Strike had been waiting in Prudence’s sitting room for nearly three hours. Shortly after Prudence, Robin and Will had disappeared into the consulting room, he’d heard raised voices from behind the closed door, but since then there’d been no indication of what was happening in the meeting from which he’d been excluded. Prudence’s husband seemed to be out for the evening. Both teenage children had made brief appearances, en route to the kitchen where they’d got themselves snacks, and Strike had wondered, while listening to them opening and closing the fridge, how odd they found the sudden presence of this hulking new uncle on the family tree and thought it possible they hadn’t thought much about it. Happy families, he thought, didn’t seem to brood on the significance and power of blood ties; it was only voluntarily fatherless mongrels like him who found it strange to see a faint trace of himself in people who were almost strangers.
In any case, whatever his half-niece and nephew’s feelings about him, neither had offered Strike anything to eat. He didn’t take it personally; as far as he could remember, offering food to adults he barely knew wouldn’t have figured high on his list of priorities at their age, either. Half an hour previously, he’d sneaked into the kitchen and, not wanting to be accused of taking liberties, helped himself to a few biscuits. Now, still extremely hungry, he was thinking of suggesting to Robin that they stop off at a drive-in McDonald’s on the way back to Pat’s when his mobile buzzed. Happy to have something to do, Strike reached for it and saw Midge’s number.
Tash just texted me. She hasn’t found the note. The robe was taken away before she got back to the massage place. Nobody’s asked her about tapping on the window. What do you want her to do?
Strike texted back:
Nothing. Police now know Lin’s being held against her will there. Just cover the exit, in case they move her.
He’d barely finished typing when the door of Prudence’s consulting room opened. His sister left the room first. Then came Will, who looked slightly shell-shocked.
‘Is it all right,’ he muttered to Prudence, ‘if I use your bathroom?’
‘Of course,’ said Prudence. ‘Down the hall, second left.’
Will disappeared. Now a large, curly haired woman dressed all in black emerged from the room, followed by Robin. Prudence had gone to open the front door, but Flora turned to Robin and said shyly,
‘Can I hug you?’
‘Of course,’ said Robin, opening her arms.
Strike watched the two women embrace. Robin muttered something in Flora’s ear, and the latter nodded, before casting a nervous look in Strike’s direction and moving out of sight.
Robin immediately entered the sitting room and said, in a rapid whisper,
‘Loads –
Will entered the sitting room, still looking vaguely disorientated.
‘All right?’ said Strike.
‘Yeah,’ said Will.
They heard the front door close. Prudence now entered the room.
‘Sorry that went on so long,’ she said to Strike. ‘Did Sylvie or Gerry get you something to eat?’
‘Er – no, but it’s fine,’ said Strike.
‘Then let me—’
‘Really, it’s fine,’ said Strike, who’d now mentally committed to a burger and chips. ‘We need to get Will back to Qing.’
‘Oh, yes, of course,’ said Prudence. She looked up at Will.
‘If you ever want to talk to someone, Will, I wouldn’t charge you. Think about it, OK? Or I can recommend another therapist. And do read the books I lent Robin.’
‘Thanks,’ said Will. ‘Yeah. I will.’
Prudence now turned to Robin.
‘That was a massive breakthrough for Flora. I’ve never seen her like that before.’
‘I’m glad,’ said Robin, ‘I really am.’
‘And I think, you sharing your own experience – that was crucial.’
‘Well, there’s no rush,’ said Robin. ‘She can think over what she wants to do next, but I meant what I said. I’d be with her every step of the way. Anyway, thanks so much for arranging this, Prudence, it was really helpful. We should probably—’
‘Yeah,’ said Strike, whose stomach was loudly rumbling.
Strike, Robin and Will walked in silence back to the car.
‘You hungry?’ Strike asked Will, very much hoping the answer was yes. Will nodded.
‘Great,’ said Strike, ‘we’ll swing by a McDonald’s.’
‘What about Cedar Terrace?’ said Robin, turning on the engine. ‘Are we going to check whether Rosie Fernsby’s there?’
‘Might as well,’ said Strike. ‘Not a big detour, is it? But if we see a McDonald’s, we’ll do that first.’
‘Fine,’ said Robin, amused.
