Mrs. Pargeter's Point of Honour (25 page)

It was a pity that so many of the named villains had died before justice could catch up with them, but at least there were six surviving defendants to throw the book at. Wilkinson's unravelling of the complex connections in the network of criminals had been recognized as masterly. The Superintendent even apologized for having underestimated his long-serving officer in the past, and not recognizing the genius that lay beneath an apparently plodding exterior. He recommended Wilkinson for immediate promotion to the rank of chief inspector.

Most importantly, thanks to the exhaustive, tenacious work of one dedicated detective, the outstanding file on the late Mr Pargeter could be finally closed.

Oh yes, thought Wilkinson, running his tongue along the luxuriance of his curly moustache, I've certainly made my mark in the Police Force.

The hymn singing from the assembled congregation in the little church of Chastaigne Upton was full-bodied and surprisingly tuneful.

And Mrs Pargeter, who didn't believe in God, thought indulgently that if it wasn't Him who'd made them, then it was someone else. And whoever it was had good reason to be proud of His or Her creation.