Gregory's Game, page 5
‘Have you seen the news at all?’
‘What sort of daft question is that? Why, what should I have seen?’
‘Church Lane,’ Nathan said. ‘Your tenant, Mr Anthony Palmer. He was murdered there. The police think it happened three or four days ago.’
‘What?’ Ian turned away and stared out through the front windscreen. ‘How?’ he asked.
‘I have no details yet. I found out a couple of hours ago. I’ve got people on it, but …’
‘Nathan?’
It was only ever Nathan when Ian was worried, or about to deliver a lecture. Nathan responded to the unasked question. ‘I don’t see how it could be anything to do with you. You’ve been out of the game for a while now.’
‘Can anyone ever really say that?’
‘I’ll take you home, then I’ll make some calls. No doubt the police will be round at some point. You want me to stay until they’ve been?’
Ian hesitated, and then nodded, once. ‘If you don’t mind,’ he said. He laughed briefly. ‘You know how the sight of a policeman makes me feel guilty.’
‘That’s because you usually were,’ Nathan joked, then regretted his flippancy. Ian was and always had been a man of conviction; it had led him into some very tight corners. ‘I could turn around, put you on the next train to Norfolk.’
‘Suffolk, and don’t think I’m not tempted.’
‘Seriously, Ian. Give me your key; I can camp out at your place for a few days, field the questions. You know nothing about the man renting your house; it was done through the agency; you never even met him, did you?’
Ian shook his head. ‘But what if it wasn’t about him?’
‘Then they’d have come for you,’ Nathan said. ‘You’ve not lived at Church Lane in months. Why would anyone look for you there? But seriously, Ian, why would anyone come looking for you anyway? You’re old news.’
His friend considered that and then nodded. Nathan made the turn into the road leading to Ian’s house and swore softly. The car parked outside the house was nondescript, but the woman knocking at the door and man leaning nonchalantly against the wing were anything but.
‘Looks like it’s too late to turn around,’ Nathan said. ‘Get your head together and remember – you didn’t know the man and you know nothing else either.’
Ian Marsh nodded and smoothed down his wild ginger hair. Nathan could almost hear the adjustment his mind was making, ready for the role he’d have to play. ‘I don’t,’ Ian said. ‘That much is very true.’
Tess Fuller turned as the four-by-four drew up in front of the police car and two men got out. One, the younger, paused to take a suitcase and a messenger bag off the back seat. The other stared at her, quizzically. ‘Can I help you?’
Tess came back down the path. ‘DI Fuller,’ she said. ‘Are you Professor Marsh?’
‘I am, yes.’ He extended a hand. ‘You’re here about Mr Palmer, I expect.’
‘You’ve heard, then.’
Ian Marsh nodded. ‘Nathan here filled me in when he picked me up from the station. I must say, I’m shocked. What happened?’
‘Perhaps we’d be more comfortable discussing this inside,’ Tess said, aware of the twitching curtains and the couple walking down the road slowing down to watch proceedings.
‘Of course,’ Ian Marsh said. ‘Please, come inside.’
The house was unremarkable, Tess thought. An ordinary semi in a pretty ordinary road, unlike the house in Church Lane. Why would you choose to live in this ordinary house when you had a fantastic one available?
‘Have you lived here long, Professor?’
‘Ian, please. Is your colleague coming in too? I’ll pop the kettle on. Nathan, will you stick my things in the study and show the detectives through to the sitting room?’
‘Sure.’ The younger man opened one of the doors that led off the hall. Tess glimpsed a desk and bookshelves before he dropped the bags on to a chair and closed the door again. ‘This way, Inspector.’
‘Tess,’ she said. She turned to Vinod who had just arrived at the front door. ‘This is Vin. DS Dattani.’
‘Nathan,’ he said. ‘I’m just a friend. I picked Ian up from the station. Kat’s stayed on for a few days and she’s got the car. Come on through.’
He led the police officers into the other room that led directly off the hall. A bay window gave a view on to the privet hedge that shielded the house from the street. Tess sat down on the sofa facing the television and Vin took up position at the other end. The young man called Nathan dropped into one of the comfy looking chairs beside the fire place. It was an open fire, Tess noted. The room was cool. She heard the click of a boiler coming on and the tick of radiators ready to heat up.
