‘I’ve got some good news,’ she said. Farhan breathed a sigh of relief – it was not to be a confession. A waiter hovered, anxious to take their order. They ignored him.
‘Aisha, this is official,’ he said. He knew that what he needed to ask her should have been done in a more formal setting. Smiles and touching of hands across the table did not constitute official police proceedings. He knew he could not stop.
‘Let me tell you my news first.’ She seemed oblivious of what he wanted to ask, uninterested in her other life. She knew she was acting like a love-struck teenager out on a first date. The teenager she was not, but love-struck and the first date were certainly correct. She would not say it openly, but if asked, she would have admitted that she felt more than a fondness for Farhan Ahmed, the upright and serious detective inspector. He knew her story, her ambition, her screwing men for money. She hoped he would understand, not as a policeman but as someone she could spend the rest of her life with.
The waiter, increasingly annoyed at being ignored, eventually succeeded in taking their order. Both ordered fruit juices and salads. Business was brisk, and it was evident the establishment had the policy of quickly sit the patrons down, feed them, and get them out of the door as fast as possible, credit cards suitably debited. The punters, as the hotel landlord, a foul-mouthed Irishman, referred to the patrons. He only cared about the money in his bank account. The service the hotel provided was only there to ensure the maximum return on investment. He was not wrong about his concern for profit, for the situation in the city was challenging for any business. Rents were high, labour costs through the roof, and a riverside hotel overlooking the Thames could not easily relocate down past Canary Wharf to somewhere cheaper. The owner, a Russian businessman, based in Moscow, mansion in Kensington, knew that only too well.
Farhan also flashed his police badge and directed his glance towards a couple of young girls, obviously under age, sitting with a group of men, two tables away. The waiter understood. Farhan and Aisha would not be rushed out of the premises if the hotel did not want trouble.
‘Tell me your news,’ he said.
‘I’ve passed my exams.’
‘Congratulations.’
‘They’ve offered me a more senior position. There will be some delay before I start representing clients on my own, but it’s a great start.’
‘Did you see the press conference with Detective Superintendent Goddard and DCI Cook?’
‘I couldn’t watch it. It was on the television at my home. My parents were watching it, making comments. I was too ashamed. I left the room. They wanted to speak about it later; how disgraceful it was that women behave in that manner. I changed the subject, left the house, and went for a walk. I don’t want to think about that life. It’s almost as if it’s a dream.’
‘Unfortunately, it’s not a dream, and it’s still a murder investigation.’
‘I’ve not been back to Marion Robertson since. I can’t imagine giving myself to another man purely for money now. I should be embarrassed to say that to you.’
‘Why aren’t you?’ he asked.
‘Maybe you can’t forgive, not totally, but you are able to put it to one side, not judge me too harshly.’
‘It depends on the woman.’
‘Am I that woman?’ she asked coyly.
‘There’s still the fact of two dead bodies to be dealt with.’ Farhan tried to bring the conversation back to official. He knew he was losing the battle: the weather was too good, Aisha too cheerful, and her beauty distracted him totally.
‘I only know about one,’ she said.
‘Someone told a reporter that you and Olivia were in the hotel with Sutherland.’
‘It wasn’t me. How can you ask? You know me well enough to know that I wouldn’t do that.’
‘I know. Still, I had to ask.’
‘Why me? Why not Olivia? Why not the staff at the hotel? It was hardly a great secret; it’s not the first time I’ve been there.’
‘I phoned Olivia. I’ve yet to speak to the staff. I’ve also talked to Christy Nichols.’
‘Why didn’t you meet with Olivia?’
‘I wanted to protect her identity, and besides, I don’t believe she would do it. Her secret is too important.’
‘And you think I might. Don’t you think my secrecy is important?’
‘Of course I do. That’s why we haven’t met recently.’
‘I don’t understand.’ The mood had become chilly. ‘You are risking my secrecy now.’
‘We’ve met here. It would be construed by the casual observer that we are two people enjoying each other’s company. Here, in this crowded place, is the most secret place. We are here because I want to protect you. Because I had a legitimate reason to meet with you.’ The mood warmed.
‘You’ve used someone at the hotel talking out of turn as an excuse to meet up with me again.’
‘In part, I admit. But there still remains someone we don’t know about. Someone that was able to get him naked and to take a drink voluntarily.’
‘With the drugs he was on, that could be anyone.’
‘Are you indicating that it could have been a man?’
‘No, although it could have been his minder.’
‘We’ve discounted her at the present time.’
‘I certainly saw no one else. Olivia probably didn’t either. I’ve stayed chaste since we last met. I said I would.’
They both ordered a glass of wine, not because they were drinkers, but because the
