four-by-four.’
‘Do we know the make?’
‘Nissan Pathfinder.’ Gilbert had a sudden thought. ‘Isn’t that the make you were interested in?’
Interested? It was sod’s law that this would be Paloma’s son’s car. ‘Registration?’
‘The plates were removed.’
‘I might as well take a look at it. Not far off my route.’
He drove up to Lansdown with the evening traffic and soon spotted the burnt-out wreck in the first car park you can see from the road. He swung off and drew in alongside. When there is no race meeting the only people who park up there are those wanting a walk.
The Pathfinder was gutted. No doubt they’d used some kind of accelerant. He didn’t want to mess his hands wiping away soot, but he could just make out that the original colour had been blue, like Jerry’s. He walked around the wreck thinking how he would handle this.
Paloma came to the door in a white bathrobe. ‘You!’ she said. ‘Well, at least it isn’t the Jehovah’s Witnesses.’
‘It’s obviously not a good time,’ he said. ‘I should have phoned ahead, but I was on the road.’
‘I was showering after a long day in the office, that’s all,’ she said. ‘No, in point of fact I was out of the shower and cutting my toenails if that makes you feel any better. Come in, Peter, it’s good to see you any time.’
He hesitated. ‘This is semi-official.’
‘And I’m semi-dressed. Do I have to stand on my doorstep?’
He stepped inside and she closed the door. In her large sitting room she said, ‘Now tell me what’s up.’
He told her about the burnt car on Lansdown. ‘We don’t know for sure that this was Jerry’s.’
‘But it’s the same make and colour?’ She had her hand to her throat. ‘He’s going to be inconsolable. He was so proud of that thing.’
‘Obviously we haven’t informed him. It was only found this afternoon. When we check the chassis number, if it’s still visible, we’ll know.’
‘He’s with clients all afternoon and doing the rounds of the wards with the library trolley this evening. Do you think I should call him, or leave it till tomorrow?’
‘If it were me, I’d like to know the worst as soon as possible.’
The worry was creasing her face. ‘I wish I could think of some way of softening the blow.’
‘If his insurance company is any good, he’ll get a replacement. They usually cover theft and fire.’
‘That’s a thought.’ She released a nervous breath. ‘I’ll break it to him now. Do you mind if I phone from the next room? Mothers say the silliest things to sons.’
‘Can I get a drink ready?’
‘What a good idea. A whopping great vodka and tonic. The cupboard in the corner.’
Left alone, with the drinks poured — his own more tonic than vodka — he looked at the art on the walls. No cheap reproductions, these. Abstract, large, in muted colours, they may not have been his choice, but they testified to the success of Once in Vogue. If he’d dabbled in shares he would have been asking if her company was open to investment.
She returned and said, ‘Whew! That was tough. Give me a hug.’
He didn’t just hug her, he kissed her as well.
‘Now where’s that drink?’ she said.
He handed it to her. ‘How did he take it?’
‘Pretty badly, poor old lad. It wasn’t his first car, but the first he’d really treated like a pet. He said he’ll drive up to Lansdown after he’s finished at the hospital.’
‘He’d do better tomorrow in some daylight.’
‘Try telling him. That was his baby.’ She’d emptied her glass. ‘I need more vodka in this, I think.’
He took the bottle across to her. She’d sat on the sofa. ‘Is this your favourite tipple?’
‘In times of stress. I was all of a tremble, seeing you and getting that unwelcome bit of news.’
‘A double shock?’
She gave an embarrassed laugh. ‘I didn’t mean…’ She put the glass on the floor. ‘Oh, come over here and shag me to bits.’
She’d opened her bathrobe and was naked under it. She lay on the sofa in total confidence.
The speed of the invitation might have troubled many a man. It didn’t hamper Diamond. He did pretty much as asked.
They showered and Paloma found a bathrobe for him. Down in the kitchen she cooked a pasta dish with cream and chopped bacon and spinach. Fast food, but not from a packet. An Italian red wine came with it.
‘You’ll stay the night, won’t you?’ she said.
‘That wasn’t what I had in mind when I called.’
‘You simply planned to tell me about the wretched car and leave?’
‘It’s a mean man who takes advantage of a lady in distress.’
She said, ‘It was me who took advantage. I’m like that, I’m afraid. Don’t miss an opportunity.’
‘Likewise.’
‘Peter Diamond,’ she said. ‘You may be a red-hot detective, but you don’t know the half of it where I’m concerned. You can’t have any idea how much I wanted you.’
He smiled. ‘Detective work doesn’t apply here. You made your intention pretty clear.’
Now she was shaking her head and he could see she wanted to make a serious point. Her face had turned pale and she was twisting her fingers into knots. He wondered if he’d upset her. He wasn’t much of a hand at flirting.
‘Confession time,’ she said, and her voice shook a little. ‘I’ve been wanting to own up to this ever since that first evening. The bag of shopping you drove over at Sainsbury’s. I planted it there. It was a set-up. I wanted an excuse to meet you. Isn’t that appalling?’
He didn’t fully understand. ‘The child and the lost puppy? You made that up?’
‘I know. I’m shameless.’
He thought back to the incident. ‘Do you mean you saw me drive up in my car and decided you fancied me and planted your bag where I’d reverse over it?’
‘No, it’s worse than that.’
‘How?’
‘I was lying in wait.’
‘But we hadn’t met… had we?’
‘No.’ She sat back in her chair and studied her fingernails, avoiding eye contact. ‘Peter, I’m the woman who was pestering you. I wrote you a letter, and sent you the cake and spoke to you on the phone. You’re right. We hadn’t met, but not for want of trying.’
He was letting it sink in. ‘I must be so dim. I didn’t connect you with that letter at all.’
‘It’s scary, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘I was stalking you.’
‘I wouldn’t call it stalking.’
‘I would. How else did I know you do your shopping in Sainsbury’s on Saturday evenings?’
‘Scary’ wasn’t the word for what had happened, but it made him uncomfortable. Up to now he’d thought he had some influence on how they’d met. He’d just found out how little it was.
‘You’ve gone awfully pale,’ she said.
‘Never could take a surprise.’
‘I wanted you to know the truth of it.’
‘Yes, and I appreciate that,’ he said. He wouldn’t let it damage the relationship, but in some ways he was wishing she hadn’t told him.
They were watching a DVD of The Third Man, Paloma’s head on his shoulder, when the doorbell chimed.
‘That’ll be Jerry,’ she said. ‘I thought he might show up.’
Jerry had the unlucky knack of showing up at inconvenient moments.
‘Peter’s with me,’ Paloma said, as she ushered him in.
Jerry said, ‘Hi, Peter.’ But his mind was on other things. ‘I’ve just come from Lansdown. I’m certain it’s my
