you to be his teacher? I never. I never. Did you...My God. What else did you do to him? Did you kill him as well? Is that it?"
-You don't know what it means, do you?" Will asked her. -That I even hit him once. That I...You don't know."
-What? That you're Sir Bloody Whoever in Sodding Armour? That I'm supposed to be happy about that? Grateful? Thrilled? Your handmaiden forever? What exactly don't I know?"
-I could've gone back inside," he said dully.
-What're you talking about?"
-If I so much as tripped some bloke on the street. Even accidentally. I could go back inside. But I was willing to do it, because of you. And I was willing to sort him because he needed sorting.
But you didn't know that and even if you did know - now that you do know - it doesn't matter.
It never mattered. I don't matter. I never did, did I?"
-Why the hell did you think..."
Will looked at Cadan. Madlyn looked at Will. And then she, too, looked at Cadan.
For his part, Cadan thought it was a very good moment to give little Pooh his walkies for the evening.
BEA WAS STRETCHING WITH the aid of a kitchen chair, doing her part to keep an ageing back more or less pain free when she heard a key in the front door. The sound of the key was followed by a familiar knock - bim bim BIM boom BOOM - and then Ray's voice, -You here, Bea?"
-I'd say the car's a fairly good indication of that," she called out. -You used to be a much better detective."
She heard him coming in her direction. She was still wearing her pyjamas, but as they comprised a T-shirt and the trousers to her tracksuit, she was not bothered by someone's coming upon her in her morning deshabille.
Ray was done up to the nines. She looked at him sourly. -Hoping to impress some bright young thing?"
-Only you." He went to the fridge where she had left a jug of orange juice. He held it to the light, gave it a suspicious sniff, found it apparently to his liking, and poured a glass.
-Do help yourself," she said sardonically. -There's always more where that came from."
-Cheers," he replied. -D'you still use it on your cereal?"
-Some things never change. Ray, why're you here? And where's Pete? Not ill, is he? He has school today. I hope you've not let him talk you into - "
-Early day," he said. -He has something going on in his science course. I got him there and made sure he went inside and wasn't planning to bunk off and sell weed on the street corner."
-Most amusing. Pete doesn't do drugs."
-We are blessed in that."
She ignored the plural. -Why're you here at this hour?"
-He's wanting more clothes."
-Haven't you washed them?"
-I have. But he says he can't be expected to wear the same thing after school day after day. You sent only two outfits."
-He has clothes at your place."
-He claims he's outgrown them."
-He wouldn't notice that. He never gives a toss what he's wearing anyway. He'd be in his Arsenal sweatshirt all day if he had the option, and you know that very well. So answer me again. Why are you here?"
He smiled. -Caught me. You're very good at grilling the suspect, my dear. How's the investigation faring?"
-You mean how is it faring despite the fact I've no MCIT?"
He sipped his orange juice and put the glass on the work top, which he leaned against. He was quite a tall man, and he was trim. He'd look good, Bea thought, to whatever bright young thing he was dressing himself for.
-Despite what you believe, I did do the best I could for you with regard to manpower, Beatrice.
Why d'you always think the worst of me?"
She scowled. She didn't reply at once. She dipped into a final stretch and then rose from the chair. She sighed and said, -It isn't going far or fast. I'd like to say we're closing in on someone, but each time I've thought that, either events or information have proved me wrong."
-Is Lynley being of any help? God knows he has the experience."
-He's a good man. There's no doubt of that. And they've sent his partner down from London. I daresay she's here more to keep an eye on him than to help me, but she's a decent cop, if somewhat unorthodox. She's rather distracted by him - "
-In love?"
-She denies it, but if she is, it's a real nonstarter. Chalk