entrance code. ‘Don’t respond,’ he mutters under his breath. ‘You’ll make it worse.’
The heavy gate clicks open and they wheel the bikes in. Ruby makes sure the gate is firmly shut behind them. The high metal railings that surround their block are supposed to keep burglars out. She used to find them a little oppressive, but she’s grateful for them today.
Lewis unlocks the padlock of the cycle store and puts the bikes away while Ruby enters the flat. She takes off her jacket and helmet, unlaces her boots and kicks them off, then flicks on the central heating. It’s a relief to be home.
She surveys the mess, which is even worse than usual. These last few days neither of them has had the slightest interest in tidying. It’s as if getting on with their normal lives is somehow disrespectful to Mabel. She goes into the kitchen and stares at the dirty crockery building up next to the kitchen sink, the scattering of breadcrumbs on the counter, the pint of milk she forgot to put back in the fridge before they left this morning, the takeaway boxes waiting to be recycled …
How will this chaos be interpreted by DS Smart when she arrives in a few minutes’ time? Are innocent people more likely to be clean and tidy, or do they tend to live in a tip? Do murderers ever wash up? Is an unmade bed a sign of a guilty conscience? It’s absurd to have such thoughts popping into her head, but DI Benedict’s reaction has made her nervous about the slightest thing. She’s told the truth from the beginning, but somehow it doesn’t seem to be enough.
Lewis comes in and divests himself of his gear, throwing his helmet and high-vis onto the chair in the hallway. He joins her in the kitchen. ‘I’m hungry,’ he says. ‘Is there anything for lunch?’
‘We should wait until the detective’s been and gone, don’t you think?’ she says. ‘I feel uncomfortable about munching a sandwich while talking about Mabel.’
‘Well I need to eat something,’ he grunts, opening the fridge. He crouches down and peers inside. ‘Not that we’ve got much. We’ll have to order a supermarket delivery. Daren’t go shopping, not with those bastards following us around.’
Ruby presses her palms against her face. ‘It’s like being in prison. I can’t bear it, Lew. I just want it to stop.’
‘It won’t – not until they find out who took her.’
‘But it could go on for years. Suspicions will hang over us, we’ll never shake them off. And they could still charge us. You don’t have to have a body – if the police think they have enough evidence …’
He pulls out a half-eaten packet of vegan cheese and a wrinkled tomato. ‘Any bread left?’ He opens the cupboard and finds the hard remains of a sourdough loaf.
‘You’re not listening to me,’ she wails. ‘This is serious!’
‘I know how serious it is, Ruby,’ he says sharply, holding his thumb to his forefinger. ‘I’m this close to being charged with murder. And this key story has probably made it worse.’
‘It’s not a story! It’s what happened.’
‘It’s what you think happened – you don’t know for sure.’
‘I do. It’s the only explanation that makes sense.’
‘Listen, Rubes. I appreciate what you’re doing. I know you’re trying to protect me, but you mustn’t lie—’
‘I’m not lying.’ She feels stung. If he doesn’t believe her, she’s got no chance. ‘And I’m not trying to protect you. I don’t need to – you’re innocent. We both are.’
He pauses, bread knife in hand. ‘Yes, we know that, but the police think otherwise. Can’t you see? They’re waiting for one of us to crack. You coming up with a last-minute bullshit story about—’
The entryphone rings. Ruby hurries into the hallway and picks up the receiver. ‘Yes?’
‘DS Smart,’ says a familiar voice. Ruby presses the button to buzz her in.
‘And how many more times, it’s not a story,’ she continues.
‘Okay, leave it now. Don’t let her see we’ve been arguing,’ Lewis warns.
It’s the first time Ali Smart has been to their flat. From the moment Ruby lets her in, she senses the detective scrutinising the scene, making judgements, perhaps even looking for clues. Smart keeps her coat on and rejects the offer of tea or coffee without so much as a thank you. She walks into the lounge and sits on the sofa uninvited. These small gestures of unfriendliness make Ruby feel jittery. The woman has clearly been told to be on her guard.