He had the farm, friends, the children….”
Banks didn’t know what to say to make her feel better.
“When he tried before,” she said, “was it because of Alison?”
“Yes.”
“I can understand that. It makes sense. But not now. Someone must have killed him.” Mara sipped at her water. “Anyone could have come in through the side gate and sneaked up on him.”
“It didn’t happen like that, Mara. Take my word for it, he had to know the person. It was someone he felt comfortable with. Have you seen or heard anything from Liz Dale since she left?”
“I haven’t, no. Seth went to visit her in the hospital a couple of times, but then he lost touch.”
“Any letters?”
“Not that he told me about.”
“Christmas card?”
“No.”
“Do you know where she is now?”
“No. Is it important?”
“It could be. Do you know anything about her background?”
Mara frowned and rubbed her temple. “As far as I know she’s from down south somewhere. She used to be a nurse until… Well, she fell in with a bad crowd, got involved with drugs and lost her job. Since then she just sort of drifted.”
285
“And ended up in Hebden Bridge?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see her do any drugs at the farm?”
“No. And I’m not just saying that. She was off heroin. That was part of the problem, why she was unable to cope.”
“Was Seth ever an addict?”
“I don’t think so. I think he’d have told me about that. We talked about drugs, how we felt about them and how they weren’t really important, so I think he’d have told me.”
“And you’ve no idea where Liz is now?”
“None at all.”
“What about Alison?”
“What about her? She’s dead.”
A hint of bitterness had crept into her tone, and Banks wondered why. Jealousy?
It could happen. Plenty of people were jealous of previous lovers, even dead ones. Or was he angry at Seth for not making her fully a part of his life, for not sharing all his feelings? She unfastened her hair and shook her head, allowing the chestnut tresses to cascade over her shoulders.
“Can I have another cigarette?”
“Of course.” Banks gave her one. “Surely Seth must have told you something,” he said. “You don’t live with someone for two years and find out nothing about their past.”
“Don’t you? And how would you know?”
Banks didn’t know. When he had met Sandra, they had been young and had little past to talk about, none of it very interesting. “It just doesn’t make sense,”
he said.
The shop bell clanged and broke the silence. They heard Elspeth welcoming a customer, an American by the sound of his drawl.
“What are you going to do now?” Banks asked.
Mara rubbed her eyes. “I don’t know. I’m too tired to throw another pot. I think I’ll just go home and go to bed early.”
“Do you want a ride?”
“No. Really. A bit of fresh air and exercise will do me good.”
Banks smiled. “I wish my sergeant felt the same way.”
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“What?”
Banks explained and Mara managed a weak smile.
They walked out together, Banks collecting a sour look from Elspeth on the way.
Outside the Black Sheep, Mara turned away.
