“Let’s see what your beekeeper friend has to say, shall we?” Killian said.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Taylor handed Alice Green a mug of hot tea from the station canteen. “How are you feeling?”

“Numb.” Alice gripped the mug with both hands. “Stanley was a piece of work but he didn’t deserve this. Are you sure it was him?”

“Almost positive.”

“Would it be possible for me to see him?’

“I don’t think that would be a good idea. He’s been dead for almost a week. I’d rather you didn’t see him like that.”

“What on earth happened? They’re saying it was a shark attack. What was Stanley doing in the sea in the first place?”

“We don’t know that yet.”

“I know this is difficult,” Killian joined in, “but can you think of anyone who may have wanted to hurt your husband?”

“Plenty,” Alice said, without pausing to think. “Stanley trod on a lot of toes over the years.”

“Enough to make someone want to kill him?”

“I don’t know. It still hasn’t sunk in. First Milly and now Stanley.”

“And Dennis Albarn,” Killian reminded her. “All three of them were at your wedding forty years ago.”

“I hadn’t thought about it like that.” Alice looked pensive.

“The phone call you received on Wednesday night,” Killian said, “you said it was Stanley. Are you sure?”

“It sounded a bit like him. I haven’t heard from him in a long time, though. And the line was bad and I have to admit I’d had a few glasses of port. I was ready for bed, I think.”

“What exactly did he say?”

“He said he wanted to talk. Suggested we meet up.”

“Where did he want to meet?” Taylor said.

“In Trotterdown. He said that there were too many prying eyes in Polgarrow.”

“But you said no?”

“Yes, I told him to bugger off. After all these years. I thought he had a nerve.”

“It’s good you said no,” Killian said. “I’m afraid the man who phoned you wasn’t your husband. It looks like it was some kind of trap to get you away. Stanley was already dead by then.”

“Did he phone you on your mobile?” Taylor asked.

Alice nodded.

“Then the number will still be on the phone.”

“I’m afraid I deleted it. I was so angry I wanted to remove all traces of him. How dare he come back after all this time and think he could just start where he left off? I’m sorry, I suppose I shouldn’t have done that.”

“It’s all right,” Taylor told her. “I probably would’ve done the same thing.”

“Who do you think it was?”

“We don’t know,” said Killian, “and I don’t want you to worry but I don’t think you should be by yourself for the next few days. Not until we get to the bottom of all of this, I mean.”

“Do you think somebody might want to hurt me?”

“We don’t know,” Killian said, “but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

“You can stay with me,” Taylor offered. Killian sent her a puzzled look. “Just for a few days. I’ve got plenty of space, so you’d have your own room.”

“I don’t want to be a burden.”

“You won’t be.”

“Ok,” Killian said, “that’s settled, then — but I must emphasise that nobody must know about this.” He looked at Alice. “If anybody asks, you’re spending a few days with a friend.”

“Which is the truth, isn’t it, dear?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Alice closed the door and went straight through to the kitchen. DC Taylor had dropped her off to fetch what she needed. The jackdaw pecked at its cage door, meaning he was hungry. Alice emptied a full tin of dog food into the cage. The jackdaw glared at her.

“I have to go away for a few days,” Alice told him sternly, “for appearances’ sake. It’s up to you what you do with the food. You can gobble it all up in one go or you can ration it. I’ll have Eddie come in and feed you tomorrow. Eddie’s all right.” The jackdaw started to gobble up his food. “. . . for a man,” Alice added.

She packed a few items into a small suitcase, remembering to take some honey with her as a present. She’d run out of port. She hoped that Harriet Taylor had a drop of something at her house. She’s a police woman, she thought, she’s bound to have something to drink. The police were all alcoholics.

She went into the garden to check on the bees. They seemed lethargic today. The sun was out and the mid-morning temperature was already in the twenties. She wondered if Eddie would also keep an eye on them for her. She was about to go back inside when she caught a glimpse of the uneven mound of earth underneath the hollyhock bushes.

That’s where it all started, she thought, almost a week ago.

But how did it come to this?Status quo, Alice thought, there’s nothing more important than the status quo, especially in the autumn of one’s life. Normality and routine above everything else. Whatever it takes.

She smiled at the thought and went next door to the Sedgwicks’ house.

Eddie was in the conservatory reading a biography of somebody she had never heard of — some man who had survived the war and had sold up everything and sailed around the world.

He looked up and took off his glasses. “Morning, Alice. They reckon it’s going to hit thirty degrees today. How are you feeling? I’m so sorry about Stanley. I read about it in the newspaper.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Alice said, “I’m not. Stanley left me years ago. I won’t even miss him. That’s what I want to talk to you about. I’m going away for a few days. I have an old friend in Bristol I’ve been promising to visit and now seems like as good a time as any, what with everything that’s been going on. Would you be able to feed the jackdaw for me? You’ll be doing me a huge favour.”

“Of course. It’ll do you good to get away from here for a few days. I’m thinking of getting away for longer than that. The bloke in the book I’m reading was fifty-nine when he sold up and set sail. It’s not too late to do anything.”

“You’re planning to get on a boat and sail around the world? What about Barbara?”

“We can all dream. I don’t want to lie on my deathbed regretting what I haven’t done in my life.”

“Me neither.” Alice handed him the spare keys to her house. “The jackdaw gets a quarter of a tin of dog food twice a day. It’s on the shelf next to his cage. I fed him this morning so he should be all right until tomorrow.”

“Take all the time you need. I know Stanley wasn’t around much but he was still your husband. And a shark, of all things. I’ll say one thing for Stanley - he didn’t do things by halves. Have a nice trip.”

“Thanks, Eddie. I’d better be off. It’s a long drive to Bristol.”

She didn’t mention the bees.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Harriet Taylor sat alone in her office. She had just come back from getting Alice settled in at her house. Alice had put on a brave face, but Taylor could tell she was suffering inside. Something was gnawing away at her. It had been almost a week since the hiker had found Milly Lancaster’s car at the bottom of Merryhead. Milly’s body had still not been found and it was highly unlikely that it ever would be. Just another body lost to the sea.

DI Killian had called a special meeting for midday. Maybe he’s come up with something, Taylor thought, trying to stay positive. Maybe he’s figured something out. She knew it was wishful thinking — if Killian had something he would have told her already.

There was still half an hour before the meeting so she turned on her computer and checked her emails. The law firm representing Danny’s estate wanted her to get back to them. Taylor ignored the reminder and opened up the second email. It was from Dr Finch, attaching the full autopsy report for Stanley Green. He’d added ‘I’m still up for that drink if you’re interested.’ She smiled. Maybe I should go for a drink with Dr Finch. Maybe I should take a chance for once. What harm can it do?