I can’t believe I’m even thinking these thoughts here, at the spot where Rob died. I glance at my watch. Quarter past ten. This time, forty-eight hours ago, he was still alive.
* * *
I didn’t notice anyone else around.
Luckily, the side of the car took the impact,
resulting in a mere well-placed clip.
Not much damage at all.
Chapter 16
A police car crouches like a panther alongside the garden wall. My heart seems to fill my throat as I consider what new information they might be about to impart. Dad is watching my arrival from where he sits in the lounge window. I see him rise from his seat, and he’s at the front door before me.
“The police are here. Where’ve you been Fiona?” Concern is etched across his face. “I thought you were dropping Jack at school and coming straight back.”
“I can see they’re here.” My voice is a hiss. Does he think I’m blind or something? “I went for a drive to clear my head. Or is that a crime now?”
He gives me a look that says wind your neck in. “Do you want some tea? I’ve already made them some.”
I resist the temptation to make a wisecrack about tea. He means well. “Yes. Thanks Dad. Sorry for snapping.”
He squeezes my arm as I pass him. “It’s OK love.”
“Morning Fiona.” DI Green gives me a weak smile as I enter the room and take the seat Dad has vacated. I swivel it around so I can face them.
“How are you doing this morning?” PC Robinson nods at me in acknowledgement, squinting as he gets an eyeful of the sunshine behind me. They seem nicer than in the interview room yesterday. But I don’t trust them one bit. They’re probably here to try to trip me up.
I tilt the blind. “OK, I suppose. I’ve got my son to keep me going, and my dad’s looking after me.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear you’ve got some support. Anyway,” DI Green takes a sip from her cup. “We’ve made some more inquiries which we’d like to speak to you about.”
“OK. Did you get hold of Bryony?”
“Who’s Bryony?” Dad passes me a mug, then sits in the armchair at the other side of the room from the police, so we’re all at right angles from each other. It’s stuffy in here this morning, but the cat looks happy. It’s enough to make me smile, although I don’t, to notice her stretched out in the sun on the windowsill. I’d swap lives with the cat right now.
“Rob’s ex-girlfriend. She kept trying to ring him on the day he died.”
Dad frowns but says nothing. I expect he might later. It appears he and I have been unknowingly going through the same thing.
“We haven’t spoken with Bryony yet.” PC Robinson sets his mug down on the coffee table, ignoring the strategically placed coaster.
I frown.
“We’ve tried ringing and calling around to her house but haven’t got an answer. We will keep trying.”
“We have been in touch with his ex-wife,” adds DI Green. “She’s coming in today to make a formal statement. We’re also here to ask if you’ve had any clarity about your location at the time of your husband’s death?”
“I was here, ironing, like I told you.”
“We need to take your mobile phone. Obviously, we’ll return it as soon as we have inspected it.”
“Why do you want my phone? You’ve already seen the messages I sent Rob. We didn’t even text each other very often.”
“It’s procedure.” PC Johnson leans forward so I can see the whites of his eyes behind DI Green’s head. “It’s more to rule you out, than to attempt to implicate you. Whichever signals your phone was picking up, will verify your whereabouts on Monday.”
“There doesn’t appear to have been much love lost between Robert and his Denise, does there?” DI Green raises her gaze from her notepad to mine.
“Surely that’s normal when people get divorced.” I wonder what they’re getting at here.
“Denise tells me your marriage was in trouble.” DI Green glances at our large wedding photo above the fireplace. We look so happy. The photographer had said something funny but still – she really captured something between us. Who’d have thought things would end up where they have?
“Denise wouldn’t know something like that, even if it was true. The only relationship Rob had with her these days was as a co-parent.”
“That’s not how Denise saw it. She said Robert never arrived to pick up his daughter. And apparently, she has been struggling lately to even get maintenance from him. It has forced her to start a claim with the Child Support Agency.”
“That’s total rubbish. She’s lying. He’s always gone to Simone’s parents evenings, sports days, and paid maintenance. I’ll find his bank statements and prove it to you.”
“That might be helpful. It will hopefully turn up other information too. Do you know anything about your husband’s money problems Fiona?”
What are they on about? Even Dad is looking worried now. “He didn’t have any, as far as I know.”
“What bank accounts do you have, Fiona?
“Just our joint ISA, and my current account,” I reply. I don’t spend a great deal. It’s been months since I even bought myself new clothes. I used to love clothes shopping, but not anymore.
“We’ll need to have a look at the transactions for the last six months from your accounts?”
“Why?”
“Again. It’s procedure.”
“I’ve got nothing to hide. I’m happy for you to look at my accounts, but I want to know more of what it’s about.”
“All I can tell you at this stage is that it’s in connection
