The Tewkesbury Tomb by Kerry Tombs Page A

my life before,’ said Ravenscroft, coughing, rubbing his hands together for warmth and wishing he had chosen a different day for their expedition.
    â€˜I’ve never seen mist as thick as this before. We used to have a lot of them on the farm when I was a child, but nothing so clammy and dark as this. There now, easy, boy!’ said Crabb pulling up the horse sharply. ‘Easy there! Don’t think he cares much for it either.’
    â€˜I think I can see a light from over there. Must be coming from a building,’ said Ravenscroft, pointing through the thick fog. ‘It is more like the middle of the night than early morning. Leavethe horse here, Tom. You can tie him up to that tree.’
    The two men dismounted from their vehicle and, after Crabb had said a few words of reassurance to the animal, they made their way slowly towards the faltering light.
    â€˜I think it’s a farm or house of some kind,’ said Ravenscroft, buttoning the top of his coat tighter as they drew near. ‘I think I can just make out a light above the doorway. Let’s knock the door and see if its occupants can tell us if Ross lives here or nearby.’
    Ravenscroft lifted the old rusty knocker and, as he bought it down on the thick oak door, it seemed as though the sound seemed to echo into the stillness of the strange landscape in which they had found themselves.
    â€˜Not at home,’ remarked Crabb, after a few moments had passed.
    â€˜You might be right. Let us try again—’ But before Ravenscroft could repeat his action, the door suddenly opened to reveal a tall, thin, middle-aged man holding a candlestick in one hand.
    â€˜Good day, sir. We are looking for Mr Charles Ross,’ said Ravenscroft, noting that the occupier was dressed entirely in black.
    â€˜I’m Ross,’ replied the man, in what Ravenscroft thought to be a Scottish accent.
    â€˜Thank goodness for that. I thought we had lost our way in this fog. My name is Detective Inspector Ravenscroft and this is my assistant, Constable Crabb. I would be obliged if you would give us a few minutes of your time.’
    The man frowned and stared at them; then, without speaking, he pushed open the door further and indicated that the two men were to enter.
    â€˜Thank you, sir,’ said Ravenscroft, stepping into the largeroom, which appeared to be sparsely furnished with an oak table and two wooden dining chairs. A large candelabra situated in the middle of the table emitted a flickering, faltering light from its three candles, and the remains of a nearly burnt-out log fought for the last moments of its life in the ash-strewn hearth.
    The man closed the creaking door behind them. Although Ravenscroft had left the darkness and clinging mist behind him, he felt no warmer in the cold, uninviting room.
    â€˜What can I do for you, gentlemen?’ asked their host.
    â€˜Could you tell me where you were the evening before last?’ asked Ravenscroft.
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜If you could just answer the question, Mr Ross, I would be most obliged.’
    â€˜I was here, as I always am.’
    â€˜We have reason to believe that you were in Tewkesbury. You were seen going into the abbey at twelve in the evening.’
    â€˜I may have been,’ said Ross, giving a loud cough before turning away to poke the expiring log in the hearth with a brass poker.
    â€˜We understand that you met five other persons outside the abbey.’
    Their host said nothing as he continued with his task.
    â€˜I must tell you that I am investigating the death of a stranger whose body was found in one of the tombs, which had been violated inside the abbey. We know that you and five other people entered the abbey and discovered the deceased, but that you disappeared before my constable took charge of the situation. Why was that, Mr Ross?’
    â€˜I could see no point in remaining there.’
    â€˜So you admit that you were in Tewkesbury on