Page 28 of The Impossible Fortune

And so it is that she is looking up houses on Hampton Road as they walk up the hill to find Nick Silver’s house.

‘The one with the turrets at Number 16 last sold for £2.75 million,’ says Joyce. ‘And it has a fountain.’

Up ahead of them a Daihatsu pulls up to the kerb, and Ron steps out, looking very much the worse for wear.

He gives Joyce a hug. ‘You reek of booze, Joycey. That’s just how I like my women.’

Elizabeth has crossed the road and is on tiptoe next to a pair of wooden gates. She calls, ‘Found it! Nick Silver’s house.’

Joyce and Ron walk over to join her.

‘How do we get in?’ Joyce asks.

Elizabeth climbs the gates and opens them from the inside.

‘Oh,’ says Joyce. ‘Like that.’

‘So you’re saying Nick Silver’s dead?’ says Ron, as they start the walk down Nick’s driveway.

‘No,’ says Joyce. ‘Onlymightbe dead. Someone put a bomb under his car.’

‘Okay,’ says Ron. ‘Bomb, is it? And where’s his car?’

‘It’s at his house,’ says Joyce.

‘But this is his house,’ says Ron.

‘Yes,’ says Joyce.

‘So what are we doing here?’

‘Elizabeth just wants to take a look,’ says Joyce. ‘You know Elizabeth and bombs.’

‘Just want to borrow the thing and get it analysed,’ says Elizabeth. ‘Find out who planted it.’

‘We’re going to take the bomb with us?’ Ron asks.

‘That’s why you’re here, Ron,’ says Elizabeth. ‘We needed a car. An old friend of mine called Jasper has agreed to assess it, and it’ll be quite safe at Coopers Chase.’

‘But –’ says Ron.

‘Bombs are fairly robust, Ron,’ says Elizabeth. ‘So long as you don’t drive over any speed bumps, we’ll be fine.’

They round a bend, and the house from the photographs rises before them.

‘Done all right for himself, Nicky Silver,’ says Ron. ‘Nice gaff.’

In front of the house is Nick’s car. Again, just like in the photograph.

Except.

Elizabeth takes a long look. She gets into a crouch, and then rolls herself under the car.

‘Don’t blow up,’ says Joyce.

Pushing herself up again, Elizabeth looks at Joyce and Ron and shakes her head.

‘It’s definitely the right house?’ says Ron.