A Dedicated Man ib-2

by Peter Robinson

  ‘We might be able to answer that last one soon,’ Gristhorpe said. ‘I’ve got men following the becks all the way up the hillside looking for physical evidence. There’ll be some kind of grisly map of her progress.’

  THREE

  ‘That’s scotched work for today,’ Jack Barker punned weakly as he accepted his third refill from Penny. It was over two hours since they had seen the wreckage of Sally Lumb tumble down the valley side. Penny had stopped after her second drink, but Barker was still at it.

  ‘Maybe you shouldn’t,’ Penny warned him.

  ‘It’s already too late. Thanks for your concern, though.’

  When Penny looked down at Barker, she felt the stirring of something like love. Whatever it was, the feeling disoriented her and she was angry with herself for not knowing what to do. Though it had felt good at first when they had come back to the cottage and he had held her, she hated the feelings of weakness that came with it. She knew that her feelings for him were not platonic, but instead of reaching out, she drew in and strengthened her shell.

  Barker seemed to sense something of her chaotic emotions, she thought, when he reached out again for her hand, which she allowed him to hold lightly.

  ‘I suppose I always did have a weak stomach,’ he said. ‘Pathetic really, isn’t it? Here I am writing about blood and guts for a living and as soon as I see…’ His words trailed off and he started to shake. He put his glass on the table, spilling some Scotch as he did so. Then Penny sat beside him and held him. It seemed ages to her before either of them moved, and each would have said the other broke away first.

  ‘You should get some sleep, Jack,’ Penny said softly.

  ‘What the hell’s going on, Penny?’ he asked. ‘What’s happening to this place?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Penny answered, stroking his hair. ‘At least, I. ..’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘Or maybe nothing. I don’t know. But it’s got to stop.’

  FOUR

  ‘Under a packhorse bridge,’ Banks said. ‘That’s what the super told me. On the south slope.’

  ‘What does that mean?’ Sandra asked. They were having an early evening drink in the Queen’s Arms. Sandra had just finished shopping, and Banks had suggested that, as they had seen so little of one another the past few days, they meet for a chat. Brian and Tracy were old enough to manage on their own for an hour or two.

  ‘It means he was wrong about where to look first, and he’s kicking himself for that.’

  ‘But he couldn’t have known,’ Sandra said. ‘It made perfect sense to look on the north side first.’

  ‘That’s what everyone says, but you know what he’s like.’

  ‘Yes. Just like you. Stubborn. Takes it all on himself.’

  ‘He’ll get over it,’ Banks said. ‘Anyway, they found clothes fibres on the stones under this bridge. She must have been hidden there and covered with stones. Then when the heavy rains came, some of the stones were washed aside and she was carried down the valley. They’ve not found any traces above the bridge, and it looked like an ideal place – isolated but accessible by car, just.’

  ‘Does it help, finding the body?’

  ‘Not really. Not the state it’s in. And too much time has gone by. We’ll ask around of course – anybody heading that way, or back – but we can’t expect too much. Whoever we’re dealing with is smart, and he’s not likely to make silly mistakes.’

  ‘This probably had to be done in a hurry, though,’ Sandra reminded him. ‘There wouldn’t have been much time for planning.’

  ‘Still, it’s not going to be easy.’

  ‘Is it ever?’

  Banks shrugged and lit a cigarette.

  ‘By the way,’ Sandra said. ‘I haven’t had a chance to say so before now, but I’m glad you got rid of that bloody pipe.’

  ‘It didn’t suit me.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Too Country Life?’

  Sandra laughed. ‘Yes, I’d say so. You’d not fool many, though. Least of all yourself.’

  ‘There’s not many would say they’re glad to see a person smoke, either,’ Banks said, holding out the pack while Sandra, an occasional smoker, helped herself. ‘But I do intend to cut down and stick to these mild things.’

  ‘Promises!’

  ‘The girl, you know,’ Banks said after a brief pause, ‘was a virgin as far as forensic could make out. Hadn’t been shot, stabbed, poisoned or sexually assaulted. Virgin.’

