“Why do you think? Because then she was the center of attention.
Because they’d do anything she wanted. Because she pretty much had all of them wrapped around her little finger.”
“She sounds like a drunken lout to me.”
Zack studied Winsome closely. “But you didn’t know her,” he said.
“Actually, there was a lot more to her than that. Sure, she liked to cut loose on a Saturday night, go wild, get kalied and let her hair down.
But she was a good student, she did her work on time, and she had a good future. She was bright, too. Sometimes you have to dig deeper than the f lashy clothes and the superficial bravado.”
“And you did?”
“I went out with her a couple of times last year. But like I said, she wasn’t really my type. And in case you were thinking of asking, no, I didn’t sleep with her. Hayley wasn’t a slag. Kept herself fastened up as tight as a Scotsman’s wallet, in spite of the sexy clothes and all. It was strictly top only for me.”
“So she was a tease?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You implied it.”
“No, not really. She could be. She liked playing games, f lirting, winding you up. But she could be serious, too. I mean, you could have a good serious talk with Hayley. Politics. Music. History. Whatever.
She had opinions and the knowledge to back them up. All I’m saying is that just because she dressed the way she did, it didn’t mean she was giving it away to everyone. You should know that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Okay, don’t get your kni—— Don’t take offense. I meant in your job you must hear that excuse about someone asking for it because of the way she dresses, and you know it shouldn’t matter. A woman should be able to walk the streets of Eastvale stark naked if she wants, and no one has the right to touch her.”
Winsome laughed. “I’m sure they’d have a good look, though.”
“Well,” said Zack, “that’s one thing you lot haven’t made illegal.
Yet.” He tapped the side of his head. “Along with what people think.”
“We’re trying to find out who Hayley had been seeing recently,”
1 4 6
P E T E R R O B I N S O N
Winsome went on. “If it wasn’t you and it wasn’t Stuart Kinsey, do you have any idea who it might have been?”
Zack paused. “Well, she didn’t say anything, but . . .” He glanced out of the window back down the street whence they’d come. “I don’t think you’d have to look much further than our Mr. Austin back there.”
“Is that where she was going on Saturday night?”
“I think so.”
“Austin denied that he had anything to do with her.”
Zack laughed. “He would, wouldn’t he? He’d stand to lose his job.
They don’t take kindly to that sort of thing around here.”
“Do you know this for a fact?”
“About Mal and Hayley? Sure. I’ve seen them together, seen him with his hand creeping up her thigh, nibbling her neck.”
“When was this?”
“About a month ago.”
Winsome felt her pulse speed up. Zack Lane had been worth the wait, after all. “Where did you see them?”
“Pub outside Helmthorpe. The Green Man. They must have thought they were far enough out of the manor, but I was over there for a darts competition.”
“Did they see you?”
“I don’t think so. I cleared out pretty quickly when I saw them.”
“Why?”
“It would have been awkward. Remember, Austin’s my tutor, too.”
“Yes,” said Winsome. “Of course.” She stood up. “Thanks, Mr. Lane.
Thanks a lot.” Now she had the corroboration she needed, Winsome had the feeling that things were starting to progress, and Malcolm Austin was going to have a lot of difficult questions to answer the next time he got a visit from the police.
8
SO WHAT IS IT, ALAN? WHAT’S GOING ON? YOU COULD
have cut the tension in there with a knife.”
“Do you think Phil Hartnell noticed?”
