The analyst’s report on the brown fleck from the cassock came back the next morning, delivered to the temporary room the police had commandeered in the Chapter House.

“Blood,” Makepeace said, scanning the neat clerkly hand. “Not enough to say human or otherwise, but blood it is. On a cassock that doesn’t belong where we found it.”

“And a hymn leaf in the pocket with half the Close’s initials,” Lomas said. “If our murderer isn’t connected to that garment, I’ll eat Tuttle’s keyring.”

He spread the hymn–page on the table. The list was short but telling:

B.D. – £5 (College)
S.K. – £3 (Organ)
R.G. – £2 10s (Letters)
V.B. – £1 (St Ma...

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