by Roberta Kray
‘Oh,’ he said, his eyebrows shifting up. ‘Yes. That was… Yes, I think it was Southend. Or was it Clacton? I used to hit the coast in the summer, try and make some cash by taking photos and selling them to the tourists. No, I reckon it was Southend. I can remember the pub.’
‘And when the summer was over?’
‘Good question,’ he said. ‘But I reckon I came back to London.’
Eden’s heart sank at this news. She’d been hoping he’d gone abroad, far away from the capital and the robbery in Epping. ‘So you would have been here in November.’
‘You know, the more I think about it, I’m pretty sure I was. I was trying to get some cash together so I could take off again. Everyone was talking about Berlin. I fancied going there, seeing it for myself, but I needed some money first.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘And then the idea came to me that I could just pull a heist and all my troubles would be over.’
Eden pulled a face. ‘Don’t even joke about it.’
‘Ah,’ he said with mock wistfulness. ‘I remember the days when you loved my sense of humour.’
‘Well, I hate to break this to you, sweetheart, but —’
‘Hey, hold it right there.’ He grinned, raising his hands in a gesture of defence. ‘Have some pity. You can’t shatter the last of my illusions.’
For a few precious moments, it was as if things were perfectly natural again, a weight lifted, normality resumed. But it didn’t last long. Eden was brought down to earth by the appearance of a guard patrolling up and down the aisles. The officer paused by their table, looming over them. He stared suspiciously for a while as though what they were exchanging could be contraband rather than mere banter.
Eden was relieved when he eventually moved on. ‘What was all that about?’ she whispered.
Tom curled his lip. ‘Just to let you know you’re being watched.’
‘As if you could forget.’ It made her uncomfortable being under constant scrutiny. She felt awkward and self-conscious, overly aware of their eyes on her. But she couldn’t let it get in the way of the visit. ‘So, tell me how you ended up in Budapest.’
‘It must have been the following year. March or April. I stayed in Paris for a while, a few months, and then went on to Germany. I met some students in Berlin. They were planning to take the train through Czechoslovakia to Hungary and I thought it might be interesting so I tagged along.’
Eden, recalling the letters from Ann-Marie, wondered if the two of them had hooked up while he was in France. But that wasn’t the question she asked. ‘And that’s where you met Jack Minter?’
Tom nodded. ‘I was taking photos in Garay Square. He was renting an apartment there and… well, we got talking – he was into photography too – and we just hit it off. I liked him. He was interesting, good company. We spent a lot of time together after that. I was staying at a cheap hotel near the station, a bit of a dive, and when he offered me a room in the flat I jumped at it.’ He raked his fingers through his hair, gave a brief shake of his head. ‘God, he wasn’t a villain, Eden. I’d swear to it. He was a straight-up guy. A bit of ducking and diving, sure, but that’s the way it is out there. Nothing serious. He wasn’t the type to —’
‘You can’t be sure. He had the bracelet, didn’t he?’
‘That doesn’t mean anything. There’s a massive black market in Hungary, lots of people trading goods. He wouldn’t necessarily have known it was stolen.’
‘So what did he do? I mean, how did he make a living?’
‘He said he worked on the rigs, on and off. Some kind of engineer, I think. And when he wasn’t working, he travelled around, visiting new places. And he hadn’t lived in England for years. His parents moved to Hamburg when he was thirteen and he never went back.’
‘So he said.’
Tom shrugged. ‘He seemed genuine enough. I can’t… I just can’t see him as an armed robber. It doesn’t add up.’
Eden thought of the photographs she’d removed from the studio. ‘Did you take any pictures of him?’
‘I’m not sure. Probably. I might have done.’
‘What does he look like?’
‘About the same age as me, brown hair, brown eyes.’
Eden arched her eyebrows. ‘Anything more specific? That describes thirty per cent of the men in this room.’
Tom pondered on it for a moment before giving a wave of his hand. ‘I don’t know. Nothing standout. A bit taller than me, an inch or so. Ordinary. Fit – he used to go running – although he might not now. And it was sixteen years ago; people can change a lot in that time.’
‘But you talked, yes? You told him about yourself?’
‘I suppose so. Some.’
‘Enough for him to be aware that you’d been in London the previous November?’
Tom shrugged. ‘Probably.’
‘So maybe he remembered that, and realised it’s pretty hard to provide a convincing alibi after sixteen years. He just threw your name into the pot and hoped for the best. And then he got lucky. You still had the bracelet and —’
‘No, I don’t buy it. It’s someone else. It has to be.’
Eden understood his reluctance to accept Jack Minter’s guilt; Tom was a loyal sort of man who never thought the worst of anyone. But people weren’t always what they appeared to be.
‘Sometimes it’s the nice guys you’ve got to watch out for – the sociopaths with the charming exterior. That’s how they get away with it. No one thinks they can be capable of doing bad stuff.’
Tom still didn’t look convinced. ‘It just doesn’t feel right. No, I’m sure it’s not him. Anyway, we’ll find out soon enough.’
