Go Not Gently (27 page)

Matthew Simcock committed suicide. He was found that morning in his car, up near Snake Pass. There’s a viewing point where you can see right across the tops. ‘He’d attached a tube to the exhaust. It’s a beautiful spot, the bright grass of the peaks and the white limestone walls. His death made the late editions. There was no mention then of the background, just the bald facts.

The jury found Bill Sherwin not guilty of murdering Tina Achebe. The case had received quite a lot of local coverage but all the evidence was circumstantial, there was no witness, no forensic or other proof that Mr Sherwin had even been to Levenshulme that morning. The prosecution claimed that Tina had tried to end the relationship and that the murder had been the act of jilted lover. The jury weren’t convinced. The judge made acerbic comments about excessive zeal and inadequate preparation of the prosecution case.

Diane’s exhibition was a big success. The haircuts were out in force. Shortly after it closed she took me with her on a shopping expedition. She was going to treat herself to a real fire, she’d had the chimney opened up and now needed a proper fire surround. She was after an antique, something with painted tiles.

Parking near the antique hypermarket was difficult. I found a space in a side street close to the road where the Achebes had lived. There was a yard halfway down, a dairy, busy with lorries and floats, a public phone box opposite. I parked nearby. As we got out I heard the familiar squawk of a Tannoy above the roar of a truck.

And my heart stood still.