‘Yes, he left in the middle of the night, in the early hours of Saturday morning.’
‘Sounds very strange. Do you know why?’
‘No,’ she replied. ‘But Susie heard him go.’
‘Oh?’
‘His room was next to hers. She said she heard raised voices coming from his room – Russell and Tabitha. And then she heard the door open and close, and when we came downstairs in the morning for breakfast, they announced that he’d decided to leave the house.’
‘They didn’t give any more explanation than that?’
‘They just said he’d decided it wasn’t for him, so he’d decided to leave.’
‘In the middle of the night.’
She smiled. ‘I know. Sounds very odd, doesn’t it?’
‘It does.’ Cullen pondered on whether this could be in any way related to Natalie’s disappearance. On the face of it, probably not, but it was something worth exploring with Tabitha. ‘You said that Natalie got on well with Russell.’
‘Yes, she seemed to.’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘They were seated together at dinner, and were laughing and talking a lot. And then on the Saturday morning, when they told us that Russell had left, I saw the look on her face.’
‘Which was?’
‘Disappointment. She looked really disappointed. I think everyone else was just glad that one of the competition had dropped out.’
‘Did you speak to her about him?’
‘A little. Although there wasn’t much time for chitchat, it was pretty full-on on Saturday with the task. I just asked her what she thought about what had happened. I suppose I was fishing, really.’
‘And did you catch anything?’
‘Sort of. She told me that he’d come to her room that evening. Not for what you might think. She said he’d wanted to show her something in the house.’
‘What?’
‘I don’t know. She was in the middle of telling me when we were interrupted. I meant to catch up with her later about it, because I was quite intrigued, but I forgot.’ Penny looked at Cullen, and they both knew that the discussion was coming to a close.
‘Is there anything else you think might be useful for me to know?’ Cullen asked.
‘I can’t think of anything. Sorry.’
Cullen smiled sympathetically. ‘Don’t be. You’ve been very helpful. Thank you for taking the time and trouble to come along.’
‘Don’t mention it. As soon as I heard what had happened, I was more than happy to help.’
‘Well, thank you.’ Cullen was thinking about Russell Cave. ‘I don’t suppose you have a photo of Russell?’
‘Actually, I do. I took a few photos on Friday evening.’ She pulled out a handful of Polaroid photographs from her bag. ‘We had our phones taken off us, so my favourite camera came in useful - I just love retro things like that. She picked out one photo. ‘This one is of the group - Russell is there on the far left, next to Natalie. Would you like to have it?’
‘Please.’
She handed it across to him.
‘Thanks, that’s great.’
They both got to their feet and made their way to the door.
‘What do you think has happened to Natalie?’ she asked, as they were halfway down the stairs.
‘I’m afraid at the moment it’s a total mystery. But believe me, I’m doing my best to solve it, and I won’t stop until I do.’
Tabitha was waiting for them as they reached the reception area, and she turned as she heard Cullen. Moving away from a chat with the receptionist, she straightened and smiled, now looking at ease once more with the situation. ‘Is everything okay?’ she said, receiving a nod from each of them.
‘Penny has been very helpful,’ Cullen said.
‘Oh?’ Tabitha said. ‘That’s great.’
If she were waiting for further elaboration, she would be disappointed, as Cullen offered nothing. ‘Nice to meet you, Penny.’
Penny shook his hand. ‘You too.’
‘Yes, thanks Penny,’ Tabitha added, also offering a hand.
Cullen watched and waited for Penny to exit, feeling the weight of Tabitha’s expectation as she stood unspeaking next to him.
Finally he turned. ‘Tabitha, I wonder if you have that list?’
‘Oh, yes.’ She reached over the reception desk and handed Cullen an A4 sheet of paper, upon which was a table detailing the previous weekend’s guests.
Cullen eyed the list. ‘Thank you.’ This was very interesting. He looked up at Tabitha. ‘This is perfect.’ Tabitha smiled, looking relaxed, and a bit relieved. Then Cullen said, ‘I wonder if you might answer a few questions about one of the applicants in particular?’
‘Yes, of course. Which one?’
‘Russell Cave.’
Tabitha couldn’t hide her reaction and Cullen felt his pulse quicken.
38
Previous Sunday morning
THE CALL CAME JUST after seven thirty in the morning.
‘Hi, Natalie. It’s Tabitha. Sir Kenneth just called to let me know that he is ready. If you could go up to the third floor, it’s the door straight ahead of you.’
‘Oh, not the dining room?’
‘No, third floor.’
Natalie frowned at the surprise location.
‘Will you be there too?’
‘Yes,’ she replied. ‘See you in a few minutes.’
NATALIE CLIMBED up to the third floor, and knocked at the door that was straight in front of the staircase. The door was wider than the other doors in the property, with a different look. It seemed almost like an external door.
‘Come in!’ she heard Sir Kenneth shout.
She emerged into a surprisingly open-plan room, which put even her plush room to shame with its grand decor. Off to the right was a kitchen full of high-end equipment, while just past it was a lounge area with large windows overlooking Mayfair and beyond. She could only assume there was also a bathroom and bedroom, off the corridor that ran to her left.
