A Medal For Murder (49 page)

They made their plans. I watched and listened, envying such certainties.

When they had gone, I opened the bottom drawer of my new filing cabinet. Mrs Sugden had thoughtfully placed manila filing pockets in alphabetical order. I held the Victoria Cross awarded to Captain Wolfendale in the palm of my hand. If ever Lucy Wolfendale asked me for it, she should have it. For now, I would file it, under M.

M for Medal. M for Murder.

 
 

Thanks to George Cairncross whose family archive and photographs helped inspire this story. The characters bear no resemblance to your relations, George. Thanks to Jean Coates for her good company in Harrogate; Jan Coates for typing up notes; Sylvia Gill for listening; Ann Hazan for sharing the trip to South Africa, and to Stephen Wright for leading me through the art of repairing watches and clocks.

The Cairncross South Africa medals were not available for display when I visited the Cape of Good Hope Museum in Cape Town, but a wealth of other materials brought the past to life, as did diaries, photographs and memorabilia in the Royal Armouries, Leeds, where Stuart Ivinson searched out just the sorts of papers I needed. At Harrogate Library, Samantha Findlay found background material that had not been packed away during library renovations. Margaret Power was also on hand, to answer some of my questions. Not every Harrogate street and landmark mentioned in the story will be found on the map.

Thank you to a very special editor, Emma
Beswetherick, for such spot-on insights and patience, to Lucy Icke and staff at Piatkus who provide sterling support, and to my agent Judith Murdoch for her continued encouragement.