Claire McNab - Dead Certain

Carol said pleasantly, “So this is a serious matter, from your point of view?”

“It’s obvious it is.”

Ignoring the edge in Alanna’s voice, Carol said, “It seems you didn’t tell me the truth about your relationship with Collis Raeburn.”

Her expression didn’t change, but she straightened in the chair. “I believe I did.”

“I have it on good authority that during the last year you were lovers. Is that true?”

“No.”

Carol raised her eyebrows fractionally. The silence hung in the room. At last Alanna said, “We weren’t exactly lovers . I went to bed with him a couple of times, that’s all.”

I can hardly ask if you used condoms … “Why did you lie before?” Carol’s slight emphasis on “lie” made Alanna flinch.

Alanna said earnestly, “It didn’t seem relevant. And I didn’t want to think about it. It was a stupid thing to do and Collis only despised me for it.” She looked for some sign of acceptance. “That’s why I didn’t want to say anything.”

Another pause which Carol deliberately let last until even Anne shifted in her chair. Alanna said, almost desperately, “Is that all? I’ve got to get back…”

“Is there anything else you haven’t been completely truthful about?”

“I don’t believe so.”

“Lloyd Clancy?”

Her expression hardened. “About Lloyd,” she said firmly, “I’ve been absolutely truthful. I don’t usually hate people, but with Lloyd I could make an exception.”

Anne waited until they’d been cleared by security at the stage door entrance. “Do you think she’s telling the truth?”

“Partly.”

Anne fished her sunglasses out of her bag. “I’d hate to be the person to have to tell Raeburn’s lovers that he might have given them HIV-but somebody has to.”

Carol nodded, thinking of Pat James’s younger brother. “I think the news will be out soon.” As Anne looked at her with surprise, she added, “An arrest for murder should do it.”

“Inspector Ashton… Carol,” said Sykes, smiling winningly.

Carol looked stonily at his sleek, self-satisfied face. “Mr. Sykes?”

“As a matter of good PR, I think the time’s right for a statement on your progress with the investigation. I’m afraid the news about Alanna Brooks suing her leading man has stirred things up. I’ve spoken to Eureka Opera’s public relations person, and she agrees we need some damage control here.”

“We?”

He looked taken aback at her tone. “It’s a matter of cooperation. Eureka has been besieged by the media, just as we have. Collis Raeburn’s funeral is on Thursday and that’ll be, I fully expect, an international media event. It would be advantageous if you could indicate something definite by Wednesday.”

“You want the whole case neatly tied up and presented by Wednesday?”

“Not the full written report, of course, but an indication…”

“The Commissioner sent you to say this?”

Even Sykes was not immune to Carol’s contemptuous anger. He flushed as he said, “Not exactly. After all, it is my area-public relations, that is.”

Carol had a sudden thought. “Has Kenneth Raeburn been talking to you?” She didn’t need his reply, his expression was enough. “And is Mr. Raeburn insisting that I find his son’s death was an accident?”

“He believes it was.”

“Thank you, Mr. Sykes.”

He didn’t accept her dismissal. “Inspector Ashton, I don’t want you to think I’m trying to tell you how to do your job…”

“No?” said Carol caustically. “Then just what are you trying to do?”

She expected the phone call from Kenneth Raeburn. “Inspector Ashton, I’d like to see you.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Raeburn, but I’m on a very tight schedule. Could we discuss it on the phone?”

“Not really.”

You bastard. You think there’s a chance this call might be recorded . “Could you give me some indication?”

“I’m concerned about your investigation, Inspector. It’s ten days since my son’s body was discovered and you seem no closer to establishing that it was an accident. As you know, the funeral is in two days, there’ll be a great deal of publicity, and people will want answers.”

“I’m afraid an investigation doesn’t run to a set agenda, so it’s impossible to predict exactly when it will end.”

“I insist on seeing you tomorrow. It won’t be necessary for me to take this higher, will it, Inspector?”

Carol controlled her anger, ignored his last question and made a time to see him.

She sat frowning after the call. Was there any point in going to the Commissioner?

“To hell with it!” she said, startling Anne, who had paused in the doorway. “Yes, Anne?”

“Simon Sykes gave me this media release for you to vet. He didn’t want to see you himself, just asked if you’d glance at it and make any changes.”

Carol smiled cynically. “You know,” she said, “I think Simon Sykes might be just a little scared of me.”

When Carol got up early the next morning, David, in rumpled pajamas, was already in the kitchen. “Mum, can I stay with you and Auntie Sarah for the rest of the week?”

“Darling, I’m on a case, so I may not see that much of you.” Expecting his pout, she smiled when it appeared. “All right, I’ll ask your father. He’s back tonight and Eleanor was going to pick you up tomorrow, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“Can I come on the run with you?”

She rumpled his blond hair. “If you hurry.”

David kept up with her for the first ten minutes, then began to fall behind. She slowed to a walk as they reached the bush path. “Do you run the whole way, Mum?”

“Yes, but I do it every morning, that’s why I can.”

“If I lived with you, I could do it too.”

Warmed by his words, she put an arm around his shoulders. “Aren’t you happy with your father and Eleanor?”

“Yes. But I like being with you.”

“David, I love having you here and you can come as often as you like, you know that.”

He looked up at her. “Why’s Sybil gone away?”

Say something direct, Carol. You owe him that much.

“You know how your Dad and Eleanor love each other-how they do things together, sleep in the same room…”

“Well, they’re married, Mum,” he said, making it clear this was self-evident.

“Sybil and I are like that… it’s just like we’re married.”

“Then why’s she moved out?”

“Because we’re not getting on at the moment. We’ve got some problems we’re trying to work out.”

David looked sideways at her for a long moment. Then he said, “Can we start jogging again?”

That’s enough. It’s a beginning.

“Sure,” said Carol, “but I bet you can’t keep up.”

While David was dressing for school, Carol had breakfast with Aunt Sarah, who frowned at Carol’s toast and black coffee, but managed not to give her usual lecture on health foods. Carol defiantly poured herself a second cup of coffee, ignoring her aunt’s muttered comment. “I said something on the run this morning about Sybil and me. If David asks you any questions, please answer them.”

“He won’t, Carol. David must have picked up something from Justin’s casual remarks or assumptions made about you and Sybil being together… that sort of thing. Now you’ve given David a bit more to think about. He’ll fit it all together, and when he’s ready, he’ll ask you what he wants to know.”

“I may not have the luxury of waiting-Kenneth Raeburn’s leaning on me.”

“What about the calls on your answering machine?”