something with which to cover her face.â
âYouâll do no such thing. I want to see whatâs happened to her and if it is Kerensa Iâll get every man from the Trelyn Estate up here to search for Albert.â
âThat would be a great help. I have already sent to Launceston for all available constables to help in the search for him. We will be able to make use of anyone else who can join them but, with all due respect, I feel it would be far better if you did not see her face until the doctor who will carry out an autopsy has been able to examine her and perhaps clean her upâ¦.â
âWhy does there have to be an autopsy? Isnât it enough that she should have fallen and disfigured herself, if thatâs what has happened to her? Does her body have to be mutilated as well?â
âI am afraid it is necessary, Mr Morgan, because I do not believe her injuries to have been caused by an accident.â
Startled, it was some moments before Morgan seemed able to take in what Amos had said, then, in a strangled voice he queried, âNot an accident ⦠what do you mean?â
âI mean that she appears to have been murdered. Now, I regret the need for this, but do you mind coming up to the tor with us and checking whether the body is that of your wife but, if it is, please donât touch her?â
Â
Horace Morgan was able to confirm that the body lying on the moor at the base of Hawkâs Tor was that of his wife, Kerensa. He not only recognized the clothes she was wearing, but also identified the wedding ring which, when removed from the stiff third finger of her left hand revealed the inscription, â K & H â engraved inside the gold band.
Trying hard not to look at her disfigured face, he demanded tearfully, âWho would do such a thing to her, and why ⦠and where can Albert be? What would they have done with him?â
The Trelyn estate steward glanced up at the tor towering above them and, correctly reading his thoughts, Amos said, âSergeant Churchyard has been up there and found nothing, but as soon as policemen from Launceston arrive here we will organize a thorough search of the rest of the moor.â
Seemingly grateful for an opportunity to do something positive, Morgan said, âThereâs no need to wait for them, Iâll bring every man from the estate up here and begin the search right away. If Albert is on the moor heâll have been out in the open all night, thatâs already far too long for a helpless baby.â
âThatâs a splendid idea,â Amos agreed. âTake Sergeant Churchyardâs pony and gather all the men you can. We will wait here until Sergeant Dreadon comes to take your wifeâs body down to Trelyn.â
âWhat do you intend doing about finding Kerensaâs killer?â Some of Horace Morganâs natural aggression returned when he posed the question to Amos.
âWhile youâre away we will see if we can find anything up here that might help us, but our main investigation will begin when we have the results of the autopsy and know exactly how and when she died. We will also have to obtain a statement from you, Mr Morgan, distressing though it might be for you. We will find your wifeâs killer, and your son too, but I am afraid nothing we are able to do is going to bring your wife back to you.â
Chapter 4
N EWS OF KERENSAâS murder and the disappearance of baby Albert spread quickly and soon the party searching the moor was augmented by miners from many of the nearby copper mines. They scoured a vast area until poor light brought the search to an end, but nothing was found of the child.
When darkness fell not a single searcher remained on the moor. Rumours of a âbeastâ or some supernatural creature roaming the high ground at night was not wholly believed by everyone but with the unexplained death of Kerensa Morgan no one was willing to put it to