She edged nervously around the corner.
‘Natalie, lovely to see you again!’
Sir Kenneth was sitting at the table, an impressive breakfast selection spread in front of him. He stood as she approached.
‘Please, do take a seat.’
Natalie did so, wondering why Tabitha wasn’t here as she’d said she would be. Alarms bells sounded deep inside. She didn’t want to be alone with him.
‘Do tuck in,’ he instructed.
Natalie took a croissant and bit into it, aware that Sir Kenneth was watching her intently.
‘How do you like the apartment?’ he asked, the moment Natalie had swallowed the first mouthful.
‘It’s lovely.’
‘It’s three rooms knocked into one,’ he explained. ‘I had it done shortly after I purchased the property, as I wanted a place where I could stretch out.’ He paused, using his tongue to get something out of his teeth. ‘I don’t live here permanently, you understand. I have a home in Windsor, that’s my permanent base, where I feel most comfortable. And there are a few holiday villas. But this apartment, it’s a good hideaway for me in Central London. I use it after events like last night, when it feels like too much trouble to travel back out to Windsor. It’s also perfect if I need to just get my head down and do some work.’
‘It’s lovely.’ Natalie took another bite of her croissant, hoping that Tabitha would appear soon. It was unnerving having this private breakfast in Sir Kenneth’s apartment.
‘I’m so glad you like it, Natalie. Coffee or tea?’
‘Tea, please.’
He poured her a cup.
‘Sugar? Or are you sweet enough?’ He held eye contact until Natalie looked away.
‘Just milk, thank you.’
‘Very wise.’ He passed across the cup. ‘So, Natalie, how does it feel, now that you’ve had a night to sleep on it?’
‘Sorry?’
‘How does it feel? To be the victor, the chosen one
?’
Natalie shifted at the vaguely messianic reference. ‘I’m really pleased,’ she nodded. ‘Really happy. Thank you. It’s such a fantastic opportunity.’
She surprised herself by sounding so convincing, even though this experience was just cementing her decision that next week she would turn down the offer.
‘You weren’t so sure last night,’ he noted.
Natalie felt her face redden.
Had Tabitha said something to him? She must have.
‘I was in a bit of a state of shock, I think. It really took me by surprise. I didn’t think in a million years that I’d be the last person standing.’
‘Well, I did.’
‘You did?’
‘Yes, of course. The first time I spoke to you, at my book signing, I could just see there was something about you.’
He really did remember…
‘Something that betrayed your great potential,’ he continued. ‘In fact, you might say I was really rather taken with you. And that doesn’t often happen, believe me. There are lots of people who want to get my attention, and try very hard to do so, but it’s quite rare, quite rare indeed, that it happens the other way around.’
He took a sip of his coffee and let out a satisfied sigh, waiting for Natalie’s response. He smiled in anticipation, as if he had offered a challenge and was looking forward to seeing how she would react.
‘I didn’t think you’d remember me,’ she said carefully, not liking the direction the conversation was heading. They had only spoken for what could have been sixty seconds at most. And that was on a day when Sir Kenneth must have spoken with hundreds of people – the queue for the book signing had stretched out of the tent. Each of those people would have had a similar conversation with him. She had watched from the queue as he had conversed at some length with dozens of people eager to talk.
And yet he remembered her.
‘Of course I remember you!’
Unless he was just saying that, to try and impress her with his memory. Maybe somehow during the weekend word had got back to him that she had met him at the book festival – probably via Tabitha. Yes, that was almost certainly it. It was a good trick, designed to be a little ingratiating. To make the other person feel important. Part of the Brand New family.
But surely it was just a trick.
‘I remember you with great clarity, Natalie. And my invitation to apply for this great opportunity was one hundred percent genuine. I really wanted you to apply, and I wanted to look out for you if you did. That’s why I asked for your full name, do you remember that?’
Natalie nodded. She did remember. He had asked what her name was, for the personal message in the book, but then he had pressed for her surname, too. She’d thought at the time that it was a little strange, but he had said something about looking out for her in the future. She’d brushed it off as him being polite.
‘I said I’d remember you, Natalie, and I did. I have a good memory for names of people that matter to me.’
‘Thanks,’ Natalie replied, still uncomfortable with the attention.
‘I can’t tell you how happy I was when I saw that you had indeed applied for this opportunity. I was so very happy. I ensured that you got your chance, which I am delighted to say that you took with both hands!’
So the others had been right – their teasing about her being somehow favoured by Sir Kenneth New, having an advantage over them, had been right on the mark. She felt a sudden sense of deflation. She hadn’t got there on her own merit, she’d been picked out of the thousands of other applicants because of favouritism.
She’d been handpicked, done a favour.
And now here she was.
In his private apartment.
Alone with him.
39
‘Russell Cave is missing from the list,’ Cullen said, handing it back to Tabitha.
‘Oh,’ Tabitha said. She went quiet, staring at the piece of paper. Cullen sensed she was playing for time, working out what she was going to say next. Maybe he was being overly suspicious of her, but he thought not. ‘Oh, I see what’s happened,’ she said at last. ‘Milly produced this list based on the check-outs from Sunday.’ She looked up at Cullen. ‘Russell left us early, so that’s why he’s missing from this.’
