Ghosts in the Morning - By Will Thurmann Page 0,42

the moment?’

‘No, no, he’s at work.’ I saw Blud sip his tea and grimace. I had forgotten to put any sugar in. ‘Er, can you tell me what this is abou – ’

‘Does your husband own a BMW X5? A black one?’

‘Er, well, yes, but, um, midnight blue, that’s what it’s called, rather than black. I mean, it looks black, but it’s called midnight blue.’

It was my car, really, Graham always used his silly little convertible if he was going out on his own or to work, but both cars were registered in Graham’s name. I paused and took a deep breath. The car – the X5 - was parked in the garage, but they mustn’t have seen it, the garage door must be closed. ‘Look, can you please explain - ’

‘Calm down, Mrs. Halston, as I said, it’s just routine. We’re investigating an accident that happened a few weeks ago. A cyclist was knocked off his bike.’

‘Surely you don’t think that Graham – I mean, are you saying it was a hit and run, are you saying that Graham - ’

‘No, Mrs. Halston, that’s not what I’m saying. Not what I’m saying at all. We’re just in the process of eliminating people from our inquiries, that’s all. It’s just that there was a car seen near the accident, a dark car, a four-wheel drive –’

‘Chelsea tractor, that’s what they nickname them,’ PC Andrews said.

Blud glared at him. ‘I don’t recall anyone asking for nicknames, Police Constable Andrews.’ Blud spat the title out.

‘Well, Mr. Blud, there are hundreds of four-wheel drive cars around, why would you-’

A mobile phone rang. A Rhianna song. Blud shrugged and looked a little sheepish. I saw a sly grin flit across the face of Andrews.

‘Bloody music - sorry, my daughter put that ringtone on, and I don’t know how to change it. Excuse me a moment.’ Blud stood and walked to the hall, with the phone at his ear.

I saw an opportunity to try and get some information from Andrews, he seemed a little wet-behind-the-ears. I put on my best ‘look how sad and scared I am’ face. ‘Please, PC Andrews, please can you tell me why you’re here, I mean, why Graham’s car?’

‘Um, I can’t say really, Mrs. Halston.’ Andrews shook his head slowly, then looked right at me, saw the tears welling in the corners of my eyes. ‘Look, well, between me and you, Blud - I mean DS Blud - didn’t tell me much. He thinks us uniforms are stupid. To be honest, Mrs. Halston, I really wouldn’t worry if I were you, I think maybe one of the nearby CCTV cameras may have picked up a couple of digits of a number plate. I think we’ve got quite a few calls to make, clutching at straws, it all seems like a bit of a wild goose chase if you ask me, but, hey, nobody ever does. Ask me, that is.’

Blud came back into the lounge, looking agitated. ‘Come on, Andrews, we’ve got to go. Mrs. Halston, would you please ask your husband to give me a call as soon as possible. My number’s on this card. Thank you for your time, Mrs. Halston.’

The door slammed behind them and I dashed back into the kitchen for another slug of wine. I looked down at my hands, they were shaking. A couple of digits of a number plate. Shit, shit, shit.

The doorbell rang again and I jumped. It must be the police, they had come back, they must have forgotten to ask if they could see the car, thank God I had had it fixed, or maybe they had another witness, maybe maybe maybe... I opened the door.

‘Hi Mum.’

I stared at the stranger in front of me with his golden-hued skin and his long, blond hair, and his big smile with the crooked tooth that he’d banged against a tree when he was six years old. He was wearing a strange hat.

‘Ian, is that you, you look so different, you - ’

‘Of course it’s me, Mum, you wally. I’m back!’ Ian stepped across the porch and we hugged tightly. I didn’t want to let go. ‘Now come on, Mum, put the kettle on, I’ve not had a proper cup of tea for ages.’

I gave Ian another big hug, and went to the kitchen. I hurriedly emptied my wineglass into the sink and put the glass into the dishwasher, I didn’t want Ian thinking I was some sort of alcoholic.

‘Is there no-one else here,