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‘It’s fine,’ he tells her. ‘Just an accident. Now clear it up and start again.’
Back inside the orangery, holding a cup of perfectly brewed Yirgacheffe, he probes Teri further about Angus. She can hardly meet his gaze any more, answering his questions with her eyes locked on her bare knees.
As Gabriel listens, he finds himself imagining the secrets concealed beneath her high-cut jersey shorts and ribbed vest. It creates in him an enmity that she should provoke him so deliberately, that she should attempt to distract him from his task.
‘Where’s Angus’s laptop?’ he asks.
‘In his study.’
‘His mobile phone?’
‘I haven’t seen it.’
‘Any other devices?’
‘There’s his iPad. But he doesn’t use it much.’
‘I’ll be taking the laptop. The iPad, too.’
‘I don’t know the passwords,’ she says. ‘Or how to unlock them.’
‘I do. If something’s there, I’ll find it.’
She swallows. ‘What now?’
‘I think we’re done.’
‘Should we … will you call the police?’
‘The police? Do you think we should?’
‘I … Maybe.’
‘So why didn’t you? You’ve had three days.’
The fear in her eyes is instant. ‘I told you. I assumed he was with that girl.’
‘So what’s changed? Why worry now, if you didn’t worry before?’
Teri opens and closes her mouth several times before she manages to get out any words. ‘Because I didn’t know thatstoryyou told – about how he always calls you on your birthday, how this time he didn’t. That changes things, doesn’t it? And I didn’tknow.’
Gabriel breathes. In through his nose. Out through his mouth.
He thinks of Huan Yi; of plum blossom falling on slow-moving water; of cotton-white clouds above MountHuangshan. He imagines the warmth of Teri’s skin; the feel of the firm flesh beneath.
Uncrossing his legs, he stands.
Teri struggles up too, hopping away from him as if he’s contagious. She shifts her weight to one leg again and Gabriel decides it’s high time he left his brother’s house.
‘Teri,’ he says. ‘Do you know where Angus is?’
Wild-eyed, she shakes her head. ‘If I did, I’d say. Ipromiseyou, Gabe.’
He nods, fists clenched. ‘Thank you for making the time.’ His voice sounds strange – as if it’s coming from far away. Sweat breaks out across his forehead. It pricks from his armpits and runs down his sides.
Teri turns on her toes. Gabriel follows her through the house to the entrance hall, breathing like a boxer after twelve hard rounds.
She reaches for the iron deadbolt. Her painted nails flash like red teardrops.