Free Mortal Taste by J. M. Gregson Page A

embarrassed by the unnecessary detail.
    Lambert would have liked to ask her mother a supplementary question, but that would have to wait. Instead, he said, ‘I’m sorry to have to bring you these details now, but it appears that your husband was killed by person or persons as yet unknown. You know where he died. Have you any idea why he should have been visiting that area of the town at that particular time?’
    â€˜No. None at all.’
    Her denial came so promptly that her son glanced sharply sideways at her. Matt said, ‘Wasn’t Dad taken there under duress by someone? That’s what we assumed.’
    Lambert said, ‘He might have been. I’m afraid we know very little about the circumstances of the death yet. Your father might have been compelled to go there. He might have arranged to meet someone in that park, someone who then chose to kill him. He may even have gone there for some other purpose entirely, and been surprised by the person who killed him. We shall know more in a few days, but only by asking questions such as this. Eventually we shall find someone who can offer us significant information.’
    The boy nodded, digesting it carefully. He said inconsequentially, ‘I came home from the Freshers’ Conference at university as soon as I heard. But we don’t know why Dad was there, do we, Sis?’ He spoke as though they might have known things their mother did not; it was probably just that he had been discussing why his father should have been in the park while he was alone with Catriona during the day. The girl shook her head to support him, while her mother remained still as a statue between them.
    Lambert said, ‘Just one more question, then we’ll leave you in peace. A simple one, for all three of you, if you like. Can you think of anyone who might have wished to offer Mr Logan this sort of violence? Each of you knows far more about the life he led than we do, who never even knew him. It doesn’t matter how unlikely any suggestion you make may seem. If it proves baseless, it will go no further than this room.’
    The three faces opposite him looked from one to the other. Jane Logan was beginning to shake her head when her daughter said suddenly, ‘There are drugs at the school, you know. I don’t know where they come from, but someone’s making a lot of money out of supplying them.’
    â€˜No more than any other school!’ said her mother sharply, as if she needed to defend the reputation of a man who could no longer defend himself.
    â€˜They were there though, Mum,’ said Matt quietly. ‘Dad knew about it. He was trying to do whatever he could to control it.’
    â€˜It’s a good thought,’ said Lambert. ‘Every secondary school has its problems. I would say Greenwood’s are less severe than those of many schools of the same size, but there are inevitably some pretty nasty characters in the background. Well in the background, unfortunately, but we shall be looking for any connection.’ He looked again at Catriona. ‘You’re the only one currently in the school. Can you give us any more definite information about the drugs being sold?’
    â€˜No. I’ve always kept well clear of them myself.’
    Matt came in quickly. ‘And being the headmaster’s kids, the pushers have always kept well clear of us!’
    Catriona said, ‘I’ll keep my ear to the ground when I get back to school next week. There must be people in the sixth form who know much more than me about it.’
    Bert Hook glanced at Lambert and said, ‘Please don’t do that. There are dangerous people involved in the drugs trade. They won’t come anywhere near the school, because it’s small beer to them. But if they hear you’re playing amateur detective, there could be more violence.’
    Lambert nodded. ‘You wouldn’t get anywhere, in any case, Catriona. It’s such