An Act of Evil by Robert Richardson

of Diana’s child was a link in the chain of Madden’s mind; sex and murder, like love and hate, were common companions.
    “ In any case, sir, even if he were the father, he certainly could not have nailed the hand on the door. He was with three other people when he left the house and for most of the evening I was with him. We all left the cathedral together and I was only a few feet behind him when we discovered the hand. He’s one of quite a number of people who can be ruled out.”
    Madden pondered the point.
    “ You’re sure he never left you?” Jackson nodded. “Then…the question is, did whoever nailed that hand to the door choose his moment because he knew they were all out of the house? In which case he either saw them leave…or saw them in the cathedral and left before they did.”
    “ Both are possible,” said Jackson. “A great many people left before we did.”
    Madden pinched his nose, then shook his head briskly.
    “ A great many holes, sergeant. We’ll need a lot more evidence yet.” The phone on his desk rang. “Right,” he said after listening for a moment, then rang off. “The incident room is ready. Come with me for the initial briefing then I want you to go back to Punt Yard and tell them it is Miss Porter’s hand. And see if they can throw any light on the father of the child. This way.”
    With his customary efficiency, Madden had organised nearly twenty officers in the incident room which was already virtually fully equipped to deal with the anticipated mass of information which would eventually come in. Jackson joined the rest and they sat or stood in a rough semi-circle as Madden spoke.
    “ First of all, it has been established that the hand discovered earlier this evening is that of Diana Porter, the actress who disappeared on Sunday,” he began. “Inquiries into her disappearance have yielded nothing so far. As you know, I’ve already ordered checks to be made with all hospitals and doctors in the immediate area to see if they have treated anyone for a severed hand. These inquiries will be extended to other forces if necessary.
    “ At present this is obviously not a murder inquiry but until we find that she has received medical treatment it will be regarded as one, body or no body.” Madden turned to where a hastily blown-up map of the area immediately surrounding the cathedral had been pinned to the wall and pointed to a red sticker.
    “ This is where she was last seen in the Dean’s garden at about six o’clock on Sunday afternoon. The hand was discovered on the door of Canon Cowan’s house here, about a hundred yards away. Not a great many people live in the immediate area but there are a lot of tourists passing through it. Every home is to be visited. I want notices put up here, here…and here.” He indicated the entrance from the main road into Punt Yard, the alleyway that ran from the north transept to the city centre shops and a point outside the Chapter House. “People who have been there in the past couple of days may visit again and I want them interviewed. Anything suspicious. Anyone behaving strangely. Anyone even remotely answering Miss Porter’s description. Sergeant Neale has arranged enlargements of the photographs issued to the press when she went missing.
    “ I’m detailing officers to make inquiries in London. This woman had a great many friends in the acting profession. I want everything they know. Any threats, professional jealousies. And, most important, boyfriends. She was pregnant.” His tone implied no moral condemnation, although he was known to be puritanical in such matters; in these circumstances, Diana’s pregnancy was nothing more than a line of investigation.
    “ Her only known relative is a brother and the police in Bristol will be talking to him.” He looked round the attentive group. “Any questions? Right. Keep in constant touch with this room. Inspector Barratt will be in day-to-day charge. I’ve arranged a press