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punched out his parents’ number in Santa Barbara. It rang and rang and he could imagine his father saying, “Who the hell is
thatV
and at last climbing testily out of his deckchair and making his way into the house. He could imagine him shuffling down the pale blue-painted hallway and picking up the phone. And right on cue he heard, “Winward residence … what do you want
now?”
    â€œDad, it’s Josh.”
    â€œJosh? Well, how about that? I thought you were dead.”
    â€œDad, listen. Something terrible’s happened.”
    Josh called Detective Sergeant Paul dead on midnight. Common sense told him that he would need a few minutes to get to his desk, but he couldn’t wait any longer. As it was, it was picked up instantly, and a woman’s voice snapped, “Incident room.”
    â€œHallo? I’m calling from the United States. I’m trying to get in touch with Detective Sergeant Paul.”
    â€œThat’s me.”
    â€œOh, I see. I’m real sorry, I expected—”
    â€œI know. You expected a man. Quite understandable. You must be calling about Julia Winward.”
    â€œThat’s right. My name’s Josh Winward, I’m her brother.”
    â€œWell, I hope you’ll accept our condolences, Mr Winward. This is obviously a most distressing time for you.”
    â€œIt came as a shock, for sure. Do you have any idea how it happened? I mean, Julia went to England to get over a messy romance, but she wasn’t the suicidal kind. Not unless something’s happened to her that none of her family know about.”
    â€œThis wasn’t a suicide, Mr Winward.”
    â€œWhat does that mean? That somebody else pushed her in?”
    â€œSomebody else
dropped
her in, sir. We haven’t had a complete post-mortem, but there’s no question at all, she was dead before she went into the river.”
    â€œYou’re sure about that?”
    â€œAbsolutely, sir. Yes.”
    â€œYou mean there was no water in her lungs or anything? I’m sorry – maybe I’ve been watching too much
Murder, She Wrote.”
    â€œThere was no water in her lungs, sir.” Pause. “Not as far as we know.”
    There was something about the way she paused that aroused Josh’s suspicion. “You mean you don’t definitely know whether there was water in her lungs or not?”
    â€œNot at this stage, sir. I’m afraid there was some degree of tampering with your sister’s body.”
    â€œTampering?”
    Another pause, and then the word that Josh had been dreading. “Mutilation, I suppose you’d have to call it. I really can’t say any more over the phone. But we’ve initiated a full-scale murder inquiry and I’d like to reassure you that everything possible is being done to find the person or persons responsible for your sister’s death.”
    Josh had to take three deep breaths. He felt as if a huge weight were pressing on his chest.
    Detective Sergeant Paul said, “Are you still there, Mr Winward?”
    â€œYes, I’m still here. I was just a little … overwhelmed, that’s all.”
    â€œI’m sorry, sir. But I can’t pretend that it was anything other than a very brutal murder. Whoever did it is an extremely dangerous individual, and your sister’s case has absolute top priority. Do you have e-mail?”
    â€œYes, yes I do.”
    â€œIn that case, I can send you copies of some of the newspaper reports. But only if you don’t think you’ll find them too upsetting.”
    â€œNo, no, please. I wish you would. Right now … well, I’m still finding it difficult to get my head around it.”
    â€œI do need to ask you some questions, too. Quite a lot of questions.”
    â€œFire away. Anything I can do to help. Anything.”
    â€œWell, let me send you the newspaper reports first. I’ve got one or two things on my plate at the