be honest, I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick, or possibly the wrong stick entirely. The only answer you’ll get is by talking to people. You don’t observe, you don’t think about human nature.’
‘I have you to do that for me.’
May sighed. ‘Look at the girl behind the counter, the one you just had a go at. What do you see?’
Bryant squinted over. ‘A fat Greek schoolgirl who needs a few lessons in civility.’
‘Try again. Her name’s Athena and she’s about nineteen; she’s married with two children, and she has a younger sister. Her father owns the place, and she’s working here against her will. Her husband got drunk last night and they had a fight. She’s trapped and miserable, and wondering how her life turned out like this.’
‘You worked that out from watching her?’ asked Bryant, genuinely interested.
‘It’s not difficult,’ said May. ‘She’s wearing a wedding ring. Look at the photos on the walls behind her: family pictures taken in Cyprus—mother and father, no sons featured. The owner has given his oldest daughter a job because she needs it. Why? Her children are twins. The man who went past with the double pushchair spoke to her by name. He’s ginger, from around here. You see his type everywhere. Got into fatherhood too early, and to his dismay finds himself taking care of not one but two small girls—very angry about it. You don’t have to be a genius to read the disappointment in his face. Wouldn’t work here because it’s not a man’s job, and besides, the place belongs to her family, which means he would fight with them all the time. She puts in long hours, he puts the kids to bed and goes to the pub. She plays with her hair to cover a bruise. Facial marks like that are rarely self-inflicted. She’s trapped between controlling parents and an embittered partner, so she’s not really too bothered about whether you get tea, coffee or rat poison.’
‘Hmm.’ Bryant stirred his cup thoughtfully. ‘Perhaps you’re right. I should pay more attention to people. Get my nose out of my books once in a while. I do like them, you know—people. It just seems as if I don’t.’
‘I know,’ said May gently. ‘You have a good heart, but you don’t reveal it very often. As a suspect, Aaron’s a non-starter; even you can see that. Tate is the closest we have. I think the first thing we need to do is put a watch on him. No one’s been dropped into the sewers, we’d have found drag marks in the gardens or the alleyway, but I agree that it may explain the lack of incriminating evidence. We have no weapons beyond a sheet of clingfilm. You have to admit that’s unusual. But you also have to admit that there’s another possibility.’
‘Which is?’
‘You’ve allowed this whole situation with Greenwood to affect your instincts about Balaklava Street. You love collecting arcane knowledge about underground rivers, so suddenly they have to feature in an entirely separate investigation.’
‘The thought had crossed my mind, but you have to admit it’s a damned coincidence that Balaklava Street is built over a tributary. Have you decided what you’re going to do about Sunday night?’
‘I thought you and Mangeshkar could keep an eye on Greenwood and Ubeda. Whatever they’re planning has to end then, because we start fresh the next morning, whatever happens. Even Raymond agrees that we have a legitimate reason for putting more resources into Balaklava Street now. Meanwhile, post Bimsley at the hostel to make sure Tate doesn’t go anywhere. I’ll go and see Monica.’
‘So I get posted somewhere cold, damp and possibly lethal to a man of my advanced years while you pitch woo to a married woman,’ Bryant harrumphed, clattering a sugar lump against his false teeth. ‘I suppose I can’t blame you. You need affection and reassurance more than I.’ Bryant had decided a long time ago that he was far too strange to find anyone who would love him. He had, of course, underestimated the bravery and tenacity of the British female, but now he was convinced that he had left it too late, and had resigned himself to the consolations of work and friendship. ‘Still, I think it would be better if we followed Greenwood together. He knows you.’
‘I can’t be in two places at once. And you’re not coming with me to see Monica.’
‘So you are planning to woo her.’
‘Nobody says “woo” any more, Arthur. You’re