She’d lost Gary altogether now. He was frowning. ‘I didn’t think either woman was assaulted.’
‘I’m not suggesting they were. It’s more about what was going on in Francisco’s mind.’
He still looked baffled.
‘Picture the scene on the beach,’ Hen went on. ‘Meredith starts stripping off. They both do, I guess. Suppose Francisco’s secret is that he’s impotent.’
Gary blinked, disbelieving. ‘A muscleman like that?’
‘It’s not so unusual. Agreed, he pumps iron and shaves his head and wears tattoos to suggest the opposite. He persuades himself that if he finds the right woman he’ll turn into a full-blown stud. He’s on a quest to find her. And each time it doesn’t happen he goes into a red mist and kills them. It’s not just that he blames them for his failure, it’s that he can’t bear them knowing. They have to die.’
‘Wow.’
‘But now you’re going to tell me Fiona-unlike Meredith- was fully dressed when she was found. Picture the situation. It’s late at night outside her house beside the Mill Pond. The two of them have been for a drink, or just a walk. The classic dilemma. Just a goodnight peck or an invitation inside? She’s confident with men. She gives him the come-on, kisses, some fumblings. He knows he’s going to disappoint and he panics.’
Gary completed it for her. ‘Pushes her over the edge and drowns her. Hell, yes.’
He was so impressed that Hen felt compelled to add, ‘It’s a possibility, no more.’
‘How would we find out? He’s never going to admit it.’
‘We ambush him. But let’s not leap ahead. If there’s anything in this, he may have killed before. Has Sergeant Murphy finished checking all the drownings I asked him to?’
‘He was still working on it this morning.’
‘Tell him to snap it up.’
Gemma phoned about eleven and said she was going to the Island after lunch on a secret mission and why didn’t Jo join her. She made it sound like another adventure for the Famous Five.
‘Which island?’
‘Which do you think, my innocent? Tasmania? Madagascar? The jolly old Isle of Wight, of course.’
Jo wasn’t sure. The trip across the Solent was only ten minutes or so by hovercraft from Southsea, but you didn’t take it unless you meant to stay some hours. The last thing she wanted was one of Gemma’s interrogations about the night before, especially after what had happened. Even so, she was curious. Against her better judgement she heard herself saying, ‘What are you wearing?’
‘Smart casual.’
‘It’s not the beach, then?’
Inside the hovercraft, when Gemma unzipped her white suede jacket it was clear she was dressed for an evening out, all spangle and cleavage.
‘What’s this, girls’ night out?’ Jo said, a little peeved. She was in a cashmere top and skinny jeans. ‘You could have warned me.’
‘You’ll be fine.’
‘So what’s the occasion?’
‘Today is my two hundredth birthday.’
‘Oh, God, Gem, you’re the bloody limit. I haven’t got you a present or anything.’
‘No probs. Buy me a drink instead.’
‘A bottle of fizz?’
‘I won’t say no to that.’
‘Is anyone else coming?’ She was already wondering why Rick wasn’t in the party.
‘Only Brad Pitt and Hugh Grant.’
Be mysterious, then, she thought. ‘Which one is mine? Can I put in a request for Liam Neeson?’
Gemma giggled. ‘The tall, silent type. Yes, we know about you. How was last night, by the way?’
The question she’d been expecting. ‘Okay. And yours?’
‘Better than okay.’ There was no doubt what Gemma’s eyes were saying.
‘I knew he wouldn’t keep you waiting much longer.’ This was going well, the emphasis on what Rick had been like.
‘How do you know it wasn’t me keeping him waiting?’
‘Put it this way,’ Jo said. ‘You wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.’
Gemma gave a hearty laugh. ‘A stud, darling, a rampant stud.’
‘Attagirl.’ The moment to steer the talk away from last night’s intimacies. ‘You did go to Jongleurs? Who was playing?’
‘Some boy band just out of nappies. Very noisy. Rick seemed to think they were hot. His taste isn’t the same as mine. I’ve never thought any band was hot since Duran Duran.’
Jo enjoyed this disclosure. ‘You were one of the new romantics?’
‘A fully paid up member of the tribe. Batwing jumpers, peroxide fringe. I could do it all again, no probs.’
‘I wouldn’t advise it.’
‘How about you? Did you do the dressing up thing?’
‘You bet I did.’
‘Stop,’ Gemma said. ‘Let me guess. You were a goth. Dreadlocks and ripped fishnets.’
‘Do you mind?’
‘Tell me, then.’
‘Studded belt, pixie boots, and lycra leggings.’
‘God help us, Jo! Who were you following, dressed like that? ’ ‘Depeche Mode. Still do on the quiet, but I don’t wear the gear.’
They were silent for a while, indulging in nostalgia, and only jerked out of it when the hovercraft hit a larger wave.
‘The sea’s getting up,’ Jo said. ‘If it gets any worse we could be spending all night on the Island.’
‘I know. The forecast isn’t great, but sod it, this is my birthday.’
‘I still can’t believe you kept quiet about that for so long.’
‘At my age you do, ducky.’
‘Did you get any cards at all-apart from the one from the Queen, of course?’
‘Aunt Jessica always sends. She’s nearly eighty and lives in Singleton.’
‘Where I work.’
‘Is that where your garden centre is?’ Gemma said. ‘I never even knew one was there. Shows how much I care about gardening. My aunt’s quite an expert, though. She’s got a dinky little cottage garden like the cards she sends, all hollyhocks and roses. Funny old dear. Wears a hideous pink hat, indoors and outdoors.’
Jo smiled. ‘I think I might know her, then. Would her name be Miss Peabody?’
‘Sweet Jesus! You’ve met Aunt Jessica.’
‘She’s the bane of our lives. Comes in every day and points out the plants that are ailing.’
‘Brilliant. That’s my Aunt Jess. Small world, huh?’
‘Don’t you have any close family?’
Gemma shook her head. ‘My parents died young and so did my kid brother Terry.’
‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t be. I’m well-adjusted. Or, as they say in the office, a hard bitch.’
‘No cards from your workmates, then?’
‘I wouldn’t want one from that bunch of tossers and they wouldn’t bother anyway. I’m too stuck-up for them. They’ve got their teeth into more meaty stuff, what with Fiona being murdered and the boss going AWOL. We’ve all been questioned.’
‘What’s going to happen to the business?’
‘Don’t know. All I can do is make sure we complete the current orders.’
‘You’re wishing Mr Cartwright was back?’
‘He won’t be.’ She sounded definite.
