‘He slipped up: he left his passport on the table, she mistook it for hers and opened it.’

Singh leaned forwards. ‘Amy told us that they went to Amsterdam together. He couldn’t have flown as Padstow.’

‘He didn’t want to go. He kept making excuses, pleading poverty, but Zrinka was dead set on seeing the galleries there. He gave in eventually, but said that he’d handle all the arrangements, which he did, through a travel agent. He got away with it all the way through the trip, and for a little while after they got back. He was glib, and for maybe the only time in her life, she was gullible. Christ,’ Barnes muttered, ‘I can talk. He fooled me.’

‘After Zrinka saw the passport, what did she do? Come to you?’

‘She didn’t need to. She just entered the name into a search engine; she built a whole file on the guy, pictures, everything.’

‘And confronted him?’

‘No, she didn’t. She felt hurt by him, she felt betrayed, but she didn’t want a big scene. She simply told him that she didn’t love him, and that their relationship had run its course. She didn’t tell him that she knew who he was. She didn’t tell anyone except me, and eventually Stacey Gavin, when she discovered that Ballester had moved on to her.’

‘That explains a lot. It ties in exactly with what your mother told DCS McGuire and DI Steele.’

‘No doubt, but Mum never met the guy.’

‘And your father?’

‘He never even knew about the relationship. Our father is old-fashioned. He may have cut and run from Yugoslavia when he saw what was going to happen there, but he retains the strict Orthodox values with which he was raised, and they definitely do not allow for his daughter living with a man to whom she is not married. No, my father never knew about it, or he would have put his foot down.’

‘Could it be, David,’ Montell asked gently, ‘that your father did know but chose to do nothing to avoid provoking a split with his daughter? As you’ve told us, you and he are estranged. Is it possible he couldn’t face being at odds with both his children, so he turned a blind eye?’

‘Not in the slightest, I promise you. Davor Boras sees everything.’

Fifty-seven

‘Mags, love, I’m really sorry that this should happen, today of all bloody days, but the situation down here has developed in a way I didn’t anticipate. I’m waiting for some intelligence reports and then if I can find him there may be a man we need to call on. If I can, I’ll catch the last shuttle.’

‘Do you want me to pick you and Ray up?’

‘Hell, no, I’ll take a taxi. If I do make it I’ll be on my own. That smooth bastard Wilding’s made alternative arrangements, and as far as I can see they’re looking better by the minute. I promise, I’ll do my best to get home.’

‘Fine, just let me know; I’ll be in. As it happens I’m expecting a visitor in a couple of hours.’

‘Who?’

‘Bob Skinner. He called and asked me if he could visit to follow up something we spoke about yesterday. I’ll tell you what I can when you get back.’

‘What you can? What does that mean?’

‘You know the DCC, he also moves in mysterious ways. Love you.’

‘Me too. So long.’

Steele flipped his Motorola shut to end the call, then opened it again and dialled his office, only to be surprised when the desk sergeant answered the call. ‘Where are my troops?’ he asked.

‘On enquiries, you might say, sir. They’d a visitor, a guy called Barnes, and they went out with him.’

The inspector smiled. ‘Any excuse,’ he said, although he understood why the two constables would want to take Zrinka’s brother out of the depressing drabness of the office. He found the South African’s cellphone number in his directory and called it. ‘Are you still with Boras?’ he asked.

‘David? No, sir. Tarvil’s taking him up to the George Hotel and I’m walking back to the nick.’

‘He got our e-mail?’

‘Yes, boss; this morning, as soon as he got back from America. He got on the shuttle and came straight up.’

‘How was he?’

‘Cut up about his sister as you’d expect, but helpful. He’s dead certain that his father had no idea about her and Padstow living together.’

‘That more or less confirms Barker’s story.’

‘David knew about it, though, and he knew who he was. Zrinka discovered his real identity, and told David, but she persuaded him to keep it from her parents. She didn’t want them upset.’

‘No, she wouldn’t. She might not have wanted her father to do anything drastic, either.’

‘Did you get something out of Barker, then?’

‘Oh, yes,’ Steele murmured. ‘We hold the mortgage on his soul. We’re just about to follow up his information.’

‘Good luck.’ Montell paused. ‘Just out of interest, sir, can you tell me if DS Wilding’s staying in London tonight?’

‘Yes, he is. Why?’

‘Bastard! I owe Tarvil and his wife a curry, thanks to him.’

‘I won’t tell Ray, or he’ll want the fucking poppadoms. Cheers.’

‘What was that about poppadoms?’ the sergeant asked.

’An “in” joke,’ Steele told him. ‘Doesn’t matter. Drazen Boras turned up in Edinburgh this afternoon; the lads have been babysitting him.’

‘Damn!’ said Becky Stallings. ‘I was hoping he’d come looking for you here. I’ve seen his picture in Hello! magazine; he’s a looker, and eligible, too.’

‘Detective inspectors don’t read Hello! do they?’ asked Wilding, with a hint of scorn.

‘Detective inspectors go to the dentist like everyone else,’ she replied, then looked towards her office door as it opened, and a black man in shirtsleeves handed her a folder.

‘Sorry about the delay, ma’am,’ he said. ‘We’d to dig out the SIA duty officer to get this, but it’s finally come through.’

‘SIA?’

‘Security Industry Authority; they’re phasing in the licensing of security firms, and Aeron comes under their umbrella. That’s what they hold on them.’

‘I see; thanks, Wayne.’

She opened the slim folder as he left, and scanned through the file within, reading as she went. ‘Aeron Security plc. Michael Spicer, aged fifty-two, chairman and CEO. Founded 1995, registered office and trading address seventeen Aeron Passage, NW1. A total of twenty employees, five administrative and clerical and the rest all holders of the appropriate SIA licences. No member of staff has a criminal record of any sort. Firm was among the first to seek licensing and met all criteria at the first time of asking. No complaints against Aeron have ever been registered with the SIA, and they are regarded as maintaining high professional standards.’

‘What about Spicer himself?’ Steele asked her.

‘According to this he has a military background. Good: Wayne’s found his private address and telephone number.’

‘Where does he live?’

‘Van Dyke Terrace, Blackheath. Posh.’

‘Is it far away?’

‘We should do it in half an hour. Do you want to call first, to make sure he’s there?’

‘Wait a minute,’ Wilding interjected. ‘We’re assuming that he’s at home. Aeron’s a security business: its office is probably manned at weekends.’

Вы читаете Death's Door
Добавить отзыв
ВСЕ ОТЗЫВЫ О КНИГЕ В ИЗБРАННОЕ

0

Вы можете отметить интересные вам фрагменты текста, которые будут доступны по уникальной ссылке в адресной строке браузера.

Отметить Добавить цитату