All the Colors of Darkness

MG.

The woman who got out had once been at least as tall as Banks, but age had given her a slight stoop. Even so, she was a commanding presence, and the gray hair drawn back tightly from her forehead, her high cheekbones over tanned, sunken cheeks, wrinkled mouth and twin-kling blue-gray eyes spoke of a beauty not too long faded. In fact, she was still beautiful, and there was something vaguely familiar about her.

“Good evening,” she said, offering her hand in turn. “I’m Edwina Silbert, Laurence’s mother.”

Banks stepped back. “The Edwina Silbert?”

“Well, I suppose I did attract a certain amount of notoriety at one time,” she said, dropping her cigarette on the ground and stepping on it. She was wearing black high heels, Banks noticed. “But that was a very long time ago.”

Annie looked puzzled.

“Mrs. Silbert started the Viva boutique chain in the sixties,” Banks explained. “And it went on to become enormously successful.”

“Still is,” said Annie. “I shop there myself when I can afford it.

Pleased to meet you.”

“It used to be more affordable,” said Edwina. “That was one of the novelties about it at the time. Everyone could dress like the beautiful people. We used to dream of equality for all.”

“I’m very sorry for your loss,” Banks said.

5 4 P E T E R

R O B I N S O N

Edwina Silbert inclined her head. “Poor Laurence. I’ve been thinking about him all the way up here. It’s still very difficult to take in.

Can I see him?”

“I’m afraid not,” said Banks.

“That bad?”

Banks said nothing.

“I’m not squeamish, you know. I saw plenty of things, many things during the war that would turn your stomach. I was a Queen Alexan-dra nurse.”

“Even so . . .”

“Surely I must have some rights? He was my son.”

Technically, the body was both still a crime scene and the property of the coroner, so Edwina Silbert really didn’t have any right to see it, at least not without the coroner’s permission. That was usually a formality, and a relative was generally required to identify a body, but that was not the case here.

“Mrs. Silbert—”

“Edwina. Please.”

“Edwina. I’ll be frank with you. It would be very difficult for you to recognize your son. We think we have enough to go on to make a positive identification for the time being, and I think seeing him the way he is now would cause you far too much pain and grief. Best to remember him as he was.”

She was silent for a moment or two, as if lost in thought. “Very well,” she said finally. “But there is something that might help you.

Laurence has a very distinctive birthmark on his left arm, just above his elbow.” She tapped the spot on her own elbow. “It’s dark red in color and shaped like a teardrop.”

“Thank you,” said Banks. “We’d also like to take a DNA swab.

Later, when you’re feeling up to it. It’s just a simple mouth swab.

There are no needles or anything involved.”

“I’ve never been afraid of needles,” she said. “And you’re more than welcome to take your sample in any way you wish. Look, I don’t know about your rules and regulations, but I’ve come a long way and I could do with a drink. I happen to know that there’s a delightful little pub close by.”

A L L T H E C O L O R S O F D A R K N E S S

5 5

Annie glanced at Banks, who turned to PC Walters. “Phil,” he said, pointing to the media phalanx. “Make sure none of those bastards follows us.”

Walters swallowed and turned as pale as if he’d been asked to hold back the massed hordes of invading Huns. “I’ll do my best, sir,” he said.

The Black Swan, literally just down the street and on the corner, was not one of the pubs that attracted the rowdies on a Saturday night.

In fact, it attracted hardly anyone except people from the immediate neighborhood, as it was so well hidden and the prices were too high for the yobs. Banks had never been there before, but he wasn’t surprised it was so upmarket, with lots of horse brasses, framed Stubbs prints and polished brass rails around the bar. And they called the outside area the patio, not the beer garden. There was also no loud music or slot machines. The government might have banned smoking in pubs, Banks thought as he went inside, but here everyone seemed to have at least one dog. He felt his nose begin to itch. Why couldn’t they ban dogs, too?

“Shall we sit outside?” Edwina Silbert suggested. “I could do with a cigarette.”

“Fine,” said Banks, happy for the chance to get away from the dogs.