“It must be tough for her, poor kid.” She wasn’t conscious that she was echoing Jude’s words. “Can’t her brother take part of the strain? Or has he still not turned up?”
“He’s around. Apparently the night after the partyhe continued drinking with some mates and crashed out on someone’s floor. There was nothing more sinister to his disappearance than a massive hangover.”
“But is he being supportive?”
“I gather Phil’s always been pretty useless when it comes to anything involving responsibility. Also I don’t think he and Marie ever really got on that well. He was closer to his father. No, he’s gone back to work.”
“In the warehouse in Hoddesdon.”
“Yes. Which is probably just as well. I don’t think Phil’s presence would do anything to decrease the tension in the flat.”
“No.”
“Robert’s been round a few times. He’s been a great source of strength for Marie, but he can’t spare much time. He seems to have a pretty busy life, with his duties as a magistrate and what have you. He’s also been very helpful dealing with the police.”
“In what way?”
“Well, being an ex-copper, he knows how they work. Sometimes he can give them information and save Marie the stress of another interview.”
“Hm. And you’re back at work, are you, Stephen?”
“Yes. I’m really frenetic at the moment.”
Doing what? Carole was tempted yet again to ask the question, but she realized she had left it far too late in their relationship.
“And Gaby?”
“She’s off for the foreseeable future. I think she’d give anything to get back to the agency, just to be able to get her mind round something else, but she’s afraid to leave Marie on her own. Which is why I was suggesting they should have a break somewhere. Just to get away from the flat, get away from Harlow.”
“Would the police be happy for them to do that?”
“I think it’d be all right. I’d have to clear it with the inspector in charge of the case – Inspector Pollard he’s called – but he seems to be a fairly reasonable guy. So long as he knew where they were, I don’t think he’d raise any objections.”
“So where are they thinking of going?”
“I thought down your way would be good.”
His words prompted instant panic in Carole. The thought of having people staying in High Tor, people she didn’t really know that well, people who were in a highly emotional state – it would be more than she could cope with. The carefully guarded borders of her life were under threat of invasion.
“Well, yes,” she flustered. “I’ve only got the one spare room, but if they didn’t mind sharing, I – ”
“No, I wasn’t suggesting they actually stay with you, just somewhere down in your direction.”
“Oh.” Carole hoped the monosyllable didn’t reveal too much of her relief.
“I mean, the only hotels I know are like Hopwicke Country House Hotel, which I think might be a bit dauntingly grand for Marie.”
“Well, there are lots of less flashy ones around. I’m sure I could sort something out for you.”
“If you could. As I say, I’m absolutely frenetic here.”
“Leave it with me. Somewhere quiet and comfortable.”
“Yes. With the emphasis on the ‘quiet’. Somewhere where no reporters would think of looking for them.”
“Right. And what – book them in for a week?”
“Something like that. Leave it open-ended.”
“All right, Stephen. It shall be done.”
“Bless you.”
“And from when?”
“Well, if I talk to Inspector Pollard today, and everything’s all right, then from tomorrow, I would think. Gaby’s got the BMW up in Harlow. She could drive her mum down.”
“I’ll arrange it. Can I ring you back at work?” It was something she had very rarely done.
“Trouble is, I’ve got end-to-end meetings all day. If you don’t mind just sorting it out with Gaby. I’ll give you her mobile number.” He reeled it off.
“Very impressive memory, Stephen.”
“I get that from you.” Carole was cheered by the thought. “Anyway, God knows I’ve keyed Gaby’s number in a few times. I wouldn’t be so fluent with my own.”
“No, I suppose you don’t often dial that.” Carole was as yet unfamiliar with the world of mobile phones. She kept thinking she should get one. But then again, she was so rarely away from High Tor, the landline there was probably adequate for her minimal needs for communication.
“Gaby can’t remember her own number for love nor money. It’s the first entry in her address book. Mind you, most numbers you put in the phone’s memory these days, so it doesn’t much matter whether you remember them or not.”
“It matters to me. I try to remember every phone number I’ve ever been told. It’s a point of honour not to have to consult my address book.” It was also, for Carole, rather like doing The Times crossword every day, a way of holding at bay the insidious advances of Alzheimer’s.
“That, if I may say so, Mother, is entirely characteristic of you.” But, though unarguably a criticism, he said it with affection. “Anyway, I’ll get on to Inspector Pollard, and if there’s any problem about them leaving Harlow, I’ll let you know within the next hour.”
“All right.”
“Thank you, Mum.” He didn’t know how much he had warmed her by saying that. Nor how much more he warmed her by what he said next. “I’ll feel a lot happier knowing they’re near you.”
“Is that Gaby?”
“Yes.”
“It’s Carole.”
“Just a sec. I’ll move next door.” The girl called, away from the phone, “It’s work, Mum.”
Carole heard a door close and then Gaby’s voice, closer and more intense. “Sorry. Mum’s getting so paranoid every time the phone rings.”
“I don’t blame her. How’re you bearing up, Gaby?”
“As well as can be expected, I suppose.”
“Is the back troubling you?”
“No.” Gaby almost laughed at the incongruity. “Not a twinge. Maybe I’m better at dealing with real disasters than imagined ones.”
“A lot of us are. Look, I was ringing, because you know Stephen called me about finding a hotel down here.”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’ve got the perfect place. It’s in Fethering, but the other side of the river from the main town. Very few people go over there even in the height of summer. Little place called the Dauncey Hotel. Very friendly, very quiet. Nice sea views, and some good walks if that’s what you feel like. Alternatively, they serve three very good meals a day, if you just want to dig in.”
“I should think the first couple of days we’d just dig in, then maybe consider venturing out. Oh, Carole, thank you so much for sorting that. If we spend another day in this place, we’re both going to go out of our minds – or even more out of our minds than we are already.”
“Well, they’re expecting you some time tomorrow afternoon. And I gather from Stephen that the police are happy about you moving away for a while?”
“So long as we don’t leave the country. They’ve got phone numbers for us, and it won’t take long to get us back to Harlow if there’s any development on the case.”
“And has there been much development on the case?”
Gaby let out a weary sigh.
“I mean, have the police given any indication of the direction in which their enquiries are going?”
“Oh, it’s so hard to tell with them. They just seem to ask the same questions over and over again. And then suddenly they get some new idea, go off at a tangent, and find some new set of questions to ask over and over again.”