‘But I’m on it,’ said Strike. ‘Honbold’s been very helpful. He put me in touch with a lawyer who’s going to fire off some letters. I checked again this morning and Wikipedia’s already flagged both pages as unreliable. Just as well, because the UHC keeps adding more. Did you see the bit that went live last night, saying we team up with grifters and fantasists who’re after pay-offs?’
‘No,’ said Robin. This had evidently been added after Murphy arrived at her flat.
‘There are links to a couple of websites listing all the scumbags who’re helping to attack noble charitable enterprises. Kevin Pirbright, the Graves family, Sheila Kennett and all three Doherty siblings are listed. They say the Graves family neglected and mistreated Alexander, Sheila bullied her husband and that the Dohertys are drunks and layabouts. They also say Kevin Pirbright sexually abused his sisters.’
‘Why would they attack Kevin, now?’
‘Must be worried we talked to him before he died. They haven’t bothered smearing Jordan Reaney; s’pose he’s done a good enough job himself, and they haven’t gone after Abigail Glover, either. Presumably Wace would rather not draw the press’s attention to the fact his own daughter ran away from the church at sixteen – but the odds of press interest in all these ex-members just got a lot higher, so I thought I’d better call and warn them.’
‘How did they take it?’
‘Sheila was upset and I think Niamh’s regretting talking to us now.’
‘Oh, no,’ said Robin sadly.
‘She’s worried about the effect on her brother and sister. Colonel Graves told me he wanted to “let the damned UHC have it with both barrels”, but I told him retaliating through the press will just draw more attention to the online bullshit and that I’m on it, legally. He’s pleased we’re about to interview Cherie-slash-Carrie. And I don’t know how Abigail’s feeling, because she didn’t pick up.’
Strike’s mobile now rang. Pulling it out of his pocket, he saw an unknown number.
‘Hello?’
‘Nicholas Delaunay here,’ said a cool, upper-class voice.
‘Hi,’ said Strike, switching to speakerphone and mouthing ‘Graves’ son-in-law’ at Robin. ‘Apologies for the noise, we’re—’
‘On your way to interview Cherie Gittins,’ said Delaunay. ‘Yes. M’father-in-law told me. Evidently you didn’t listen to a damn word my wife said, at the Hall.’
‘I listened to all your wife’s words.’
‘But you’re still determined to wreak havoc?’
‘No, just determined to do my job.’
‘And bugger the consequences, is that it?’
‘As I can’t predict the consequences—’
‘The consequences, which were
‘Do your children regularly Google my agency, or the UHC?’
‘You’ve already
‘It’s a possibility, not a likelihood.’
‘Every moment those defamatory bloody lies are up, there’s a risk journalists will see them!’
‘Mr Delaunay—’
‘Ah, my apologies, Lieutenant-Colonel, but your parents-in-law—’
‘I’m surprised I have to say this to a man of your rank, but you don’t actually feature in this chain of command, Lieutenant-Colonel.’
‘I’m involved, my family’s involved, and I have a right—’
‘I answer to my client, and my client wants the truth.’
‘Whose truth?
‘Is there more than one?’ said Strike. ‘Better update my library of philosophy.’
‘You jumped-up bloody monkey,’ shouted Delaunay, and he hung up. Grinning, Strike returned his phone to his pocket.
‘Why did he call you a monkey?’ said Robin, laughing.
‘Slang for military police,’ said Strike. ‘Still better than what we called the navy.’
‘What was that?’
‘Cunts,’ said Strike.
He glanced into the back seat and saw a carrier bag.
‘No biscuits,’ said Robin, ‘because you said you’re still dieting.’
Strike sighed as he hoisted the bag into the front to take out the flask of coffee.
‘Is Delaunay really this angry just because of his children?’ asked Robin.
‘No idea. Maybe. Can’t see why he and his wife haven’t just told them what happened. Lies like that always come back to bite you on the arse.’
They drove on in silence for a couple of minutes, until Robin said,
‘Have you talked to Midge yet, about going undercover in Zhou’s clinic?’
‘No,’ said Strike, who was now pouring himself coffee. ‘I wanted to discuss that with you, in the light of this Wikipedia stuff. I think we’ve got to assume the church will be trying to identify all our operatives, and have you looked at Zhou’s clinic’s website? Seen how much even a three-day stay costs?’
‘Yes,’ said Robin.
‘Well, even if they haven’t yet identified Midge as one of ours, I’m not sure she’d blend in that well. She doesn’t come across as the kind of woman who’s prepared to waste money on crackpot treatments.’
‘Which particular treatments are you calling crackpot?’
