Page 99 of Worse Than Murder

‘I don’t know. We can’t do anything before we have definite proof and that’s not going to be easy to find. Alison is clearly struggling with her memory. I think she’s trying too hard to remember, and that could lead to a false memory. I’m going to try and speak to Lynne and Iain again, but individually this time.’

‘Why individually?’

‘I got the feeling they both wanted to tell me something last time we chatted, but they wouldn’t in front of each other.’

‘They’re keeping secrets from each other?’

‘Of course they are. They’re a married couple.’

Once Tania has gone, I return to the restaurant. It feels strange being in there on my own. The silence is palpable. I make myself a breakfast of two slices of toast and marmalade, then take a croissant and a strong coffee into the restaurant. I sit in the window and look out at the view. I try to enjoy it. I try to see the expanse of space as liberating and mind-opening. But even with a horizon stretching out far into the distance, I feel oppressed, hemmed in.

As soon as I see Sally’s car turn into the car park, I jump up and run out to get news of Philip.

‘He’s fine,’ she says.

The relief I feel is instant. ‘Oh, thank goodness.’

Carl slowly climbs out of the front passenger seat. He looks drained. He comes over to me and hugs me. I hug him back. I know he’s thirteen, a teenager, but there are times when I look at him and still see a lost little boy. I want to hug him forever.

‘They’re keeping him in for observation because he lost consciousness,’ Sally continues. ‘But he’s had a scan and there’s no damage at all. I always said he had such a thick skull. Now I’ve had it confirmed. How are you?’

‘I’m fine.’

‘You should have gone to the hospital too, you know.’

‘Honestly, I’m okay. I think I was more surprised than anything. He didn’t actually hit me.’

‘What have the police said?’

‘Very little. I couldn’t give them much of a description. It was dark and it was over within seconds.’

We make our way back into the restaurant. Carl runs on ahead to see the barking dogs who have seriously missed him this morning.

‘I think I’ll keep the restaurant closed tonight,’ Sally says. ‘I’ll ring round all the bookings later. I’m not in the mood right now.’ She pulls out a chair at the nearest table and slumps into it. She looks shattered.

‘That’s understandable. Listen, Sally, I need to go out, but can you let me see the CCTV footage from the cameras when I get back?’

‘Sure.’

‘I think Inspector Forsyth will want to look at them, too.’ I look over my shoulder to make sure Carl isn’t in earshot. ‘How’s Carl?’

‘We’ve had a few tears. I asked him if he wanted to go and see his therapist again, but he said he’d rather have a chat with you when you go on one of your walks.’

I smile. ‘I’d like that.’

‘What do you two talk about while you’re out there?’

‘Oh, you know, the usual. The state of the economy, who we think should win the Nobel Prize, whether Novak Djokovic really is the greatest tennis player of all time.’

‘A wide range of subjects, then?’

‘Oh, yes, we cover the lot.’ I put my arm around Sally. ‘And how are you?’

‘Hungry. Tired. And I’m gasping for a cuppa. Why can nobody in a hospital ever make a decent cup of tea?’

‘Come on, I’ll make you both breakfast, and then I need to get going.’

‘Anywhere nice?’