Page 63 of Worse Than Murder

‘It’s tempting.’

A car pulls into the car park. Sally leans forward and looks down to see who has arrived.

‘Good grief, look at the state of her,’ Sally sniggers. A party of four climb out of a silver Audi and head for the restaurant. ‘I hope that fur’s fake. Who wears a stole these days? Time to put on my fake smile and tell her she looks gorgeous. Are you coming to watch me play the role of the sycophant?’

‘Maybe later.’

Sally kisses me on the cheek and heads for the door.

I look back out at the calm, black lake.

‘There is a car.’

* * *

‘Matilda, that Inspector Forsyth is downstairs to see you,’ Sally says, popping her head around the door to the living room.

I’m on the sofa watching the blank television screen. I’ve lost all concept of time and have no idea how long I’ve been lying in complete silence. I crawl off, stand up, and feel the effects of two bottles of wine hit hard. I wobble. Dusk was setting when I last looked out of the window; now, it’s pitch dark.

‘Should I ask her to come back tomorrow?’

‘No. I’m fine.’

I go over to the mantelpiece and look at my reflection in the mirror above it. I don’t recognise myself. I look like death dug up. Still, it doesn’t matter. I have nobody to impress with a neat hairstyle and perfect makeup. Let Gill Forsyth think what she likes.

‘I’ve put her in the staffroom we use for storage,’ Sally says as we make our way downstairs. ‘I know we can hardly hide all the police cars in the car park, but I don’t want our customers seeing police officers waltz in and out of the dining room.’

‘I’m sorry for all this,’ I say, my words slurring slightly.

‘You’re not to blame. It’s just, why can’t these things happen during regular office hours? Come into the restaurant when you’ve finished. I’ve opened a bottle of Sauvignon by mistake, and it needs drinking.’

‘By mistake?’

‘I was thirsty.’ She winks.

I walk into the staffroom where there is a heavy aroma of onions and herbs. I want to sneeze.

Gill is standing by the window, sipping a glass of water.

‘We’ve found the car,’ Gill says.

I feel a massive weight lift from me. I was beginning to wonder if Ihadbeen seeing things.

‘Where?’

‘Where you said it was.’

‘Why didn’t they find it before?’

‘Apparently, the side-scan sonar sends out soundwaves and they bounce off whatever is underwater. The car has been there for so long that it’s thick in mud and algae and the sonar couldn’t penetrate. They went back out with something called a Proton 4 Magnetometer which is a bit like a very strong metal detector, by all accounts. It located the car; they sent a diver down to check and that’s when they found it.’

‘Oh. Good. Nice to know I wasn’t seeing things.’ I try to sound playful and effect a giggle, but the alcohol on an empty stomach heightens how pissed I am.

‘Indeed.’

‘What happens now?’

‘They’ve put down a marker. The light has gone. There’s nothing more we can do tonight. We’ll have a scene guard overnight and Specialised Rescue UK will be out first thing tomorrow to bring the car up.’