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“What’s the rest?” Reilly asked.
“‘So that which is good in me, aroused by your purity, might plead for your love’. All of this leads to the famous unmasking scene.”
“Why is he wearing a mask?”
“Because he was burned by acid at the beginning of the film and left for dead.”
Gardener thought about what Sharp had said. “Doesn’t really tell us anything, does it?”
“Other than the quote on the dressing room wall was random, in the sense that the line fitted what he wanted to say,” replied Sharp.
“Yes,” said Gardener, “that he’s holding a grudge and he’s waited some time for retribution.”
“Question is, what and when?” asked Anderson.
“That’s what we need to find out. Look at the last part of his bit of poetry found in the trunk. He’s directing us as well. ‘A shop,’ where ‘the next of my chosen will be a big shock.’ Any luck with that one?”
“There is one in the city, specialises in theatre supplies, called... wait for it... Let’s Make-up.”
“You’re joking?” said Reilly.
“No, I’m serious,” said Dave Rawson.
“Where is it?” asked Gardener.
“One of the arcades running off New Briggate. Run by an old guy and his assistant. They call him Cuthbertson. He’s been there about thirty years, knows all there is to know about theatre and stage, and just about everybody who goes in there.”
“Anyone bought any aluminium powder recently?”
“Quite a lot of people. I’ve made a list so we can start following them up.”
Gardener nodded. “You said he knows everyone who goes in there. He hasn’t had any strangers in recently, asking for oddball stuff?”
“Not that he knows of. I asked his assistant, Janine Harper, but she didn’t seem as if she was on the same planet.”
“It could be him,” said Reilly. “He runs a shop, so he’d have no trouble getting the stuff. Knows all there is to know about make-up, chances are he could apply it professionally.”
“Did he have an alibi for the night of Leonard White’s death?” asked Gardener.
“He claims he was at home, by himself. No wife, no kids.”
“And no alibi,” said Reilly.
“So, he could be our man,” said Gardener. “Then again, he could be next. The riddle says, ‘the next of my chosen will be a big shock’. Maybe it’s nothing to do with the local watch committee. We need to check him out further, Dave.”
Gardener addressed Briggs. “Do you think it’s worth tailing him for a couple of days?”
“I suppose we could spare someone to watch his movements,” replied Briggs. “Let me see what I can do.”
“What if it’s her?” asked Reilly.
“Who?”
“Janine Harper. Maybe it’ll be a big shock because he’s after her, not Cuthbertson.”
“Why would he be?” asked Briggs.
“I’m just thinking of the Phantom storyline,” replied Reilly, “a love story. Has he been rebuffed by this Janine piece and he’s going after her?”