‘If it isn’t, then we have to try and track him down. Without the stolen bracelet, all the police have got is this guy’s claim that it was you who organised the robbery. His word against yours. We need Minter to testify that he gave you that bracelet in Budapest, that you didn’t steal it during the raid.’
‘Friendly photographer turned vicious armed robber. They’ve got me well and truly in the frame.’
She heard the strain in his voice and wished she could do more to help. ‘Why did he even give it you in the first place? Castor said something about a debt.’
‘Yeah, he borrowed some cash. It wasn’t that much, just a hundred or so. He was going to Germany – he had money in the bank there – but wasn’t sure how long he’d be. I was planning on leaving too so he gave me the bracelet in lieu of the debt. He said I could sell it in London, that it was gold, hallmarked, and I’d easily get my money back.’
‘But you didn’t sell it?’
‘No, I got work pretty quickly and so I didn’t bother. I just hung on to it. To be honest, I’d forgotten all about the damn thing.’
Eden became aware of other visitors going back and forth to the refreshment counter at the back of the room, carrying trays laden with plastic cups and crisps and chocolate. ‘Shall I get some drinks? Would you like a coffee?’
‘Yeah, sounds like a plan.’
‘What about something to eat?’
‘No, I’m fine. Just coffee, please.’
Eden stood up, crossed between the tables and joined the queue. While she waited she had a quick look round, making sure that her gaze didn’t settle on anyone for too long. Staring was probably a cardinal sin, like on the Tube. All of the men here were in the same boat, all on remand, all killing time until their cases went to trial. Maybe some of them, like Tom, were innocent. Others – well, she didn’t want to dwell on what they might have been accused of.
She saw Tammy and her brother over in the far corner, their heads bent together. Pete was a big, solid man in his early thirties, with short cropped hair, a bull neck, and tattoos covering his arms. They seemed to be in the middle of some kind of row; Tammy had an exasperated look as if she wasn’t exactly hearing what she wanted to hear.
The room with all its tables and high windows had a claustrophobic air. It was warm too, the radiators going full blast. Eden pushed up
the sleeves of her cardigan and took a few slow, deep breaths. She turned her attention to Tom, who was sitting staring into space. She could see the stiffness in his shoulders, the anxiety etched on his face. There was a terrible vulnerability about him, a brittle fragility that made her heart ache. He was trying his best to be strong for her, but she knew he was afraid. Who wouldn’t be?
As she shifted forward in the queue, Eden recalled what Vic Banner had said at the studio. You’ve got your whole future ahead of you. Don’t waste it on a man like that. But she knew, with an overwhelming certainty, that no matter how long it took she would always wait.
14
Eden placed the tray on the table and sat down. Although Tom had said he didn’t want anything, she’d used her change to buy two coffees, a cheese sandwich and an apple. ‘Here,’ she said. ‘You have to eat. I’m presuming the food in here isn’t exactly Cordon Bleu.’
He looked down at the sandwich and grinned. ‘As opposed to the culinary delights of the visiting room.’
‘It doesn’t look that bad. How about we eat half each and that way we’ll both die together?’
Tom picked up the sandwich, peeled off the wrapping, and passed her half. ‘Ladies first.’
‘Who said the age of chivalry was dead?’ She took a bite off the corner. ‘Mm, it’s lovely. You should try some.’
‘Your acting skills leave a lot to be desired, Mrs Chase.’
Eden put down the sandwich, took a sip of coffee and widened her eyes. ‘That is so untrue.’
Tom looked at her and smiled. ‘So true.’
‘Look, do you need anything? Clothes, books? I can bring stuff in with me, I think. Or I could post it to you. That would be quicker. I won’t get to see you again until next week. Just tell me what you want and I’ll sort it out.’
‘Thanks, yeah, some clothes would be good. Nothing fancy, just a pair of jeans and a few shirts. And underwear and socks. Oh, and a radio. There’s a spare one, isn’t there, in the dresser? The little transistor, that’ll do fine. There’s no point having anything decent in here; it’ll only get nicked or broken.’
‘Are you sure there’s nothing else?’
‘Well, there’s a library, of sorts, but I wouldn’t mind a few books. Don’t bother posting them, though, just bring them with you on the next visit.’
‘Okay.’
‘You look tired,’ he said. ‘Are you sleeping?’
‘Yes,’ she lied.
‘I could be here for months, Eden. You’ve got to take care of yourself. Don’t worry about me. Do you know what the worst thing is about this place? It’s not the other guys or the food or even the bars on the windows – it’s the unrelenting boredom. I’ve only done a week and it feels like a year. But I can deal with it, okay?’
Eden gave a nod. She didn’t believe it but tried to look as though she did. ‘I’m supposed to see the police tomorrow. That Banner guy. I don’t like him. He’s a nasty bit of work, a real creep. He turned up at the studio, said he’d like to talk to me at the station.’
‘Is Castor going with you?’
