She waited until he finally sat up, sucking in a deep breath. ‘God, haven’t done that since school. How-how did it happen?’
‘We think she was poisoned.’
‘Oh Jesus.’ He bent forward again, cradling his face in his hands. ‘That is so unreal.’
‘Go on with your story. You were at Tina’s place.’
‘Yes. As Marion was leaving, Tina mentioned this party we were going to the next evening, and told Marion she should come, and I joined in and said she must, and she sort of laughed and said maybe. Well, she did. I’d already had a few by the time she showed up. I thought she looked fantastic, really sexy, and I went and chatted to her. She said she was waiting for someone else to arrive, and we flirted, you know. She was really bright and attractive and, well, confident, and I thought she was interested. Only she wasn’t really. I think she was just filling in time. The next day I persuaded Tina to let me have her phone number, and tried to call her.’
‘Twenty-eight times.’
‘Never! Did I? Bloody hell. You didn’t read the messages, did you?’ His face turned a deep red. ‘It was a bit of fun, you know? Just mucking about. I mean, I was really keen, but she was having me on, I reckon; just teasing.’
‘How frustrating. That must have really pissed you off.’
‘Yeah, it did a bit, but that’s how it goes, isn’t it? Win some, lose some.’
‘Who was she meeting at the party?’
‘Well, that’s the thing, I don’t know if there really was anyone. I mean, when I wanted to take her home she said she had to find this other guy and disappeared, but I never actually saw her with anyone, and neither did Tina. But I couldn’t be sure; there was a big crowd there. Anyway, after a couple of days trying to talk to her on the phone, I gave up. I don’t even know where she lived.’
Kathy showed him the mugshot of Keith Rafferty from his police file.
‘Blimey.’ Andy stared at the scowling face. ‘Who’s he?’
‘Ever seen him before?’
‘Don’t think so.’
‘Okay. So what did Marion talk about, at the party?’
‘Oh, you know…’ He shrugged, then raised his head, an odd expression on his face. ‘Jesus, I’ve just remembered. There was something weird she said.’
‘Go on.’
‘Well, Tina had told her I was studying science at uni, and she wanted to know if I was doing any chemistry subjects. When I said yes she asked if I knew anything about arsenic compounds. I asked her why, and she said she wanted to poison somebody.’
They stared at each other, and Kathy felt a chill creep up her spine. Nigel Ogilvie’s remark in the London Library came back to her, about her interest in poisons. ‘She said that? What words did she use, exactly?’
‘Umm… I’m thinking of poisoning somebody, something like that. I took it for a joke, of course.’
‘Did you tell her-about arsenic?’
‘No, all I know is that arsenic is a heavy metal, but I don’t know which compounds are most lethal or anything, or what they taste like.’
‘She wanted to know that?’
‘Yeah. So I told her about Dr Ringland. He’s one of our chemistry lecturers, and arsenic is his research area.’
‘Did she contact him?’
‘I’ve no idea.’
‘Where can I find him?’
He told her, and supplied the number of Tina Flowers’ flat. Kathy left him sitting in the kitchen.
•
The student flats in Stamford Street were seething, as if someone had poked a stick in an ants’ nest; people were running out the door with hair and scarves flying, late for ten o’clock lectures. Kathy checked in at the office and was told how to find Tina Flowers’ room on the fourth floor. It was part of a self-catering apartment of six single rooms sharing a lounge, kitchen and bathroom. One of the other residents of the apartment was in the lounge, ironing clothes. Her name was Jummai, she said, a student from Nigeria. She showed Kathy the door to Tina’s room, which she knocked on, waited, then opened. Inside Kathy glimpsed a chaos of crumpled clothes, towels, unmade bed, shoes, CDs and books. The doors of the wardrobe, chairs and table formed improvised drying racks for underwear.
Jummai smiled. ‘Tina is not tidy,’ she said. ‘I think she may have gone to a nine o’clock lecture. She’ll probably be back soon.’
She seemed very shy, and Kathy chatted to her about her studies, and what life was like in the apartment, trying to put her at ease.
‘Do you know a friend of Tina’s called Marion Summers? This is her picture. She lived in this building until three months ago, and I understand she visited Tina here recently.’
Jummai examined the photo. ‘Yes, I do remember her. She is very attractive. She’s not in trouble, is she?’
‘I know she went to a party with Tina not long ago. Were you there?’
Jummai’s face dropped. ‘Oh, you are looking for drugs.’
‘No, no, it isn’t that. I’m afraid Marion died on Tuesday, Jummai. I’m looking into the circumstances.’
The girl looked shocked, and wary. ‘That is very sad.’
‘Yes, very. I have to find out as much as I can about her. Can you help me at all? Did you go out with her and Tina?’
‘No. I go to church, Tina goes to parties, as you say. She returns late at night and disturbs everyone. She borrows things and doesn’t return them. She eats other people’s food and doesn’t replace it. I don’t mean to sound unkind, but that’s the way it is.’
‘I see. How about Marion?’
‘I don’t know… She seemed to be more serious. She dressed well and spoke softly. I think she was helping Tina with her work. I heard them discussing an essay. And money.’
‘Money?’
‘Tina always wants to borrow money.’
At that the door to the corridor flew open, there was a muffled curse, and then a dishevelled figure, loaded with several heavy bags, stormed in.
‘Ah, Tina!’ Jummai said.
‘Yeah, what? I can’t give you your skirt back yet, Jummai, so piss off.’
Jummai rolled her eyes at Kathy. ‘There is a police officer here to see you, Tina.’
‘What?’ She peered at Kathy. ‘Hang on, I need a pee.’ She dropped her bags and disappeared through another door.
She took her time, and when she came back she had a surly set to her face, as if preparing to deny everything. Kathy showed her ID, speculating on what she’d flushed down the toilet. ‘Let’s take a seat, Tina. I’m calling about your friend Marion, Marion Summers. Have you seen the news?’
This wasn’t what the girl was expecting, and she cautiously shook her head.
‘It’s been in the papers. Marion was taken ill on Tuesday, and died in hospital later that day.’
The girl did a double take, then looked horrified. She had a pale, elfin face, exaggerated by the dark make-up on her lips and eyes, and cropped black hair. Out of the corner of her eye, Kathy noticed Jummai observing Tina’s distress with some satisfaction.
‘Any chance of a cup of tea or coffee, Jummai?’ she asked.
‘Oh… yes, all right.’
‘I can’t believe this,’ Tina whispered. ‘I spoke to her on Tuesday morning.’
‘Did she sound all right then?’
‘Yes, fine. She said she’d call me later in the week. What happened?’
‘It appears that she was poisoned. We don’t yet know how it happened.’
Tina gave a choking sound and put a hand to her mouth.