‘So you knew about the murder,’ she said.
‘I saw the news report and recognized the house. So I found out what I could before Ian came home. I knew he probably wouldn’t have seen anything.’
‘Oh, and why is that?’
Nathan laughed. ‘Because Ian’s idea of a break is getting away from everything. I doubt he even had his phone with him. Anyway, everyone’s been busy with the wedding and catching up with relatives; I doubt they’d have paid much attention to the news or made the connection even if they had.’
‘Apart from Ian’s wife. Kat is it?’
‘Kat, short for Katherine. She might.’
‘Lucky you watch the news, then.’
Nathan raised an eyebrow and Tess realized that her tone had been a little sharp. There was something about the younger man that put her on the defensive, but she couldn’t have said what.
‘How long have they lived here?’ Vin asked.
‘Since they left Church Lane. This was Kat’s family home. She inherited after her mum died about a year ago. The plan was to put both houses on the market and buy something bigger, but the market’s been dreadful, as I’m sure you know. They moved here – no mortgage – and rented out Church Lane. The plan’s still on, it’s just been delayed a bit.’
‘And I suppose not having a mortgage gives them a bit more to put aside,’ Vinod said. He sounded rather envious.
Nathan nodded. ‘I suppose it does,’ he said.
Ian came into the room at that moment, a tray in his hands loaded with mugs and sugar and a milk carton perched on the edge. ‘I know we’ve got a jug somewhere,’ he said. ‘But I couldn’t tell you where.’
He sat down in the other chair, setting the tray on a little table. ‘Please,’ he said. ‘Help yourselves and then tell me what happened to Mr Palmer. I can’t believe anything could happen in a place like Halsingham. Nothing happens there. Ever.’
‘Well, I’m afraid something did now,’ Tess said. ‘Professor – Ian – did you ever meet your tenant?’
‘No. I wasn’t all that keen on renting the house out, but it made financial sense. Kat set everything up with the agency. She saw his references and all that, but I never really got involved apart from signing the relevant paperwork.’ He looked expectantly at Tess and Vinod. ‘Do you know who did it? What happened?’
‘As yet we know very little,’ Vinod said.
‘Was there any conflict, between you and your wife, if you weren’t keen on letting the house?’ Tess asked.
Ian Marsh frowned. ‘Why would there be?’ he said. ‘It’s just a house; we planned on selling it anyway.’
‘But you had doubts about it?’ she persisted, not sure why she was bothering. Habit, she supposed. If you saw doubt, you pushed.
‘No, I would have just rather held out for a sale, so we had cash in the bank ready to go if we found somewhere. Anyway, what does that have to do with anything?’
Tess ignored the question. ‘You’ve not been back to Church Lane since …’
‘Since we moved in here. April. Start of April. Mr Palmer moved in a couple of weeks later. We left the place part furnished; the agency said that was the best way.’
‘And you never thought of staying there and renting this place out?’
Ian shook his head. ‘No, never. I had no particular attachment to Church Lane, but this place was different for Kat. She just wasn’t ready to do that and anyway, there was still so much stuff here. Her parents’ things. Kat’s mother died just before Christmas but it was a while before she could bring herself to deal with everything. I don’t know, it just all worked out so it was better to come here for a while. When Janice was ill, Kat practically lived here for a while. Come to that, we all did, and Kat had started to take Desiree to the nursery down the road and to the mother and toddler group … It just seemed like an obvious solution.’
‘But you’re still preparing to sell this place, despite her attachment?’
Ian frowned at her and Tess knew she was pushing too hard. Probably to no purpose too. ‘I’m letting my wife set the pace, there. And, actually, I don’t think that’s got anything to do with you.’
‘And you were fine with moving here?’ Vinod cut in. ‘I mean, this place, no offence, but it’s not a patch on Church Lane.’
‘No, it’s not,’ Ian said coldly. ‘But sometimes that’s not what’s important, is it? Sometimes it’s all about what makes those you love feel better.’
Vin nodded and Tess glanced through her notebook to see if there was anything else to ask. Off hand she couldn’t think of anything.
