He asked if he could come to Buffalo to visit me.
'I thought it was a little odd, but I said okay, if he was prepared to pay the air fare, then I was prepared to see him next Tuesday. I take it that…'
'Yes,' muttered Bob, grimly. 'He's the shit who broke the story.'
'And he expects still to be alive next Tuesday,' Sarah responded, with a faint hint of mockery.
'Andy was going to lock him up. The trouble was he hadn't broken any laws. Pam may be able to sue him, but that's it.'
'Pam may be able…! What, you mean she isn't a man-grabbing little opportunist?' Her voice rose once more.
'No,' said her husband quietly. 'She isn't.'
'Okay,' said Sarah, more calmly. 'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have got down to that level. What does this man Salmon want?'
'Some photos of the wronged wife and baby, I guess. Plus confirmation from you that I'm a shit and that you can't wait to divorce me.'
'None of that sounds too tough,' said Sarah.
'So you'll see him?'
There was another snort, with a laugh in it this time. 'Like hell I wil! Do you think for one moment that I'd involve myself, or my baby, with a rag like that? I've seen the US Spotlight, and I can think of half-a-dozen congressmen who've trying to have it banned. If you can get word to this guy, let him know that if he sets foot on my dad's doorstep, he'l have him arrested. And in this city, my dad could probably do that!'
'I'l have Royston pass that message on,' said Bob.
'Sarah,' he went on, strangely hesitant. 'I have to ask you this. Do you intend to divorce me?'
He heard her gasp slightly. She was silent for several expensive transatlantic seconds, until final y she responded, very quietly. 'Do you want me to?'
'I've no right to expect otherwise.'
'But is it what you want?'
This time it was Bob's turn to fall silent. 'No,' he said, at last.
'Ask me now and the answer's no.'
'Do you and Pamela love each other? Like does she want to have your babies?'
Another pause. 'No. I don't think we do. I don't think she does.
We've avoided discussing anything so heavy.'
'Then get yourselves sorted out. I'l give you three months. If, after that, you're no longer involved with this woman, and you tell me that you love me and want me back, I'l decide how I feel. If you can't make me believe all that, I'll know it's over.'
'Don't we have to say those things to each other?' he asked.
She chuckled, and in his mind's eye he could see her shake her head. 'Not from where I'm standing, we don't.'
The big policeman, alone in his sitting room, heaved a sigh and nodded. 'Okay. That's how it'll be.
'Before I hang up, can I speak to Jazz.'
'He's out with Granddad, I'm afraid.'
'Okay.' He was about to say goodbye, when something struck him.
'Sarah, one thing you should look out for. This bastard Salmon isn't going to like it when we blow him out. Be careful that he doesn't try any Candid Camera stuff on you.'
'Okay, but how could he?'
'Well…' Skinner gulped, and took the plunge. 'If you were seeing anyone, however innocently…'
'As opposed to guiltily, you mean?'
'Aye, okay…' he grunted.
There was a pause at the other end of the line. 'Well… I have had a few dinner dates with a single guy around my own age, on the medical staff at my hospital. Dinner dates, though, that's all.'
He felt a tug in the pit of his stomach. 'So you haven't…'
'No I have not!' she cried. 'Sure, the thought has crossed my mind: I'm as human as you, but maybe just a bit more restrained. The invitation's been extended, too, in a very gentlemanly, diplomatic fashion. Til now, I've thanked him, but declined, as a lady should.
After this, though, you can work out for yourself how I'm likely to respond.
'However, my dear, there's one thing that I will promise you.'
'What's that?'
'When I do decide to let Terry and me enjoy the good honest Tuck to which he's probably entitled, and which I undoubtedly deserve, I'l make bloody sure that the drapes are drawn tight!'
The sound of a phone being slammed down crashed in his ear.
14
Skinner sat on the edge of the couch in the curtained living room in Gullane, drawing listlessly on a bottle of Beck's. It was just after ten thirty.
'Sarah gave you a hard time, did she?' asked Pamela. 'Come on, tell me about it. You've been silent as the grave on the subject.' It was true. Skinner had eaten before picking her up from the Leith apartment, principally to allow him to recover from his conversation with his wife.
As they had driven to East Lothian – having decided to ignore any paparazzi who might be on their trail next day – he had told her of his instruction of Mitchell Laidlaw, and of his conversation with the Chief Constable. From the cottage, he had made phone calls to Royston, and toAlex to confirm that both the force and the solicitor's spokeswoman had been bombarded with press enquiries since the Spotlight story had broken.
But he had said nothing at al until then of his telephone cal to Sarah, or other reaction. 'What is it?' asked Pamela once more. 'Has she asked for a divorce?'
He took another swig of his beer. 'She's stopped short of that, but let's say she's reserved her position.'
'Did you ask her if she has someone else?'
Pamela's eagerness irked him. 'Yes. And she has. Platonic so far, but I've driven her into his bed, I'm sure.'
'What makes you think that?'
'Christ, she more or less told me so! Anyway, you've been in her place. How did you react when you found out about David?'
She pouted. 'Just hold on! David was living with me when he had his affairs, so the situation isn't the same. I certainly didn't respond in kind: not for a while, at least. It was almost two years before I fancied anyone else.
'We're dodging an issue though. If you're jealous of Sarah's new man, real or not, I don't like that. In fact you can either get over it, or do without me. Which would you prefer?'
Bob laid the beer on the floor and took her by the hand. 'Calm down, Pammy. It's just that I'm an old Presbyterian at heart. I'l get over it.'
'Take me to bed, then,' she said, teasingly, reaching for the buttons of his shirt.
'I might consider it,' he said, managing a weak smile, but feeling a pang of doubt inside. Just in time the ring of the telephone took him off the hook.
'Sod it,' he said, reaching across to pick it up.
'Good evening, Mr Skinner,' said a smug voice, raised slightly over a background of conversation. 'I hope you enjoy your weekend reading. If you switch on the telly at eleven o'clock, I think you'll find that Sky News give you a good show too.'
'Salmon, you little cunt,' the policeman snarled. 'How did you get this number?'
'I have friends. Despite what your lawyer said, I felt I had to give you the chance of coming clean for my
