Laura woke at six twenty, bright and needy. Sophie left her with Sam and staggered around in the kitchen preparing her milk. When she returned, she found Laura lying enthralled, listening to Sam’s impression of Richard Burton reading The Rime of the Ancient Mariner:
And I had done a hellish thing,
And it would work ’em woe:
For all averred, I had killed the bird
That made the breeze to blow.
Later, over toast, Sam explained, ‘It’s the enrapturing effect of Coleridge’s meter and the Welsh sibilance. It always worked with Jake and Benz.’
Sam left straight after breakfast and Sophie took the opportunity to practise reading Coleridge’s poem in a Welsh accent. Laura responded by emptying her toys out of the playpen. Mid-morning, Rosemary Perrin phoned. She was going to visit Robert tomorrow morning. Could she drive up and have a chat? Had Sophie managed to contact Heidi?
Sophie gave Rosemary instructions regarding car parks, lied that she hadn’t yet managed to contact Jonah’s other woman, then rang off and sat watching Laura crushing pink unicorn’s head for a full five minutes until her mobile shattered her stupor. Lately, Sophie had been experiencing a burst of reflux every time her phone sounded, and this second tidal wave of acid in less than ten minutes was now eroding its way towards her throat. She was half-relieved to hear Katie’s voice.
‘Sophie?’
‘Hi, what’s up? Are you phoning from the office?’
‘No, I’m driving. I’m co-ordinating a seminar this afternoon. In Guildford. More people talking crap about crap. Soph, you’ve got to tell me what to do about Jesse.’
‘What about Jesse?’
‘We got talking last night, you know, in the street. And the car park. And he’s asked me to dinner with you and Sam. On Friday.’
‘Well, what’s wrong with that?’
‘Everything! I’ve already acted like a complete bitch in front of him and you know I can’t help myself. Look what happened with Paul. I’ll argue with him. And I don’t want to argue with him.’
‘Well, don’t. Are you using hands-free?’
‘Yes.’
‘Right, well, go and run your seminar. And phone me this evening.’
‘OK. Any news from the hospital?’
‘Yes, Jonah’s regained consciousness and his wife’s driving up to see him tomorrow.’
‘Well, if you see her, don’t forget to tell her he’s not your problem.’
‘Katie, do not start that again. We’ll speak later, OK?’
Sophie put her phone on silent, set it down on the hall table and forbade it to ring again. After a moment or two of letting her stomach reclaim its contents, she hoisted Laura from her playpen to take her upstairs for her nap time which, hopefully, once she’d sorted through her bank statements, she would be able to share. But as she was passing the hall table her phone started to vibrate its way towards the edge. OK, that was the lining of her oesophagus written off for the rest of the day. She grabbed the phone as it was about to plummet to the floor and answered the call. It was Inspector Blake asking if he might call round to clear up a few unanswered questions. Sophie said early afternoon would be best. Then she carried Laura upstairs, determined to locate her paperwork, assess her state of destitution and then just sleep.
Now, anybody who has ever lain awake until the dawn will know that there is a strange three-way conflict that exists between sleep, tiredness and the human mind. You might expect that the more tired you are, the more likely you are to sleep but, sadly, that is not always the case, because the mind can flood that simple equation with worries that make sleep impossible. On the other hand, occasionally, when you have important things to do, like sit your finals or write a report by the following morning, tiredness can utterly override the mind’s imperatives and send you into the deepest dreamless sleep you’ve had for as long as you can remember. Sophie was simultaneously experiencing both those predicaments: her brain knew she had to review her financial crisis but tiredness was making her senseless, demanding that she sleep. However, her brain was also reminding her repeatedly that Inspector Blake wanted to clear up some questions. The upshot was that Sophie found herself unable to keep her eyes focussed on the bank statements in front of her, but, falling back onto her welcoming pillow, she was then unable to sleep until just before Laura woke up demanding lunch. Sam returned at around twelve thirty, strode into the kitchen and came to a halt. ‘Soph, you’re spooning that into Laura’s ear.’
‘What? Oh God, I’m so tired.’
‘Me too, although I did manage to doze off for twenty minutes in the car. When Jesse was ordering tiles. Let me feed her. Go and lie down. And by the way, Katie’s joining us for dinner on Friday.’
‘I know. I’m trying not to think about it.’
Sophie woke to the sound of voices downstairs. She checked the clock: 2:49, pulled herself up, grabbed her hairbrush, tried to organise the mess then hurried downstairs. The lounge door was closed. It was never closed. Sam and Inspector Blake both got to their feet as she walked in.
‘Sophie, I was about to wake you. Inspector Blake has a few questions for you. About Jonah’s contacts.’
