electric tool shrieked in the building again.
Jago Reeth remained with Bea and the constable. He said, casting a look over his shoulder, -One more thing...I got a conscious on this, so if you have a moment for 'nother word..." And when Bea nodded, he said, -I'd be chuffed if Lew didn't know this, got me? The way things turned out, he'll be dead cheesed off if he knows."
-What?"
Jago shifted his weight. -Was me giving them the place. I know I prob'ly shouldn't've. I saw that afterwards, but by then the bloody milk was spilt. Couldn't exactly pour it back into the bottle when it was spread all over the floor, could I?"
-While I admire your adherence to your metaphor," Bea told him, -perhaps you could make it more clear?"
-Santo and Madlyn. I go to the Salthouse Inn regular, in the afternoons. Have a mate I meet over there most days. Santo and Madlyn, they used my place then."
-For sex?"
He didn't look happy about making the admission. -Could have left them to sort things out on their own, but it seemed...I wanted them to be safe, see. Not in the backseat of a car somewhere.
Not in...I don't know."
-Yet as his father owns a hotel...," Bea pointed out.
Jago wiped his mouth on the back of his wrist. -All right. Yeah. There's the rooms at the old Promontory King George, for what they're worth. But that didn't mean...the two of them there...I just...Oh hell. I couldn't be sure he'd use what he needed to use to keep her safe, so I left them for him. Right by the bed."
-Condoms."
He looked moderately embarrassed, an old bloke unused to having such a frank conversation with someone he might otherwise have deemed a lady. One of the fairer sex, Bea thought. She could see this thought playing across his face. -He used 'em, but not every time, see."
-And you know he used them because...?" Bea prompted.
He looked horrified. -Good God, woman."
-I'm not sure God had much to do with this, Mr. Reeth. If you'd answer the question. Did you count them up before and after? Search them out in the rubbish? What?"
He looked miserable. -Both," he said. -Bloody hell. I care about that girl. She's got a good heart.
Bit of a temper but a good heart. Way I saw it, it was going to happen between them anyways, so I might as well make certain it happened right."
-Where would this be? Your house, I mean."
-I've a caravan over in Sea Dreams."
Bea glanced at Constable McNulty and he nodded. He knew the place. That was good. She said,
-We may want to see it."
-Reckoned as much." He shook his head. -Young people. What's consequences to them when they're young?"
-Yes. Well. In the heat of the moment, who thinks of consequences?" Bea asked.
-But it's more than consequences, isn't it?" Jago said. -Just like this." He was now, apparently, referring to one of the posters on the wall. It depicted a surfboard shooting into the air, its rider in the middle of a massive and memorable wipeout that had him looking crucified against a background of water that was a monstrous wave. -They don't think of the moment itself, let alone beyond the moment. And look what happens."
-Who's that?" McNulty asked, approaching the poster.
-Bloke called Mark Foo. Minute or two before the poor bastard died."
McNulty's mouth formed a respectful o and he began to respond. Bea saw him settling in for a proper surfing natter and she could only imagine where a trip down this watery and mournful memory lane was going to lead them.
She said, -That looks a bit more dangerous than sea cliff climbing, doesn't it? Perhaps Santo's father had the right idea, discouraging surfing."
-Trying to keep the boy from what he loved? What kind of idea's that?"
-Perhaps one that was intended to keep him alive."
-But it didn't keep him alive, did it?" Jago Reeth said. -End of the day, that's not always something we can do for others."
DAIDRE TRAHAIR USED THE Internet once again in Max Priestley's office in the Watchman, but she had to pay this time round. Max didn't ask for money, however. The price was an interview with one of his two reporters. Steve Teller, he said, just happened to be in the office working on the story of the murder of Santo Kerne. She was the missing piece. The crime asked for an eyewitness account.
Daidre said, -Murder?" because, she decided, the response was expected. She'd seen the body and she'd seen the sling,