Adrian dialled Clive Osborne’s mother in Spain. She answered almost immediately. He heard her take a long drag on a cigarette and exhale while she waited for him to introduce himself.
‘Mrs Osborne, I am calling from Exeter police in the Devon constabulary to speak to you about your son, Clive?’
‘It’s Mrs Ortega now. Is Clive in trouble?’
‘Nothing like that, Ma’am. We just wondered when the last time you heard from him was?’
‘Did you say Exeter? Why is Exeter police interested in what Clive is up to?’
‘He is a possible witness to a crime. We just want to speak to him about it. Can you tell me the last time you heard from him?’
‘Why, yes, it was about two weeks ago.’
‘You heard from him two weeks ago? Where is he?’
‘Once a month he sends me some cash to keep me in ciggies, bless him. Lovely boy, my Clive.’
‘So, you haven’t actually spoken to him or seen him recently, then?’
‘Like I said, he sends me money and Christmas cards and all that. He don’t like flying, which is why he’s never been out here. I haven’t seen him in around ten years. He fell out with me when I decided to move to Spain with Xavi, my new husband. They don’t get on. Xavi’s a bit younger than Clive and he didn’t approve. I understand, I suppose; it must have been strange for him.’
‘Right, OK. Do you know a man called Reece Corrigan?’
‘Yes, Reece, course I do. He’s a very good friend to my Clive; sorted him out with a new job and everything after they left for Devon. He even set me up with a builder over here when we needed some work done on our place. Is this about Reece? Is that why you’re calling me from Exeter?’
‘No, we are purely trying to locate Clive. Do you have an address for him?’
‘Sorry, no, I don’t.’
‘How much does he send you every month?’
‘Three hundred euros.’
‘How does he send that?’
‘He sends me a card with the cash in it.’
‘Thank you, Mrs Ortega, you’ve been very helpful.’
Adrian rung off, even more certain at this point that Clive Osborne was dead. Yet again, there was no evidence. Maybe they would find something at the house in Oswestry.