Read The Merchant's House for Free Online Page B

castle and along the cliff path,’ replied Dave, matter-of-fact.
    Sludge pulled a face. ‘We’ll stay here in the town, eh, Donn?’
    Donna nodded in agreement. She hadn’t realised that the expedition might involve a long walk; somehow she had imagined the spot to be on a bus route, the idea of walking for pleasure being incomprehensible to her. The two couples parted, agreeing to meet later at the bus stop.
    Dave and Julie strode through Tradmouth’s narrow streets, having decided to forgo the wave-tossed excitement of the little castle ferry owing to lack of funds. The day was pleasant, and Dave began to enjoy himself as they passed the castle walls and headed for open country. Then the sight of the carrier bag Julie was carrying reminded him of why they were there. It would all be over soon; out of their hands; not their responsibility. They had wiped the bag carefully; removed all possible fingerprints. There would be nothing to connect them with it. They would dump it near where they had found it and get away from the place as fast as they could. They wouldn’t want to hang about anyway – not after what had happened there.
    The police tapes were still hanging there, marking the spot. Dave looked at Julie, who responded with a nervous smile. There was nobody about.
    The six pints PC Johnson had had in the Red Bull with his mates the night before were still having an unfortunate effect on his bladder, as was the flask of tea thoughtfully brought to him by Mrs Hutchins from the farm that lunch-time. He was glad of the abundance of bushes.
    He was bored. He had counted the boats on the sea, tried to become an avid birdwatcher, even told himself that he was lucky to be enjoying a beautiful bit of Britain’s coastline and getting paid for it. But the inspector knew best, he supposed: if he wanted the site watching, it had to be watched.
    Johnson stationed himself behind a tall bush and sighed with relief as his bladder lost its heavy burden. He was glad it wasn’t the height of the tourist season: discreet urinationwould be difficult with lines of walkers trudging by, however high the bushes.
    But there
was
someone. He could hear the crack of undergrowth and the murmur of voices. He decided to stay where he was. The sight of a policeman emerging from the bushes might alarm some innocent walker; besides, he could see everything from his hidden vantage point.
    He watched as the young couple stopped and opened the carrier bag. They turned it over, careful not to touch its contents. Something fell to the ground at the foot of a high hawthorn hedge and they kicked it under the foliage so whatever it was was well hidden. PC Johnson switched on his radio and called the station.
    It was ten o’clock that night when Donna and Sludge returned to their caravan. They had waited for Julie and Dave but there had been no sign of them. Sludge showed no curiosity about their whereabouts. They just hadn’t bothered turning up; had found something more exciting to do. People move on.
    But Donna, unconvinced by Sludge’s explanation, felt uneasy. Something had happened to Dave and Julie. She opened a can of cider and tried not to think about it.

Chapter 5
     
     
Elizabeth’s sickness doth not abate. In the church on Sunday she felt much discomfort and kept to her bed for the remainder of the day.
    In church I prayed the Lord to forgive my weakness. There is a small hole in the wall in the empty chamber at the top of the house next to where Jennet sleeps. I am drawn there to watch her in secret. When she doth undress she fires my lust and I cannot help myself. I go to the spying hole like one that hath no will of his own. To see her naked is my only desire and to know that she doth not suspect inflames the lust within me.
    Oh Lord, forgive me. It must cease forthwith.
    Extract from the journal of John Banized,
20 March 1623
     
    On Wednesday morning Wesley set off for work early: a murder investigation generates work as a nuclear