Cullen nodded, hiding the fact that he was far from convinced. ‘If you could produce an updated list, that would be great.’
‘Of course, I’ll get Milly to produce one.’
‘Or just jot down Russell’s details on that version,’ Cullen suggested. ‘If it’s quicker.’
‘No, no, it’s okay, we’ll update the list, that’s no problem whatsoever.’ She turned and rang the bell on the reception desk. Milly appeared from the back office, and Tabitha requested the update.
‘So,’ Tabitha said, turning back to Cullen. She tried to smile, but there was that flash of discomfort again; it was clear and present, no matter how much she was fighting to hide it. ‘You wanted to ask me about Russell Cave?’
‘I do, if you don’t mind.’
She glanced away, and then back at him. ‘I can tell you what I know. But he wasn’t with us long.’
‘So I heard,’ Cullen quipped. ‘Maybe we should go back upstairs.’
Tabitha agreed, and they returned to the lounge area that had now become a makeshift interview room. The chairs were still in position, and Cullen gestured for her to sit.
‘So,’ he said, deciding to get down to business. ‘Tell me about Russell Cave.’
Tabitha shifted in her seat. ‘Well, there’s not much to tell, really. Like I said, he wasn’t with us for long.’
‘Tell me about that.’
‘What? Why he left?’
‘Yes.’
A pause. ‘I… I really don’t know, to be honest. He just left, in the middle of the night.’
Cullen thought back to what Penny had said: that Susie had heard raised voices coming from Russell’s room, and that one of them was Tabitha’s. ‘Did you speak to Russell before he left?’
Another pause. Cullen could tell that she was deciding whether to tell the truth, or at least how much of the truth to tell.
‘Yes, I did see him,’ she admitted at last.
‘Where was this?’
‘In his room. He dialled reception, in quite an agitated state. The night porter, Karl, was pretty worried about him, so we went up to the room to see what the matter was.’
‘And what was the matter?’
‘He’d been drinking. They all had, the residents, well, most of them – at the drinks reception. But he must have brought more alcohol in, because it was hours after everyone had gone to bed and he was pretty drunk. We’re very careful that the residents don’t drink to excess, as we want them to be at their best for the weekend’s activities. And we make that very clear to all residents, both before and when they arrive.’
That could explain the raised voices, Cullen thought – if Tabitha had found that Russell had smuggled in contraband alcohol.
‘The ways of working and living are very clear,’ she added.
The ways of working and living? It sounded like some kind of cult.
‘Are there penalties for those who break the rules?’
‘Yes. Anyone who goes against the ways of working and living will be removed from the application process. Sir Kenneth is very clear on that. He needs someone he can trust totally, and following the ways of working and living is the most important indicator that trust has been earned.’
‘But you said that you didn’t know why Russell left the house. Except he didn’t choose to leave, you asked him to leave.’
Tabitha was thinking again. ‘That’s right, yes.’
‘So he was removed from the house?’
‘He was asked to leave,’ she replied, pushing a strand of hair behind her left ear.
‘How did Russell feel about that?’
‘He understood the situation, once we explained things to him. I mean, he was upset, and dr
unk, so it took him a few minutes to get his head around it and see it was the right thing to do.’
‘What time was this?’
‘Just after two thirty.’
‘You threw him out of the house at two thirty in the morning, drunk. It doesn’t sound like the most charitable thing to do, if you don’t mind me saying. Couldn’t you have waited until the morning?’
Tabitha blinked a couple of times. ‘Sir Kenneth instructed us to remove him with immediate effect. We were mindful of the time of night, and his state of mind. We ordered him a taxi, made sure he was safe and that he got to suitable accommodation.’
‘But you still could have waited.’
‘Sir Kenneth thought it would unsettle the remaining residents if Russell waited until the morning before leaving. And that wouldn’t have been fair on the others. They shouldn’t have to suffer because of one person who couldn’t follow the rules.’
‘You would also have risked the truth coming out,’ Cullen said, ‘if Russell had had the chance to talk to the others the next morning.’
‘Truth?’ Tabitha flushed.
‘You told the others what you initially told me: that Russell had decided to leave on his own accord. And they had no reason not to believe the lie.’
She didn’t seem to like the insinuation that they had lied. ‘As I said, we didn’t want to unsettle the other residents. We felt it was better for everyone if they thought that Russell had decided to leave.’
‘I can see how it made things easier for you.’
She straightened in the chair, suddenly appearing more defiant. ‘I think it was for the best, how we handled it, but I can see how it might look to others. We were put in a difficult situation, by someone who knew the rules but chose to break them.’
Cullen held her gaze, unspeaking. She filled the gap.
‘Is there anything else I can help you with, Detective?’
‘That’s it for now,’ he replied, ‘but if you could let me have those contact details for Russell, that would be great.’ He got to his feet. ‘You do have a phone number for him?’
Tabitha got up from the chair. ‘Yes, we will have.’
‘You must have had a number when you tried to call him before?’
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