Before We Met(87)

‘The history – his conviction and . . .’ Hannah looked at Mark.

‘My brother and I have a difficult relationship,’ he said, ‘we always have had, and Nick’s angry about his time in prison. He blames me for that as well as Hermione. But the other issue at the moment is money. I owe him money.’

‘How much are we talking about?’ asked Wells.

‘One point eight million.’

Hannah watched the police officers exchange glances.

‘Nick owns a stake in my company, twelve per cent, and we had an agreement that he’d cash out the day he got out of prison. He was emphatic about it at the time he bought the shares – on the day, the actual day, the paperwork specifies that. And he wants the money – I went to see him in Wakefield last month – but I haven’t got it to give to him now. I’m in the process of selling the business, we’re meeting the potential purchaser next week, and if it goes through there’ll be no problem. But until then . . .’

‘And your brother knows this?’

‘No, that’s just it. I thought he’d be in touch. I’ve been waiting for him to ring me and,’ Mark held up his hands, ‘nothing. That’s why we’re so jumpy, Hannah and I. He’s playing games. Nick . . . it’s hard to explain. Sometimes in the past I’ve thought it’s like trying to deal with a wild animal. You can never predict what he’s going to do, and when Hannah rang and said she’d seen him . . . He’d obviously come to the house but we weren’t here so he decided to hang around and wait. He couldn’t have planned it, bumping into her like that, but he must have loved it when he saw how frightened she was.’

‘Mrs Reilly,’ said the woman, ‘what time was it when you saw him? Do you remember?’

‘I’m not sure. No, wait.’ Hannah remembered the clock at the top of the station stairs. ‘I went into town yesterday afternoon – shopping – and when I got back to Parsons Green it was ten past seven. I saw the clock on the platform. It’s a few minutes’ walk from there to the deli, three or four.’

‘So quarter past seven, give or take a minute or two?’

‘Yes.’

‘And tell us exactly what happened.’

‘Almost nothing, that was it. I was coming along the pavement and I saw a man who looked like my husband standing by the flowers. If I’d been thinking straight, I should have known it couldn’t be him – Mark was in a meeting, I’d just had a message to tell me he was going in – but the physical similarity . . . Anyway, I stopped. I think I might have started to say something, I’m not sure, but he turned round. We just looked at each other – neither of us said anything – and then I turned and ran.’

‘And he made no effort to come after you?’

‘Not as far as I know. I didn’t hear anything – no footsteps. I just kept going until I reached the pub – the White Horse at the top of the Green.’

‘Do you have any idea which way he might have headed?’

Hannah shook her head. ‘All I could think about was getting away.’

DS Andrews took a notepad from her jacket pocket, leaned against the mantelpiece and made three quick lines of notes.

‘Mr Reilly,’ said Wells, ‘when was the last time you spoke to Hermione? The last time you got through to her, I mean. Or perhaps you saw her, met up?’

‘No, I haven’t – hadn’t . . .’ Mark swallowed. ‘I hadn’t seen her in person for ages – I don’t even know how long. A couple of years, maybe – definitely before I met my wife.’

‘We met in July last year,’ Hannah said.

‘But I spoke to her last week. She called me at the office. It was Tuesday, I think – yes, it must have been, Tuesday afternoon. I went to America first thing on Wednesday morning.’

The policewoman made a note in her book. ‘And how was she then?’

‘She was . . . anxious. Frightened.’

‘Your brother had made contact with her?’

‘Yes, and his release date was coming up. She was worried – she wanted to talk.’ Mark’s voice shook.

Wells waited a moment. ‘These threats of your brother’s – did she give you any details, discuss what he’d said specifically?’

‘Not really. She said he’d told her he’d find her – he’d track her down, was what he said – and it was payback time.’

‘Right.’ Wells looked at his colleague, who made a final note then returned the pad to her pocket. He took out a card and gave it to Mark. ‘Obviously, Mr Reilly, finding your brother is our top priority. If you hear from him, please get in touch – immediately. We’ll need to speak to you again, I’m sure, but if you remember anything else before you hear from us, ring me on that number. I’m going to arrange for a watch to be kept on the house in case he comes here again. We’ll have a car outside in the next hour. Is there anywhere else you think he might go? Friends, family? Anyone who might give him a bed?’