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Chapter 15


Brian felt ashamed about the way that he'd lost to the Lord of the Dance. He prided himself on being the strongest dancer, the most accomplished with a stick, yet he'd been bested by someone half his size. Dance practice had become to Brian exactly that, dance practice. It was meant to be a way to showcase their skills with a stick, their agility and ability. Instead, the focus had been lost and they were more interested in entertaining than educating. People needed to know how formidable they were. That reputation had been destroyed by the Lord of the Dance but it had been slowly eroded over the years by their own hand. Their signature 'bricklayers' dance using trowels and short sticks used to be breathtaking and awe-inspiring. Now it was almost farcical slap-stick. Brian reviewed the training program and with a smile, tore it in two. It would need to be redesigned, they had become lost and it was up to him to find them again, back to basics. He set to work.

*

Cecil revisited the home of the lady from the pub. Her name was Miranda and she lived with her boyfriend, Oswald. It was Oswald who had answered the door. Instead of being welcomed in Cecil had been faced with a torrent of abuse. Why had the dancers allowed the attack? Why hadn't they stopped it? Why had they allowed Miranda to find the body? Why hadn't they caught the killer? Oswald was obviously upset and Cecil tried to calm him down. It wasn't working very well and he was relieved when Miranda came to the door, shooed Oswald away and invited him in.

"I don't remember much at all," she said for the third time. "I remember the blood and the mess, the only people I remember seeing were you and your friend."

"Were there any sounds which you can remember, any small detail may be a big clue." Miranda was visibly wracking her brain for anything of use but she kept drawing a blank. "I heard something falling over which was why I went around the back. There was nobody else there other than the body. The only other noise I remember was bells which must have been you following after me. I remember getting home but everything in between is a blur. I'm sorry I can't be of much help."

"Don't worry, you have been," replied Cecil a little uneasy. Something that Miranda had said didn't sit well with him. He wasn't happy with where this was going but he would need to follow it through. He needed to face the truth, however difficult that may be.

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