‘Have things died down now?’

‘There are still rumblings below the surface.’

Taking out his notepad, Keedy copied the list onto a blank page. When he’d finished, he handed the sheet of paper back to Raymond.

‘Thank you, Major. You’ve been very helpful.’

‘I’m always ready to assist the police.’

‘The inspector has obviously got you well trained. I hope that we’ll be in a position to help you in return one day.’

‘Oddly enough, I was about to suggest that.’

‘Oh?’

‘Do you play a musical instrument, Sergeant?’

‘No,’ said the other, ‘I’m tone deaf.’

‘Then it sounds to me as if you’re better off with a bass drum. You’re strong enough to carry it and clever enough to beat it. Can we count on you joining our band on Sunday morning?’

Keedy was alarmed. ‘Hey, now hold on a moment,’ he said, backing away. ‘I’m not volunteering for the Salvation Army.’

‘Don’t you want to save sinners with rousing music?’ asked Raymond, grinning broadly. ‘It’s very rewarding work.’

‘I’ll take your word for it, Major.’

‘Our door is always open.’

‘The inspector warned me that you’d try to recruit me.’

‘I’ve been trying to recruit Harvey for almost twenty years but he says that he has important work to do.’ He indicated the crucifix on his collar. ‘What’s more important than serving Jesus Christ?’

The detective wisely chose not to reply. Although there was a humorous note in Raymond’s voice, Keedy had no wish to be drawn into an argument with him. Even on their brief acquaintance, he could see how plausible and persuasive Major Marmion was. Keedy had been brought up in the Anglican Church but rarely attended services now. Religion was something that had gradually faded from his life. It was not the moment to rekindle it.

Raymond gave him a firm handshake and pumped his arm.

‘It was a pleasure to meet you, Sergeant Keedy,’ he said.

‘The pleasure was mutual.’

‘You have a devoted admirer in the family.’

‘Oh,’ said Keedy, misunderstanding, ‘Inspector Marmion is not always full of admiration for me. If I make a mistake — and I do that from time to time — he comes down on me like a ton of bricks.’

‘I wasn’t talking about Harvey. I was referring to my niece.’

Keedy was jolted. ‘Alice?’

‘Who else? Your name often comes up when we all get together. Alice speaks very well of Joe Keedy.’

‘Thank you for telling me.’

The news brought a smile to his face and ignited a memory of their time together washing the dishes the previous Sunday. Until he turned up at the house, Keedy had forgotten how attractive Alice Marmion was. It had been months since he’d last seen her and she’d matured in the interim. It made him look forward with anticipatory delight to their next meeting. Conscious that Raymond was watching him, Keedy became serious and waved his pad.

‘This list will be extremely useful, Major,’ he said.

‘It’s not comprehensive, I fear. Old groups emerge in new forms all the time and some may consist of no more than a handful of people. Of one thing, however, I can assure you,’ said Raymond, seriously. ‘Anti-Semitism is as virulent as ever.’

They moved with speed. When the lorry drew up outside the synagogue, they jumped out and unloaded cardboard boxes filled with firewood and newspapers. The boxes were piled against the double doors. Then the man in the dungarees doused them liberally in petrol from a large can. Lighting a cigarette, he took a couple of puffs before tossing it into the biggest of the cardboard boxes. There was an immediate explosion and flames began dancing against the doors. Seconds later, the lorry sped off down the street.

Ruth felt increasingly oppressed. Though the wider family was still mourning the death of Jacob Stein, they also kept a close eye on his only daughter in case she should be tempted to take her own life again. Suffocated by their love, Ruth was simultaneously worn down by their surveillance. Privacy was a thing of the past. There was always somebody there and she came to see her nearest and dearest as so many warders changing shifts outside her cell. It was her mother’s turn to be on duty that morning.

‘How are you feeling today?’ she asked, solicitously.

‘I’m fine, Mother.’

‘Did you have a better night?’

‘Not really,’ said Ruth.

‘What kept you awake?’

‘It was the usual thing.’

‘You must stop blaming yourself for what happened,’ said Miriam, gently. ‘Those two evil men were to blame — not you. They’ve both been arrested and will be convicted of the crime. Doesn’t that give you a feeling of relief?’

‘No, it doesn’t.’

‘Why not?’

‘I can’t explain it.’

‘Are you still afraid of them?’

‘Yes, Mother.’

‘But they’re safely locked up.’

‘One of them is,’ said Ruth. ‘The other man is out on bail.’

‘He can’t touch you here.’

‘That’s not the point.’

‘Then what is?’

‘You wouldn’t understand.’

Though Miriam continued to press her for details, her daughter had taken refuge in silence. It was impossible for Ruth to untangle the confused mixture of heightened emotions and irrational fears swirling around inside her. She was taxed by the apparent pointlessness of her existence yet racked by guilt because she had tried to bring it to an end. She felt irredeemably responsible for tarnishing the family’s hitherto spotless reputation.

Miriam reached for what she hoped would be a possible solution to her daughter’s distress, assuring her that everything would seem different when her brother, Daniel, returned. Because there was such a strong bond between them, he had always been able to cheer up his sister. His mere presence, Miriam felt, would act as a fillip to Ruth.

‘He’ll get your Uncle Herman’s letter before long,’ she said.

‘You keep saying that.’

‘Daniel is thousands of miles away. We’re not sure where his regiment actually is at the moment but your uncle will find him somehow.’

Ruth was certain of it. Her uncle was very tenacious and usually got what he wanted in the end. But she had misgivings about the potential return of her brother. While she missed Daniel terribly and longed to have him back home, she feared that the trust between them would be shattered when he learnt what she had tried to do. Shocked by her suicide bid, he would condemn it along with everyone else. Instead of being a loving brother offering her succour, he might turn out to be one more person maintaining a vigil over her.

They heard a car sweep onto the drive and come to a halt. Its door was opened and slammed then footsteps approached. The sound of a key being inserted in the lock told them that it was Herbert Stone, who was allowed to let himself in at any time. He came striding into the living room where the two women were seated on the sofa. Hoping for news about her son, Miriam got to her feet.

‘Is there any word of Daniel?’ she asked, then she saw the mingled fury and sorrow in his face. ‘What’s wrong, Herman?’

‘I’ve just heard appalling news,’ he said. ‘Someone tried to burn down the synagogue last night.’

In view of recent developments, Marmion felt that David Cohen had not been as forthcoming as he should have been with regard to details about the way that the business in Jermyn Street was run. As a result, he decided to call on the former manager at home to press him for more information. Cohen was surprised to find the inspector standing on his threshold when he opened the front door but he quickly recovered his poise and invited the visitor in. They adjourned to the living room. Marmion turned down the offer of refreshment and plunged straight in.

‘Why didn’t you tell me that Mr Stein’s brother had a stake in the firm?’ he asked.

‘It didn’t seem pertinent.’

‘Everything relating to the business is pertinent, Mr Cohen.’