The Tooth Tattoo(80)

‘What’s up?’

‘Don’t look round. Someone you know just came in. Keep talking to me.’

‘Who is it?’

‘Your friend Paloma.’

His voice went up an octave. ‘Paloma? Here?’

‘She’s with someone. I don’t think she’s seen you. They’re on the opposite side, near the fireplace.’

‘Who? Who’s she with?’

‘A guy in an expensive suit. Can’t say I recognise him.’

Diamond’s above-average blood pressure soared to well above average. Who was this dog’s dinner Paloma was partnering? The prospect of her taking up with someone else hadn’t entered his head. He glanced over his shoulder. ‘Which side of the fireplace?’

‘This side. They’re being served drinks. You could look now.’

Paloma was in an outfit he hadn’t seen before, black, with a wispy blue scarf or pashmina. She looked taller. New shoes. Extra high heels. She was laughing at something, clearly enjoying herself.

The dog’s dinner was taller than Diamond – allowing Paloma to wear the high heels without towering over him. He was also slimmer and younger. Certainly had more hair and it was only slightly silver at the sides. In a dove grey three-piece suit, he exuded privilege and class. Even had a pink tie.

Diamond had no idea who he was.

‘Take it easy, guv,’ Ingeborg said.

‘I’m okay,’ he said through clenched teeth.

‘You’re staring.’

He took a deep breath and looked away. ‘When everyone goes in, we’ll hold back and let them find seats. Then we can make sure we’re not too close. I need another drink.’

The champagne was coming round on silver trays. He reached for a glass, downed it fast and took another.

‘You might need to get to a seat earlier than you think,’ Ingeborg told him.

‘She’s had her hair done differently.’

‘I wouldn’t let that bother you, guv.’

Someone in a pinstripe and purple shirt who seemed to be acting as host approached them with another man in tow. ‘Here am I, doing my best to introduce people and I don’t even know your names.’

‘Ingeborg Smith.’

It took a nudge from Ingeborg to get Diamond to speak his name. Mentally he was over by the fireplace.

‘Bathonians both?’ the host man said.

‘Locals, yes,’ Ingeborg said.

‘This is Mr, em …’ The host turned to the other man.

‘Christmas. Doug Christmas, the manager of the quartet, down from London.’ Dark, with longish hair brushed back, he flashed a smile, but more at Ingeborg than Diamond. ‘I do my best to smooth the way for them.’

‘Did you arrange all this, then?’ Ingeborg asked Christmas after the host had moved on to make more introductions. Diamond, still in a state of shock, plainly wasn’t up for polite conversation.

‘Not tonight’s concert. That’s down to the university. They have the use of some offices here, so they have a foot in the door, so to speak. Have you heard the Staccati before, Ingeborg?’

‘Not like this, not live,’ she said. ‘We’re looking forward to it, aren’t we?’ She turned to Diamond. ‘Looking forward to it,’ she repeated as if to a deaf man.

‘Can’t wait,’ he said after a pause.

Ingeborg turned back to Douglas Christmas. ‘Do you go on tour with them when they perform abroad?’

‘Not for the entire tour. Can’t spare the time, more’s the pity,’ he said. ‘I make a point of visiting them at various concerts. Bring them a few treats from home, new shirts, the latest paperbacks, music magazines, a large box of chocs for Cat the cellist. It keeps up their spirits. You can get depressed living in foreign hotels for long periods.’

‘I expect you’re in regular touch with them.’

‘Daily. Hourly, if there’s a crisis.’

‘What can go wrong?’

‘You name it. No one to meet them at the airport. Substandard hotel. Cock-ups over the concert programme. There was even one horrible tour when our violist went missing. A very gifted musician, too. I had to drop everything and take the first flight to Budapest to sort things out.’

‘What happened?’

‘They cancelled the concert. I arrived in a murderous mood, after Harry’s blood, and I still feel bad about that, because the poor fellow stayed missing. No one has seen him or heard anything to this day. It was a massive setback. We muddled through for a time with substitute players, but it wasn’t the same. We’ve only recently got back to some kind of normality.’

Part of Diamond’s brain had been taking in what was said. He dragged his attention back to this side of the room and turned to Christmas. ‘Was he scared of you?’