‘The one where she…?’
‘Yes, Inspector. A few times a week I’d treat myself to lunch away from the office. Just for a breather, and there she was, doing the same thing. She’d have her Kindle, a sandwich, and a bowl of chips that she never ate.’
His face softened as he savoured the memory.
‘Every time she was there I promised myself I’d speak to her. Just strike up conversation, and every time I failed miserably. In the end she spoke first.’
Kim said nothing as his body relaxed into the memory.
‘It was a sunny day. She took off her sunglasses, placed them on the table and turned to me and said, “Okay, is it the chips or me you keep looking at?” I was too stunned to speak. “Either way just ask and the answer will be yes.” So I asked her if I could take her out for a drink. We met two nights later, and it was as though we’d known each other our whole lives. We never struggled for—’
‘Regaling the officers with the great love story,’ Zach said from the doorway. No one had heard him approach. ‘But of course, it wasn’t love, was it?’ Zach said, squeezing Gavin on the shoulder as he passed. ‘You didn’t know that until you met me.’
As subtle as the gesture was, Kim felt a sense of propriety behind it. He still felt like a love rival despite the fact his sister was dead.
Kim bit down her growing dislike of the man.
Bryant sat forward. ‘Zach, may we once again offer our condolences for your loss.’
Somehow her colleague always managed to utter the words that were going to stick in her throat as though attached to barbed wire. The man didn’t appear all that perturbed by his own loss.
Objectively, Kim could understand Gavin’s instant attraction to Zach. Rachel had been attractive, but it was as though even in the womb he had stolen more of the good looks he was entitled to. Had Rachel taken Zach’s share of backbone at the same time?
‘We do understand that you’d like to be left alone at this time, however we just need to ask you about the visit to your parents’ house on Saturday afternoon.’
Gavin turned to face his husband. Clearly, they had not had that conversation in the intervening hours. Was that part of the reason Zach had taken to his bed? Did he not want to face any difficult questions?
The grief-stricken-twin option wasn’t ringing true in her ears.
‘Oh, it was nothing. I just happened to be passing so I thought I’d nip in for a cuppa.’
The imperceptible frown on Gavin’s face told her that wasn’t true.
‘Passing from where?’ she pushed.
‘Sorry?’
‘Where had you been or where were you going?’ Timbertree was almost four miles from Pedmore.
‘I’m not sure. I can’t remember.’ He rubbed at his head. ‘So much has happened, I don’t even know what day it is.’
‘It’s Wednesday,’ Kim said, knowing she’d caught him in a lie. Whatever the reason, it had prompted a special journey and one he’d chosen to make alone.
‘Can you share what you talked about?’
‘Many things.’
‘Did you talk about Jonathan Pike?’ she asked.
‘I think the subject did come up,’ he said, as though searching his memory.
‘In what context?’ she pushed.
‘I think I expressed my concern at them taking on such a responsibility at their age.’
‘They were fit and well, I understand.’
‘Always questionable with my mother, Inspector,’ he said, referring to her mental health. ‘But physically, yes, they were both well.’