Dying Fall

thing does bother Nelson, though; the last call was made in Lytham, very close to Ruth’s rented house. Nelson has also asked for some protection for Ruth and Sandy (though sceptical) has agreed to send a patrol car round every night.
    ‘Very supportive of this girl, aren’t you?’
    ‘She’s a single mum, on her own,’ said Nelson. ‘You’d feel the same.’
    Now, he says, ‘She’s a forensic archaeologist and an old friend of Golding’s. Henry asked her to come up here and look at the bones he’d found.’
    ‘But they were fakes. Isn’t that what you told me?’ says Sandy.
    Nelson explains again about the bones being from two different skeletons.
    ‘Is she sure?’ asks Tim.
    ‘If she says so, it’s pretty certain,’ says Nelson. ‘She knows her stuff.’
    ‘Why would anyone switch the bones?’ asks Tim. ‘They must have been worried about what she’d discover. What could it be?’
    ‘Archaeologists can get all sorts of stuff from bones,’ says Nelson. ‘You’d be surprised. They can tell you how old someone was, what they had for dinner, where they lived.’
    ‘So,’ says Tim thoughtfully. ‘There’s something significant about these bones. Something someone doesn’t want us to know.’
    ‘Has your friend got any idea what happened to the original bones?’ asks Sandy.
    ‘No,’ says Nelson. ‘Apparently Clayton Henry doesn’t know either. They took the bones straight to the police lab because they were already aware that the find was controversial. One thing though, Golding took some of the original bones and teeth for sampling. Ruth’s on the track of these. If she finds the results, they might give us some clues.’
    ‘Most of his papers went up in smoke,’ says Tim. ‘They were in a desk in the sitting room and the whole downstairs was gutted. I went through his office at the university too. There was nothing about the dig there. My guess is that everything was on his laptop.’
    ‘Could the computer have escaped the fire?’ asked Nelson.
    ‘It’s possible,’ says Tim. ‘The rooms upstairs weren’t badly damaged, but we didn’t find anything when we searched the house.’
    ‘If we find the laptop,’ says Sandy, ‘there’s a chance we find the killer. Whoever took it must have known that there was something significant about the bones. Might be worth searching the houses of his colleagues, Tim.’
    ‘Yes, boss.’
    ‘And we’ll make a trip to the police lab. They might know something about the disappearing bones.’ He turns to Nelson with a smile that’s half invitation, half warning. ‘Want to come with us, Harry? Strictly as an observer, of course.’
    ‘You’re all right,’ says Nelson. ‘I’d better get home. My mother’s invited some people for tea.’
    *
    When Nelson gets back to the little pink house he sees Ruth’s car parked outside. She’s done well to get a space. She’s not a bad parker, for a woman. Nelson wastes time trying to back into a space the size of a pushbike, then gives up and tries the next street. He’s aware that he’s putting off the moment when he has to enter the crowded little sitting room and see Ruth and Cathbad and
his
baby, chatting politely with
his
mother, who will be completely unaware that she is entertaining her own granddaughter. An emotion so rare as to be almost frightening sweeps over Nelson: he feels protective towards his mother. It’s not fair that she should be in this position. A new grandchild should be a source of joy for her, not a guilty secret to be hidden. He feels obscurely angry with Ruth for coming to Lancashire in the first place, for creating this whole situation. But, then, to be fair, Maureen had invited Ruth, she hadn’t wanted to come. Nelson recalls her face when the invitation was issued and almost smiles at the remembered look of horror. If anything, it’s Cathbad’s fault for getting on so well with Maureen and for coming from bloody Ballywhatsit. He rings the doorbell.
    Michelle lets him in. As usual, she’s perfectly groomed in white trousers and a tight black top. Nelson feels a wave of affection for his beautiful wife. After all, this afternoon is probably worse for her. He kisses her cheek.
    ‘You look grand, love.’
    Michelle steps out of his reach. ‘Ruth’s in there,’ she says, in a voice carefully devoid of any expression. Nelsonlooks towards the sitting-room door. He can hear Maureen and Cathbad, their voices raised in delighted recognition.
    ‘Paddy