The Hallmarked Man полностью

‘But it’s kind of a huge coincidence that a body turns up in Ramsay Silver that exactly matches Rupe, who had a big bit of silver to sell, isn’t it?’ said Decima, her voice now rising in pitch. ‘And that Rupe had a drug dealer after him, who’d made threats to literally kill him?’

She’d said this already, of course, both in person and by email. Strike might have responded that the body no more exactly fitted Rupert Fleetwood than any of the other men whose pictures were pinned up on the corkboard in the office. He might even have pointed out that there had to be thousands of people up and down the country who had bits of silver they’d like to turn into ready cash, but that he saw no reason to suppose any of them had died in the silver vault, either. While he was trying to formulate a diplomatic response, Decima said,

‘And I wanted to say something else. I don’t believe Rupert went to Sacha Legard’s birthday party. Sacha’s either lying, or he’s made a mistake.’

‘I don’t think he can have made a mistake,’ said Strike. ‘There were a lot of witnesses. It’d be a very stupid lie to tell.’

‘But Rupe would never have gone there!’

‘Why d’you say that?’

‘Because a week before that party, Sacha was at Dino’s with some friends, and they were all talking about the party, and when Sacha looked up and realised it was Rupe serving him cocktails he looked really embarrassed, because he hadn’t told Rupe about it or given him an invitation or anything. But Rupe said to me he’d rather be dead in a ditch all night than go along to Claridge’s with Sacha and his friends. And the party was on the twenty-first, which was bang in the middle of the weekend Rupe and Zac were moving out of their house, so why on earth would Rupe have wanted to go to a party where he wasn’t wanted, when he was busy packing up and organising everything? And you said he went there to talk to Val – Val’s the last person he’d have wanted to see, after the business with the nef, and with Val being so foul about us being together!’

‘I thought it an odd thing for Rupert to do, myself,’ said Strike. ‘Apparently he spoke to your sister Cosima, as well as your broth—’

‘Cosima’s my half-sister,’ said Decima. Patches of red had appeared in her pale cheeks now, ‘and Rupe hated her, so that makes no sense, either!’

‘Why did he hate—?’

‘Because she’s entitled and spoiled. My father adores her and gives her everything she w—’

The waiter reappeared to take their food orders. Both Strike and Robin chose pasta at random.

When the waiter had disappeared, Strike said,

‘I’ve got a few new questions for you, Decima, if you wouldn’t mind.’

Now looking as though she suspected a trap, Decima said,

‘Go on.’

‘Did Rupert ever mention a man by the name of Calvin Osgood, or Oz?’

‘No. Why?’

‘There’s a possibility Oz was involved in the murder.’

‘He might have been one of Dredge’s friends!’ said Decima at once.

‘Possibly,’ said Strike, who wanted to stave off tears, if at all possible. ‘What about a girl called Sofia Medina?’

‘No,’ said Decima again, but now she looked worried. ‘Why?’

‘She might have been involved, too,’ said Strike.

‘No, I never heard him mention anyone called Sofia.’

‘OK, moving on: would you happen to have a phone number for Tish Benton? Her parents in Hampshire seem to be away and I can’t find a current address for her.’

‘Why d’you want to talk to Tish? She won’t know anything.’

‘Lorimer told me she’d become something of a confidant to Rupert before the household split up.’

‘I don’t think that’s true,’ said Decima at once.

‘Well, that’s what Lorimer said.’

‘No, I haven’t got Tish’s number… she and Zac got on Rupe’s nerves, bickering all the time when they were sharing the house. I don’t think she was ever close to Rupe,’ Decima added, with a tinge of fear that made Robin’s heart clench in pity.

‘What line of work is Tish in, do you know?’ asked Strike.

‘Marketing – she worked for some firm that makes handbags. I can’t remember which one.’

‘OK,’ said Strike, making a note. ‘Still on Lorimer: he suggested Rupert might have gone back to Switzerland to be a ski instructor.’

‘Rupe would never have gone to be a ski instructor – for God’s sake,’ said Decima, her voice suddenly raw. ‘Never! He didn’t want to learn to ski in the first place, but they made him, at his bloody school. He hated it. Who wouldn’t, after their parents died that way? Zac was supposed to be his friend, you’d think he’d realise that’s the last thing Rupe would have wanted to do!’

‘I thought it was unlikely myself,’ said Strike. ‘Now, this next question might seem strange, but Zacharias mentioned Rupert having a “lucky T-shirt”.’

‘Oh – yes, he did,’ said Decima, and for a split second, their client almost smiled, but then her face fell. ‘They found it in Wright’s room?’

‘No,’ said Strike, ‘but can you tell us about it?’

‘Why?’

‘Lorimer says Rupert tore it up before he disappeared.’

‘What?’ said Decima weakly. ‘No, he… he’d never have done that.’

‘Why not?’