19: An explanation, of sorts, for those really interested

Alcock sits the others down to explain his theory about how the clues fit together.

First: Juggins arrived when Masongill left because, well, Juggins is Masongill! and the two could hardly be in the Potting Shed at the same time.

Second: Juggins was found on the security tapes because, while Masongill was living living back in the Potting Shed, Juggins could not be far away because Juggins is Masongill!

Third: Juggins’s hat had the details of the Bad Thing that happened in Masongill’s village because Juggins is Masongill!

At this point Alcock’s explanation becomes a little more complicated. Although Juggins is Masongill, neither of ‘them’ knows or knew that fact. Juggins is the personality Masongill somehow automatically took to escape the sadness of his memory of the Bad Thing that happened in his village. But even while not having Masongill’s memories - except some vague awareness of the Bad Thing - Juggins had come across the newspaper article about the Potting Shed’s savings and must have decided to steal them to pay for a bomb to send to the nasty mole catcher. (At this point, Alcock mentions the poster for the film The Manchurian Candidate seen in Juggins’ den in chapter 13 but, by now, everyone’s head is spinning.)

So that is the answer. In the face of great sadness, Masongill became Juggins, with his sponge, his travel iron, his sense of optimism and his murderous plan! 

What should they do about it?