“Yes, retired from the Home Office,” she replied.
“Ah, my old employers.”
She looked at him quizzically. “I’m an ex-copper. Did twenty-five years. Desk jobs, not on the beat.”
“Really?”
“Took early retirement at forty-five. They offered me a good package. Yours must have been an early retirement too.”
Carole didn’t know whether this was just a manufactured compliment, but she didn’t dislike it. “Yes, a bit early. And, when you were in the Force, did you work…er…” she managed to avoid saying ‘in this God-forsaken hole’ “…out here?”
“Yes. First job out of Hendon Police College was in Billericay, and I spent my whole career in Essex.”
“Mm.” Carole felt she ought to say ‘How nice’, but couldn’t. “And are you having a lazy retirement of golf and fishing?”
He grinned. “Don’t think that’s really for me. Always like to be doing things. And, particularly since my wife died – well, I don’t want to have time on my hands. I’m a JP, though, and that keeps me pretty busy.”
Carole did a quick memory check about policemen becoming Justices of the Peace. Any serving officer would be disqualified, but after two years of retirement an ex-policeman was eligible to serve on the Bench.
“Oh, I’m sure that keeps you very busy. Still, must be very helpful for the other magistrates, having someone with your specialist expertise.”
“Yes, I like to think I have some understanding of the criminal mind.”
“Always useful to have someone around who can do that. So, as an ex-policeman, what did you make of that rather strange burglary at Gaby’s flat?”
As soon as the words were out, Carole realized she shouldn’t have said them. The incomprehension in Robert Coleman’s face showed that he had never heard anything about the break-in, and too late she remembered how unwilling Gaby had been for the police to be notified.
She tried to backtrack. “Oh, I’m sorry. If you don’t know about it, perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned anything. Now presumably you know everyone who’s here tonight? I’ve just – ”
But she wasn’t allowed to escape that easily. “Carole, you can’t stop there. You mentioned a burglary at Gaby’s flat.”
His voice was firm and authoritative. “Maybe you shouldn’t have done, but you did, and neither of us can pretend it hasn’t been mentioned.”
“No.” She felt like a reprimanded schoolgirl.
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
“Well, I don’t know very much. Just what Stephen told me.” Quickly, she ran through the few details she had.
“So nothing at all taken?”
“Nothing obvious, apparently. But, as I say, I’ve had all this at second hand.”
The twinkle had gone from Robert Coleman’s eyes. He was taking the news very seriously indeed. “And Gaby’s personal papers were disturbed?”
“That’s right.”
“Hm. I’m going to have to talk to her about it.”
“Well, do apologize to her for my telling you about it. I wasn’t thinking.”
“No,” he said thoughtfully. “I’m very glad you did tell me. Maybe I should have a word with her…” He made as if to move away.
“But not tonight. This is her engagement party, after all.”
He thought about this for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right. Not the moment. They’re not going back to London tonight, are they?”
“No, they’re staying in a hotel. And then Gaby said something about going to her parents for coffee tomorrow morning.”
“Right. I’ll talk to her then.”
“Ah. You having a good time, Carole?” asked a painfully familiar voice behind her. “Good evening, I’m…erm…the groom’s father. David Seddon.”
“Robert Coleman.” The men shook hands formally. “Well, you two must be very proud of your young man.”
“Oh yes. We…erm…certainly are.”
“Yes. Though I should point out that we’re actually divorced,” said Carole clumsily.
“Right.” There was a silence. The intimacy between Carole and Robert, weakened by her mention of the burglary, had dissipated completely with David’s arrival. “If you’ll excuse me – I have to say a few words about the happy couple – must just check through my notes.”
After he had gone, ex-husband and ex-wife looked at each other. “That was…erm…Gaby’s uncle, was it?”
“That’s right.”
“I’m sure we’ll get to know them all very well, as the…erm…years go on.”
“Yes,” said Carole. She felt suddenly very low and miserable. All she wanted to do was to rush out to the sanctuary of her Renault, and find the anonymous haven of her hotel. Or, even better, drive straight back to Fethering.
“…and, though Gabs may have come a bit earlier than expected when she was born, she certainly hasn’t rushed into marriage. Indeed, I don’t think I’m the only one who was beginning to think it’d never happen. For my generation, you see, a girl who’s reached thirty is automatically on the shelf. Still, all good things come to those who wait – and, of course, the best wine takes a long time to mature, so I like to think that Stephen has certainly got the pick of the cellar. He’s got my favourite niece, and in my book, that makes him a very lucky man. And Gabs is a lucky girl too. From what I’ve seen of Stephen, he seems a very mature and sensible young man, who I’m sure will curb Gaby’s worst excesses – ”
“You’ve got a bloody cheek, Uncle,” Gaby said through the ripple of raucous laughter.
“So all I want to do is to ask you all to raise your glasses, to say to Gaby and Stephen – many congratulations on your engagement, and we wish you many years of happiness together.”
“Gaby and Stephen!”
Marie Martin had been right. Her brother was a good public speaker. And yet, as he went through the motions of his oratory, Carole thought he seemed distracted. The minute the toast had been taken, the bonhomie dropped away from his face, to be replaced by a dour sternness. She wondered if it was the news of Gaby’s burglary that was preoccupying him.
Stephen, who – like his mother – was not a natural public speaker, made a perfectly adequate, if over-formal, thank you, particularly expressing his gratitude to “Marie and Howard for laying on this splendid party.” He wasn’t so hypocritical as to praise the venue. Carole watched Robert Coleman. He clearly wanted to get to Gaby, but the knot of congratulatory guests around her made that impossible, so he moved across to her brother. Phil had to bend down to listen to his uncle’s earnest whispering.
Throughout the party, Marie and Howard had hardly moved from their greeting position by the entrance to the suite. They stood nervously, as if, rather than being the hosts of the occasion, they were guests who didn’t know anyone. Howard sipped away at a glass of beer, but Carole hadn’t seen his wife take a drink all evening. Howard’s face was blank; probably the hubbub in the room made it impossible for him to hear anything.
Stephen came to join her, and she could see the strain of the occasion in his pale blue eyes. “All seems very jolly,” she said, in the teeth of the evidence.
“Yes. Not exactly how Gaby and I would have done it if it’d been our choice, but…very generous of Howard and Marie.”
“Oh yes. Very generous.”
“And, if it’s done nothing else, I must say I’m really pleased that it’s brought you and Dad together.”
The words were out before she could stop them – a waspish “Only geographically.”