‘He didn’t drown himself,’ Samantha stated.
She’d tried his phone, of course, but had he maybe used his bank card? He had not. Why did she think he’d left the car in the lay-by? She shook her head in response, choosing a fresh fingernail to gnaw on. Rebus noticed how many framed photographs there were in the room, mostly posed shots of Carrie, taken at her school–but family holidays too, everyone smiling for the camera. In the flesh, Samantha looked tired, hair long and straggly with an increasing amount of grey in it. Rebus reckoned she’d lost some weight, her face gaunt, skin loose at the neck.
‘You should tell him,’ he announced, just as the interview was winding down. His daughter gave him a hard stare. ‘He’ll find out anyway, if he’s as thorough as I think he is.’
Creasey looked from daughter to father and back again, content to bide his time. Samantha focused her eyes on the wooden floor at her feet.
‘There was a guy I was seeing for a while. It’s finished now, but Keith found out. Hard to keep secrets in a place this size.’
‘How long ago was this?’
‘A couple of months.’
‘This other man–a friend of his?’
She shook her head. ‘He runs a commune. That’s what you’d probably call it. Keith and me were curious, so we visited one day. Keith didn’t go back, but I did.’
‘So Keith does know the man?’
‘His name’s Jess Hawkins. Far as I know they just met the once, and only really for a quick handshake.’
‘When Keith found out, he didn’t go looking for Mr Hawkins?’
‘I told him not to. Whatever it was, it had ended by then.’
‘How did he find out?’ Rebus asked. ‘Did you tell him?’
She shook her head again. ‘A note–anonymous, of course.’
‘Someone in the village, then?’ Samantha shrugged. ‘Do you still have it?’
‘No.’
‘Have you seen Mr Hawkins since?’ Creasey enquired.
An eventual slow nod of the head. ‘In social situations, yes.’
‘I appreciate you sharing this with me, and I have to ask if you think it could have anything at all to do with Keith’s disappearance.’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘There must have been an impact on your relationship, though?’
She glared at the detective. ‘I don’t remember booking to see a counsellor.’
Creasey held up a hand in appeasement. ‘It’s just that it might explain Keith’s actions–he needs to go somewhere to clear his head, think things through.’
‘He’s had a couple of months to do that,’ Rebus reasoned.
‘Time for things to fester,’ Creasey countered. Rebus noticed that he hadn’t touched his tea. It sat on the floor on a ceramic coaster. ‘I’d imagine things were difficult, Samantha. Did he retreat into himself, or is he more the type who lashes out?’
Samantha gave a snort. ‘Keith’s never ever raised a hand to me.’
‘You talked? Tried to work things out?’
‘When he was around.’
‘He started staying out more than usual?’
‘He had his hobby people. They probably saw more of him than Carrie and me did.’
‘What’s the hobby?’
‘Local history. There’s an old POW camp back towards Tongue. They’re looking at its history, doing some excavating. There’s a half-baked plan to open it to tourists.’
‘Maybe not so half-baked–you’re on the North Coast 500 after all. Plenty new visitors.’
‘Mostly speeding past in their sports cars,’ Samantha said dismissively. Creasey turned towards Rebus.
‘It’s a circuit that’s become popular with drivers.’
‘I know,’ Rebus replied. ‘I might live in the far-off lands to the south, but news sometimes travels.’
Creasey decided to ignore Rebus’s tone and turned his attention back to Samantha. ‘What do you think’s happened to Keith, Samantha?’
‘Something.’
‘Could you be more specific?’
‘An accident maybe.’ She offered a shrug and checked her phone. ‘I need to fetch Carrie soon.’
A glance at his watch told Rebus his daughter was exaggerating–school wouldn’t finish for another hour or two. He saw Creasey come to the same conclusion, yet nod all the same.
‘One last question then–when did you last see or speak to Keith?’
‘That same evening. After dinner, he said he was going out.’
‘He didn’t say where?’
‘No.’
‘And he seemed all right?’
Samantha nodded slowly.
‘Then let’s leave things for now.’ Creasey got up from the sofa and handed her a business card. ‘I’ll file a missing person report, but if he does turn up or anything changes…’ Samantha gave another nod. ‘Are the keys to the Volvo here? I wouldn’t mind checking the interior. I’ll pop them through your letter box when I’m finished.’
‘On the table by the front door.’
Creasey stretched out his hand to take hers. ‘People almost always come back,’ he said. She returned the handshake without looking in the least bit convinced.
Rebus got up and said he would see the detective out. Creasey lifted the car keys while Rebus opened the door. Both men stepped outside, Rebus closing the door after them, making sure it wasn’t locked.
‘You reckon it’s nothing to worry about?’ he enquired.
‘Early days. If she’d not mentioned the affair and I’d found out after, I might have wondered what else she wasn’t telling me.’ He paused, studying Rebus’s face. ‘I know she’s not always had it easy. She was twelve, wasn’t she, when that nutcase got hold of her? Held a fearsome grudge against you.’
‘Thirty-odd years back.’
‘Then
