Bob knew he was not lying this time.
'I believe you Spiv.'
'I believe you'.
The coffee arrived, thankfully, just at the right time. Pam brought through three steaming cups and a plate of scones, a butter dish, a rams horn handled kitchen knife and a smaller dish which contained what looked like home-made raspberry jam.
‘Listen, I better try Marie. I havenae told her I’m away wi her car’
Spiv laughed at this ‘Ho, ho. You’ll be strung up man.’ They shared a laugh as Bob pointed his mobile into the air searching for any kind of signal.
Pam Watters put down the tray on a glass coffee table, condensation appeared as the cup was set on the glass. Bob looked at this and saw Pam and Spiv's reflection in the table surface as he bent over to take hold of his hot drink at last.
Spiv said, 'Ta love'. He lifted the cup to his mouth and without tasting the coffee, he felt warm liquid on his shirt as Pam embraced him. Bob continued to look down at the table and saw Spivs cup rise up in the reflection from the glass. He raised his eyes and saw the white of Pam Watters eyes. The blow was immediate and exact. The force was similar to something he had felt before - a boxing match at school. A punch to the side of his face had left him flailing. His legs weakened and he lost grip of his phone. Although he was conscious, all he could see was Pam Watters taking aim again, teeth clenched. There was a ringing sound in Bob’s ears. He thought that there must be other sound, but he heard nothing more.
---
'Marie?'
'Ai.. whe.. you?', the reception was still patchy, but it was a reception at least.
'Marie, good, listen I've not been able to find them yet. How did you get on?'
'W.. foun... .. ary?’
'What?'
'We .... a diary. It does..... good...she's ...uckin... ..co.'
'I didn't get that. You found a diary? At Pams?’
'...'
'Listen if you can hear me, just answer Yes or No. OK'
'Ye..'
'Did you find a diary at Pams?'
'Ye..Yes..yes', Marie got what Aidrian wanted.
'Did you get to speak to her?'
'No. n.. no'
'Do you know where she is?'
'No. No. .....'
'Shit, whats in the diary?'
'... say's a loa... fuckin scary......'
'Sorry, Is there anything about Dev in it?'
'Y...Ye...es'
'Did Spiv do it? Did Spiv kill him?'
'...o....No...No...', Aid was relieved. At least Bob wasn't going to meet Dev's killer.
'Was it her? Did Pam kill Dev?'
'Yes..w.. thi...so.. Ha..you spo.. to Bob?'
Bob. No. No, I haven't been able to. I'll try again.'
'.... ob.....'
'Listen, Marie, I can't hear you. Stop speaking for a minute. Please. I need to find Bob and Spiv.' Aid paused and the line was quiet.
'Do you know if it says in the diary where Spiv is?'
'It..... he is aw... to Pam's....'
'Marie, can you repeat that. Pams…?'
‘Pam.... day...ome.'
'Sorry Marie, it's breaking up.'
' ...am's hol...home...near wi ..farm.'
“Pams home, near a farm.
'...winton ...ind farm'
'A wind Farm'
'Yes...es.......'
The phone went silent.