‘What will happen now?’ Ian said. ‘I mean—’
‘Well, the house is still a crime scene. We’ll get it released as soon as we can and then … I can recommend a specialist cleaning firm …’
‘I see,’ Professor Marsh said. ‘Yes, I see.’
Tess got up and Vinod followed suit. ‘I’m really sorry,’ she said. ‘This must be very difficult for you.’
‘Well, yes, but it must be so much more horrible for the poor man’s family. I can’t begin to imagine what they must be going through.’
Tess nodded. ‘Are you likely to be going away any time soon? I mean, in case we have to speak to you again?’
‘No.’ Ian Marsh shook his head. ‘It’s term time, and I’m back at work tomorrow. That’s why I left the car with Kat. It seemed a shame for her to have to cut the visit short.’
Tess nodded again. ‘I see.’
She made sure she had the professor’s home number and his work extension and then left.
‘What did you make of the younger one? Nathan?’ Vinod asked as they got back into the car.
‘Why? Apart from the fact that he was very pretty.’
Vinod laughed. ‘More your area of expertise than mine,’ he said. ‘I don’t know, he seemed … odd.’
Tess shrugged. ‘I don’t think they’re going to be much help, anyway,’ she said. ‘It might be worth talking to the wife; she’s obviously the practical one.’
Vin nodded. ‘Is it worth getting our colleagues in Suffolk involved?’
‘I think it can wait until she gets back. Any news on next of kin yet?’
Vin shook his head. ‘The man we thought was a brother turned out to be an old work colleague who just happened to have the same surname. He reckoned Palmer may have had a half-sister, but can’t tell us any more. We’ll just have to hope someone comes forward now the name’s been released.’
‘Local sources report that the tenant of the house was a Mr Anthony Palmer,’ she quoted. ‘I’d like to wring local sources’ neck, but you’re right, we’ll just have to see who comes looking.’
Ian Marsh slumped back into his chair and looked across at Nathan. ‘That was not fun.’
‘I think the police just have that effect on people,’ he said. ‘You’d best phone Kat, better she hears about this from you as soon as possible.’
Ian heaved himself out of the chair. ‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘I’ll do it now. Want to make some more tea?’
‘Will do.’
‘Oh and I picked up some post as I came in. I think there was one for you.’
‘Thanks,’ Nathan said. He frowned thoughtfully as Ian went off to make his phone call. He’d not used Ian’s address as a contact for a long time. When he’d still been travelling a lot, he’d often given his old friend’s address as a place to send mail, knowing Kat and Ian would keep letters safe for him. Later, he’d kept the habit when he wanted somewhere neutral for his mail to go to, but not in the past year.
He wandered through to the hall to pick up the letters. Ian was chatting to Kat in his study and Nathan carried the letters through into the kitchen and filled the kettle again. He spread the letters on the table and fished out the one addressed to him.
Nathan Crow. c/o Professor Ian Marsh.
It had, he realized, been forwarded from the house on Church Lane.
Gripped by a feeling of foreboding, Nathan opened the envelope. It contained just a single photograph, taken somewhere that was definitely not England, probably not even Europe. At first glance, he recognized only one person in the picture.
Slipping the photograph back into the envelope he studied the date and postmark. Marseille, just over a week ago …
Hearing Ian come out of the study he shoved the envelope into his jacket pocket and turned his attention to the kettle. ‘How about I take you to the local pub for dinner?’ he suggested. ‘I’ll bet you’ve got nothing in the house.’
‘Nothing I can be bothered to cook,’ Ian agreed. ‘That sounds like a perfect idea.’
‘How did Kat take it?’
‘Upset, of course, and she’s going on the Internet to try and find out more than I could tell her. I think she’ll come back on Wednesday. I think the family bonding thing is becoming a bit too much of a good thing.’
Nathan smiled and nodded. In his pocket the envelope seemed to burn.
TEN
Naomi volunteered twice weekly at the local advice centre. She’d been doing that since a couple of months after leaving hospital. Her knowledge of the law had made her useful and her willingness to train up on welfare benefits and unemployment legislation made her doubly so. She sometimes thought that, once people had got over the shock, the fact that she couldn’t see them actually made it easier for some to talk.
