The Tooth Tattoo(70)

‘The question is,’ Diamond said, plucking at the lobe of his ear, ‘do they have anything to cover up?’


The practice went on for almost two hours before the quartet took a break. When the door of the rehearsal room opened, Diamond was waiting outside. The rest of the CID team had already left for the police station.

Cat emerged at speed and made a beeline for the ladies’ room. Her reaction to Diamond was to raise both hands. ‘Not now.’ Over her shoulder, she added, ‘Talk about groupies. You’re one of them.’

Diamond stepped into the rehearsal room.

Ivan looked up, but not to welcome the visitor. ‘You people have a damn nerve. What is it now? We’re in the middle of a practice.’

‘A few words with Anthony during your break won’t hold you up.’

‘Anthony’s already answered questions.’

‘Not from me.’

‘He’s within his rights to refuse.’

‘If you want to talk about rights, we can take up all of the break before I even start to question him.’

‘Intolerable.’ Ivan looked across the room to where Anthony was studying the score, apparently oblivious of what was being discussed. ‘This policeman wants more time with you. Can you spare him a couple of minutes?’

Diamond said, ‘He’ll spare me as long as it takes.’ He curled his finger at Anthony, turned and left the room, confident that he would follow.

And he did, entering the percussion room and seating himself on the stool behind the drum set.

Diamond looked the young man up and down and understood Ingeborg’s remark about the dark good looks. The high, narrow cheekbones and finely shaped mouth were likely to appeal to any woman, however stone-faced Anthony appeared. The unattainable has a strong sexual attraction. A confident woman would expect him to respond to the right signals.

A burly male detective had no such optimism. Getting any kind of response would be a challenge. But there was one thing that might work in Diamond’s favour. People with autism generally speak the truth if they say anything at all. They are honest to the point of rudeness.

Start on safe ground, he decided. Get the man talking about what he knows best. ‘How’s the practice going?’

‘Okay.’

Better than no answer at all. ‘Preparing for tomorrow’s concert, are you?’

This time Anthony settled for a nod.

‘Beethoven, wasn’t it?’ Diamond ventured.

Anthony was supposed to get the idea that Diamond was a fellow lover of music. He didn’t show a glimmer of appreciation.

‘I couldn’t place the piece,’ Diamond added, which was true. He was about as capable of placing a piece of Beethoven as he was of riding a Derby winner. ‘Do you mind telling me what it was?’

‘Opus 59, Number 3,’ Anthony said.

‘Silly me. I’m a duffer with numbers.’

‘In C major.’

‘C major.’ Diamond raised his thumb as if all had been made clear. ‘Any particular part?’

‘The fugue.’

‘And to me it sounded just as a fugue should.’

‘It was too fast.’

‘A shade quick, I’ll give you.’

Hearing this, Anthony with his care for the truth must have assumed he was in the company of a connoisseur. ‘You’re right about that. Beethoven’s tempo instruction is just about impossible.’ Now he wanted to discuss the playing of the fugue, which would be a minefield for Diamond.

‘I didn’t appreciate that,’ Diamond said, ‘about the tempo instruction.’

‘It’s a metronome mark.’

‘Does that make a difference?’

‘The metronome wasn’t invented when the piece was written.’

This was information any self-respecting detective could work on. ‘Beethoven added his note at some later date?’

Anthony nodded. ‘Much later, when he was stone deaf.’

‘So you think he got it wrong?’

‘It’s meant to be quick and energetic, but – ’

‘Not so quick as you played it?’

Anthony made a fist and held it up in solidarity with Diamond. ‘You’re right. Something is lost at the tempo he gives. I keep telling Ivan to slow up a touch. The music is without fault. It can take it. He won’t listen. He’s implacable. He treats the score as gospel.’

‘Don’t the others have something to say about it?’

Anthony shook his head.

‘Maybe they don’t want to make an issue of it,’ Diamond suggested. ‘Cat is all for peace and harmony and Mel is too new to the quartet to take a stand.’

From Anthony’s wide-eyed look this was an insight he had missed. ‘Do you play?’