  ‘I wonder if that’s a good thing,’ Sandra asked.

  ‘What? That she hadn’t been assaulted?’

  ‘No. That she died a virgin.’

  ‘It won’t make any difference to her now, poor beggar,’ said Banks. ‘And I doubt it’s the kind of thing they inscribe on tombstones. But at least we can be sure she wasn’t tormented or tortured. She probably died very quickly, without even knowing what was happening.’

  ‘Are you going to get the killer soon, Alan?’ Sandra asked, swirling the smooth fragments of ice in the bottom of her glass. ‘And don’t treat me like a reporter. Be honest.’

  ‘I’d like to say yes, but we’ve got so damn little to go on. We can trace the girl’s movements until about nine o’clock Friday evening, and that’s it.’

  ‘While we were at the folk club?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Sandra shivered. ‘We were so close.’

  ‘Does that make a difference?’

  ‘It’s just a funny feeling, that’s all. What about the writer and the singer?’

  ‘She could be protecting him, or they could be working together. It’s hard to know what to believe when things are clouded by so much gossip. The others all go back so far, too. Lord knows what complex webs of feelings they’ve set up between one another over the years. It seems to me that in a place like Helmthorpe emotions go deeper and last longer than in a big city.’

  ‘Nonsense. Think about all those feuds and gang rivalries in London.’

  ‘That’s business, in a way. I mean the ordinary things between people.’

  ‘Who had the best motive?’ Sandra asked.

  ‘The one with the least opportunity.’ Banks smiled at the irony. ‘That’s if you call a lot of money a good motive. There could also be all kinds of jealousies involved. That’s why I can’t leave Barker and Penny Cartwright out of it altogether.’

  ‘The wife inherits?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘She came in for some bridge work yesterday.’

  ‘What did you think of her?’

  ‘I didn’t see much of her, really. Only when she came to the window to confirm her appointment. She seemed quite an attractive woman.’

  ‘She didn’t look much to me.’

  ‘That’s typical of a man,’ Sandra said. ‘All you can see is the surface.’

  ‘But you must admit she’s let herself go.’

  ‘It looks like it, yes,’ Sandra said slowly. ‘But I don’t think so. It’s all there. She’s fine under all those awful clothes. Her bone structure’s good, too. Of course, if you’d known her before or not seen her for a long time, she’d definitely look as if she’d gone downhill, I suppose.’

  ‘A pretty young thing.’

  ‘Pardon?’

  ‘Oh, nothing,’ Banks said. ‘Just remembering something. Go on.’

  ‘All I’m saying is the potential’s there for her to be an attractive woman. She can’t be much older than me.’

  ‘Late thirties.’

  ‘Well, then. She must only look plain because she wants to, because it doesn’t matter to her. Not all women are obsessed with their looks, you know. Perhaps there are other things more important to her.’

  ‘Perhaps. What you’re saying,’ Banks went on slowly, ‘is that with the right hairstyle, good clothes and a little make-up…’

  ‘She could be quite a stunner, yes.’

  FIVE

  Penny was at the stove roasting spices for a curry when Barker made his way
down the narrow stairs.

  ‘So, the sleeper awakes,’ she greeted him.

  ‘What time is it?’

  ‘Seven o’clock.’

  ‘At night?’

  ‘Yes. It’s still the same day. Hungry? I shouldn’t think so, with a hangover like you must have. Anyway, I’m making a curry. Take it or leave it.’

  ‘Your generosity and grace overwhelm me,’ Barker said. ‘As a matter of fact, I don’t feel too bad. I’ve just got a hell of a headache.’

  ‘Aspirin’s in the bathroom cabinet.’

  ‘What happened?’ Barker asked.

  ‘You mean you don’t remember?’

  ‘Not after the third drink. Or was it the fourth?’ He rubbed his eyes with his knuckles.

  ‘You really don’t remember?’ Penny repeated, sounding shocked. ‘Well, that’s a fine compliment, isn’t it?’

  ‘You mean…?’

