‘We’re going for chips,’ said Ray. ‘You?’ I nodded.
‘He’s not a policeman,’ said Tom scornfully, ‘he hasn’t got a hat.’ Ray ushered them out.
‘We need to know the nature of the job you did for Mr Achebe.’
‘But I’ve already-’
He interrupted. ‘You should be aware that Mr Achebe is being held in connection with enquiries into the death of his wife, Tina Achebe.’
‘Oh, Jesus!’ Tina, slight and smart in the check jacket. Jimmy, his whole body tense as he heard about her rendezvous at the hotel. ‘Oh, no. When did this happen? How did she…?’ A gunshot wound to the head? Or maybe suicide? Devastated by Jimmy’s newfound knowledge, wrists emptying in the bath, tablets by the bed, feet dangling.
‘Why did James Achebe hire you?’
I took a deep breath. ‘He was worried about his wife, about Tina. He thought she was keeping something from him.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘She wasn’t at home when he thought she would be. She lied about whether she’d been in or out. That sort of thing.’
‘Go on.’
‘I watched the house. One day I followed her. She went to town. To a hotel. She booked into a room. A man joined her there.’
‘And?’
I shrugged. ‘They were there for an hour or so then he left. A while later she left as well. Went home.’
‘When was this?’
‘Wednesday, the day before I saw Jimmy, Wednesday the twenty-third.’
The doorbell rang. I jerked in my seat with the shock of it. Feeling ridiculous I excused myself for a minute.
It was Sheila, complete with a blue Manchester Van Hire van stuffed full of gear.
‘Sheila, I’m sorry,’ I blurted, ‘I’m in the middle of something. I’ll have to leave you to it. Ray should be back soon, he’s just gone for chips.’
‘Don’t worry,’ she grinned. ‘Malcolm’s giving me a hand. We’ll just get on with it.’ Said Malcolm emerged from the far side of the van and gave a friendly wave.
Back in the kitchen Sergeant Bell had obviously been checking her notes. She riffled through her notebook to find her place. Inspector Crawshaw took up where we’d left off.
‘You last saw Mr Achebe on the Thursday, the day after you’d followed his wife to this hotel?’
‘Yes. I had to tell him what I’d found out.’
‘How did he take it?’
‘Like anybody would. He was hurt, upset.’
‘Did he give any indication of what he was going to do about it?’
‘No.’ Jimmy hadn’t threatened to kill her. Something I’d heard so many times in marital work. ‘He was hurt, like I say. She was very important to him. When he came to see me, I got the impression he really wanted the marriage to work. Not like some people who’ve already had enough and just want proof for ending the relationship. When did she die? Was she killed or was it suicide?’