Dead Man's Time

him a Marlboro Light, but he shook his head. She lit one, lowered her window, and exhaled. ‘He’s a bastard, if you want the truth, Detective –
Superintendent?’
    He nodded. ‘Is that why you’re having an affair with Gareth Dupont?’
    ‘We met at a salsa-dancing class. He was kind to me, fun to be with.’ She shrugged. ‘It’s been a long time since a man was kind to me.’
    Grace remembered the trophy in her cabinet. ‘He was your dance partner?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Can I ask how long you’ve been seeing him?’
    ‘About three months.’ She looked pensive again. ‘Early June, when he turned up at the class.’
    ‘Did he ever talk to you about your husband’s aunt, Aileen McWhirter?’
    She dragged deeply on the cigarette and flicked some ash out of the window. ‘Nothing specific that I can remember. I – ’ Then she frowned. ‘Actually, yes, now you mention
it. I do remember one day, we were talking, and I mentioned that my husband’s father was Gavin Daly. Gareth got quite excited about that. Said he was one of the biggest antiques dealers in
the country. Gareth had told me he had a passion for antiques. I think, actually, he is quite knowledgeable.’
    ‘Did he ever mention watches to you?’
    ‘Watches?’
    ‘Well, one in particular – a Patek Philippe?’
    She shook her head and dragged on the cigarette again. ‘No.’
    ‘Are you sure?’ Grace watched her face carefully.
    ‘I’m sure. A Patek Philippe watch? They’re rather special, aren’t they? How does their advertising slogan go? Something like,
You never actually own a Patek Philippe
watch. You just look after it for the next generation
.’
    Grace smiled. ‘He never mentioned a Patek Philippe watch to you?’
    She shook her head very definitely. ‘No.’ Then she held up her left wrist. ‘I would have taken note. I love watches.’
    ‘That’s a very elegant one. I don’t know much about them, I’m afraid.’
    ‘It’s a Cartier,’ she said. ‘A Cartier Tank watch.’
    ‘I’ve heard of Cartier,’ he said. ‘Very nice.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    He had been thinking, for some time, about getting Cleo a present. Something to make her smile, to lift her spirits with the hard time she was having with Noah. Maybe a nice watch? A Cartier
Tank watch? ‘If you don’t mind me asking, what kind of money would a watch like that cost?’
    She hesitated. He watched her eyes. ‘Around three thousand pounds, I think.’
    She was lying and he wondered why. Probably a gift from her husband, he concluded, and she had guessed the value.
    ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to make you late. Thank you.’
    He climbed out of the Mercedes and walked back to his car. Guy Batchelor was looking at him quizzically.
    Grace shook his head. ‘Sounds like they met at a salsa class.’
    ‘Innocent?’
    ‘Innocent, or else she’s a world-class liar.’
    ‘What are your instincts?’
    ‘She was targeted by Dupont. No question.’

76
    His mobile phone rang. All that came up on the display was INTERNATIONAL .
    He answered. ‘Yeah?’
    ‘Listen carefully – don’t worry, I’m on a secure phone. You should get one too.’
    ‘I have. I’m on it’
    ‘It’s the same number I’ve had for weeks.’
    ‘You’re the only person who has it.’
    ‘I want you to change it for the next time we speak.’
    ‘Next time we speak I won’t need it. We’ll be in the same room and I’ll have my hands around your fat neck.’
    ‘Temper, temper! Listen to me very carefully, we have a big problem. Gareth Dupont’s been charged. He’s been out on licence and now he’s on remand in Lewes
Prison.’
    ‘Tell me something I don’t know.’
    ‘Do you understand what it means for him if he’s convicted? The rest of his life in prison? I’m worried what the little shit might do to save his skin. He’ll shop
Smallbone. Smallbone’s the weak link.’
    ‘Where the fuck are you?’
    ‘That doesn’t matter. What matters is that you silence Smallbone. Permanently. Get my drift?’
    ‘I want my part of the deal.’
    ‘You’ll get it when I hear Smallbone’s dead.’
    ‘You expect me to trust you? After the way you’ve behaved?’
    ‘I have low expectations; that’s a life lesson you should learn, if you want to be content. Toodle-pip!’
    There was a click, then silence.
    He stared at his phone in fury. But, he realized, the fat bastard was right about one thing. Amis Smallbone.

77
    Gavin Daly awoke with a start, confused about