Deborah Crombie - And Justice There Is None

"What connection could there possibly be?"

"I've no idea. But I'm going to start by interviewing anyone who had recent contact with Dawn Arrowood. According to her diary, she took her cat to the vet on Friday morning. That seems as good a place to start as any."

Having found the address in Dawn's book, she presented herself at Mr. Gavin Farley's veterinary surgery on All Saints Road shortly after opening time. All Saints Road was the heart of the Notting Hill Carnival, but on this cold morning in mid-December it was hard to imagine the existence of the summer's color and activity. The surgery, its exterior painted the color of orange sherbet, provided a bright spot in otherwise drab surroundings.

A bell tinkled as Gemma pushed open the door. "Be right with you," a female voice called from behind the reception desk, then an auburn head appeared. "Sorry, receptionist's a bit late this-"

"It's Bryony, isn't it?" said Gemma. "I met you at Otto's on Saturday. Whatever are you doing here?"

"I'm Gavin's- Mr. Farley's- assistant." The young woman gazed back at her with equal surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to see Mr. Farley. According to Dawn's diary, she brought her cat in on the day she died."

"Oh, Tommy, rotten little beastie. Always getting in spats. Yes, she did bring him, and it was Gavin who saw him, not me. But what has that to do with her death?"

"I thought it possible she might have said something to Mr. Farley, confided something unusual she'd seen or heard, for instance. Could I see him?"

"Not in yet," Bryony replied with a grimace. "Doesn't take his first appointment until nine o'clock. Because I live just up the road, in Powis Square, Gavin tends to take advantage a bit."

"Were you here when Dawn came in on Friday morning?"

"Yes, but I was in and out with clients myself, so I didn't really- Oh, sorry," she broke off as the door chimed and a woman came in with two Dalmatians straining at their leads. Bryony expertly shepherded client and dogs into an examination room, then popped back out, saying to Gemma, "Look, I won't be a moment. Make yourself at home."

Gemma had never had much occasion to visit veterinary surgeries, having never owned a pet. Her parents had been adamant that animals and bakeries didn't mix- "Can't have customers worrying about dog or cat hair in their scones and buns, now can we?" her mother had responded cheerfully whenever Gemma or her sister had pleaded for a puppy or a kitten.

She found the surgery's atmosphere reassuring, with its faint smell of dog and disinfectant, leatherette-covered banquette seating along the walls, displays of the pet foods offered for sale, and posters of raining cats and dogs decorating the walls. A photo taped to the side of the reception computer caught her eye; she moved closer to examine it.

Geordie, the caption beneath the photo read. Two-year-old neutered male cocker, blue roan. Needs good home. The dog's coat was a pale, mottled blue-gray, with dark gray patches. A blaze in the lighter color divided the dog's alert, intelligent face, and his long, silky ears were dark. He seemed to gaze back at her, head tilted, the expression in his eyes, Gemma could have sworn, one of instant recognition. The dog reminded her of the spaniel in the painting Duncan's cousin Jack had recently given her, a memento of their time in Glastonbury.

"Lovely, isn't he?" asked Bryony, coming up behind her.

"Finished already?" Gemma looked round for the Dalmatians.

"I'm going to have to x-ray one of them- seems he's eaten all the glass balls off the Christmas tree- amazing what dogs can digest- and for that I'll need Gavin's help." Bryony tapped the photo with her fingertip. "Are you interested in a dog, by any chance?"

"Why does the owner want rid of him?" Gemma asked warily.

"She's just married a man with a dreadful allergy to dogs- sends him to hospital with asthma. I think it was a close call between the dog and the husband," Bryony added, grinning, "but in the end she decided to keep the husband. But she won't let the dog go to just anyone."

"I'm just moving into a house in the area," Gemma heard herself saying. "With a garden."

"Geordie's a sweetheart. Owner's taken him through several levels of obedience classes. Do you have kids?"

"Two boys. Twelve and four."

"Perfect. Look, why don't I bring Geordie along to meet you one day this week? I've got your number from the other day- I'll ring you and make arrangements."

"But-" The chime of the front door cut Gemma off, and with a pang of regret, she realized she'd allowed herself to be maneuvered into a corner.

"Gavin," said Bryony, "this is Inspector James from the police. She'd like to have a word with you about Dawn Arrowood." Was there a touch of satisfaction in her voice?

Turning, Gemma saw a short, stocky, dark-haired man, his appearance made more solid by his white clinical tunic. He hung his overcoat on a peg, then faced her. "Such a tragedy. I couldn't believe it when I heard it on the news." He shook Gemma's hand warmly, but the glance he gave her was shrewdly assessing. "Anything I can do to help."

"Is there somewhere we could talk, Mr. Farley?"

"Come into the office, why don't you?" Gavin Farley ushered her inside, then closed the door of the small space, which contained a desk and files. Gemma slipped notebook and pen from her bag.

"Was Mrs. Arrowood a regular client, Mr. Farley?"

"More than regular, you might say. Her husband wouldn't allow her to keep the cat in the house, so the animal was always getting in scrapes- and coming off the worst in them, I suspect. Every few weeks he'd be in with an abscess, a torn ear, an infected eye. Not that we minded seeing Dawn, of course."

"Did you know Mr. Arrowood, as well?"

"No. He never came in with her, even the few times the animal was badly hurt. Seemed rather an unsympathetic character, if you ask me."

"And did you ever see Dawn outside the clinic?"

"No. I live in Willesden, so our paths weren't too likely to cross." If Farley was aware of any inference other than a casual social encounter, he disguised it well.

"And on Friday, did you notice anything unusual in her behavior?"

For the first time, Gemma sensed hesitation. "She did seem a bit more upset about the cat than usual, although it was a minor injury. In fact, I remember asking her if she was feeling all right."

"And?"

Farley's eyes flicked towards the door, then he looked back at Gemma and shrugged easily- too easily. "She said she was fine. Thanked me for asking, in fact. I still can't believe she's dead, or that someone would do such a terrible thing."

"I'm sure it must be difficult for everyone who knew her, Mr. Farley. So why do I have the feeling you're not telling me the truth?"

"I've no idea what you're talking about. Why would I lie about such a thing?"

"I don't know," answered Gemma. "But I can assure you I will find out."

Kincaid allowed the worst of the Monday-morning traffic to die off before he and Doug Cullen signed out a Rover from the Yard motor pool and headed north. Cullen drove, giving Kincaid the luxury of observing the London morning's ebb and flow. Daybreak had brought fitful sun, but Kincaid suspected the break in the weather would not hold.

They picked up the M1 just south of Hendon and were soon bypassing the cathedral town of St. Albans. "Didn't you tell me your family was in St. Albans?" Kincaid asked his companion. "It looks a nice place."

"Suburban hell," Cullen replied with a grimace. "Bridge nights and dinner circles and absolutely sod-all to do if you're under the age of forty. I can't imagine that my parents not only chose to live there, but considered it a great accomplishment."