Страница 36 из 82
“I thought you’d stopped that,” A
“I had,” said Banks. “It’s only a temporary return.”
“I hope so.”
“Why do you want to see me?”
“Have you heard about the woman found dead in the car near Eastvale?”
“I’ve read about it in the paper,” Banks said, “but they haven’t really given out much information.”
“Her name is Je
“No,” said Banks.
“Guess what we found in the back pocket of her jeans?”
“I’ve no idea.”
“An address.”
“Whose address?”
“Yours.”
Banks’s jaw dropped. “What? I can’t… What’s her name again?”
“Je
“I’ve never heard of her. What’s it all about?”
“We don’t know yet. She had your address and directions written on a slip of paper in her back pocket, in her own handwriting,” A
“I don’t know anything. I’m telling the truth. I’ve never heard of the girl.”
“But you know something. I can tell.”
“It’s complicated.”
“I’ve got time.” A
“He’s disappeared,” Banks said.
“What?”
Banks told her about Roy’s phone call and the empty, unlocked house.
“Have you reported this?”
Banks said nothing, just stared over her shoulder out of the window.
“You haven’t, have you?”
“Why does everyone keep going on about it so?” said Banks, with a sudden flash of anger. “You know as well as I do how much effort we’d put into looking for a missing adult when he’s been gone less than forty-eight hours. I’ve probably done more myself than the locals would have.”
“Who are you trying to convince? Listen to yourself. There are suspicious circumstances and you know it. You told me he said it was a matter of life and death.”
“Might be a matter of life and death.”
“Fair enough, you want to split hairs. I’ll say no more right now, but don’t forget it might be your brother’s life you’re playing fast and loose with. For Christ’s sake, Alan, you shouldn’t even be here.”
“Thanks for reminding me.”
“Oh, sometimes I just wish you’d grow up. You might be able to see the light at the end of the tu
“What put you in such a good mood?” Banks said.
A
“You’re probably right,” Banks said, “but look at it from my point of view. I’m worried they might find out a few things about Roy our parents would rather not know, and I know there’s no way they’ll let me work on the case if it becomes official. Besides, how can I know the job’s being done properly if I don’t do it myself?”
“Sometimes I wonder how you made DCI,” A
Banks laughed. A
“Are you sure you’ve never heard of Je
“There’s a Je
“That’s what her friends called her.”
“Wait here a minute.” Banks disappeared upstairs. A
“Do you have her phone number?” he asked.
“Her mobile’s missing, but I got the number from her flatmate.” A
“My God,” said A
“Cori
“Cori
“Roy’s fiancée. Ex-fiancée.”
“From now on, this is official,” A
“Suit yourself,” said Banks.
“Look,” A
“On whose terms?”
A
Banks nodded. “I suppose that’s the best I can hope for.”
“All I ask is that you share with me. Any sign of a Carmen Petri on that list, by the way?”
“Carmen? I don’t remember one. It’s an unusual name. Let me have a look.” Banks glanced through the list of names. “No,” he said. “Why? Who is she?”
“I don’t know,” said A
“Let’s review what we know.”
“The way it looks is that someone was watching Je
“Is that the man who killed her?”
“We don’t know, but it’s the best lead we’ve got so far. Stefan’s working overtime on the scene. Unfortunately the pursuing car wasn’t scratched or anything, so we’ve no paint chips to go on.”
“But why would Roy send this woman to see me? Why not come himself?”
“I don’t know. Her flatmate said Je
“No,” said Banks. “I’ve thought a lot about that, and he sounded fine. I mean, if he’d been worried it was someone come to do him harm he wouldn’t have answered it, would he? He’d probably have tried to scarper out of the back window. Besides, the bloke across the street said Roy just locked his door and got into the car with his visitor as if things were quite normal.”
“So what do you think happened?”
“I’ve been trying to piece together the events of that day,” Banks said. “The way I see it is that Roy comes home just before half past nine, from where I don’t know, but something has upset him. He puts his mobile on the kitchen table, or it’s already there, pours himself a glass of wine and goes up to his office to check phone messages, e-mail, or whatever. He takes the wine with him. Maybe he sits and mulls things over for a minute or two, then he decides that whatever it is he’s found out is worth calling his estranged policeman brother about. Maybe he even senses that he’s in danger because of something he knows. Anyway, he phones me and tells me he needs my help. While he’s on the phone, the doorbell rings. He answers it and goes off in a car with whoever it is. Willingly, it appears. And he forgets his mobile, even though he’s given me the number. I’d say that means he’s more than a little distracted.”