looked at him again, trying to remember who he was.
‘Tony?’
‘Yes, could I come in Mrs McKendrick?’
She shrugged and turned, leaving him to follow her once more into the flat. Winter closed the door behind him.
Rosaleen fell back into her armchair, a half-full/half-empty glass within easy reach. It had only been a day since he’d seen her but she was already two years older, a greyer and smaller version of her yesterday self. He knew he could make her age another ten years with a few careless words but he wouldn’t.
‘Can I get you a cup of tea?’ she asked as if startled by remembering her manners.
‘No thanks.’
‘Coffee?’
‘No, thank you.’
‘Something stronger?’
It was tempting but he said no.
‘I just needed to ask you a few questions.’
‘Oh.’
‘About what we talked about yesterday.’
‘About Ryan.’
‘Yes. You said he was always on about going to Grahamston.’
‘Did I? Yes, that’s right, he was always talking about it. How he and Kieran wouldn’t be able to go there again. How he’d promised Kieran. Grahamston. That’s right.’
The woman was all over the place.
‘Mrs McKendrick, has anyone else come to visit you?’
‘Oh yes, lots of people. The boys have so many friends. It’s been non-stop. People have been very kind. Although, to be honest with you,’ she lowered her voice conspiratorially, ‘it’s all a bit much and I’d rather they didn’t any more. Oh I didn’t mean you though. Sorry.’
‘No it’s fine. I understand. But has someone else come to visit you and talked about Grahamston?’
‘Oh no. Why would they? Nobody else knew. Just the boys.’
‘Yes, but has anyone come to speak to you and maybe Grahamston came up in conversation. Like the way it did with me?’
‘Oh, I see. No. Wait, yes. Yes. Oh, it wasn’t you, was it? Yes, you as well as the other man.’
Winter’s heart skipped a beat.
‘When was he here, Mrs McKendrick?’
‘Who?’
‘The other man.’
‘I don’t really remember, son. A few days ago.’
‘And… was it someone you know?’
She reflected for a bit, seemingly not sure how to answer.
‘No. I hadn’t met him before. He came to ask about Ryan. Like you.’
‘What was his name, Mrs McKendrick.’
‘You know, I can’t remember. There’s been so many people round.’
Part of him wanted to strangle her.
‘Please try and remember. It’s really important.’
‘Is it? I don’t see how it can be. But I don’t remember. I’m sorry. I’ve not been too well.’
‘Can you remember what he looked like? How tall he was? Anything at all?’
She shook her head sadly.
‘No. He was maybe…’ She looked Winter up and down. ‘Maybe as tall as you. Maybe not. I’m not sure. Do policemen not have to be a certain height to join?’
His heart stopped briefly.
‘What?’
‘I thought they had to be tall. Well they used to be anyway. Mind you, you see some…’
‘He was a policeman?’ he interrupted her.
‘Oh yes, didn’t I say that? He was here to talk to me about how I was after Keiran, well you know. Family liaison, that’s what they call it. He was very nice.’
FLOs wouldn’t be likely to be still visiting relatives of an overdose victim, not after this length of time. It smelled fishy.
‘Was he on his own, Mrs McKendrick?’
‘Call me Rosaleen. Was he what? On his own? Yes, yes he was. Just wanted to make sure that I was okay and that Ryan was coping with things.’
‘Did he ask you a lot of questions about Ryan?’
‘Did he? Yes, I suppose he did. Wanted to know how he was. If I’d heard from him.’
‘And had you?’
She looked up at him nervously.
‘He’s at sea. Can’t contact him when he’s at sea.’
‘No, of course not. And this policeman wanted to know about Grahamston?’
She looked very tired, as if the trouble of remembering things just wore her out.
‘I can’t really mind, son. I think he asked me about places that Ryan liked to go when he was at home on leave. I must have mentioned Grahamston. Ryan was always going on about it, you know.’
He knew.
‘This fellow did seem very interested when I told him about it. He said he’d been there when he was a boy too. He wanted to know all about Ryan and Kieran going there. He was such a nice chap. Very interested.’
I bet he was, Winter thought.
‘Try and think, Rosaleen. What did he look like? Anything.’
She frowned and sipped at her glass with an exaggerated thinking pout of her lip before shaking her head firmly.
‘Sorry, son. No. I told you. I’ve not been too well. I can’t remember his name or anything. Sorry.’
It was pointless pushing her any further.
‘Thanks, Mrs… Rosaleen. It’s late. I’d better be going.’
‘Oh. Okay, Tony. I’ll see you out.’
She began to push herself out of her seat and stopped halfway, looking puzzled.
‘But what was it that you wanted to talk to me about Ryan? You haven’t really said. Have you?’
‘Yes, yes. About Grahamston and just making sure he was doing okay.’
She looked doubtful.
‘But you said it was important.’
‘It was.’
‘And Ryan’s okay?’
‘Like I said, I haven’t heard anything.’
‘You’ll let me know if you do?’
‘Aye. Of course I will. Of course.’
She smiled, ten years dropping off her in an instant. He wasn’t sure if that should have made him feel bad or good. Bad, he decided.
She led Winter to the front door and opened it to let him past.
‘Thanks for coming,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean what I said about not wanting people to come round any more. Not you anyway.’
With that she lifted her head and looked Winter straight in the eye and he took an instinctive half-step away from her, hoping she wasn’t hinting at what he thought.
‘It gets lonely on my own and my daughter is with friends,’ she added.
‘I’m sure you won’t be on your own for long,’ he blurted out. ‘Ryan… I’m sure you’ll see Ryan soon.’
Mrs McKendrick managed to look pleased and disappointed all at once. He backed away with a nod of his
