problem isn’t so much the age difference, but that you’re a teacher and she was your student. What do the college authorities think of this sort of thing?”
Austin looked away. “They don’t know, of course. I doubt that they’d be sympathetic. They frown on teacher- student relationships.”
“So you didn’t want them to know? It could mean your career?”
“That’s one reason I wasn’t completely truthful, yes. I’ve worked very hard for many years to get where I am now.”
“Only one reason?”
“Well, no one wants to be dragged into a murder investigation, do they?”
“But you’re in it now. Up to your neck. Did you really think you could get away with lying about something like that?” Banks shook his head. “It just boggles my mind that people must think we’re so stupid as to overlook the obvious.” A hint of marijuana smoke drifted up from the courtyard.
“I don’t think you’re stupid,” said Austin. “I just didn’t think it was that obvious. We tried to be discreet. We were going to go public when she finished her diploma. Now it’s all out in the open, what is it you want to know? I had nothing to do with Hayley’s death. As I told you, I love her. Loved her.”
“Had she dropped by after going out drinking on a Saturday night before?” Banks asked.
“Yes. I can’t honestly say I was too thrilled. I mean, she was usually, F R I E N D O F T H E D E V I L
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as you said, a bit the worse for alcohol. But it was her night out with her friends, and if . . . well, quite frankly . . .”
“What?” said Banks.
“Well, if she had to spend the night somewhere, I’d rather she spent it with me.”
“You didn’t trust her?”
“I didn’t say that. But she’s young. Vulnerable.”
“So you were jealous,” said Banks. “Stands to reason. I’d be jealous too if I had a beautiful young girlfriend. A few drinks in her, and she might start shagging someone her own age.” Banks felt Winsome bristle again. Templeton-phobia or no, she had to loosen up, he thought. You sometimes had to shake the tree pretty hard to get the coconut to fall.
Austin was an educated type, not without a touch of arrogance, and you weren’t going to get to him by logical argument and civilized banter.
“If, as I am,” Austin said, “you are fortunate enough to have the love of a young woman, you soon learn that you can’t afford to be clinging in the relationship.”
“What did you think when she didn’t turn up?” Winsome asked.
“I didn’t think anything, really. I mean, it was by no means definite that she would.”
“You weren’t worried about her?”
“No.”
“But she wasn’t expected at home,” Banks cut in, “so where did you think she was staying?”
“With friends, I suppose.”
“With someone else? And you were jealous. Did you go out searching for her?”
“I told you, it doesn’t pay to be clinging. Besides, I trusted Hayley.
Yes, as I said, I would rather her stop with me, but if she stopped at a friend’s f lat, it didn’t mean she would be sleeping with him.” His eyes misted over. “In a way,” he said, “I suppose I hoped she wouldn’t come.
I always found it hard to deal with her in that state, and I was tired on Saturday.”
“Hard to handle when she was drunk, was she?” said Banks.
“She could be.”
“What was she like?”
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“Irrational, unpredictable, overtalkative.”
“Would Hayley have arrived by one o’clock if she was coming?”
“Usually, yes. Anyway, she had a key.”
“Very trusting of you.”
“It’s called love, Inspector. You really ought to try it.”
“Chance would be a fine thing. Why should we believe you?”
“I don’t follow.”
Banks scratched the scar beside his right eye. “You’ve lied to us once or twice, so why should we believe anything you tell us now?”
“Because it’s the truth.”
