Martin Edwards: The Cipher Garden

Hannah didn’t speak.

‘As the years passed, it all worked out to perfection. Warren was dead and gone, he’d never bother Bel again. She and Oliver were blissfully happy.’

‘But he was a murderer.’

‘I’ll believe to my dying day that he didn’t come to our cottage intending to kill his own father.’

‘Even so.’

Roz glared. ‘Frankly, your colleagues on the original investigation didn’t have a clue, so I hope you don’t blame me for not working out the truth. As far as I was concerned, Chris was back where he belonged and our marriage was stronger than before. Everything in the garden was lovely.’

‘Even the prettiest gardens turn bleak in time.’

Roz closed her eyes. ‘If only Kirsty hadn’t fallen for Oliver. Her half-brother. I did my utmost to discourage her, but she took no notice.’

‘Because you were Bel’s buddy.’

‘Too old to understand about young love.’ A single tear trickled down her cheek. ‘It was madness. How could she have thought me capable of destroying the happiness of my dearest friend? But there was no convincing her. She was a Howe, and nobody is more determined than the Howes, once they set their mind to something. She refused to give Oliver up. The more he tried to keep her at arm’s length, the more she wanted him. Worse, much worse, she told me how she hated Bel, how she fantasised about killing her. A woman who had shown her nothing but kindness. I always believed Kirsty would never hurt a fly, but she was losing the plot. I was terrified of what she might do.’

‘So you told her the truth?’

‘It was a mistake, I panicked, but I couldn’t imagine how else to stop her in her tracks. Their affair could never be.’

She blew her nose loudly. A string of reassuring platitudes trailed through Hannah’s head. Stuff you might read in the magazine that Miranda wrote for. It wasn’t your doing, she was responsible for her own actions. You did your best, it was an impossible situation.

Empty, empty, empty words.

‘I suppose you’re going to tell me I shouldn’t have interfered,’ Daniel said.

‘I’m not that ungracious,’ Hannah said.

For a minute, neither of them spoke. They’d arranged to meet in a tea shop on the Bowness road and were surrounded by end-of-season trippers sheltering from the cloudburst. The windows were steamed up, the air had a tang of China tea and carrot cake. A plump and chatty waitress scurried from table to table, getting orders wrong and explaining it was her first day in a new job. She looked the same age as Kirsty Howe.

‘I know. Sorry.’

A sip of Darjeeling seemed to revive her. ‘Better look on the bright side, huh? The ACC’s a happy bunny this week. Suddenly my team’s clear-up statistics look wonderful. She practically put her tongue in my mouth yesterday. She’s been invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace and some Home Office apparatchik is quoting her management methods as a model for efficient police leadership. The powers that be are thrilled because we’ve avoided the hassle and expense of two prosecutions. I suppose I ought to be thanking you on behalf of the hard-pressed taxpayer.’

‘Miranda tells me that Bel Jenner has put the restaurant on the market. What about Tina Howe?’

‘I did her an injustice. I thought she killed her husband.’

‘It’s the usual solution.’

‘Not this time. She’s a strong woman, but she’ll need to be made of titanium to survive losing both her kids. Time for her to lean on Peter Flint, rather than the other way round.’

‘At least Roz has Chris. Did you find out why he left home before the murder?’

‘Long story. Let’s not go there.’

‘Was it Chris who tipped you off about Tina in the first place?’

‘God, no. That was Peter Flint’s ex-wife. A sad alcoholic with a grudge against the Howes. She sent them hate mail, but we don’t have the evidence to prosecute. Until her liver packs up, she can keep downing the gin and gloating over her enemies’ fate.’

‘You look shattered.’

‘You’re so good for my morale,’ she said, with a glimmer of a smile. ‘Don’t let it trouble your conscience, it isn’t your fault. Things have been tough lately. The moon’s in the wrong quarter or something.’

He savoured the smoky flavour of Lapsang Souchong. ‘Want to talk about it?’

‘Not really.’

‘Up to you.’

She breathed out, as if arriving at a decision. ‘Since you ask, I had a miscarriage. I’d only just found out I was pregnant.’

‘Oh God, Hannah, I’m so sorry.’ Instinctively, he reached across the table and put his hand on hers.

‘I feel like a roulette ball. Spinning around randomly, not in control of my own destiny.’

‘I guess that goes for all of us.’

‘Yes, compared to Tina or Bel Jenner, I should count my blessings. We weren’t planning a baby and I wasn’t sure I was ready for motherhood. There’s no escape from it, ask Bel. You should have seen Marc’s face when I told him he was going to become a father. He’d sooner swallow tin tacks than admit it, but I’m sure he sees…what’s happened …as a narrow escape.’

‘You’re too hard on him.’

‘You think so?’ She removed her hand. ‘I mustn’t be disloyal. Yesterday he booked us a fortnight in Paphos. Sam didn’t do me any permanent damage and I don’t like taking sick leave. The idea is I catch up on my annual leave and get my head sorted out sitting by the pool. As if we hadn’t had enough of the sun. I’ve decided I rather like drizzle after all. Not that I’m complaining, Marc’s doing his best. So why I’m loading all this on you when we hardly know each other, Christ knows. I’m not sure I can even believe I’m doing it.’

‘Any time.’

‘No, you’ve had plenty to contend with yourself. You don’t deserve any more grief.’

‘We all need somebody to load things on to.’

‘And you have Miranda.’

‘Well.’ He considered. ‘Louise.’

Her eyebrows rose. ‘Both of them, surely? While I have Marc.’

‘I suppose I ought to leave you in peace.’

‘For a while, perhaps. I hope that doesn’t sound rude. I need to do some thinking.’

‘Of course.’

She hesitated. ‘You know…’

‘What?’

‘Oh, when your father was alive, once or twice we talked about the things going on in our heads. He never came out with the corny old line that Cheryl didn’t understand him, even though it would have been true. He wasn’t trying to seduce me.’

He grinned. ‘Certain of that?’

‘Frankly, Daniel, if he was trying to get me into bed, he was far too oblique to have any chance of success. Ben was a great guy, but as a smooth-talking charmer, he wouldn’t know where to start.’

‘Runs in the family.’

She contemplated him. ‘Not sure about that. Incidentally, your chin is smeared with chocolate.’

She bent forward and wiped his skin clean with her forefinger. A tremor ran through Daniel’s body at her touch. The moment of intimacy was an electric shock.

The waitress stopped at their table. ‘Would you like anything else?’

Daniel and Hannah exchanged glances. He dared to wonder if she might be thinking what he was thinking.

‘Another slice of gateau,’ Hannah said. ‘Sod the diet, I’ve decided to spoil myself.’

The waitress scribbled on her notepad. ‘It’s good for morale to sin a little!’

As she moved away, Daniel said, ‘Tell you what, it frightens me sometimes, how little I remember about him.’

‘You haven’t forgotten his favourite adage? Life is short.’

‘He was right.’

On impulse, he seized her hand again and squeezed it hard. She looked down at the lace tablecloth, then closed her eyes. The clatter of the crockery and conversation faded. Her soft breathing was all he wanted to hear. This time she left it longer before easing her hand away from his.