where shade would fall at the right times of day. I went up three sandstone steps to the wide front porch and pressed another button, plenty of index-finger exercise in this neck of the woods. The door was opened by a small woman in a dark dress with a white collar. In the old days shed have been able to take my hat, cane and gloves, now she just had to show me to the room where Cavendish and Mrs Beckett were waiting. I was still six minutes early.
Drapes were drawn against the still strong outside light and the room was gloomy. An eye injury I suffered a few years back has slowed down my ability to adapt from light to dark. Id have to be careful not to bump into the furniture. Cavendish stood beside a chair in which Gabriella Beckett sat. It was hard to see her clearly in the poor light. Perhaps that was the idea, but I got an impression of great beauty and great sadness. As I got closer I could see that her skin was dark and drawn tight over high cheekbones. Her nose was slightly hooked and her eyes were deeply sunk or maybe only seemed that way because of the nose. Her hair was white with a creamy tinge. She wore a black lace dress with long sleeves; she looked to be tallish, but if she weighed fifty kilos thatd be all.
Good evening, Mr Hardy, she said. Her voice was slightly accented, hitting the middle syllables.
Mrs Beckett. Good of you to see me. I nodded at Cavendish.
Lets make this brief, Hardy. Mrs Beckett isnt well.
Im sorry to hear that. Apart from being too thin she looked fine to me. I struggled to see a resemblance to Ramona but it was too long ago for me to have a clear picture.
Please sit down, Mr Hardy. I understand you have certain information about the circumstances surrounding my daughters disappearance.
I sat in one of the rather severe chairs arranged around a low table in the middle of the room. I was only two metres away from her now and fancied I could see what old Josh had gone for. Almost old, she was striking, when young she must have been stunning.
Thats right. And certain questions. I wanted to cut Cavendish out of the exchange as much as possible and the easiest way to do it was to refer to him as if he wasnt there. It sometimes works. Has Mr Cavendish briefed you?
Partly. Im hoping you can be more frank with me than you were with him.
Cavendish moved away from her chair and sat across from us where he could observe her perfect profile and my battered one. I couldnt see any reason not to tell her what I was about and I did. Having told it all to Claudia just recently, I could lay it out succinctly. I didnt mention Barry Whites murder though.
Its possible, she said.
Cavendish leaned forward. Gabriella…
She fended him off with an imperiously raised forefinger. Sean and Estelle both hated Ramona. She gave them reason. She was far more attractive and much more intelligent than they. Her father adored her, of course. She was a difficult child and, I have been led to believe, a dangerous woman. But she was interesting, unlike the other two.
It all sounded a bit clinical to be coming from a grieving mother, but then, it was a long time ago. Are you saying its possible one or both of them could have worked with the investigating officer to repress a ransom note and so cause Ramonas death?
She shook her head slightly, not enough to disarrange the creamy white hair. No. They certainly wouldnt have acted together. They dislike each other almost as much as they hated Ramona. Wallace mentioned your question about the police and it set me thinking. Sean and Sergeant Hawkins were similar typesbeer and horses men. Sean lacked courage but the policeman may have supported him.
Estelle?
The corners of her mouth turned down. Far too stupid to do anything beyond check a hem length and advise on a flounce. I have to say that her success in the fashion business just proves what mindless nonsense it all is.
What does Sean do now?
Hes on the board of four of his fathers companies and owns stock in them and others. He draws massive fees and dividends and does nothing to earn them.
Cavendish was shaking his head but she ignored him as I had hoped she would. I said, But you dont know anything that points directly to Sean being involved?
For the first time she began to look tired and I was able to believe that perhaps her health wasnt good. She clasped and unclasped her long fingers and worked at the thin wedding ring. No, nothing, she said. But Sean bitterly opposed the announcement of a reward. He even argued with his father about it, something he almost never did. Of course, Joshua won. He always won. Always.
There were things to explore here, but Cavendish had had all he could take of being cut out. He stood and towered over us both. I think thats enough, Hardy. Youve covered the ground you said you wanted to explore. Enough.
Wallace tells me that you are a capable man, Mr Hardy. With a reputation for violence and honesty. Thats an unusual combination. Ramona combined unusual elements in her character, too. Perhaps you are the person to unravel the mystery.
The sadness was stronger in her now than the beauty and I got up slowly, more in response to that than to Cavendishs bluster. She held out her hand and I took it. It was cold and I could feel the bones in her fingers. Learn all you can, Mr Hardy. I still want to know what happened to my child.
Cavendish escorted me to the door and came through it with me. He waved the servant off and stayed beside me on the longish walk to the front door, which he opened with an easy familiarity.
Looks like Id better have a word or two with Sean, I said. I dont suppose youd facilitate that as well?
Cavendish shook his head. I think you should drop it altogether.
Whys that?
For Gabriellas sake.
I think she wants me to pursue it.
Youre trading on an old womans vulnerability.
I wanted to hit him. The words had tripped off his tongue so easily. I couldnt have come up with such a glib phrase, but I felt sure that it described precisely what he was doing. Shes not so old, I said. And I dont think shes all that vulnerable.
You dont know her, he said. His body language tried to ease me through the open door but I resisted.
Thats the funny thing, I said. I almost feel as if I do.
What do you mean?
I dont know.
Look, Hardy. You may have given her something to latch onto for a while. But its a fantasy and you know it. If you would agree to let all this fade away quietly I could be of some help to you. Not to put too fine a point upon it, I could perhaps put some remunerative work your way.
I looked at him. He was overdressed for the day and sweating slightly, but not only because of the suit. His hair stuck to his skull, his face was redder than it had been, and he looked agitated. I took two quick steps away and left him in exactly that state, feeling that the interview had really been quite productive. I took a quick look back at the house before I opened the front gate. Cavendish still stood in the open doorway and he was talking into a mobile phone.
I drove down the cul-de-sac, intending to make a turn and come back. I was committed to this before I noticed the two cars that had cruised up behind me, forming a solid block across the road. They were four-wheel drives with bullbars, the right vehicles for the job and they jammed me against the gutter at the bottom of the street. Two men got out of the blue Land Cruiser and a third from the red Pajero with silver mudflaps. They werent there to discuss insurance or bring me to Jesus. The guy from the Pajero carried an aluminium baseball bat and the others just had their chests and shoulders and that looked like enough. I reached under the seat as I got out and grabbed the length of lead pipe Id acquired when the tribunal that had returned my PEA licence added the proviso that I was not to carry a firearm. Id wound red insulating tape around the pipe to give it a grip and a serious look, but right then Id have preferred my Smith amp; Wesson. 38.
They knew their business. One of them circled around to cut off a dash into the park and the others pressed forward, herding me towards the edge of the reserve where the trees cast deep shadows. If I retreated. I stood my ground for a second or two and then moved up to the nearest of the 4WDs, using it to protect my back.
