‘How do you know he didn’t go home and knock back a bottle of whisky?’
‘Well, like I said, I don’t, really. It’s just...’ He shrugged. ‘He didn’t seem the type. That’s all.’ He paused. ‘Anyway, why are you interested? Are you a reporter or something?’
‘Me? No, nothing like that.’
‘Police?’
‘Do I look like police?’
‘Not like any I’ve ever seen.’ He blushed. ‘I mean... you know... they’re usually big burly blokes. I know there are women police, too, but...’
Zelda touched his arm briefly and smiled. ‘I know what you mean. And thank you.’
‘What for?’
‘For saying I don’t look like a big burly bloke.’
‘Oh. Yes. I mean, no. But you haven’t answered my question. Why are you interested?’
Zelda didn’t really have an answer; she hadn’t planned that far. When all else fails, deflect. ‘Have the police been around here asking about him?’
His Adam’s apple was large and moved as he swallowed. ‘Yesterday. Two of them.’
‘What did they want to know?’
‘Whatever I could tell them. Which wasn’t much. It did seem odd.’
‘Why?’
‘Well, the way they were speaking, as if they didn’t think it was an accident.’
‘Did they say that?’
‘Not in so many words, no. But...’
‘You get to recognise the signs?’
‘Well, yes.’
‘You’re a very perceptive young man.’
Someone called from the kitchen.
‘I have to go,’ the barman said. ‘Please sit down. I’ll bring your lunch to your table when it’s ready. Another drink?’
Zelda saw that she had almost finished her glass. ‘Why not,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’
She went to sit at the table she had pointed out and took out the photograph of Keane she had copied from the file some time ago. When the barman eventually came over with her food and drink, she slid the picture towards him. ‘Actually, this is who I’m looking for,’ she said. ‘Have you ever seen him?’
The barman studied the photograph. ‘That’s odd,’ he said.
‘What is?’
‘This bloke. As a matter of fact, I have seen him. He was in here. With Mr Hawkins. It’s funny because it’s the only time I’ve seen him here with anyone else. I always thought he was a bit of a loner.’
‘When was this?’
‘Couple of weeks ago. Not much longer. Is it important? You really are police, aren’t you? Or something like that.’
Zelda gave him her best enigmatic smile. ‘Something like that. I’m afraid I can’t tell you,’ she said.
‘Or you’d have to kill me?’
‘Hmm.’
‘Well, I don’t want to die, thanks very much.’
‘Did you tell the police about him?’
‘No. Nothing to tell. I never thought twice about it until you showed me the photo just now. And they didn’t ask.’
‘Is that the only time you’ve seen him?’
‘Yes. Just the once. He’s not from around here. Or if he is, he’s not much of a pub-goer.’
‘Was he by himself or with a woman?’
‘By himself.’
‘How long did they spend together?’
‘Not long. Twenty minutes or so.’
‘Who got here first?’
‘Mr Hawkins was already here when the other man came in and joined him.’
‘Did it seem as if they’d arranged to meet?’
‘Now you mention it, yes. It did. At least, when the man came in, he stood for a moment and scanned the room, like you do when you’re looking for someone. Then he went over and sat down with Mr Hawkins.’
‘How did they seem?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Were they arguing or anything?’
‘No. Just talking. Like normal.’
‘Did they leave together?’
‘No. The other bloke left first.’
‘How did Mr Hawkins seem then? Was he agitated or anything?’
‘No. Just normal. He went back to working on his crossword.’ A group of four people came in, chatting and laughing. ‘Oops. Got to go,’ the barman said. ‘Customers to serve. It’s been nice talking to you, Miss...?’
‘Cathy,’ said Zelda. ‘You can call me Cathy.’
‘Cathy, then. Maybe you’ll come back and see us again?’
Zelda smiled. ‘Maybe I will.’
When he left she picked at her sole and salad. The fish was cold, but she didn’t mind. It had been worth it. She took out her notebook and tried to jot down what she had learned:
1. The police are investigating Hawkins’s death further, which could mean that they don’t believe it was an accident.
2. Hawkins met with Keane openly in his local two weeks before his death. Perhaps this indicated they felt they had nothing to hide in being seen together? Whatever it meant, they had needed to meet face to face for some reason.
3. Keane drugged Alan Banks and set his house on fire. Hawkins died in a house fire. Is there a connection?
4. Keane is most likely still living in London somewhere.
But how to find him? That was what Zelda didn’t know. She didn’t even know whether he was using his real name. Didn’t even know whether Keane was his real name. Perhaps it would be easier to find Petar Tadić first, rather than using Keane to get to him. And after all, it was Tadić she wanted. And his brother. Keane for her was only a means to an end, perhaps one she didn’t need.
With Hawkins dead and the department’s work suspended, though, the resources of her job were out of reach. On the other hand, she had a freer hand now she didn’t have to worry about Hawkins finding out she was asking questions. She wouldn’t have been able to come here today, for example, and discover that he had met with Keane again, if she had had to worry about him somehow finding out about it. True, Danvers and Deborah were nosing around, but Zelda didn’t think they reported to the enemy. It was one thing to be questioned by the NCA and quite another to be chopped up into little pieces and fed to the fish.
If she could find out where Petar Tadić hung out, then follow him, perhaps he would eventually lead her to his brother Goran. He was the one she wanted most, the one she had bitten, the one who had punched her in the face and had later come to visit her in the breaking house outside Vršac, just over the Serbian border, cracking his knuckles and grinning as he entered her tiny room to wreak his revenge on her helpless body. She wouldn’t be so helpless the next time they met. But London was a big city, and she didn’t know where to start.
She caught the barman looking at her and gave him another smile. He blushed and pretended to be washing glasses. Zelda polished off the rest of her wine, slung her bag across her shoulder and paid the still-blushing young man before leaving. It had been a long time since she had used her charms to get something she wanted from a man, and she was encouraged to find out that they still worked.
There was one other question she hadn’t put down in her notes, perhaps because she was afraid of the answer. But in the interests of thoroughness, she made a mental note to add it to her list:
5. If Hawkins did blow the whistle on me last December, why hasn’t the gang come after me yet?
Sean and Luke were certain the house was empty, they told the police later, or they wouldn’t have gone in there in the first place. Everyone knew the old Hollyfield Estate was on the verge of demolition to make way for new affordable housing and a shopping centre, and that many of its residents had already left for pastures new. Number twenty-six had looked like one of the empty houses left behind.