“Emergency call connecting to police from 01326 672739,” she heard the operator say.
“Police, what’s the nature of your call?”
“Hello, it may be nothing, but I thought I saw a body in the water off the cliffs near Falmouth. I just thought you ought to know.”
“When was this?”
“About ten minutes ago. I called as soon as I got back to a phone.”
“Was the person moving?”
“I don’t even know if it was a body. It just looked like one. I thought it was a swimmer at first, but it didn’t move, and he wasn’t wearing any clothes. I have to go now as my grandson wants his tea.”
She hung up, wiping the phone and anything she recalled touching.
She then returned to the cliffs and sat on the wall in a suitable place from which to watch the proceedings.
First, a police car stopped by the footpath and a constable in uniform walked up the cliff top. The clothes were still in plain view, so as other officers arrived, they made directly for the rocks. More officers turned up and a boat took them round the coast, while a rib with three police divers and the lifeboat arrived and sort of hovered in the background.
A crowd gathered and, much to Tamsyn’s amusement, the officer who retrieved the clothes and wallet found the note. He went over to the sergeant and they seemed to have a heated discussion. Shortly after that, the BBC local radio van pulled up, the driver of which engaged an officer in conversation. Tamsyn couldn’t resist it, so walked closer, pretending to be interested.
“What’s happened?” she asked the police officer who had found the wallet.
“How long have you been here, miss?”
“I saw the crowd and came to have a look, why?”
“What’s your name?”
“Tamsyn, look has someone been hurt or something?”
“Where do you live?”
“Perranarworthal, why?”
“Have you seen a big man with an American accent in the town or up here on the cliff top?”
“No, why?
“No reason, but I’ll ask you to leave the area. These cliffs are very dangerous.”
“Only if you’re silly enough to fart about on the edge,” she said with a grin.
The policeman, a sucker for a pretty girl, smiled… for the girl was about the prettiest girl he’d seen in a long time.
“We think an American tourist may have fallen in,” he confided to her.
“Deliberately or accidentally?” she asked.
“We don’t know yet.”
“Shit! How awful. Poor guy, did he leave a note or something?”
“Something like that. So, if you remember seeing a very large man in a check shirt and jeans near the cliffs, let me know. I’m PC John Lindsay; I’m based here at Falmouth Police station.”
“Okay, but I don’t think I’ve seen him. Did he have family with him or anything?”
“We don’t know yet, so please don’t talk about this until it’s released to the press.”
“I won’t.”
Suppressing her grin, Tamsyn walked slowly into Falmouth. Whatever she’d inherited from the torque, together with her mindset from the Role-Playing, meant she had adapted to being as local as she could be. Her voice, accent and whole outlook had shifted from North America to England. However, she was now a non-person, with no identity, no job, no home, no nationality and no past. She was free!
She felt like dancing, but instead, she just smiled. She saw a fish and chip shop, so she went in and bought a piece of deep fried skate and some of what the English called chips. They were just big chunky French Fries, and with salt, they were delicious.
She sat on the wall close to the guesthouse to eat her food, watching as a police car pulled up outside. She’d love to be able to watch what transpired inside, but knew that would be too risky.
Miriam Tanner was very angry.
Firstly, the TV didn’t have half the shows she was used to. Secondly, her stupid husband hadn’t returned with food for her, and lastly, he hadn’t left her any money to buy food herself. She found out they didn’t accept dollars the hard way.
As Allun hadn’t returned by one pm, she left the guesthouse and found a small corner shop that sold chips (crisps) and cookies (biscuits). She selected what she wanted and then offered the girl behind the cash register a twenty-dollar bill.
“I’m sorry madam, but we don’t take foreign money,” she said.
“Hey, this ain’t foreign, these are dollars, you dumb girl,” Miriam replied.
Regardless of how loud she became, she was not allowed to purchase the items. In fact, the proprietor threatened to forcibly eject her if she didn’t replace the items and leave.
Returning to the guesthouse fuming, where she found Allun still hadn’t returned. She asked the woman on the desk whether he’d said where he was going.
“No, I’m afraid he didn’t,” Mary said, hoping this one would disappear as well.
She returned to the room and watched some more TV.
There was a knock on the door.
She went and opened it, to find a young police officer standing there with Mary.
“Mrs Tanner?” he asked.
“Yeah, what is it? Has my stupid husband done something wrong?”
The officer stared at her as if she had two heads. He’d heard Americans could be somewhat brash and ignorant, but he’d always believed it was stereotyping.
“No madam, we’re trying to locate him at the moment. Can you tell me if these are his?” he asked, handing over a wallet, a wristwatch and some cards, all in a sealed plastic bag.
She took the bag and on seeing Allun’s photograph peering at her from the drivers licence, she shuddered.
“Yeah, these are his, has he been mugged?”
“No madam, as his cash is still there. And these?” the officer asked, holding out some jeans, a pair of shoes, underwear and a shirt.
“Shit, yeah, they’re his. How the hell did he lose them?”
“That’s what we are trying to find out. When did you last see him?”
“Heck, just after we got here. He said he was going for a walk. I told him to get me some food.”
“What time was that?”
“I don’t know, as I’m all screwed up because of the flight.”
“They arrived about noon, officer,” said Mary from behind him.
“Did you see him leave, Mary?”
“No.”
The officer turned back to Miriam.
“What sort of mood was he in?”
“Mood? Shit, miserable as always.”
“Miserable? How do you mean?”
“He was always miserable. Heck, I hadn’t seen him smile in years!”
I wonder why, the officer thought to himself.
“Is he on medication?”
“What kind of medication?”
“Any kind, for any condition like depression or something like that?”
“I don’t think so. He went to the doctor recently, with a heart problem, he could have been on something for that.”
“What was his state of mind?”
“Shit, how the heck would I know? He never said anything, if that’s what you mean?”
“How would you describe your relationship?”
“Our relationship? That’s no business of yours!”
“I’m sorry to have to inform you, madam, but these were all found scattered at the foot of the cliffs just outside the town. A call was made to the police stating a body was seen floating in the water, but the tides here are quite deceptive and things get swept out to sea quite rapidly.”
“What’s that got to do with Allun? He was a good swimmer.”
“There was a note in the wallet.”
“Lemme see!”
“I’m sorry, but it’s been seized as evidence for the Coroner. I’m sure it will be released after the inquest.”
“Coroner? Inquest? So where’s the body?”
“The contents of the note would indicate a good possibility that your husband took his own life. Unless he is found reasonably soon, we must assume the worst.”