Disclaimer: Doc Martin is the property of Buffalo Pictures. I own nothing.

Chapter Twenty-five

Martin looked at Penhale in outraged disbelief,

'Get out, you blithering idiot!'

'But I've got to read him his rights.'

'Why? So he can sue you for wrongful arrest later?'

'It won't be wrongful arrest. He had motive and opportunity.'

'So did half the village.'

'But he's big enough to have overpowered Anthony Oakwood.'

'Anthony Oakwood was drugged not overpowered. Didn't you read the autopsy report?'

'It's a top priority but unfortunately pressure of work has prevented me from perusing it as yet.'

'You imbecile! Does Haines know you're here?'

'Yes, he told me to bring him in.'

'What's his number?'

'Ah, well, I'm not actually allowed to tell you his number. It's confidential, you see.'

'Don't be ridiculous. What if a member of the public needs to contact him?'

'Then they contact an officer who decides if it warrants Detective Inspector Haines' attention, and who then asks the Inspector to call the relevant member of the public.'

'Absurd!'

Martin decided that there was no possibility of getting any sense out of Penhale, so shouted,

'Pauline!'

The door opened immediately,

'Yes, Doctor Ellingham.'

'Get hold of Detective Inspector Haines and ask him to call me immediately.'

'Yes, Doctor Ellingham.'

Pauline vanished and they waited in silence until Martin's phone rang,

'Ellingham.'

'Haines here.'

'Did you send Penhale to arrest Ian Baker?'

'No. I sent him to fetch him so I can ask him some more questions.'

'Have you spoken to Chris Parsons?'

'No.'

'You need to.'

Without waiting for Haines to reply, Martin hung up. He turned to Penhale and tried to rein in his exasperation,

'Joe, you were supposed to ask Mr Baker to come and answer some more questions, not arrest him. Why did you think you were supposed to arrest him?'

Penhale looked embarrassed and muttered,

'Must have misheard.'

Martin looked at him suspiciously,

'You fell asleep, didn't you?'

Penhale blushed and nodded.

'How many times has this happened recently?'

'I'm not sure. A few times.'

'Are you taking your medication?'

'Yes.'

'Make an appointment on your way out and ask Pauline to take some blood.'

'Yes, Doc.'

Joe got up to leave and Ian Baker stood up too,

'Better see what the inspector wants. Sorry, Doc.'

Martin nodded curtly and Ian led his daughters out, leaving Martin with Paul Milligan, who said,

'Martin, could I have a word? About Bert Large.'

'Yes?'

'Would you describe him as a straightforward man?'

'Yes. Why?'

'He spent a significant proportion of our session lying to me.'

'Odd.'

'Yes, he refused to tell me what was worrying him even though it's eating away at him. He barely spoke, in fact.'

'Hmm. That's not like him, I usually can't get him to shut up.'

'And he asked me what the difference between hearsay and circumstantial evidence was.'

'Did you tell him?'

'Yes, after he'd lied to me about just wanting to improve his vocabulary,' said Paul with a wry smile.

'How did he react?'

'He relaxed.'

'Interesting.'

'Why?'

'He must have realised who the murderer is.'

'Really.'

'Yes. That explains his behaviour this morning too.'

Martin started towards his consulting room door, intending to get some lunch, only to be stopped by Paul asking,

'But shouldn't we ask him who it is?'

Martin looked at Paul blankly for a second before saying,

'Why? I already know.'

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