Page 60 of The Chapel of Bones

Wesley caught Gerry’s eye. They’d been considering the possibility that Suzy Porter, the well-known and apparently much-disliked author of children’s stories, had been the killer’s real target, but now it seemed they’d have to think again.

When they told Beryl that they’d check her alibi, she meekly gave details of the other members of her writing group.

‘Ever heard of a lanzani?’ Wesley asked, standing up.

‘No. What is it?’ She sounded genuinely puzzled.

As they left the house, Wesley put his thoughts into words. ‘I don’t think she did it, do you?’

‘I agree, Wes. That was a waste of time.’

‘Perhaps Sue Potter was the killer’s real target after all.’

Gerry shook his head. ‘If Suzy Porter did that to one person, she might have done it to others. I don’t think we can rule her out as the target just yet; not if she’s the type who tramples over other people and makes enemies.’

It wasn’t often that Wesley disagreed with the boss, but somehow he couldn’t see it. He was sure Suzy Porter was a blind alley. In his experience, investigations were usually full of them.

‘Now, how about that trip to the zoo,’ Gerry said as he settled into the passenger seat. ‘We need to find out what Dale Gadson wants to tell us.’

Wesley started the engine and set off.

The smell hadn’t got any better. In fact, as they approached the ticket office, it seemed even more pungent than it did on their first visit. The same girl was on duty, bored and scrolling through her phone. She obviously recognised them because she didn’t ask for any money. Dale was somewhere inside, she said.

As they made their way in, the place seemed empty of visitors. Their first port of call was the office, but there was no sign of the owner there, so they wandered further into the zoo, passing cages occupied by sad-looking animals that either stared or growled at them. Wesley noticed that they seemed a little restless, as though they were waiting for something, possibly food. Perhaps Dale Gadson was busy preparing their meals. He knew nothing about animal-feeding regimes, so he could only guess.

They walked on, towards what sounded like the roaring of big cats. Wesley suddenly had an uneasy feeling that something was wrong. He looked at Gerry and guessed he was thinking the same.

‘Come on, Wes, let’s go and see what those pussycats are up to. Get ready to run if they’ve got free.’

As they rounded a corner, they saw the lions’ enclosure, a space Wesley considered too small for such noble beasts. The lion was standing there roaring while the two lionesses were pawing at something on the ground. When he saw that thewire mesh around the enclosure appeared to be undamaged, he relaxed a little.

‘All mouth and no trousers, that one,’ said Gerry, watching the noisy lion. What have the ladies got there?’

Wesley moved forward and peered into the cage. He stared for a few moments until he realised what he was looking at. He could see clothing. And raw, half-eaten flesh.

36

The first thing they needed to do was to lure the lions away from their prey. It was a problem Wesley and Gerry had never encountered before in their working lives, and if anyone had told them it was something they’d have to face one day, in all likelihood they would have laughed. Gunmen and knife-wielding maniacs maybe – but man-eating lions were hardly common in south Devon.

Frantic phone calls were made, and eventually Gerry’s son, Sam, came up with the solution. He called his contacts at another local zoo and arranged for a couple of vets armed with tranquilliser guns to rush to the scene. ‘Good to have friends in high places,’ Gerry remarked.

Instead of watching helplessly while the lionesses played idly with their prey, Wesley took a stunned Gerry’s arm and steered him away.

‘Let’s see if we can find Gadson.’

‘You don’t think that’s him in there?’

‘Hard to tell. The girl on the ticket desk might have some idea who’s on the premises.’

As they retraced their steps, they heard sirens. The backup they’d ordered had arrived. But there was nothing to be done until the tranquilliser darts had taken effect.

The girl looked bored as they approached the desk. Officers were piling out of the two police cars that had rushed to the scene, and Gerry hurried over to give them a quick briefing,outlining the dangerous situation and warning them that they might have to hang around for a while until help arrived.

This left Wesley to question the girl alone, and as the officers rushed past, her bored expression changed to one of excitement.

‘Where’s Mr Gadson?’ he asked.

‘Isn’t he in his office?’