‘Do you think I need him? It’s not a proper interview or anything.’
‘I don’t know. I suppose not. But he’ll be looking to dig some dirt.’
‘Then he’s going to be disappointed. And don’t worry, Caitlin’s already given me the lecture on thinking before I speak. Not that there’s anything to hide, but I’ll be careful. Banner’s the type to try and twist anything you say.’
‘How is Caitlin?’
‘She’s good. She sends her love. She’s gone to Greenham for a few days so I won’t see her again until next week.’
‘Ah, saving the world from nuclear disaster. I’ve heard there’s quite a gathering there. Say hello for me.’
‘I will.’
Tom’s face twisted a little. ‘I suppose everyone knows I’m in here now?’
‘Not everyone,’ Eden said, thinking of her father. ‘Not at all. I’ve told Denny and he’s probably told a few of the others, but your clients don’t know anything. I got Annabelle to cancel all your appointments for the next few weeks – she’s told them you’re ill – but I’m not sure what to do about… I mean, I’ve said not to bother coming in for now but I’ll have to let her know what’s happening long-term. You don’t have to decide straight away, not today or anything, but…’
‘I’ll have to let her go, won’t I? There’s no point in keeping her on when there’s nothing to do. Tell her I’m sorry and we’ll sort out some severance pay. I’ll write to Elspeth or maybe I should see her. Do you think she’d come here?’
‘I’m not sure.’ Elspeth Coyle was Tom’s accountant, a brusque Devonian woman with a sharp brain and a cool dry manner. ‘And it might take a while to get organised. Perhaps I could go and see her instead.’
‘You’ve got enough on your plate.’
‘I don’t mind. I’d rather keep busy.’
‘You’ve got college, though. You won’t stop going, will you?’
‘No, of course not,’ she said, pushing aside the thought of the essay she hadn’t even started.
‘Promise me. Don’t let this whole mess screw things up for you too.’
‘I won’t. I swear.’
Tom buried his head in his hands for a moment. ‘Jesus, you don’t deserve any of this.’
‘And you do?’
‘It’s going to be harder for you. You may not think so now but… you’ll have all the questions to answer, people calling, and when it goes to trial…’
‘It won’t,’ Eden said quickly. ‘It won’t go that far. We’ll get you out of here before then.’
‘And what about money? How are you going to manage if I’m not working? There’s a couple of thousand in the current account but that’s not going to last for ever. You’ll have to talk to Elspeth about it; she should be able to transfer some from the business.’
‘I can manage. Don’t worry. You don’t need to stress about that stuff. All you should be thinking about is how you ended up in here and why. Someone’s stitched you up and if it isn’t Jack Minter… I mean, who even knew the bracelet was in the safe?’
Tom sucked in a breath while he raised and dropped his hands. ‘Hardly anyone. I suppose Annabelle could have seen it; she’s got stuff out for me occasionally, but she’s never mentioned it. And there was Denny. That was a few years back when I flogged my old Leica. Oh, and Fiona was there too, but neither of them can have anything to do with this.’
Although Eden wasn’t overly fond of Denny’s wife – a thin, gossipy woman who could dig up a scandal in a room full of angels – she had to agree. ‘No, I guess not. But did you tell them where you got it from?’
‘Yeah, I think so. In fact, Fiona took quite a fancy to it. She tried it on, even offered to buy it off me.’ Tom shook his head. ‘Christ, I made a big mistake there, didn’t I?’
‘Why didn’t you sell it?’
‘I don’t know. Sentimental reasons, I suppose. It reminded me of Hungary, of Budapest. I didn’t need the cash so…’ He raised his eyes to the ceiling and sighed. ‘There you go, the penalties of sentiment. I’ll know better in the future. Next time, remind me to take the money and run.’
‘I will.’
They looked across the table at each other and smiled. Tom reached out and took her hands in his again, linking his fingers between hers. ‘It isn’t fair. You never signed up for all this.’
‘Actually, I think I did. I believe the exact words were “For better or for worse” so I guess I’m stuck with you. And vice versa.’
The rest of the visit passed too quickly and suddenly the prison officers were announcing time. Eden looked at her watch, shocked that the allotted two hours had already run out. Their second embrace was as fleeting as the first, and made more poignant by the fact that this one meant goodbye.
‘Take care,’ she said, trying to keep a smile on her face. ‘I’ll see you soon. I’ll write.’
Before she knew it, E
den was back in another queue and filing out of the room with the rest of the visitors. It broke her heart to leave. If she could have rushed back into his arms, she would, but that, apparently, was against the rules. She was allowed only one last backwards glance, another smile, a wave, before it was all over.
Eden trudged across the open courtyard, barely aware of the snow that was still falling. Weariness had descended on her. Her shoulders were hunched and a thin ache ran the length of her spine. She knew she had to remain optimistic – this was only the start of the battle – but it was impossible not to feel dispirited. How long would he be here for? She glanced up at the high walls and sighed.