‘We would appreciate Mr Perrin’s two mobile phones, if you would like to hand those over voluntarily. Without the need for legal seizure.’
‘Seizure won’t be necessary, Inspector,’ said Sophie. ‘Sam, they’re still in the tea towel drawer.’ Sam hurried away. Sophie sat down close to the playpen and attempted to organise her thoughts. ‘Did you find something when you searched Jonah’s office?’
Inspector Blake sat down. ‘There was a lot of hardware. We’re currently attempting to gain access to two desktop computers, but, apparently, he has them both encrypted and a wrong step might erase everything. Would you happen to know where he would keep a list of passwords and the like? Perhaps a notebook?’
‘I’m sorry, I’ve never involved myself with Jonah’s affairs. He always carried a laptop with him so perhaps his passwords are on that.’
‘No laptop has been recovered during the searches.’
‘Well, it isn’t here,’ said Sam, stepping back in and handing the phones to Inspector Blake. ‘And I searched his car when I moved it.’
‘Maybe he’d already taken it to his new girlfriend’s place,’ said Sophie. ‘That’s where he was going when the accident happened.’
Inspector Blake asked Sophie if she had contact details for this girlfriend. Sophie paused, uncomfortable about dragging Suzie into this, especially in her current state. But she had no choice. She fetched Suzie’s business card and handed it over. Inspector Blake slipped the card into his notepad. ‘We’re currently sifting through Mr Perrin’s paperwork, hoping to identify any significant contacts. One document has a list of names, two of whom Mr Barnes has confirmed are college employees.’
‘Soph, you remember I attended a faculty meeting last week? Because a couple of staff member’s bank accounts had been tampered with. They might have been used to bounce cash overseas. It’s undoubtedly easier to access existing accounts and use them as temporary conduits rather than go to the bother of creating new ones. Jonah must have been getting lazy. Anyway, those two people were on his list.’
Officer Blake cleared his throat. ‘We have a unit investigating cybercrime networks. It would seem that Mr Perrin may be peripherally involved, to the extent of misappropriating personal data. He may also have been creating false identities, possibly for use other than by himself. Making them available to third parties. Presumably at a price, which would be a possible source of the money he appears to have been transferring overseas. We were wondering whether you had any information regarding his business contacts.’
‘No, I’m sorry. Jonah always dealt with clients at his office.’
‘So, you are saying that, in all the time you were together, you did not meet any of Mr Perrin’s business acquaintances? Did you not think that was strange?’
‘Not really. Jonah kept his business and home lives separate.’
‘Perhaps he introduced these people as friends?’
‘Jonah didn’t have friends. He worked alone so I suppose he didn’t get much opportunity to meet people. Perhaps he knew people in Exeter. Did you ask his wife these questions when you searched his Exeter house?’
‘The Devon Police found nothing related to Mr Perrin’s company or finances in his marital home. It was the opinion of the investigating officers that he was very structured in his domestic affairs and that his business affairs were conducted elsewhere.’
Sophie shrugged. ‘I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful.’
Inspector Blake got to his feet. ‘Ms Denham, there is one more thing I have to ask: when we were investigating Mr Perrin’s business premises, it was clear that someone had been searching ahead of us. It’s possible that, if this person or persons failed to find what they were looking for, they will continue their search. Have you had any strange calls, suspicious people coming to the house? Observing the house from outside?’
Sophie’s stomach churned. She looked at Sam. ‘There were those two men. The ones that Rosemary thought were Special Branch. Do you think it was them searching Jonah’s office?’
‘Special Branch?’ said Inspector Blake, casting a questioning glance towards Sam.
Sam shook his head. ‘Sophie, do not start worrying about that. Just be grateful that Jonah kept his private and business lives separate.’
‘But they don’t know that, do they? Inspector, the money we gave you, it might have been theirs. What if—’
‘I’m sure you have nothing to worry about,’ interrupted Inspector Blake. Again, he glanced at Sam. ‘But, if Mr Barnes would bring you to the station, you might like to look at some photos. In the meantime, if you see anything suspicious, please inform us immediately.’
Sam saw Inspector Blake out, chatted to him on the doorstep, then returned to calm Sophie, who was now approaching a whole new level of hysteria.
‘Sam, what if somebody breaks in when we’re asleep?’
‘Soph, if there’s the slightest possibility of a threat, we’ll pack up your stuff and go to my place. Jesse’s got more security than Fort Knox.’
Sophie pulled her unsuspecting daughter out of her playpen and hugged her. ‘Rosemary phoned. She’s driving up tomorrow to visit Jonah and find out what’s in store. I ought to go over and speak to someone before she does.’
‘OK. If we go now, we can be back by Laura’s bedtime.’