May tried another tack. ‘Why did you steal papers from Edgar Lang’s office?’
‘I didn’t steal them. They were important documents.’
‘You didn’t steal them? Then how do you know they were important?’
A cloud of doubt crossed Sabira’s features. ‘I’m – I get confused. They were taxi receipts.’
‘I don’t think you’re telling us the whole truth,’ said May.
‘It is true. I saw them for myself. I am the victim. You cannot make this sound as if it is my fault!’
‘What do you mean, your fault?’
‘The press says I am trying to damage my husband’s reputation, but they don’t know what he’s like.’
‘Has he ever hurt you, threatened you, subjected you to mental cruelty?’ May asked.
‘No, of course not. He has always been wonderful to me, but don’t you see, that is all part of the trick.’
Bryant could tell that his partner was losing patience, and made a rare attempt to be the voice of reason. ‘Sabira, we know there’s no truth in the rumour that you were having an affair with your photographer. But I think you spoke to him. He knows a little of your language. I’d like to know what you talked about.’
She looked away, watching a crow hopping about on the lawn. ‘I asked him if he had ever had to photograph a dead body. I asked him to do something for me. Something it was impossible for me to do.’
‘And what was that?’
‘I asked him to explain what was in the English heart. He didn’t know the answer, and that is why I must die.’
‘If it wasn’t for the fact that the man in charge of our future personally requested the investigation, I’d have walked away from this by now,’ said May when they reached Hampstead Tube station. ‘I told you what I thought of her at the outset. She’s one of those women.’
‘One of what women?’
‘You know, the ones who always need an audience, an attention-seeker.’
‘She’s overwrought and imaginative, I agree. But what if she really is being victimized?’
‘Over what, Arthur? We haven’t had one word from her that’s made a lick of sense.’
‘That’s because she’s frightened. I think she honestly believes someone is going to try and harm her. And we know someone’s been watching her. Renfield talked to the neighbours in Smith Square. A couple of dog-walkers remember seeing someone standing on the grass at night, but they didn’t get a good look at him. She’s safer where she is, but I don’t want her leaving the place and wandering about. I’ll have a word with the nurse.’
‘If she’s that scared, why won’t she tell us anything that will help catch him?’
‘Because she doesn’t trust us. She thinks we’re part of the problem, and for all I know she may be right.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘If Sabira’s life is being threatened, it can only be by someone she knows through her husband. She has no friends of her own here except this Albanian woman Waters saw her with. We should try and talk to her.’
‘If she can’t tell us what’s wrong I don’t see how anyone else will be able to help.’
‘That’s the trouble. We answer to the same people Sabira hates. It’s a closed circle. I think Jeff Waters was given information that holds the key to her behaviour. If she won’t tell us, we have to get the truth from him.’
‘What makes you think he has any inkling of what she’s talking about?’
‘He lied to us, didn’t he?’ said Bryant.
13
IN CORAM’S FIELDS
THE MOTORCYCLE RIDER had been following the photographer all day. Now he watched as Waters slipped between the tables outside Carluccio’s, and wondered what the hell he was doing. He seemed to be searching for someone, but it was hard to tell from here. The enclosed concrete rectangle of Brunswick Square was crowded with shoppers and diners enjoying the sunny afternoon.
He saw Waters clearly for a moment, and spotted the object of his search: the small girl in a yellow T-shirt and jeans. He only glanced away briefly, but when he looked back the pair had disappeared.
Pushing his way through the pedestrians, he headed into the walkway beside the Renoir Cinema. It was the only exit on the east side. Waters was a hundred yards ahead, hurrying down the street with the girl in his arms, and looking as guilty as hell. The rider followed at a safe distance, trying to see where they were going, then realized they were heading for Coram’s Fields. Waters would be able to enter, but he would be turned away.
Smart idea, he thought, but it’s not going to keep you alive.