  Penny laughed. ‘Don’t be a fool, Jack. I’m only kidding. You got tired and I helped you upstairs to sleep it off. That’s all.’

  ‘All?’

  ‘Yes. You don’t think I’d fall into bed with you the way you were earlier, do you?’

  ‘I’ll get some aspirin,’ Jack said, and made his painful way back upstairs to the bathroom.

  ‘We’ll let that simmer for a while,’ Penny said when he came back, ‘and have a sit-down. Drink?’

  ‘My God, no!’ Barker groaned. ‘But on the other hand, hair of the dog and all that. Not whisky, though.’

  ‘Beer do?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Sam Smith’s?’

  ‘Fine.’

  ‘Good. It’s all I’ve got. Chilled too.’

  Penny got the beer and Barker sat on the sofa drinking out of the bottle.

  ‘What you said, Penny,’ he began, ‘about not, you know, sleeping with me in a state like that…’

  ‘I doubt you’d have been able to get it up, would you?’ she mocked, a mischievous smile crinkling the corners of her mouth.

  ‘I might be a bit slow,’ Barker replied, ‘but are you implying that if I’d been sober… I mean, you might actually… you know?’

  Penny put her finger to his lips and stopped him. ‘That’s for me to know and you to find out,’ she said.

  ‘Dammit, Penny,’ he said, ‘you can’t just ignore me half the time and then tease me the rest. It’s not fair. I’m upset enough as it is about the girl floating down and all that.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Jack. It just doesn’t come out right. I stop one game and start another, don’t I?’

  ‘That’s how it seems. Why don’t you give me a straight answer?’

  ‘What’s the question?’

  ‘I’ve already asked you.’

  ‘Oh, that. I’m glad you were drunk, Jack, because no, I don’t think I would have. Is that straight enough?’

  ‘It seems to be,’ Barker said, disappointment clear in his tone.

  Penny went on quickly, ‘It’s not as simple as you think. What I mean is, I’m glad I wasn’t forced into making a decision there and then. I’m weak, I might have said yes and regretted it. It would have been so easy then, so natural to make love after being confronted with death. But I wouldn’t have been able to get Sally out of my mind, that awful torn body…’

  ‘I understand that. But why would you regret it?’

  Penny shrugged. ‘Lots of reasons. So much has happened. It’s too quick, too soon. It would be easy to jump into bed with you. You’re an attractive man. But I want more than that, Jack. I don’t just want to be like one of the bimbos you sleep with when you’re down in London publicizing your books.’

  ‘I don’t, and you never could be.’

  ‘Whatever. I’ve had enough disappointments in my life. I want some stability. I know it sounds conventional and corny, but I want to settle down, and I think I might be better off doing it by myself. I’m not one of these women who depends on a man.’

  ‘It’s just as well; I’m hardly dependable.’ Barker lit a cigarette and coughed. ‘Look,’ he said. ‘I don’t care whether this is the right place and time or what it is, but I love you, Penny. That’s what I’m trying to get at. Not whether you’ll sleep with me or not. There, I’ve said it. Maybe I’ve made a fool of myself.’

  Penny looked at him carefully for a long time, then she said, ‘I don’t know if I can handle being in love.’

  ‘Try it,’ Barker said, leaning forward and stroking her hair. ‘You never know, you might like it.’

  Penny looked away. Barker moved closer and took her in his arms. She tensed, but didn’t break the embrace.

  Finally, she disengaged herself and looked at him seriously. ‘Don’t expect too much of me,’ she said. ‘I’m used to fending for myself and I like it.’

  ‘You and I,’ Jack said, ‘we’ve been living alone so long it’s frightening to think about change. So let’s just take it easy, slowly.’

  A bell rang in the kitchen.

  ‘That’s telling me the curry’s ready.’ Penny got up.

  Barker followed her into the kitchen and leaned in the narrow doorway as she stirred the pungent sauce. ‘Do you know,’ he said, ‘it took that bloody policeman, as you call him, to make me realize that I was jealous of you and Harry. I wondered, why the hell should you give so much of yourself to him and so little to me?’

