‘You want to keep this casual, I imagine?’
‘Meaning what?’
‘You’re not on duty, are you? Obviously got your girlfriend in the car.’
Bliss said nothing.
‘I promise you, you’ll get far more out of me if I don’t have to watch what I’m saying.’
‘You’re very savvy, Ms Cornwell.’
‘I haven’t done anything wrong, and I’ve never met PC Winterson. I’m merely trying to help you in the best way I can, Francis.’
‘You haven’t spoken to her on the phone?’
‘No.’
‘Or been aware of her trying to contact you?’
‘No.’
‘Or anyone from the police, in the context of Mr Rector.’
‘No.’
‘Ms Cornwell…’
‘Call me Claudia, we’re not in court.’
‘Claudia, I’m here because Tamsin Winterson’s missing. She wasn’t on duty, and there might be quite an innocent explanation for this, but…’
‘But as she’s a serving police officer you’re obviously concerned. So what are you asking?’
‘I’m asking myself – and now you – if the absence of Tamsin Winterson could be in any way connected with the as-yet-unexplained death of Peter Rector. Of course, if Tamsin turns up at first light and says her car broke down miles from the nearest mobile signal, you may never hear from me again.’
‘Yes, but, Francis…’ A helpless smile ‘… why am I even being associated with the possible disappearance of your officer? I’m very sorry to hear about it, and I hope you find her safe and well, and yes, I did know Peter Rector, but—’
‘Thing is, Claudia, you’ve been seen twice in the vicinity of Mr Rector’s home. PC Winterson had been told you were there today and she was on her way to ask you a few questions. On the basis that it’s possible you were the last person to see Mr Rector alive.’
‘When was this?’
‘When you appeared to be delivering certain… provisions?’
Claudia Cornwell sat back, cradling her whisky glass and then shaking her head wearily.
‘All right. Yes. That might, indeed, have been me. If I’d been to London, I’d bring Peter occasional treats from Fortnum and Mason. Items not so easy to obtain in this part of Wales. Or possibly any part of Wales. Or… his part of England. I was very fond of him.’
‘When you say treats… would they perhaps include items not available from Fortnum and Mason?’
‘You mean cannabis?’
That was bloody quick.
She said, ‘He wasn’t an habitual user, and it was entirely for personal use. It played a very occasional role in his work.’
‘With respect, Claudia, that’s what they all say.’
She met his gaze.
‘Oh, I don’t think they do.’
Bugger. You didn’t just say things fatuously, for effect, to a barrister.
‘You could well be right,’ Bliss said. ‘I’m not exactly an expert on his other activities. Not yet, anyway. How long have you known him?’
‘Years and years. I was brought up not far from here, and he was a friend of my parents.’
‘You don’t sound local.’
‘Went away to various schools and then Oxford. I can sound alarmingly local when I want to.’
‘Why were you standing on the castle mound at Cusop late this afternoon?’
‘It’s… Look, it’s somewhere we used to walk, Peter and I. I obviously couldn’t get into his house, so it’s where I went to say goodbye. I’ve what looks like a longish case coming off towards the latter part of next week, so may not be able to attend his funeral.’
Bliss nodded. He wondered what form her goodbye had taken.
‘Actually, I didn’t stay long,’ she said. ‘To be quite honest, it didn’t feel comfortable.’
‘In what way?’
Claudia sat up, easing her jacket off.
‘Do you really want to go into all this?’
She tossed the jacket on to the sofa between Bliss and the teddy. She was wearing a white silk shirt, two or three buttons undone, revealing a pendant, a gold disc with some kind of symbol on it. Might be something like a St Christopher medal. Or might not.
Bliss looked at his watch. He had half an hour before Annie might start getting restive.
‘You know what, Claudia?’ he said. ‘I think I need to.’
32
Plea of insanity
BLISS CALLED Robert Winterson from Annie’s car, parked on a double-yellow in the centre of Talgarth.
‘The police are here,’ Winterson said. ‘We’re going over it all again. Nothing you got to tell me?’