The Tooth Tattoo(116)

‘So you’re thinking friends or family must have left the asphodels?’

‘Don’t you?’

‘I would,’ Paloma said, ‘except that the Japanese have their own language of the flowers and it doesn’t include the asphodel. This is a peculiarly British thing.’

‘I get it now,’ he said. ‘You’re thinking some Brit must have left them because of what they’re supposed to mean. Harry?’

‘They were not more than a day old when we found them. They could only have been placed there while we were in Vienna ourselves. If it was Harry, he’d have needed to be in Vienna in July.’

‘That’s not impossible,’ Diamond said. ‘We don’t know where he disappeared to after Budapest. I suppose he could have come through Vienna. He’d need to know the symbolism.’

‘He’s a musician,’ she said. ‘An intelligent, sensitive person, one assumes.’

And not a yob like me, he thought, who couldn’t tell an asphodel from an asparagus. ‘Maybe I underestimate these musicians.’

‘It may be a long shot, Peter, but once I started checking it seemed to make sense. Isn’t there something about murderers returning to the scene of the crime?’

‘That’s a myth. Only if they’re taken there in handcuffs to show where they buried the body.’

‘Have you checked whether any flowers have been left by the Avon in memory of the other girl?’

He shook his head. Checking bunches of flowers wasn’t part of the investigation process.

‘Might be worth your while,’ she said.

‘Possibly.’ He didn’t say it with much conviction.

‘Anyway,’ Paloma said with a trace of annoyance, ‘I decided it was my duty to bring it to your attention.’

Her duty? With that short, uncompromising word the gulf between them had grown into Death Valley. He’d kidded himself this was about something more than obligation. ‘Thanks. You’ve obviously done some homework.’

The disappointment must have been written all over his face. He felt himself reddening.

‘I didn’t phrase that very well,’ she added.

‘That’s okay.’

‘It’s strange,’ she said. ‘When I saw you at the concert the other evening I was flabbergasted. I wouldn’t have expected to meet you there in a million years.’

‘There you go.’

‘But now I understand. The link with the Staccati. Peter, I do hope one of them hasn’t killed these women. I can’t believe they’re capable of such dreadful crimes. They’re fabulous musicians. Even you must …’ She clapped her hand to her mouth. ‘Sorry. That’s so patronising.’

‘True, even so,’ he said. The earlier remark had wounded him more. ‘A lot of what we heard was way above my head. I recognised the “Ritual Fire Dance”.’

‘Enjoyed it?’

‘Always have.’

‘Perhaps we should do another concert some time. Quartet music is an acquired taste.’

It sounded like a peace offering, but he couldn’t tamely accept it. Too much had come between them. The real issue hadn’t been faced. Impulsively, he blurted it out. ‘I’d spoil your enjoyment. You’re better off with someone who knows this stuff, like your latest man.’

At her computer in the background Judy the PA continued to gaze at the screen, but her ears must have been flapping.

Paloma frowned. ‘My what?’

‘Your tall friend in the grey suit.’

‘That was Mike.’

‘Yes, you told me.’

‘My brother Miguel. I must have mentioned him before now. He likes to be known as Mike.’ Now it was her turn to blush. ‘Oh my God, you didn’t really think I was seeing someone else. Peter, I know we had our difference of opinion, but I’m not so angry with you that I’m going out with other men.’

The relief surged through him. He was speechless, far more emotional than he expected.

She filled the silence with more explanation. ‘Mike lives in London. He’s a Beethoven fanatic, and I was offered tickets through my connection with Corsham Court, so I thought of him.’

He blinked and his eyes moistened.

Paloma said, ‘Why don’t I walk downstairs with you? Judy can look after the office.’

They left the PA in charge.

‘This hasn’t been a total waste of your time if it’s cleared up that misunderstanding,’ Paloma said as they went down her grand, crimson-carpeted staircase.

‘Far from it,’ he said. ‘Far from it.’

She linked her hand under his arm. ‘I’m glad you came.’