Free The Mark of a Murderer by Susanna Gregory Page B

why we came ourselves, and did not entrust servants to find him.’
    ‘Tracking a killer is not easy, and will need men of intelligence and cunning,’ said Wormynghalle, oblivious to the long-suffering
     glances his colleagues exchanged behind his back. ‘That means us. Besides, Gonerby was popular, and if I catch his killer,
     everyone will vote for me as Mayor.’
    ‘Many people died during that riot,’ said Michael. ‘What makes Gonerby’s death worthy of investigation, when others are not?’
    ‘He was wealthy, popular and influential – a parchment-maker,’ replied Eu, twisting his nutmeg ring around on his finger.
     ‘We cannot afford to have men like
him
murdered and their killers going free. What message would that send to the general populace?’
    ‘We do not want scholars thinking they can slaughter us as they please, and nothing bad will ever happen to them,’ elaborated
     Wormynghalle, who did not seem averse tostating the obvious. ‘It might encourage others to try their luck.’
    ‘This is an odd tale,’ said Michael, frowning. ‘You know more about Gonerby’s death – and about his killer – than you are
     telling, since you cannot possibly hope to snag the culprit with the information you have shared with us. It is simply not
     enough to allow you to start.’
    ‘We know the killer is a scholar,’ offered Abergavenny. ‘Gonerby said he wore a student’s dark garb
and
he heard him say Oxford was too dangerous, so he would study in Cambridge instead.’
    ‘That does suggest you should look to a University member for your culprit,’ admitted Tynkell. ‘But it does not tell us whether
     he was an Oxford student who saw Cambridge as a safe haven, or whether he was a Cambridge student who happened to be visiting
     Oxford at the time of the riot.’
    Abergavenny nodded. ‘So, we intend to look at both possibilities. Gonerby’s widow told us we cannot go home unless we bring
     her a killer. She made us promise to fulfil her husband’s last wish, even if we die in the attempt.’
    ‘She is a forceful lady,’ said Eu, not entirely admiringly. ‘Just because we three happened to stumble on the dying Gonerby,
     she decided
we
should be the ones to hunt down his murderer. I did not want to oblige, but we had made that promise to Gonerby, so it became
     a point of honour.’
    ‘
I
was only speaking to comfort the man in his final agonies,’ said Abergavenny ruefully. ‘But Wormynghalle here made the promise
     public and Mistress Gonerby held us to it.’ He cast an admonishing, resentful glance at the tanner.
    ‘I did what was right,’ declared Wormynghalle defensively. ‘How was I to know you were only humouring Gonerby when you swore
     to avenge him? I was under the impression that you held the same principles as me, andI was astonished to learn you were ready to renege.’
    ‘You are deliberately misrepresenting us,’ snapped Eu, seeming to forget he was in the Chancellor’s office and the argument
     was being witnessed by strangers. ‘Of course I believe in honour and the sanctity of oaths, but this was different. I was
     trying to calm him, not agree to sacrifice weeks of my life searching for a fellow whose name and description we do not know.’
    ‘It has cost you little so far,’ said Wormynghalle nastily. ‘You arrived here eleven days ago, and you have spent virtually
     all that time establishing new business contacts.’
    ‘We did not promise to hunt this killer to the exclusion of all else,’ said Abergavenny reasonably. ‘And the opportunities
     that have arisen in and around Cambridge have been irresistible.’
    ‘For spicers and vintners maybe,’ snapped Wormynghalle. ‘But not for tanners. Mine is not a trade that benefits from distant
     agreements – it is cheaper to buy and sell
my
materials locally.’
    Abergavenny smiled to acknowledge his point, then turned to Michael. ‘But we have drawn our personal affairs to a close, and
     now we are ready to