Free Palmer-Jones 04 - A Prey to Murder by Ann Cleeves

inquiry would be quickly over.
    They persuaded Fenn to go into the house to phone his daughter while they searched the Range-Rover. Fenn would have liked to insist on being there but he did not have the strength to stand up to Pritchard’s jovial good humour. He did as he was told and walked over the grass to the house.
    The birds were quiet and hooded on portable perches in the back of the car. George listed the species – redtailed hawk, saker falcon, goshawk and an adult peregrine – and noted the numbers on the plastic cable tie bands on their legs.
    ‘Red-tailed hawk and saker falcon aren’t found in the wild in this country,’ he said. ‘They will have been imported under licence or bred at Puddleworth. The Department of the Environment will tell us from the numbers on the plastic bands. At least, they should be able to. I’m afraid they’re not renowned for their efficiency.’
    ‘What about the others?’
    ‘They breed in the wild in this country and both species are regularly illegally taken. As I explained, as far as I know Murdoch Fenn has never been suspected of breaking the law and I’m sure they will have been legally bred in captivity. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has an investigations department. If Fenn has ever been involved in anything dubious the investigations officer would know. If you like I could ask him if he’s heard any rumours …’
    ‘Yes,’ Pritchard said. ‘You do that.’ They continued their search of the car. There were no young birds. There was a piece of rope but it was not long or strong enough to let a man down the rocky cliff to the eyrie.
    ‘We’ll have to let him go,’ Pritchard said. ‘For the time being.’ He turned to George. ‘You’ll be staying at Gorse Hill for a while, will you?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ George said awkwardly. ‘ The family may prefer me to leave. I wouldn’t want to intrude and I certainly wouldn’t want to interfere in your investigation.’
    ‘No question of that,’ Pritchard said. He hesitated. ‘I’ll have to visit this falconry centre in Puddleworth. I was hoping you might come with me. I’m still not convinced that Fenn’s not involved.’
    ‘Doesn’t all the evidence point to Frank Oliver’s being the murderer?’ George asked. ‘His van had been seen on the hill during the week. His employment with Fenn would have introduced him to other, less scrupulous falconers, so he would easily find a market for the birds. He could have moved the body from the hill to the weathering ground in his van while Fenn was asleep, without attracting too much attention.’
    ‘You’re probably right,’ Pritchard said easily, ‘but Fenn could be implicated. If he wanted those birds it would be natural for him to get Oliver to do his dirty work.’ He locked the Range-Rover and they began to walk back to the house. ‘ You will come with me to Puddleworth? We might find something there to lead us to Oliver.’
    It took George a while to answer. He looked to an upstairs window where Helen stood and stared out across the garden in blank disbelief.
    ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I’ll come.’ Eleanor had hired him. He would see the thing through to the end.

Chapter Four
    Laurie Oliver left the Open Day before it was ended. After his meeting with his father he wandered round the garden looking wildly for Helen, but when he could not see her he walked away. Like a child he needed instant comfort and he ran for his home. The confrontation with his father had humiliated and confused him. He disliked the man, yet felt hurt because his father had seemed indifferent to his presence. He wanted the security of the noisy house with the children playing and his mother complaining. He wanted to be sure of himself again. Even Helen was a threat to his confidence and he walked past the strangers on his way to the lane with his head bent, hoping no one would approach him.
    He began to walk from Gorse Hill into the town. The makeshift car