  ‘That’s not fair, Jack.’ Penny’s face darkened as she turned to him. ‘Don’t talk like that. You sound just like Banks.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Barker apologized. ‘I didn’t mean anything by it.’

  ‘Forget it.’

  ‘The past won’t go away, Penny,’ Barker said. ‘There’s a lot of things need explaining.’

  ‘Like what?’ Penny asked suspiciously, taking the pot off the ring.

  ‘You know more about it than I do.’

  ‘More about what?’

  ‘Everything that’s happened. Come on, Penny, don’t tell me you haven’t got any ideas. You know more about this business than you’re letting on.’

  ‘Why should you think that?’

  ‘I don’t really know,’ Barker answered. ‘It’s just that you’ve been awfully mysterious and touchy about it these past few days.’

  Penny turned back to the curry in silence.

  ‘Well?’ Barker asked.

  ‘Well what?’

  ‘Do you?’

  ‘Do I what?’

  ‘Oh come on. You know what I mean. Do you know something I don’t?’

  ‘How do I know what you know?’

  ‘I don’t know anything. Do you?’

  ‘Of course not,’ Penny said, putting the curry into dishes. ‘It’s your imagination, Jack. You writers! Don’t you think if I knew something I’d tell you?’

  ‘As a matter of fact, I don’t. Sally Lumb didn’t tell anyone either. Or she told the wrong person.’

  ‘And you think it was me?’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

  ‘Go on, you might as well say it,’ Penny shouted, brandishing the spoon like a club. ‘Just like Banks. Go on!’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Friday evening, when she disappeared.’

  ‘But we were in the Dog and Gun.’

  ‘Not all the time.’

  ‘So? You came home for a rest and I went for a walk. So what?’

  ‘You don’t know?’

  ‘Know what?’

  ‘Banks hasn’t been to pester you?’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘That’s when Sally was last seen. While we were away. Somebody saw her in High Street about nine o’clock.’

  ‘So Banks thinks…?’

  Penny shrugged. ‘He asked me. You?’

  ‘No. I’ve not seen him for a few days.’

  ‘You will. He’s getting very pushy.’

  ‘I suppose he must be desperate. Surely you don’t think I was implying you had anything to do with it?’

  ‘Well, weren’t you?’
>
  ‘I’d hardly declare my undying love to someone I thought was a murderess, would I?’

  Penny smiled.

  ‘And what about you?’ he went on. ‘Do you believe me?’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘That I just went for a walk.’

  ‘Well, yes. Of course I do. I don’t even remember how all this started.’

  ‘I was simply asking you if you knew anything you hadn’t told me. That’s all.’

  ‘And I thought I’d answered that,’ Penny said, her dark eyes narrowing. ‘I’ve been no more mysterious about it than you have.’

  ‘Oh come off it, Penny. You can’t get out of it that easily. You’ve been around here much longer than I have. You’re bound to know more about what goes on than I do.’

  ‘You seem to be treating me like a criminal, Jack. Is this your idea of love? If this is what it comes down to, just how bloody jealous were you?’

  ‘Forget it.’ Barker sighed. ‘Just forget I opened my mouth.’

  ‘I’d like to, Jack. I really would.’

  They eyed each other warily, then Penny broke off to carry the bowls through to the dining table. She pushed one towards Barker, who sat down to eat.

  ‘You’ve put me in a right mood for a romantic candlelight dinner, you have,’ she complained. ‘I’m not even hungry now.’

  ‘Try some,’ Barker said, offering her a spoonful. ‘It’s very good.’

  ‘I’ve lost my appetite.’ Penny reached for a cigarette, then changed her mind and picked up her jacket. ‘I’m going out.’

  ‘But you can’t,’ Barker protested. ‘We’ve got a lot to talk about. What about the candles? You’ve made dinner.’

  ‘Eat it yourself,’ Penny told him, opening the door. ‘Eat the bloody candles too, for all I care.’

  Barker half rose from the table. ‘But where are you going?’