Dying Fall

the paved courtyard to greet them, doesn’t look like a pop star. True, he is wearing a top which instantly makes Nelson categorise him as ‘eccentric, possibly gay’, but he is also overweight and slightly anxious, rubbing his hands together and laughing loudly at Sandy’s windmill jokes.
    Sandy introduces Nelson and Henry says, with a nervous attempt at banter, ‘Two DCIs. I’m honoured.’
    ‘It’s a special offer,’ says Sandy, deadpan. ‘Buy one, get one free.’
    Professor Henry ushers them into the windmill and up what seem to be hundreds of twisty metal steps.Eventually, they reach a room at the very top of the house which Henry describes as his study. To Nelson it looks like something from one of those poncy design programmes that Michelle likes so much. The walls are glass, the floor shiny wood and there is nothing as utilitarian as a desk or an office chair anywhere. Sandy and Nelson sit on low sofas and Henry (to Nelson’s amazement) on what looks like a giant beach ball. ‘It’s for my back,’ he explains, bouncing gently. ‘Ergonomically sound.’
    ‘I’ll take your word for it,’ says Sandy. ‘Now, Professor Henry, as I said on the phone, I’d like to ask you a few questions about the late Daniel Golding.’
    Nelson admires Sandy’s complete lack of what Judy would call ‘empathetic echoing’. He simply gets out a notebook and barks questions. How long had Professor Henry known Daniel Golding? Five years, ever since he came to work at Pendle. Was he a good archaeologist? Yes, excellent. He could probably have taken a more prestigious job elsewhere but his wife had got a job at Preston University and wanted to move north. (Nelson sympathises with this; it was at Michelle’s insistence that they moved to Norfolk and, deep down, he’s never forgiven her.) Was Golding still married? No, they divorced about three years ago, it was very sad. Girlfriends? Don’t know, but he was a good-looking chap, so it’s possible.
    ‘Was Daniel Golding popular in the department?’
    For the first time, Clayton Henry falters. The ball stops bouncing and seems to deflate slightly.
    ‘Yes,’ he says. ‘He was a lovely man. Everyone liked him.’
    ‘Could you give me the names of his closest friends?’
    ‘Look,’ says Henry. ‘What’s all this about? Daniel’s death was a tragedy. There was nothing sinister about it, was there?’
    Interesting choice of word, thinks Nelson. Also, by his reckoning, Henry should have asked this question about ten minutes earlier.
    Sandy hardly looks up from his notebook. ‘We’re treating his death as suspected murder, Professor Henry.’
    ‘What?’ For a second, Henry seems to lose his balance and rocks wildly on the ball. His feet scrabble on the floorboards. Nelson looks at him with distaste – in his book bare feet are for women or children.
    ‘The fire in his house was started deliberately,’ says Sandy.
    ‘Oh my God.’
    ‘So we’re interested to know if anyone had a grudge against Golding, either professionally or personally.’
    All the bounce has gone out of both Henry and the ball. He stands up and walks quickly round the circular room. Sandy and Nelson both watch him impassively.
    Eventually, Henry comes to a halt between the two policemen. He sits heavily on the sofa next to Nelson.
    ‘I can’t think of anyone who would do this,’ he says. ‘Daniel was very popular, a little reserved perhaps, but a charming, personable man.’
    ‘Professor Henry,’ says Sandy. ‘In the past Pendle University has had trouble with the extreme right. Is thereany chance that Daniel could have been involved with one of these groups?’
    Henry laughs. For the first time, he sounds almost natural. ‘Daniel? Never! He was a real
Guardian
-reading liberal. Like the rest of us in the history department.’
    Nelson thinks of Ruth, who also reads the
Guardian
. He can’t really see the point of newspapers himself, he prefers to get his news from the TV, but Michelle rather likes the
Daily Mail.
    ‘Could these right-wingers have had something against Golding?’ asks Sandy.
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Maybe because he was Jewish?’
    Henry is silent for a moment, then he says, ‘I don’t know. You can’t put anything past these idiots. But most people didn’t even know Daniel was Jewish. He wasn’t a religious Jew. Didn’t make a song and dance of it.’
    ‘He didn’t refuse to work on the Sabbath?’ asks Sandy. Nelson doesn’t know if he’s joking or not