The Magus of Hay(146)
‘Where? Where did you go?’
‘Several places. Along the Cat’s Back and down to Craswall. Over the Bluff and up to Capel. Down to Llanthony once.’
‘When did this start?’
‘About a year ago.’
‘You’re not lying to me, are you, George?’
‘Why would I lie?’
‘Because little Tamsin’s dead and there’s nobody left to disprove it?’
Just as no one could disprove it if he’d said he’d never met Tamsin Winterson in his life. Which would have been the sensible line to take.
‘You ever meet off the hills?’
‘Yes.’
‘On a social basis?’
‘Yes.’ Turrell took a long breath, looking into the corner beyond Bliss, where a pair of wellingtons stood. ‘And, later, more than that.’
Mother of God. Bliss saw Vaynor blink.
‘Did Gwenda know about this?’
No answer. Bliss rewound Gwyn Arthur in his head.
… recreational running… not in an ostentatious way… turning out before dawn… marathons he never seems to win… Nothing to draw attention.
Tamsin: no boyfriend her family knew about. Dedicated to her job. Staying fit for the Job. Little Tamsin.
‘George, are you telling me you were Tamsin’s boyfriend?’
Gore shrugged.
‘Why didn’t you come forward this morning when we were appealing for anyone who knew her or had seen her in recent days to contact us?’
No reply.
‘George… Gore… I want you to think very carefully before you answer this question. Have you ever been to Peter Rector’s house, Bryn-y-Castell, at Cusop?’
‘No.’
‘You’re sure about that?’
‘Of course I’m sure.’
Mother of God, so many questions, so little time. Going well and yet going badly. What had Gwyn Jones got wrong?
‘Did Tamsin know who your father was?’
‘Hardly likely.’
‘Why?’
‘As even I don’t know who my father was. Only who I was told my father was.’
‘People don’t seem to know much about your personal history. Where were you before you came to Hay? Do you want to say something about that?’
‘Only that I fail to see what it has to do with a short fracas in an alleyway.’
A tapping on the door. Bliss ignored it.
‘But you know who your mother is, don’t you?’
Silence.
‘Gore, you’ve been very cooperative. But I’ve been noticing that this is a particular subject you seem reluctant to discuss. Are you refusing to answer questions relating to your mother?’
‘Yes,’ Gore said. ‘I’m afraid I am.’
‘Tamsin’s death, Gore. Let’s talk about that. Did you kill Tamsin?’
‘No.’
‘When did you find out she was dead?’
‘No comment. Isn’t that what they say?’
‘Did you make a phone call earlier tonight to tell the police where to find her body?’
‘No comment.’
‘Do you know who killed Tamsin?’
‘No comment.’
‘Are you angry that she’s dead?’
‘Yes.’
‘Gore, out of interest did Tamsin know about your political views?’
‘I don’t particularly have any political views. My… apparent grandfather had political views.’
‘What about your friend Seymour Loftus?’
‘He’s not exactly a friend.’
Bugger. He wasn’t even denying he knew Loftus.
‘He’s a member of the Green Party,’ Gore said. ‘He stands up for the preservation of the British countryside. Against overcrowding, wholesale building and subsequent sharp increases in the crime rate. You mean you don’t?’
God, it was a fine line, wasn’t it?
‘And he follows old religious practices linked to the land,’ Gore added. ‘Similar to the ones adopted by Robin Thorogood and exalted by his shop. You have a problem with that, too?’
‘DI Bliss.’ Iain Brent’s voice from the other side of the door. ‘I’d like a word. Now.’
The door shook. Darth Vaynor held it shut with his chair, but he looked very uncomfortable.
‘What are you doing here?’
Brent had him in a corner. Actually had him in a corner.
‘Talking to a suspect, Iain. It’s one of me functions.’
Brent went through all that about him being the SIO, how everything had to go through him. Everything. Bliss asking him, amiably enough, if this extended to a simple assault where he and Vaynor had just happened to be on the spot
‘And I had no reason to think you were even here,’ Bliss said. ‘Seeing you seem to have alerted everyone to the discovery of Tamsin’s body except me.’