The Half Truth(25)

‘It all happened so fast,’ said Tina. ‘I was thinking about Dimitri. I was terrified he would come down and I didn’t know what the man would do to him.’ She shivered. The shock was hitting her now. Time to end the questions.

John made Tina another drink and sat with her until she seemed calmer. The tears had stopped, as had the shivering.

‘I think it would be a good idea if I stayed here the night,’ said John. ‘If that’s okay with you.’

‘Okay? Of course it is,’ said Tina. ‘In fact, I was hoping you would say that. I would be a lot happier knowing you were in the house rather than across the road.’

John looked at his watch. It was the early hours of the morning. He probably wouldn’t sleep now. Not after what had gone on. He didn’t think the intruder would be back tonight, but John wanted to be on the safe side.

‘You go up to bed and I’ll see you in the morning,’ he said. He walked her to the bottom of the stairs. Her hand rested on the newel post and he covered it with his own. ‘If you need me, just shout. I’m only down here.’

She turned her hand so their palms were touching and curled her fingers around his, squeezing it. John returned the gesture.

‘Thank you,’ she said. Her voice was soft. Her eyes full of gratitude and trust. ‘I feel a lot safer knowing you’re here.’

The night passed without any more activities. John dozed on and off on the sofa, assured that Pavel, if indeed that’s who the intruder had been, wasn’t coming back. As the morning sun broke, John went out into the back garden and phoned through to Martin to give him an update.

‘It’s safe to rule out Tina being involved in any of it, then,’ said Martin.

‘She was properly spooked last night,’ said John. He turned to look back at the house. ‘If she was acting, then she’s missed her vocation.’

‘And you think it was Pavel? No one else?’

‘Put it this way, it wasn’t anyone who particularly cared about her.’ The blind went up at the kitchen window. Tina gave him a smile and, holding up a mug, pointed to it. John gave her the thumbs-up. As he did so, he became aware of the breadth of his smile. Unnecessarily wide. ‘Anything from Baz Fisher?’ he said to Martin. He noted the pause before his partner answered.

‘We haven’t been able to find Baz. No one’s seen him for two days.’

John understood the significance of this information. ‘You think he’s hiding?’

‘Could be one of two options.’

John swore under his breath. ‘Keep looking.’

He ended the call. Baz Fisher unobtainable. This was not a good sign.





Chapter 13


‘Morning,’ said Tina. She sounded brighter although the heavy eyelids were traitor to her demeanour.

‘Hey. How are you?’ said John, taking the cup she held out to him.

‘I’ve had better nights. What about you? Did you get any sleep?’

‘Enough. How’s Dimitri?’

‘Still sleeping. He was okay, though. I don’t think he realised anything happened last night. He just thinks he had a nightmare.’

They sat at the table. John sensed she wanted to say something but was choosing her words. He sipped at his tea, giving her time.

‘Do you think Sasha was mixed up with the stuff Pavel was into?’ Her voice had a sad edge to it and she kept her eyes firmly fixed on her cup.

‘It’s possible,’ he said quietly.

‘But you must have an idea. You must have considered this before. If you think his brother is, then it stands to reason that Sasha might be as well and you would have investigated it or it was on the agenda. I mean, I’m no detective, but even I’ve thought of that.’ This time she did meet his eyes. There was that quiet strength in there he hadn’t seen before.

He nodded to soften the blow of the words that followed. ‘Yes, it’s been considered.’

‘And?’

‘And … we never found anything to arrest him for.’

It was her turn to nod this time. ‘But you looked.’ She took a sip of her drink. ‘How long will you be about? What if Pavel doesn’t turn up?’

‘It’s indefinite, but subject to change at any time. We may get new information in that sends the investigation off in a totally different direction, a different location. It’s really a fluid thing. Nothing is set in stone.’

‘And I suppose it’s all about funding and making the best of police resources.’

‘Sadly, yes, funding and overtime do come into it.’

‘What does your wife or girlfriend think to you being out all night? Does she mind?’