The detective sergeant studied his notes for a moment. ‘The van belongs to a business called Mile Oak Electrical Supplies
‘I believe my plumber borrowed the van,’ she said in a trembling voice. ‘That’s why he was working late, of course. His van had broken down, so he came late.’
She felt the sweat popping on her brow. Relief surged through her. Her lie had sounded okay, she thought.
The DS made another note, then glanced at his colleague and back at Joan. ‘Right. Mrs Smiley, I’m afraid the next thing I have to ask may be a little distressing for you.’ He fell silent and glanced at his colleague again. DC Badger looked at him with a serious expression.
‘Oh?’ Joan said.
The DS went on, ‘Were you aware that your husband, Victor, was having an affair? Did you know that he was planning to leave you?’ Both men were studying her face carefully.
Joan sat very still, in shock. After some moments, she said, ‘An affair? My Victor?’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t believe it! Not Victor. I mean, who on earth would—?’
She stopped in mid-sentence.
DC Badger was looking at the doorway again.
‘Do go on,’ the DS said.
‘I’m sorry, I just don’t believe that.’
‘Does the name Kamila Walczak mean anything to you?’
‘Should it?’
‘She rang your husband’s mobile number last night.’
‘So?’
‘She withheld her number and left no message.’
Now Joan remembered the call that had come in on Victor’s phone. There had been no number in the display and no message. Was that her?
She said, a little acidly, ‘Well, I’ve never heard of her. Who is she?’
‘She works as a
‘The lady is mistaken. Victor doesn’t go to clubs.’
The two detectives looked at each other before Brett spoke again. ‘I don’t know how best to put this to you, Mrs Smiley. To be blunt, it is a sex club. This young lady is a sex worker.’
‘A prostitute? Is that what you mean? A
‘I’m afraid so, yes.’
‘My Victor seeing a prostitute? He couldn’t! For a start, where would he have got the money?’
‘I can’t answer that for you, Mrs Smiley. All I can tell you is that Miss Walczak came in to see us just a short while ago. She is very upset. She told us that she and your husband were planning to start a new life together.’
Joan shook her head. ‘She’s made a mistake. Mistaken identity.’
DC Badger was looking at the doorway again. Then he said, ‘We showed her a photograph of your husband. She identified him, without any doubt.’
‘Maybe she’s hiding something,’ Joan said. ‘Could she have harmed Victor, do you think?’
‘That will certainly be one of our lines of inquiry.’
‘My Victor with a hooker? I can’t believe it! I – I just can’t believe it.’
‘We’re mentioning it, Mrs Smiley, because it is possible he has other lady friends as well. He could perhaps be with one of those at the moment.’
‘ABSOLUTELY NOT!’ Joan said loudly. The shock of this news was still spinning in her head. Victor seeing a prostitute. How many years had this been going on? Bastard! How dare he?
‘You are really sure, Mrs Smiley?’ the constable asked.
Something in his voice made her think for a moment. Suddenly, Joan realized that she was being given a gift by the police! She had the perfect reason for Victor to disappear. He had another woman.
She put on a false smile and dabbed her eyes with her fingers again. ‘How well do we know anyone? I thought I knew Victor. I thought he was very happy. Clearly, I must have been wrong if he’s gone running off to tarts. Yes, you’re right, there could be others. There could be loads! Maybe even in other countries? No wonder he kept me so short of money!’
‘Did you check to see if he had taken his passport with him, by any chance?’ DS Brett asked.
She nodded and then lied again. ‘Yes, actually I did. He had taken it. Yes, it was gone from his desk! It was one of the first things I checked.’
‘Why didn’t you mention that in your report to PCSO Watts?’
‘I was in such a state,’ she said. ‘I must have forgotten! Can you imagine what it is like to lose the person you love?’
She began to sob.
