“Come,” the Acting Chief Superintendent said, his tone of voice indicating that he was busy. Rutledge stepped inside the door. “Inspector Rutledge reporting, sir,” he said when Markham didn’t immediately look up. When he did, he pushed back his chair and gestured to the one opposite. “That business in Staffordshire? The police there found the murderer this morning, just before dawn. He was asleep, mind you. Soundly asleep after what he’d done. I can’t fathom it, can you?” As he knew next to nothing about events in Staffordshire, Rutledge could offer only “No, sir.” “Well,” Markham said, setting aside the papers in front of him. “What are we to do about Essex?” “I’ve told you my feeling on that score, sir. We should investigate Diaz.” “Yes, yes, you’ve made that clear. But I think we must act on what we know, rather than speculate about an old man’s dreams of vengeance.
