'But she was here, at your party, the night before she was killed!
'You've been speaking to Fran!
'Mrs Hunter found the body!
Duncan finished the tea, then got out of his and poured himself a pint of water. He stood, against the draining board for support.
'I should have made it work with Fran: he said. I really loved her, you know. There was no reason why it shouldn't have!
'Only Celia!
'Well, Celia. That was different. No question of me marrying her. She would never have left Michael.
Appearances count here. You know that. Really there was no competition. I'd married Fran, hadn't I? We had a child. Anyway, now I've lost Celia too!
Perez allowed himself to be distracted. 'What happened there? I thought you had that worked out. A relationship of convenience on both sides!
'So did I. But recently she's been a bit possessive. Insecure. Her age, maybe. She suddenly started getting heavy about other women. A pain in the arse, actually!
He took a mouthful of water, stared gloomily outside. The rain splashed against the window.
'But you didn't ask her to leave. She left you. Why?'
'Honestly? I'm not sure. It was all very sudden. It happened the night the girl was here for the party. I wasn't doing anything I hadn't done dozens of times before. Chatting. Flirting, maybe. Harmless stuff. We were in the middle of a conversation. Nothing heavy. Her saying You know you're too old for this. Why don't you get rid of them? Let's have the house to ourselves. Stuff she'd said a hundred times before. And I promised like I always did.
This is the last time. The last Haa party. You're right. I should be thinking of settling down.
Then she said she was leaving and wouldn't be coming back. She didn't make a big scene. That's not her style.
Dignified. Celia's always been dignified. She packed a bag and then I heard her car. I knew she meant it. I knew I'd really blown it!
'Did anything happen while you were talking to make her leave suddenly?' Was this relevant? Why was he so interested after all? Because he was taking a delicious pleasure in Duncan's misery. It served the man right.
Duncan shook his head. He'd closed his eyes again for a moment as if a wave of pain from the hangover was hitting him. Then he opened them.
'She had a text message. She read it while I was still talking, then announced that she was leaving! He looked across at Perez, suddenly horrified. 'Do you think it could have been from another man? That she had a lover all the time she was with me?'
'Did she often get text messages?'
'Only from her son. Robert can't wipe his bum without clearing it with her first'
'Wasn't Robert there that night?'
'I think he was earlier. Not when Celia ran off. He hates my guts but he still comes to my parties!
'Did he arrive with the girl who died?'
'Hey man, you know what it's like at my parties.
The door's open and people wander in!
'You told Fran you let Catherine stay because Celia knew her!
'Did I? I'd have let her stay whatever. She was bloody gorgeous!
'You did talk to her then?'
'Yes, I talked to her!
'Before Celia left or after?'
'Both probably. Yes, both!
'Was she with anyone? I mean a boyfriend!
'No!
'Did you ask her?'
'Maybe. But you notice, don't you? There's an attractive young woman, you look to see if she's with anyone!
'She wasn't with Robert?'
'Not in that way. I mean, I think I saw them talking when she first got here. Anyway, please! Robert Isbister! This was a beautiful girl with a brain. What would she be doing talking to Robbie? I mean all he wants in the world is to be as famous as his father!
What would she be doing talking to you?
'You did speak to her though. What about?'
'Film. I told Fran that. She was a film freak. She even had a camcorder with her. She showed me how it worked!
'She was filming the party?'
'I don't know. Maybe.
She was talking about the film club. Why was it that all they had were block busters? Why couldn't we get some European stuff occasionally? She said that was the one thing she missed about living in Shetland. A good art-house cinema. She was pretentious, you know, in the way bright kids are, but she didn't take herself too seriously!
'Did you try it on?'
'Not seriously!
'What does that mean?'
'She made it clear she wasn't interested. You know me. I don't need to work at it. There are lots of women out there!
But Perez remembered other conversations with Duncan, the effort he'd put into charming Fran. If he'd been really taken with Catherine, he'd have worked at it.
'How did she seem? I mean what sort of mood was she in?'
'She was buzzing, really elated. I told her, whatever you're on, I want some of it!
'Do you think she had been using?'
'No. She was young, that was all. Young and pleased with herself. The way I used to be!
'Did she stay the night?'
'Apparently. According to Fran she was seen on the bus from town at lunchtime the next day. But she wasn't with me. I was feeling sorry for myself, got maudlin drunk and passed out. It's been happening a lot recently. I only held it together yesterday because Cassie was here! He paused. 'Did you see her at Fran's?
My beautiful Cassie?'
'Yes!
'I wasn't sure I wanted a child when Fran told me she was expecting. I didn't think I was ready for it., Now I can't imagine life without her. I couldn't bear it if Fran took her away again!
'Is there any danger of that?'
'I'm not sure. She seems settled enough here, but you can never tell, can you? She'll meet someone else eventually. Now you have to go. I need to shower and change. I'm taking the afternoon flight south.
Work!
Perez stood up. 'When will you be back?' 'Tomorrow evening. You don't need to worry. I'm not planning on running away!
Before going back to his car and despite the rain, Perez walked round to the back of the house, which faced towards the shore. He stood for a moment, trying to find some shelter under the wind-stunted sycamores, and looked down at the beach where he'd sat with Alice. He'd been convinced that he loved her and couldn't understand why she didn't reply to his letters once she got home.
Chapter Twenty-Four
It was Saturday. No school, but no rest. Usually on Saturday Sally went into Lerwick for youth orchestra practice. Her father often gave her a lift and stayed in town to do some work in his office. At least that's what he said. Sally wasn't sure. Saturday was Margaret's day for cleaning and laundry and nobody wanted to be around when she was in the middle of that. This morning Sally woke up feeling light-headed and strange.She'd had a disturbed night. Too much dreaming.
Sometimes she worried that was all her life consisted of. Dreams. Nothing in it was real. The family life her mother had created - kirk on Sunday, sitting down to tea together every night, everything placid and ordered and calm - all that was a sham. Sally went along with it for a quiet life. She pretended to be a dutiful daughter, yet there were times when she wished her mother was dead.