Cambridge Blue - Alison Bruce [72]
‘That could be withholding evidence.’
‘That’s bollocks.’
‘Bollocks?’
‘There’s nothing to withhold. We rode horses together sometimes, so what’s the big deal.’
‘How did you meet her – was it through Richard or Alice or the clinic?’
‘No way. Lorna found me by accident. She just wanted somewhere to ride, and called in here to ask.’
‘A coincidence?’
‘In theory, but I don’t think so. I’m fairly sure she engineered it. That would be very much like her, you know. Lorna liked to make things happen by chance, if you see what I mean.’
‘And you became friends with her?’
‘It sounds worse than I’m sure it was, but I think she thought she could bring us all closer together. She hoped to marry Richard, and maybe she was picturing being nice and close to her new “sisters” too.’
‘Was it working?’
‘It was a non-starter.’
‘Why?’
‘I guess we’re just not that kind of family.’
‘Richard and Alice seem very close.’
‘Yes, I’ve always thought they seemed like a healthy example of siblingdom.’ She smiled at her own sarcasm, then shook her head and looked away. ‘But not my thing.’ She changed the subject quickly. ‘Do you have brothers or sisters?’
‘One sister.’
‘And do you live together . . . thought not. They live together and work together.’
‘I know.’
‘And I couldn’t imagine either of those two marrying somehow. Wouldn’t that just make their status quo wobble too much?’ She shifted topic without pausing. ‘The stables belonged to my mother. And, as well as the cottage, I was left a third share of the family house. Have you been there yet?’
He nodded. ‘Interesting property.’
‘It’s a monster. My mother never liked it either. Perhaps I’ll sell up here, start over somewhere else. It’s not like Alice and Richard would miss me. In fact, they’d probably love to buy me out. I know that’s what my dad wanted for me. Secretly I think he would have liked it if I’d been more academic, but he let me carry on down here. He’d drop by sometimes, bring a flask with him. When it was raining we’d sit in here, or in his car, and we’d just talk.
‘He’d always ask me loads of questions, always checking if I was happy. I knew he was dying, though, even before the others did – ironic when they work in medicine, don’t you think?
‘He came here last June when it was a perfect summer’s day. Warm but breezy, leaves rustling, fluffy clouds – all that shit. In fact, just the way they make England look in tourist adverts. And I looked at him and realized his skin had taken on that horrible greyness, the one people get when they’re seriously ill. I had the strong feeling then that it wouldn’t be long.’
Goodhew’s mobile bleeped and he quickly read the message. ‘My colleague DC Kincaide will be here in a minute.’
‘Why?’
‘Nothing to worry about. We were originally coming together but he’s running late.’
‘That’s overkill.’
‘It’s just procedure.’
‘No, just to talk to one person about a dead acquaintance? That would definitely be overkill. So you want me for more than this, don’t you?’
Astute.
Goodhew couldn’t decide how to answer, but she didn’t seem to be waiting for a reply.
‘I don’t know who Emma is, by the way,’ she said.
‘How . . .’ He stopped himself there, realizing the answer. ‘Last night’s paper?’
She nodded.
‘Are you sure?’ he checked.
‘Absolutely.’
She stood and moved to the half-open door, resting her elbow on top of the lower part. She was staring across to the car park. ‘So what’s your partner like?’
‘Why?’
‘No, I mean what does he look like? There’s a bloke getting out of a dark-blue saloon. He’s in a suit.’
‘That’ll be him.’
‘He won’t want to sit in here in that neat suit, will he?’
Goodhew rose to his feet and joined her in the doorway. ‘Good point.’
She returned to sit on her bale. ‘Actually, I’d like to stay in here, if you don’t mind.’
He knew that so far, his meeting with Jackie had been casual, unstructured, and nothing like his training recommended. He also felt it had as much potential for proving