Simon Beckett - Fine Lines

“I’m sure there could be any number of reasons,” I said. But I did not attempt to give any.

Anna stared into space. “I just hope he gets in touch soon.”

I patted her arm. “I’m sure he will.”

A sort of tense calm settled over the next few days. Anna was quiet and withdrawn. She contacted the police regularly, as much to make sure they were actually trying to find Marty as anything else. They claimed to be doing everything they could, but Anna was not convinced. And her own helplessness weighed on her almost as much as Marty’s disappearance. She declined my offer of time off. “I’d rather work than just sit at home and wait,” she said.

I began to feel cautiously optimistic. I had given Zeppo an indefinite holiday, telling him I would be in touch when he was needed again. There was a tacit agreement that the original bargain, to seduce Anna, still stood. Whether this was because Zeppo himself saw this as unfinished business, or simply because it never occurred to him to question it, I have no idea. I was only glad he seemed to take it for granted. In any event, I had not expected to call on him again for weeks. I could not see Anna welcoming another man’s attentions so soon after Marty’s disappearance. But what with the apparent lack of police concern, and her growing acceptance that Marty had left of his own accord, I began to think Zeppo might be able to resume his campaign sooner than planned.

Unfortunately, my optimism was premature. Interference was about to come from an unexpected quarter.

Since Anna was unable to contact Marty’s parents, I had assumed it was safe to disregard them. From what I had heard, they had not been particularly close to their son, and so it seemed reasonable to suppose they would remain ignorant of his disappearance, at least for the foreseeable future.

However, some things are simply unpredictable. When Anna walked into the gallery, a week after Marty had disappeared, I could see at once that she was upset.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

She made an attempt to sound normal. “Marty’s father phoned last night.”

“His father?” I searched for a suitable response. “Has he heard from him?”

“No. That’s why he called. It was Marty’s mother’s birthday two days ago, and he didn’t send a card or phone. His father was going to tell him off for forgetting.” Anna looked young and frightened. “It’s the first time he’s not been in touch on a birthday.”

I tried not to let my irritation at the news show. Things had been going so well. “Anna, people forget birthdays all the time. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”

“But Marty’s always thoughtful about anything like that. And his father said he’s never forgotten before.”

I could think of no way to convincingly defend Marty’s lapse of memory. “What did you tell him?”

She shrugged. “What could I tell him, except that Marty had disappeared about a week ago, and I hadn’t a clue where he was? He wanted to know why I hadn’t let him know straight away. I said I couldn’t because I hadn’t got his number, but I could tell he didn’t believe me.”

“He didn’t actually say that, surely?”

“No, but he let me know that’s what he thought. He asked why Marty had left, and when I said I’d no idea, he said. “Well, have you at least done anything to find him?” As if I’d just not bother!” She angrily brushed tears from her eyes with the heel of her palm.

“Come on. Sit down.” I took hold of her arm and led her to a chair. My fingers retained a tactile memory of the contact. I poured us both a coffee and sat down opposite her. “Did you tell him you’d been to the police?”

She nodded. “Yes, but when I told him what they were doing, he said, “So in actual fact, they’re doing nothing.” Then he wanted to know what else I’d done, and when it actually came to saying it, it sounded like nothing at all. He made me feel like a callous bitch.”

“You’re hardly that.”

“No, but he just... oh, you know, made me feel like I wasn’t even trying to find Marty. I could tell he thought I knew more than I was telling him. He obviously thought I must have done something to make him leave.”

I felt outraged for her. “That’s nonsense!”

“I don’t know, I’m starting to wonder.” Her voice was on the edge of breaking. She held her coffee cup in both hands, as though she were trying to warm herself from it. She looked very vulnerable.

“Well, you shouldn’t! Don’t let him upset you, he was probably just hitting out at you because you were there. Didn’t you say that Marty didn’t get on with him?” She nodded. “Well, then, there you are! Now you know why. If he jumps to conclusions like that, he’s obviously completely unreasonable!” I was prepared to dislike the man already.

“I know, you’re probably right,” Anna said, a little calmer. “But he still made me realise that I’m not doing anything. Marty’s missing, and I’m just sitting and waiting for him to come back. That’s not enough.”

“You’ve done everything you can. Did Marty’s father suggest what else you could have done, or offer to do anything himself? Or was he just content to criticise you?”

She sighed, tiredly. “He’s going to go to the American embassy, to see what they can do, so I said I’ll go to the embassy here as well.” She shook her head. “I should have thought of that myself.”

So, perhaps, should I. “Will they be able to help?”

“I don’t know. They might be able to put some pressure on the police to try a bit harder.” She did not sound too hopeful. “Something needs to. I called them last night to tell them what Marty’s father had said. I thought it might make them take it more seriously, but I might as well not have bothered.” Her mouth tightened at the memory. “I spoke to this...” — she struggled for a suitable description, — “this pig of a sergeant, who just said he’d make a note of it. So I asked what else they were going to do, and he said that Marty was already listed as a missing person, and they’d carry on keeping an eye out for him.” Her agitation was growing as she re-lived the conversation. She put her coffee down, angrily. A little slopped into the saucer. Anna did not notice.

“I told him that “keeping an eye out” wasn’t enough! I mean, Marty’s disappeared, for God’s sake! You’d think they’d at least make an attempt to find him! Especially now, when even his parents are getting worried! But he just got all stroppy, and said he was sorry my “young man” had left me, but they weren’t a detective agency, and can’t be expected to find everyone who decides to leave home.”

She paused, making an obvious attempt to calm down. “God, I was just so angry. I didn’t bother saying anything else. If I had I’d only have regretted it. What with him and Marty’s father, I just felt like... like screaming.” She drew in a long breath. “I just hope to God the embassy does something. I can’t stand sitting around like this much longer, not knowing anything. If I don’t do something soon I’m going to go mad!”

Reluctantly, I realised that Anna was no longer going to passively resign herself to Marty’s absence. There and then, I decided to change my tactics.

“AH right,” I said briskly. “Let’s try and think what you can do. You’ve already done everything you can as far as the police are concerned. Now what about the embassy? Have you spoken to them yet?”

“I phoned them last night, as well, but the person I need to speak to wasn’t there. They told me to call back this morning.” She looked at her watch. “He’s probably there by now.”

“Well, you give him a ring and make an appointment to see him. Insist that it’s urgent, and that it must be this morning. Don’t take no for an answer.” I doubted that she would have anyway. “I’ll take you over whenever you have to go.”