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nt of pedestrian police phraseology； '。。。 at which point Mr Ellis Quint pushed one of the officers away so forcefully that the officer overbalanced into the roadway and was struck by a passing car。 Mr Quint himself then ran into the path of traffic as he attempted to cross the road to put distance between himself and the police officers。 Mr Quint caused a bus to swerve。 The bus struck Mr Quint a glancing blow； throwing him to the ground。 Mr Quint was dazed and bruised。 He was taken to hospital where he is now in a secure room while investigations proceed。'
I said； 'Are you reading that from a written account？'
'That's so。'
'How about an interpretation in your own earthy words？'
'I'm at work。 I'm not alone。'
'OK；' I said。 'Did Ellis panic or did he think he was being mugged？'
Picton half laughed。 'I'd say the first。 His lawyers will say the second。 But； d'you know what？ When they emptied his pockets ； at the hospital； they found a thick packet of cash…and his passport。'
'No！'
'It isn't illegal。'
'What does he say？'
'He hasn't said anything yet。'
'How's the officer he pushed？'
'Broken leg。 He was lucky。'
'And 。。。 when Ellis's daze wears off？'
'It'll be up to the Met。 They can routinely hold him for seventy…two hours while they frame a charge。 I'd say that's a toss…up。 With the clout he can muster； he'll be out in hours。'
'What did you do with my report？'
'It went to the proper authorities。'
Authorities was such a vague word。 Whoever described their occupation as 'an authority'？
'Thanks for phoning；' I said。
'Keep in touch。' An order； it sounded like。
I put down the receiver and found a handwritten scrawl from Kevin Mills on Pump note…headed paper in my Fax。
He'd e straight to the point。
'Sid； you're a shit。'
CHAPTER 7
The week got worse； slightly alleviated only by a letter from Linda on Thursday morning。 Variably slanting handwriting。 Jerky。 A personality torn this way and that。
Dear Sid；
I'm sorry I talked to you the way I did。 I still cannot believe that Ellis Quint would cut off Silverboy's foot； but I remember thinking when he came here to do the TV programme that he already knew a lot about what had happened。 I mean things that hadn't been in the papers； like Silverboy liking horse…nuts； which we never gave him； so how did he know； we didn't know ourselves； and I did wonder who had told him； but of course Joe asked Ellis who to buy a pony from； so of course I thought Ellis knew things about him from way back； like Silverboy being fed on horse…nuts before he came to us。
Anyway； I can see how you got it wrong about Ellis； and it was very nice of you to bring the fish tank for Rachel； I can't tear her away from it。 She keeps asking when you will e back and I don't like to tell her you won't； not as things are； so if you'll visit us again I will not say any more about you being wrong about Ellis。 I ask you for Rachel。
We are glad Ellis wasn't hurt today by that horrid bus。
Yours sincerely；
Linda Ferns。
I wrote back thanking her for her letter； accepting her invitation and saying I would phone her soon。
On Tuesday Ellis was charged with 'actual bodily harm' for having inadvertently and without intention pushed 'an assailant' into the path of potential danger （under the wheels of a speeding motor） and was set free 'pending enquiries'。
Norman Picton disillusionedly reported； 'The only approximately good thing is that they confiscated his passport。 His lawyers are pointing their fingers up any police nose they can confront； screeching that it's a scandal。'
'Where's Ellis now？'
'Look to your back。 Your report is with the Crown Prosecution Service； along with mine。'
'Do you mean you don't know where he is？'
'He's probably in Britain or anywhere he can get to where he doesn't need a passport。 He told the magistrates in court that he'd decided to do a sports programme in Australia； and he had to have his passport with him because he needed it to get a visa for Australia。'
'Never underestimate his wits；' I said。
'And he'd better look out for yours。'
'He and I know each other too well。'
On Wednesday afternoon Ellis turned up at his regular television studio as if life were entirely normal and； on pletion of an audience…attended recording of a sports quiz； was quietly arrested by three uniformed police officers。 Ellis spent the night in custody； and on Thursday morning was charged with severing the foot of a colt： to be exact； the off…fore foot of an expensive two…year…old thoroughbred owned by Mrs Elizabeth Bracken of be Bassett Manor； Berkshire。 To the vociferous fury of most of the nation； the magistrates remanded him in custody for another seven days； a preliminary precaution usually applied to those accused of murder。
Norman Picton phoned me privately on my home number。
'I'm not telling you this；' he said。 'Understand？'
'I've got cloth ears。'
'It would mean my job。'
'I hear you；' I said。 'I won't talk。'
'No；' he said； 'that； I believe。'
'Norman？'
'Word gets around。 I looked up the transcript of the trial of that man that smashed off your hand。 You didn't tell him what he wanted to know； did you？'
'No 。。。 well 。。。 everyone's a fool sometimes。'
'Some fool。 Anyway； pin back the cloth ears。 The reason why Ellis Quint is remanded for seven days is because after his arrest he tried to hang himself in his cell with his tie。'
'He didn't！'
'No one took his belt or tie away； because of who he was。 No one in the station believed in the charge。 There's all hell going on now。 The top brass are passing the parcel like a children's party。 No one's telling anyone outside anything on pain of death； so Sid 。。。'
'I promise；' I said。
'They'll remand him next week for another seven days； partly to stop him mitting suicide and partly because 。。。' he faltered on the brink of utter trust； his whole career at risk。
'I promise；' I said again quickly。 'And if I know what it is you want kept quiet； then I'll know what not to guess at publicly； won't I？'
'God；' he said； half the anxiety evaporating； 'then 。。。 there's horse blood in the hinges of the shears； and horse blood and hairs on the oily rag； and horse blood and hairs in the sacking。 They've taken samples from the colt in the hospital at Lambourn； and everything's gone away for DNA testing。 The results will be back next week。'
'Does Ellis know？'
'I imagine that's why he tried the quick way out。 It was a Hermes tie； incidentally； with a design of horseshoes。 The simple knot he tied slid undone because the tie was pure smooth silk。'
'For God's sake 。。。'
'I keep forgetting he's your friend。 Anyway； his lawyers have got to him。 They're six deep。 He's now playing the lighthearted celebrity； and he's sorrowful about you； Sid； for having got him all wrong。 His lawyers are demanding proof that Ellis himself was ever at be Bassett by night； and we are asking for proof that he wasn't。 His lawyers know we would have to drop the case if they can e up with a trustable alibi for any of the other amputations； but so far they haven't managed it。 It's early days； though。 The