Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night (21 page)

‘You mean it is subject to percolation theory.’

‘It absorbs water, germs, disinfectant, and also, of course, electricity. The resistance of human skin varies from person to person and fluctuates between different times of day. Under dry conditions, the resistance offered by the human body may be as high as 100,000 Ohms. Wet or broken skin may drop the body’s resistance right down to 1,000 Ohms.’

‘I was wondering,’ Sidney began tentatively, ‘if you could therefore apply such a theory to the principles of electric conductivity . . .’

‘You are beginning to catch my drift, Canon Chambers.’

‘You might model, for example, the pattern of the absorption of an electric current, first through water and then through skin?’

‘I would not have thought that much modelling would be required.’

‘But you could calculate the strength of the current, the quantity of water and the likely length of time needed for full percolation?’

‘I think there have already been experiments in this regard. The electric conductivity of a non-ionic water-in-oil micro-emulsion has been measured in the presence of small amounts of carrier electrolyte, yes.’

‘And so, having done such an experiment, it might be possible to ascertain the critical probability . . .’

‘Of an infinite conducting cluster, yes.’

‘Which might lead to electrocution.’

‘Indeed it might; although there is, of course, a difference between modelling such activities and committing a murder. You would need to be able to link the experiment to the crime.’

‘A question of cause and effect?’

‘Or, to put it in your terms, Sidney, of practising what you preach.’

It was a mad idea to allow Hildegard to come with Charlie Crawford on what was, technically, an illegal mission to search Dr Cade’s rooms, but Sidney decided that he wanted her to witness the exact nature of his extra-curricular activities in order to show her how seriously he took them. Furthermore, her doubts about Professor Richards had only increased since the three-hour service, and she was all for searching his rooms at the same time. She still had a key, and the rooms were on opposite sides on the same floor of the same staircase. If there had been any criminal activity it could easily have been swift, and such had been Orlando’s willingness to let Hildegard play on his keyboards that he might even have employed her as a fortuitous decoy.

Sidney had not told Inspector Keating of their plans. This was a research mission with three people, one torch and a handyman’s toolbox.

Dr Cade’s rooms still contained his books, his research and his personal possessions, all neatly stacked, but it was not the main room of the set that aroused Sidney’s interest. It was the small bathroom off the bedroom.

Charlie found the boiler and pronounced that the old wiring was a death trap. There was no earth bonding, the volt trip switch to the main board was not working, and the oil-filled heater had a damaged flex and the wrong-sized fuse.

Instructed by Sidney, he dragged the bath away from the wall and crouched down behind the taps. ‘Amazing,’ he said. ‘It’s been wired up as you suggested; the metallic soap dish and all. If it goes directly to the mains we’re in business.’

‘How can you tell?’

‘I’ll have to hack at the wall a bit; that might make a bit of noise. Do you think we are safe?’

‘I can’t imagine there’s anyone on the staircase,’ Sidney replied. ‘Professor Richards is in Peterhouse and it is Easter.’

Charlie took a hammer to the wall and pulled away at the plasterboard, following the newly exposed wire against the brick. He wedged himself into the gap and shone his torch above his head. ‘It’s going up. It may turn by the ceiling and link back to the circuit board; or it could go on up. I’ll have to hack away a bit more. The bathrooms and boilers are all on top of each other.’

‘And who lives in the room above?’ Hildegard asked.

‘Professor Todd,’ Charlie replied. ‘I was just about to start on his room when I had the argument with Dr Cade.’

‘So we would need access to his room in order to find out where this wire leads?’

‘That will not be necessary,’ came a voice from the door. It was Professor Todd himself. ‘May I ask what on earth it is that you are doing at this time of night and on private property?’

Charlie dropped his torch in surprise and began to pack up his toolbox as quickly as he could. Hildegard stooped to help him, as if this burst of activity could distract their accuser from his questioning.

Sidney tried to take matters in hand. ‘We are investigating Dr Cade’s death.’

‘Of a heart attack?’

‘I am not so sure about that.’

‘If you have any suspicions you should go to the police, although, as you know full well, only the Master can invite them into the college. I can’t think what you are up to. Crawford has been dismissed, and this woman has no place in our midst.’

‘She is not “this woman”. She is my friend Mrs Hildegard Staunton.’

‘I don’t care who she is. Get her out of here.’

Hildegard refused to be spoken to in the tone Professor Todd was employing. ‘I am a guest of Professor Richards, as well as Canon Chambers.’

‘This college has a curfew, madam. You have broken it.’

Hildegard spoke with icy charm. ‘Professor Richards invited me here to practice. We have been discussing how musicians often borrow ideas from each other.’

‘And what is that to me?’

‘We have been talking about the differences between being influenced by someone else or making some kind of homage to one’s predecessors. We have also been talking about the outright theft of other people’s musical ideas and how coded messages can be placed in pieces of music; warnings, for example. Threats.’

‘What are you implying?’

‘I am suggesting that you think about the music that you heard in chapel today.’

‘I am aware that Professor Richards seems to think my surname is of interest when it comes to German music. That is tiresome in the extreme. But that is not the business that we have in hand. An official complaint, Canon Chambers, will I think be in order.’

‘We will leave now,’ Sidney said firmly. ‘And are sorry to have disturbed the calmness of your evening.’

‘I would have thought that you had better things to do on this holy night,’ Professor Todd replied.

‘I do. But there are times when darkness needs a little light.’ Sidney glanced at Hildegard. She said nothing but raised a quick and quizzical eyebrow meant only for him.

