Page 123 of The Hallmarked Man

‘But how did he explain away coming back out of the shop with a full set of men’s clothes? Because Wright had been stripped, remember.’

‘Yeah, good point,’ said Strike, frowning. ‘Might call Wardle back and point out the coincidence of Sofia Medina’s appearance and clothing matching the description of the woman who visited Wright’s house in the early hours of the morning, though.’

Strike was still standing with his back to Robin, scanning the increasingly full noticeboard. While he did so, Robin agonised over what she ought to do about Jonny Rokeby’s message. She’d have quite liked to withhold it, because unless there’d been communication between them of which she was unaware, the last words her partner had spoken to his father were ‘go fuck yourself’. However, it would definitely be wrong not to pass on the offer of legal assistance.

Unaware of what was going on behind his back, Strike, who was looking at a new piece of paper pinned beneath the picture of Tyler Powell, said,

‘You found “Griff”.’

‘What?’ said Robin.

‘“Man Tyler Powell confided in, instead of his grandmother”, it says here.’

‘Oh, yes,’ said Robin. ‘Dilys said “he told Griff where he was going, not me”. I think that’s his address. Dilys said Griff lives “up the road” and an Ian Griffiths lives right opposite Tyler’s parents. He might be worth talking to, as well as Dilys.’

‘And Dilys could meet us any time in January?’ said Strike, still reading Robin’s note.

‘Yes,’ said Robin.

‘I’ve been putting more pressure on Jade Semple and she seems to be wavering. I’ve reassured her I’m not working for the press, although I can’t see why she’s so worried about that. If she genuinely wants to find her husband, a bit more coverage might help. Anyway, if I can get her to agree, we’ll try and book those interviews around the same time, pick them off together.’

‘OK,’ said Robin, still trying to decide how best to broach the subject of Rokeby.

Strike turned away from the board, and was about to embark on a discussion of the best way for them to travel from London to Ironbridge, when Robin said,

‘Listen, I’ve got something to tell you,’ (and for a second, Strike remembered that it was he who’d planned to say those words, or something very like them, this morning) ‘but please –pleasedon’t fly off the handle. Promise me you won’t do anything rash.’

‘All right,’ said Strike, wondering what on earth was coming. She wouldn’t preface an announcement of her engagement with these words, would she?

‘Your father just called the office. He saw that article and he’s offering help – legal help. He says he’ll pay for his own lawyers to take action.’

Strike simply stared at her. On the other side of the door, Robin could hear Kim laughing.

‘He phoned while you were talking to Robertson,’ said Robin. ‘I told Pat to take a message, and – well, that’s it. He said he felt bad that – that he’d been dragged up in the story, so he wanted to help. Pat says he was nice… Don’t go ballistic. Please.’

‘I’m not going to,’ said Strike, with difficulty.

Not with you here, anyway.

Robin checked the time on her phone.

‘I’d better get going,’ she said, getting to her feet.

‘You driving to Yorkshire this afternoon?’

‘This evening,’ said Robin, ‘but I need to pack and sort a few things out.’

In fact, she had an appointment with her GP that afternoon. It had been difficult to get one before Christmas and she didn’t want to miss it.

‘I’ve got your present here,’ said Robin, now reaching into her bag and pulling out what looked like a card. ‘I know it doesn’t look like much, but you’ll understand when you open it.’

‘Thanks,’ said Strike, taking it automatically. ‘I left yours upstairs. Hang on.’

Robin followed him into the outer office, where Kim was leaning up against the sink, coffee in hand. As Strike headed for the glass door, Kim said,

‘Thanks for the gift token, Cormoran.’

‘Thank Robin, it was her idea,’ said Strike. He left for his flat. Assoon as the glass door had closed, Pat said to Robin in the growl that passed for her whisper,