Gently Instrumental by Alan Hunter

special handling?’
    ‘It . . . wasn’t a factor one could overlook.’
    Gently gestured carelessly. ‘Though of course, with that sort, there’s always the danger of being misunderstood. They are used to being repulsed, so that any show of friendliness is likely to encourage them. It might also look suspicious to other people. But that was a risk you had to take.’
    Meares’s hands changed position slightly. ‘Has some suggestion like that been made?’
    ‘No . . . nothing, really! It’s much the same wherever homosexuals are involved. They tend to arouse hostility and exaggerated suspicions. It’s enough to drink with one, to be seen in his company, to set a dozen tongues wagging.’
    Meares hesitated. ‘Then . . . that would account for any idle talk that’s gone about. Certainly I bought him an occasional drink and tried to treat him as a human being.’
    ‘In a way you’d feel sorry for him.’
    ‘Perhaps.’
    ‘He was not to blame for his nature.’
    Meares said carefully: ‘I believe it is accepted that such a condition is involuntary.’
    ‘And meanwhile, apart from that, Virtue was quite a likeable fellow. He was, for example, a well-favoured young man whom it was not displeasing to have around.’
    ‘In a way . . . that was true.’
    ‘He was slim, and graceful.’
    ‘There was nothing clumsy about him.’
    ‘A caressing, affectionate manner.’
    Meares moved his head in brief assent.
    ‘But . . . except at rehearsals . . . you saw little of him?’
    Meares considered the point politely. ‘Other than passing him in the street, I think I only saw him at Walt’s cottage.’
    ‘You saw him there?’
    ‘I could scarcely avoid it. The initial rehearsals took place at the cottage. Walt first showed the
Quintet
to Dr Capel and myself and then we rehearsed it while Walt made revisions.’
    ‘So you became a familiar visitor at the cottage?’
    ‘To a certain extent, yes.’
    ‘You would see Virtue there on a more social basis?’
    ‘The setting was less formal than the Music Room.’
    ‘But otherwise . . . only when passing.’
    Meares’s hands changed position again. ‘Actually, that was quite rarely, because of his special relationship with Walt. In so many words, Walt was jealous. He did his best to keep Terry to himself. It was a policy which Terry found irksome, and which I’m certain led to the trouble on Tuesday.’
    Gently nodded. ‘Terry was bidding for independence.’
    ‘Yes. He wanted to break free from Walt. As I read it he intended to leave the cottage and set up by himself somewhere else.’
    ‘That was actually mentioned?’
    Meares checked. ‘At least, I received that impression.’
    ‘But . . . would that have been a possible course, when his only support came from Mr Hozeley?’
    Meares’s shoulders moved. ‘I may have been misled. Things are said in the heat of the moment. Or Terry may have felt he could rely on Walt even if he asserted his independence.’
    ‘Or perhaps he had some other iron in the fire.’
    ‘If he did I could not say what. But the outburst was emotional and confused, it would be unwise to interpret it too strictly.’
    ‘Yes . . . unwise.’ Gently’s hand dismissed it. ‘And for this reason – Hozeley’s jealousy – you saw Terry infrequently.’
    ‘Very infrequently. He was rarely allowed down town on his own.’
    ‘Yet sometimes he must have escaped, naturally.’
    ‘No doubt he did whenever he could.’
    ‘Those, of course, are the times that interest us. Especially the occasions of recent date.’
    Meares was silent.
    ‘Can you help us there?’
    ‘I am . . . trying to remember when I last saw him out.’
    ‘Within the last few days,’ Gently said. ‘Let’s take an example. Last weekend.’
    Meares shook his head. ‘No. I’m pretty certain.’
    ‘Or narrow it down,’ Gently said. ‘Saturday.’
    ‘I’m afraid I can’t help you.’
    ‘The afternoon.’
    ‘No.’
    ‘At around 3 p.m.’
    Meares continued to