She knew she was doing a good job; knew she was useful; knew she helped to solve a lot of problems for a lot of people – which made it even harder when she realized she could do nothing to help Alec.
Her usual taxi driver, George Mallard, noticed she was quiet as he drove her home from her Monday session.
‘How’s that man of yours getting on now?’ he asked.
George, Naomi thought, was unerring in his ability to pinpoint the very thing she didn’t want to discuss.
‘He’s fine,’ she said. ‘Well, fine-ish. I think now he’s feeling better he’s at a bit of a loose end. He’s talked about going back to university, or retraining for something.’
‘Well, he’s a bright bloke,’ George said. ‘I’m sure he could do anything he set his mind to.’ He laughed. ‘Just as long as it’s not taxi driving. That’s my area of expertise.’
‘You know,’ Naomi said, ‘I think that’s about the only thing he’s not considered.’
George pulled up and got out to help her as he always did, bending to pet Napoleon before checking she had all her bags and was all right going in on her own.
‘I’m fine, George. See you Thursday?’
‘Be me or the lad,’ he said, referring to his son – still ‘the lad’ despite being well into his thirties.
Naomi smiled, thanked him and allowed Napoleon to lead her up the steps and into the shared hall, then on up the stairs to their flat. She had the sense that Alec was absent even before they reached the door. Fumbling for her key, she let herself in and then called out. ‘Alec. We’re home. You OK?’
Silence. Emptiness. ‘Okaay.’
She released Napoleon’s harness, heard his feet on the wooden floor heading for the kitchen. A moment later, the sound of him slurping at his water bowl. So Alec was definitely not there then. Had he been, Napoleon would have gone to say hello before heading for the kitchen. She crossed to the little table by the bay window. Beside the phone, they kept a small, digital recorder. Alec had bought it for them to leave messages on should either of them ever have to go out unexpectedly. She pressed play. Alec’s voice. ‘Hi, love. I won’t be long, but I’m just going to have coffee with Tess.’
That was it. No sense of how long he’d be or when he had gone, only the unmistakable sense that he’d been happy, excited even. The depression that had dulled his voice these past weeks seemed to have lifted.
‘Fine,’ Naomi said. Trying hard not to mind but minding terribly ‘If that’s what he wants well two of us can play that game.’
She wondered if she could call her taxi back again. Would George Mallard already be on another call? She could go and see Harry … except he’d still be at work and Patrick would be off at uni. Her sister? No, she’d be out on the school run. Who else?
Naomi flopped down in the nearest chair knowing that really she wasn’t in the mood to go and see anyone. It was just the suddenness of it. For weeks now, she’d barely left Alec’s side and he’d not wanted to go anywhere. It had, she reflected guiltily, been a relief to get back to her twice-weekly volunteering. It had been a break from the intensity of Alec’s depression; Alec’s lack of motivation. And now, what really hurt was that someone else seemed to have motivated him instead of her. It just wasn’t fair. Suddenly overwhelmed by it all, Naomi buried her face in her hands and cried.
ELEVEN
It had been a while since Alec had seen DI Tess Fuller. She had, he felt, been surprised by his call, but had invited him to meet her at work, promising ten minutes for a coffee.
It felt strange, Alec thought, to be a stranger in a place where he’d once had status and authority. Not at this police HQ, but as part of the same system. He’d been allowed to go past the front desk and up the stairs to the second floor, then someone had met him and directed Alec to wait at the end of the corridor, where a makeshift seating area provided just a modicum of comfort. The offices were more or less open plan, Alec noted, with glass partitions on to the corridor to make the most of the natural light from the windows beyond. He could see Tess through the glass, on the other side of the office, talking to a man in uniform and a woman with a fat folder. She looked no different, Alec thought. Small and pixie like, in tailored black trousers and a light blue top. He knew she used her small size and slight figure to throw people off balance. They too often made the assumption of fragility when that was quite the opposite of the truth. Alec wondered what he was doing here. If he’d really wanted to catch up with his old friend there were many other opportunities he could have taken. And then there was the other why – why was he choosing to catch up with Tess, when there were other colleagues, people he really had been close to in his working life, that he’d all but shunned since leaving the force?
