Lynda La Plante - Blood Line

‘Well, it’s all I can think about, the possibility. He could be very secretive sometimes.’

‘Can you give me an example?’

‘Well, yes. That Mercedes, he never told me he’d bought it. We were supposed to be saving up to get married. I only found out when I saw some receipts for spare parts – they cost a fortune.’

‘Did you argue about it?’

She sighed. ‘Alan didn’t argue. I mean, I could shout and carry on at him, but it never seemed to bother him. He’d ignore it, or what really used to get me furious was he would just walk out of the room.’

‘That must have been very frustrating,’ Anna said.

Tina shrugged her shoulders. ‘Yeah, sometimes it was.’

Paul was flicking through one of the glossy magazines; he appeared to be paying no attention to what they were discussing.

‘Did he ever get physical with you?’ Anna asked.

Paul closed the magazine, looking directly at Tina.

‘Alan? Never. And besides, if he had have done, I’d have given him as good. I told you, he was never confrontational and he hated getting into any kind of row.’

‘Did he get annoyed about your flirty behaviour at the gym?’

She sighed with even more impatience.

‘No, of course he didn’t. I’m flirty here with the customers, as we do have both male and female. It’s part of the job!’

Anna pressed on. ‘If he was seeing someone, do you have any idea who it would be?’

‘Not really. I never found the lipstick on the collar thing or blonde hairs on his jacket. It was working on that bloody car that he said was the reason he was out so late.’

She closed her eyes.

‘I find this all upsetting, you know, because I have told you all this before, and if I did find out there was another woman he’d run off with, you’d be the first people I’d contact. I told that to the Missing Persons people. They’ve asked me the same questions over and over.’

‘He used to collect you from here sometimes?’ Anna noted.

Tina looked at Paul, who still hadn’t spoken.

‘Yes. When he took my car to work he’d drop me off here and pick me up. Not frequently because I never liked to get here as early as he needed to be at the garage.’

‘Did any of the girls working here seem friendly with him?’

‘No, no way. They’re not his type; the Donnas of this world wouldn’t be interested in him either.’

‘Really.’ Anna said it so quietly that Tina flushed.

‘They’re too young and Alan’s so straitlaced and he didn’t have much time for chit-chat.’

Felicity walked in. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt you, Tina, but your client wants to see you.’

‘Tell her I’ll be two minutes.’ Tina sipped her coffee and put the mug down. ‘I’m gonna have to go and unwrap her. Is there anything else you wanted to ask me?’

‘No. Thank you for your time.’

Tina hesitated, as if about to say something, then seemed to change her mind and started to walk out. However, she then stopped and turned back. Anna felt as if the woman was in some way rearranging her features or her emotions, since she was suddenly nervous.

‘I am beginning to think he took off – you know, left me – because he was too afraid to tell me he didn’t want to go through with the wedding. He would have been in turmoil about it; it’s the only reason I can think of for him walking out the way he has done. It doesn’t make it any easier, obviously not, and . . .’ She broke off and took out a tissue from her pocket. ‘I’ve been wondering how long it will be – you know, your investigation. I mean, when do you call it quits?’

‘That would depend,’ Anna told her.

‘Depend on what?’

‘Well, whether or not we trace him.’

‘But what if you don’t?’

Anna glanced at Paul, not wanting to get into the discussion herself. He took over. At last he showed some interest.

‘It will depend on whether we uncover any evidence that gives us confirmation that Alan has met with foul play. Then it will become an ongoing murder enquiry.’

‘ Murder? ’

Paul nodded and flicked his eyes to Anna, who was giving him a frosty gaze.

‘Is that what you think, that Alan’s been murdered?’ Tina said shakily.

‘We will look into every possibility.’

‘But can you have a murder enquiry without a body?’

‘If we suspect foul play, then yes.’

She sniffed and dabbed the tissue to her nose. ‘And do you?’

Anna had heard enough. She stood up and turned to Paul, saying briskly, ‘We should go; Tina has to unwrap a body.’

Paul could hardly keep his face straight, but he stood up and joined her.

‘Thank you, Miss Brooks, for your time,’ he said politely. ‘We will no doubt be in touch if we have any news for you.’

Anna had already walked past and was heading into the main area of the salon.

‘She doesn’t like me, does she?’ Tina sniffed.

‘No, it’s not that, it’s just been a long day.’

‘Tell me about it. And you tell her she could do with some treatments. A wash-in colour enhancing shampoo followed by a cut and blowdry would do her good, and I’ll give her a discount.’

‘I will pass that on to DCI Travis.’

Anna was waiting for him in the patrol car. He got in beside her, repeating what Tina had said.

‘Cheeky cow, but she’s right about me not liking her. I don’t.’

Paul started up the engine and added that Tina had also said she would give her a good price reduction.

‘Wild horses wouldn’t get me into that salon.’

They drove off, heading back to the station. Anna was really irritable, twice snapping at him to take another route as they were heading into rush-hour traffic.

‘Why don’t you like her?’ Paul persevered.

‘Maybe because I can’t believe a word she says, and after everything I’ve heard about Alan, it’s no wonder he took off. Another thing, I wouldn’t like to get into a confrontation with her. In fact, I find it really difficult to imagine the pair of them as a couple.’

‘Love is blind.’

She made a derisive sound.

‘You know, Anna, sometimes people under pressure and stress act in different ways, and by now she must be sort of getting used to the situation.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Just that if he did take off, which now I’m beginning to think he did, then she’s taken it on the chin and she’s getting on with her life.’

‘Doesn’t work that way,’ she said quietly.

‘Okay, now it’s your turn: what do you mean by that?’

‘I don’t want to go there, Paul. Just drop it.’

Since Ken’s death, so long as no one brought up his name or his murder she was able to control the tide of emotions that welled up inside her, but whenever the subject was broached, grief would sweep over and drown her.

The incident room at the station was almost empty apart from a couple of clerical staff still clearing up from the previous murder enquiry. Anna went into her office where virtually everything was now packed up and sat at her desk. She typed out a quick report of the day’s interviews, and having split the work with Paul, it took only half an hour. When he tapped and entered with his sheets it was just after six.

‘You mind if I take off?’ he asked as she stacked her sheets together with his.

‘No, go ahead.’

‘We on for tomorrow?’

She said that she wasn’t sure as she would need to talk to Langton.

‘You want me to take them over?’ Paul offered. ‘His station’s not far from where I live, and I don’t mind.’

‘No, I’ll drop them off to him. You got a hot date?’

Paul, who very rarely showed any campness, flicked his wrist, saying, ‘Could be. So you’ll call me?’