After he had seen Hildegard home, Sidney sought out Inspector Keating. They were just a few minutes shy of closing time and this was the ideal opportunity to discuss the current situation and the likelihood that Dr Cade had been murdered.

‘I don’t know what made you so suspicious in the first place,’ Keating began. ‘Do you worry about every death you hear about?’

‘I try to pray for every soul that is in my care. I didn’t know Adam Cade well, but the circumstances of his death were unusual, and the college was in too much of a hurry to get Charlie Crawford out of the way.’

‘And you don’t think he could have done it?’

‘I know it is not impossible for a man to deliberately implicate himself, but I do think that, in his case, it is unlikely.’

‘Mrs Staunton has expressed concerns about the Professor of Music. She told me about the musical code. Do you think that’s showing off, or something more sinister? I imagine both Richards and Cade preferred the company of men to women.’

‘I believe that may be the case but I don’t think that this is a matter of
sexual
jealousy.’

‘A different kind then?’

‘I think it is more to do with professional envy; with being outclassed or exposed.’

‘Which leads us back to Professor Todd.’

‘We need to get into his rooms.’

‘I imagine that is straightforward enough. You lot are always in and out of each other’s rooms. And there’s the rewiring as well.’

‘Todd has put himself in charge of all that. I imagine that if there is any evidence he will have got rid of it by now. But I’d like to know if the wiring to the bath continued into the rooms above.’

‘Professor Todd’s?’

‘Exactly.’

‘This is a very complicated case, Sidney. A man has been electrocuted in a locked bathroom. The only chance we have of proving Todd’s culpability is if he tries to strike again. Do you think he knows we are on to him?’

‘I think Mrs Staunton may have let something slip about the music in chapel.’

‘To Todd himself?’

‘I think so.’

‘You mean that if Todd is the guilty party she has been deliberately putting Professor Richards’ life in danger?’

‘I don’t think she has been doing it on purpose.’

‘Good God, man, I have warned you about this before. You can’t entrap people.’

‘Mrs Staunton is rather new to the game, I am afraid.’

‘It’s not a game, Sidney. Do you mean to say that Todd might try the same thing on Richards?’

‘It is a possibility. That is why I have come. I’d like us to put a watch on Richards and his rooms.’

‘I have to be invited into the college, you will remember.’

‘We can act under cover of darkness.’

‘You want to start on all this tonight?’

‘Time is of the essence. I will clear everything with the Master in the morning.’

‘Are you sure this is wise?’

‘Trust me, inspector.’

‘Sidney, you know I don’t like it when you ask me that. It always leads to trouble.’

‘And sometimes,’ Sidney answered firmly, ‘it also leads to a conviction.’

He returned directly to the college. Before he could proceed any further, one of the porters told Sidney that the Master wanted to see him in the Lodge. He was agitated that a search had been conducted of another man’s rooms with a former employee and a mere guest.

‘You do not want to make an enemy of Professor Todd,’ the Master advised.

‘I am aware of the dangers.’

‘What were you doing in Cade’s rooms anyway? This whole business has caused enough trouble. I do wish that you would keep out of the way.’

‘I was worried about the rewiring.’

‘That is nonsense. I do not believe you for one minute. It is also no concern of yours. As you know perfectly well, Professor Todd is dealing with all matters electrical.’

‘I have every confidence in him.’

‘It is clear that you do not. But I do not think you understand. The cost of the rewiring is likely to be far higher than we originally anticipated.’

‘Although not as costly as the life of a man,’ Sidney said almost to himself.

The Master heard his words all too clearly. ‘What are you implying?’

‘I would rather the task of overseeing the rewiring was given to someone else.’

‘That is quite absurd.’

‘I would feel a little easier.’

‘Sidney, this really is none of your business. You are surely not volunteering for the job yourself?’

‘Charlie Crawford knew what he was doing. He thinks the wiring has been tampered with. I would like your permission to bring in the police to deal with matters.’

‘Again?’

‘I am afraid so.’

‘You are fully aware of what you are asking?’

‘It is why I have delayed this request for so long.’

‘Can they be relied on to act with discretion?’

‘I hope so.’

‘That is not very reassuring.’

‘I am trying to be honest with you, Master. This is a very delicate situation.’

Sir Giles poured himself a stiff whisky. ‘When is Dr Cade’s funeral?’

‘Wednesday.’

‘Very well. You can have until then to prove any theory that you might have. I am not at all convinced that Dr Cade met his end through foul means but I will allow you limited freedom to investigate. If you are proved wrong, it will be the last time I concede to such a request. Then we must let the funeral take place in peace.’

Hildegard tried not to let her worry about the dangers of the situation show and felt guilty about returning to her piano practice. It was selfish, she thought, to resume normal life, as everyone else in the college seemed to be doing, so quickly after a death.

She was working her way through Beethoven’s last piano sonata, No. 32, Opus 111. The first movement,
Allegro con brio ed appassionato
, was in one of Beethoven’s most emotional and impassioned keys, C minor, and the underlying melody was the text of Bach’s famous cantata
Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
. It lay behind the main theme, just as her anxiety underpinned each current thought.

Was it really Sidney’s duty, she worried, to involve himself in Adam Cade’s death? If she were to see him more often, and even perhaps become his wife, would the business of criminal investigation become part of their marriage on a regular basis or would Sidney consider giving it up? She could tell that he enjoyed the thrill of investigation more than he was prepared to let on, and she knew that once he had started it was impossible for him to content himself with the business of being a priest. Faith alone was not enough to quell his curiosity about life.