Page 88 of The Impossible Fortune

Joanna takes the two coffees, and Paul offers the tray to Donna. ‘And a builder’s tea. Eight sugars.’

Donna takes the builder’s tea.

Paul sits down, and Joanna reaches for his hand. Elizabeth has to ask him a few questions, that’s a given, but Joanna made sure she was at home when this happened. Donna can do a neat act of wide-eyed, hapless local copper, but this is a woman who has Bogdan, of all people, trailingin her wake. Woman to woman, Joanna has to respect that level of game.

Donna is no fool, and, while Paul is no fool either, it won’t harm to even the sides up a little.

‘This might be easier if I speak to Paul alone,’ says Donna.

‘Easier for who?’ asks Joanna, sipping her flat white.

‘Simpler, I mean,’ says Donna.

‘Sure,’ says Joanna. ‘If you can explain to me in five seconds why it would be easier and simpler for Paul if I left the room, I’ll leave.’

‘I might raise certain things you don’t want to hear,’ says Donna.

‘About his family?’ Joanna asks. ‘I think I probably know more than you.’

‘I’d rather Joanna stayed,’ says Paul.

‘Even if you didn’t,’ says Joanna to Paul, ‘I’m staying. I’m cheaper than a lawyer, I’m smarter than a lawyer, and I’m in love with you.’

‘Now you sound like a cross between your mum and Elizabeth,’ says Donna. She smiles as she says it. Joanna suspects that she and Donna might become firm friends, given the opportunity.

‘That’s better but still not great,’ says Joanna. ‘So who murdered Holly? Do your gang have any ideas? Or should I ask my mum and her gang? They usually work it out first, don’t they? I mean they knew about the Bitcoin and you didn’t?’

‘They’ll know about it the second I get back to work,’ says Donna.

‘Aren’t you at work?’ Paul asks.

‘I meant back to the station,’ says Donna. ‘I am at work, yes. You see why you might be a suspect, Paul?’

Paul nods. ‘Of course. I suppose I control the business now. Probably worth a lot of money.’

‘And the Bitcoin,’ says Donna.

‘He can’t access the Bitcoin,’ says Joanna. ‘No one can access the Bitcoin.’

Donna notes this down. ‘And not every member of your family has an unblemished past.’

‘We don’t arrest people for that,’ says Joanna. ‘Not any more.’

‘No,’ says Donna. ‘But we can talk like grown-ups about it.’

‘My family are interesting,’ says Paul. ‘I’ll give you that. Absolutely nothing to do with who I am, but, if you want to take a shortcut that will lead you nowhere, I’m happy to chat.’

‘And how was your relationship with Holly Lewis?’ Donna asks.

‘Not as close as it once was,’ says Paul. ‘But old friends are always old friends, aren’t they?’

‘She wasn’t at the wedding,’ says Donna. ‘That’s quite unusual for old friends who live in the area?’

‘We used to date,’ says Paul. ‘I think she felt a day at work might be preferable to my wedding.’

Donna turns to Joanna. ‘Did you know they used to date?’

‘I did,’ says Joanna. ‘Do you know everyone Bogdan has ever dated?’