The lad looked thoughtful, as if he was trying to work out an answer to a vexing question. Nottingham poured himself a mug of ale and asked, ‘What did you find?’ ‘She was here on the Thursday, right enough. Stabled her horse about ten, as far as the ostler remembers. Will’s landlady let her and her maid in a little later and they stayed for two hours.’ ‘I don’t suppose she happened to hear any conversation?’ Rob shook his head. ‘Not for want of trying, though, from the look of her.’ ‘Did she see Sarah when she left?’ ‘Just heard the door. And Will went out soon after. Sarah collected the horse and left early afternoon.’ ‘Good, that’s one more piece.’ He smiled at Lister’s look of confusion. ‘Do you ever play puzzles?’ ‘I did when I was young.’ ‘Sometimes a crime is like a puzzle and you need to discover the answer bit by bit until you reach the answer. This one’s going to be like that. You knew Jackson. Do you know who his close friends were?’ ‘Some of them.’ ‘I want you to talk to them, see if they knew he had a girl.
