All the Colors of Darkness

“You agreed to come here, right? I mean, you came voluntarily?”

“Well, yes. I mean, one doesn’t like to be uncooperative. I’ve got nothing to hide.”

“Then we’ll try not to keep you too long. I appreciate your attitude, Mr. Wyman,” said Banks. “Believe me, our lives would be a lot easier if everyone felt the same way you do. The problem is that most people do have something to hide.”

“Are you charging me? Do I need a solicitor or anything?”

“You’re not under arrest. You’re not being charged with anything.

You can leave at any time. You’re here simply to answer a few questions. I should also tell you that you do not have to say anything, but it might harm your defense if you do not mention, when questioned, something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”

“My defense? In court?”

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“It’s a formal caution, Mr. Wyman. Standard procedure. To protect all of us. As for the solicitor, that’s up to you. Do you think you need one? You’re certainly entitled, if you think it would help, in which case you can either drag your own solicitor off the golf course, if you have one, or one will be provided for you.”

“But I haven’t done anything.”

“Nobody’s saying you have.”

Wyman looked over at the tape equipment and licked his lips. “But you’re recording this interview.”

“Again, standard procedure,” said Annie. “A safeguard. It’s for everyone’s good.”

“I don’t know . . .”

“If you’re at all uncertain,” Annie went on, “DCI Banks has already told you that you’re free to go. We’ll find some other way of doing this.”

“What do you mean?”

“DI Cabbot simply means that we have a few questions, and we’d like some answers,” Banks said. “This is the easy way. There are other ways. Stay or leave. It’s up to you.”

Wyman chewed on his bottom lip for a few moments, then he said,

“Okay. I’ll answer your questions. As I said before, I’ve got nothing to hide.”

“Good,” said Banks. “Shall we start now?”

Wyman folded his arms. “All right.” He looked stiff, tense.

Banks gave Annie the signal to begin the questioning. “Can we get you anything first, Mr. Wyman?” she asked. “Cup of tea, perhaps? Or coffee?”

“Nothing, thanks. Let’s just get on with it.”

“Very well. How would you characterize your relationship with Mark Hardcastle?” Annie asked first.

“I don’t know, really. I mean, I didn’t have one. Not in the way you mean.”

“Oh? What way do I mean?”

“Don’t think I’m not aware of the subtle insinuation behind what you say. I direct plays. I know all about subtle insinuations.”

“I’m sure you do,” Annie said, “but actually I wasn’t being subtle at 2 9 4 P E T E R

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all. And I wasn’t insinuating anything. I was being quite straightfor-ward. You say you didn’t really have a relationship, but you were friends, weren’t you?”

“Colleagues, really, more than friends.”

“But you went for a social drink every now and then, didn’t you?”

“Yes, on occasion.”

“And you had Mark Hardcastle and his partner, Laurence Silbert, over for dinner with your family. You also went with your wife, Carol, to their house on Castleview Heights once. Is that correct?”

“Yes. You know it is. I’m not prejudiced about people being gay.”

“So why do you constantly play the whole relationship down? Is there something you’re not telling us?”

“No. Everything is just as I said it was.”

“But it was more than just a working relationship, wasn’t it?” Annie went on. “Not only did you go to London with Mark Hardcastle, you went drinking with him on several occasions in the Red Rooster. We just want to know why you didn’t tell us about that earlier, when we first questioned you.”

“I didn’t think it was important where we went for a drink, that’s all.”

“And perhaps you didn’t want to get involved?” Annie suggested.

“I mean, it’s not unusual for people to want to distance themselves from a murder investigation. It does get rather dirty, and that dirt can sometimes rub off.”