed, mollified by Michael’s conciliatory tone. ‘Very well. I am sorry I barked at you. I would hate you to resign, because I doubt another senior proctor would be so reasonable.’
‘There is no danger of that,’ said Michael comfortably. ‘I like running the University, and will only give it up when I am made a bishop or an abbot. Of course, it is only a matter of time before the offers roll in, but I shall be selective about what I accept.’
‘I see,’ said Tulyet, looking closely at the monk to see whether he was jesting. He frowned, evidently unable to tell, although Bartholomew knew Michael was perfectly serious.
‘I know why you want this case,’ the monk went on. ‘You are used to criminals running riot and the University causing trouble. But all the felons have been driven away by Emma, and the University is more interested in squabbling with itself than the town at the moment. You are bored, and yearn for something that will stretch your wits.’
‘On the contrary, I have mountains of administration to occupy me,’ said Tulyet indignantly. ‘Running a shire this size is not easy, you know.’ Then he glanced at Michael’s arched eyebrows and shot him a reluctant grin. ‘All right, you have me – I am tired of sitting in an office, and Drax’s death does represent an interesting diversion. We shall do as you suggest, and work together.’
‘Then you can buy me an ale in the Brazen George while I brief you,’ said Michael comfortably. ‘It will help lubricate my memory, and ensure I do not leave anything out.’
‘Felons want ale when they provide me with information, too,’ said Tulyet, amused. ‘But you had better make it worth my while. Times are hard, even for sheriffs, and ale has become expensive. Life would be a good deal simpler if I accepted some of the bribes that come my way. At least, that is what Dickon tells me.’
‘Refuse them,’ advised Bartholomew, thinking Dickon was not a good source for wise counsel. ‘You will find life is a lot more complex once you start breaking the law.’
Michael ordered a platter of assorted meat as well as ale in the Brazen George, on the grounds that he thought more clearly when his attention was not diverted by his growling stomach.
‘Tell me what you have learned,’ ordered Tulyet, once the landlord had served the victuals and had left them in peace. He already looked more cheerful, and his expression was positively eager as he leaned across the table to be sure he missed nothing.
‘Drax was stabbed early on Monday morning,’ obliged Michael, as he began to eat.
‘But he was not taken to Michaelhouse until mid-afternoon,’ said Bartholomew. ‘We know, because of Physwick’s testimony, and the blood in their dairy, where he died.’
‘My first suspects were Yffi and his apprentices,’ Michael went on. ‘But they were on the roof all day, with the exception of the occasional foray downwards for supplies. One may have dashed out to kill Drax. However, I do not believe any of them brought his body to our College.’
‘Do you not?’ asked Tulyet doubtfully. ‘Why?’
‘Because toting corpses around necessitates some degree of caution – waiting for a point when the lane was empty, watching for possible witnesses, and so on. It would have taken time, and the others would have noticed a more prolonged absence.’
‘So they might,’ agreed Tulyet. ‘But why would they betray one of their own to you?’
‘I doubt they would,’ said Michael. ‘But they are not clever, and I would have caught them out by now. However, I remain unhappy with their role in the affair – it is odd that they saw nothing suspicious, while their lewd discussion almost certainly provided the diversion the killer needed to enter Michaelhouse – and I plan to interrogate them again today.’
‘I will do it,’ said Tulyet keenly. ‘In the castle. It is astonishing how a spell inside my walls can loosen tongues. Leave Yffi and his apprentices to me.’
‘Very well, but please do not keep them long. It looks like rain, and my room is currently without a roof.’
‘I cannot imagine why your College accepted free repairs from Emma de Colvyll,’ said Tulyet disapprovingly. ‘There is something about her that I distrust intensely. Moreover, I do not like the way she earns her money – by taking advantage of the grief-stricken and the desperate.’