Rex’s eyebrows shifted in mute surprise. ‘You have a lot of attitude for someone who looks like they were designed to be eaten in a bun.’
Hans, already bewildered by current events, darted forward to bite Rex’s ankle. He got scooped by Albert though who had no idea what all the noise was about but didn’t think adding a dog fight to the mix was a great idea.
His face still like thunder, Kate’s brother crossed the café to get her dog. His expression changed while he walked, the man taking a deep breath and forcing his tense shoulders to relax. Just before he got to Albert, he paused and turned to face the room. ‘I’m terribly sorry about all that, folks,’ he addressed the customers, not one of whom had chosen to leave. ‘The police have made a mistake, obviously. However, the incident interrupted your afternoon so please all come to the counter before you leave and take a free clanger home as an apology. One per person, any size you like.’
‘Hey, you can’t do that,’ argued April, her stern-face looking even stonier now.
Kate’s brother just ignored her. ‘One per person, anything you like.’ With his back firmly to the mean-spirited older lady, he gave Albert an apologetic smile. ‘Thank you for stepping in to take Hans. I think Kate would have been doubly upset if they’d taken him away too.’
Albert inclined his head in acknowledgement as he handed Hans over, and said, ‘Terrible business.’ When Kate’s brother lifted an eyebrow, he added, ‘The murder, I mean. I overheard that it was the owner who died. He was your sister’s … partner?’ he tried, not sure what the correct term might be now that no one seemed to get married any more. Albert was prying – something he did naturally, though he couldn’t now tell if he did it because he’d been a policeman for so long, or if he’d always done it and that was what made him such a good policeman. However, his question made the other man’s eyebrows shoot for the sky. ‘I used to be a detective before I got old.’ Albert explained.
Albert’s statement seemed to quell the rising surprise at his question. ‘A detective? So you know about this sort of thing? What will happen to Kate now? How long will it take them to work out that they have the wrong person?’
It was a barrage of questions, but Albert didn’t need to be anywhere other than where he was. Rex had enjoyed plenty of exercise today and there was little left on his agenda other than to read a book, get some supper, and maybe enjoy a gin before bed.
‘Do you have a few minutes?’ Albert asked, indicating the table and chairs with his hand.
Kate’s brother glanced at the clock; it was close to closing time. There was no more baking to do today. He’d worked a long shift, coming in early to make the pastry fresh this morning at five o’clock but the tasks he still ought to perform could wait a while. He took the chair Kate had used to keep herself upright and deposited Hans the dachshund on his lap as the old man sat opposite.
Rex sat upright, his head appearing above the table where his tongue lolled out to drip drool to the tile below. He eyed the dachshund suspiciously, his attention rewarded by bared teeth again as the tiny dog made another silent threat. Rex chose to ignore him.
Albert extended his hand. ‘I’m Albert Smith. Formerly Detective Superintendent Smith.’
The action caught Victor off guard: he’d forgotten his manners and it hadn’t occurred to him to introduce himself. ‘Sorry, I’m Victor Harris, Kate’s brother, but I guess you figured that part out from all the shouting.’
Albert nodded and moved on. Taking a few minutes to answer the man’s initial list of questions by explaining the process of being arrested and processed. His words filled the man with horror.
‘But she didn’t do it,’ he protested needlessly.
Albert pursed his lips and drew a slow breath in through his nose. ‘The police clearly believe they have reason to think otherwise. They would not arrest her without cause.’
‘How can you be so sure?’ Victor asked carefully. He wanted to rail and rage at anyone who would listen, but the kindly old man was giving freely of his time and he had to respect that.
It was an obvious question, and one Albert had been asked many times in the past. The answer was almost always the same. ‘The police have too little time to allow any of it to go to waste. They discovered the body when exactly?’
Victor’s eyes rolled to the top of their sockets as he searched the memory part of his brain. ‘They let Kate know two days ago on Sunday night. She called me moments later in a flood of tears. I don’t know what she was thinking turning up to work today, but she stayed home yesterday and today said she didn’t want to be in their house all by herself with nothing to do but wallow.’ Remembering the question, he added, ‘They told her his body was found Sunday morning.’
Albert nodded along as Victor laid out the little that he knew. Joel Clement, the owner of the Biggleswade Clanger Café had failed to come home after work on Saturday. He lived with Kate in her small terraced house, but sometimes went to the pub on his way home. Often this was with Kate, but not on that occasion as Kate had a Pilates class. She arrived home after the class, expecting to find Joel there waiting for her. On her way, she picked up a takeaway meal from a supermarket to cook for them both, but he wasn’t
