Someone Else's Conflict (28 page)

They were about halfway to Holdwick when Jay's phone buzzed. She glanced over.

‘Missed calls. Vinko's been trying to get me. I forgot we were out of signal.'

‘You get used to it.'

‘Looks like he tried several times. I hope there isn't a problem.'

‘Give him a call.'

It was strange to hear him leave a message in a language she didn't understand.

‘Weird. He's always got his phone on him.'

‘Didn't you say he'd be at work?'

That seemed to reassure him, and as they continued on to the builders' merchant his talk was all windows and helping her decide on the colour of paint for her newly-cleared spare room. Once there, he appeared to enjoy choosing with her, but she sensed he was becoming increasingly distracted.

‘This isn't working, is it?' she said as they wheeled a trolley with cement and a large can of sunshine yellow out to the car, having arranged for the windows and skylights to be delivered the next day.

‘What isn't?'

He lugged the supplies into the back of the car.

‘Pretending nothing's happening.'

He stopped on his way round to the passenger seat and looked at her. ‘I don't see what else we can do right now.'

‘You could tell the police what you know.'

‘I don't know anything that would make any difference.'

He got in and closed the door. She took her place behind the wheel. ‘Wouldn't it be best in the long run? For Vinko? I mean, it might be difficult at first, but surely they'll help sort him out. Get him a social worker—'

‘Get him a sentence in the company of worse types than the ones he's already mixed up with. He only just trusts me now. I want to talk to him first.'

She felt annoyed with him, and scared, but he was unmoveable and it seemed the only way would be to tell them herself. Which would mean betraying him. She set off wordlessly. He tried the number again, shook his head. As they passed a newsagent he suggested they stop to buy a paper. He waited in the car; when she got back in he seemed as worried as she felt.

‘This just came from Vinko. I haven't a clue what to make of it.'

He waved his phone in front of her with a two-word text message on the screen.

Ne vjer

‘What does that mean?'

‘It's incomplete, hard to tell. I think it must be “don't believe”. Could be telling me not to, or “I don't believe”, anyone doesn't believe. What's he playing at?'

‘He could have pressed the wrong button. Or got interrupted. You'll probably get something else in a minute.'

‘I hope so.' He shook his head. ‘In the meantime, let's catch up on developments.'

He spread out the paper and they leaned together with the pages propped against the dashboard to read the piece about the murder. There was little beyond what she already knew. A neighbour had heard gunshots in the small hours. Two men seen running away. The police looking for the youth they'd just been talking about, to help them with their enquiries. Jay swore to himself and she looked across at him.

‘Vesna Novak.'

She'd just seen the name herself. ‘Their daughter, poor woman. You must know her.'

‘Used to, 'course I did, but not by her married name. Novak. Same name as the guy Vinko was on about.'

He fell to staring at the photo of the couple heading the page. She followed his gaze. It felt strange to be confronted by an article like this one about someone with whom she had a connection, however vague. It made her sad she'd never have chance to meet them. The silence was broken only by the slight rustling of the newspaper. Jay remained distant. She felt she had to say something.

‘Could you talk to her? Do you think she'd know anything?'

‘Know anything about what?' he snapped. ‘I'm sure she knows her parents have been murdered. It's clear she doesn't know who by.'

‘About your precious Vinko and her bloody husband!'

He stared at her. She'd gone too far. Shouldn't have shouted. But he wasn't the only one to be stressed by all this! He folded the newspaper roughly without taking his eyes off her. She was about to mutter something appeasing when he broke into a smile.

‘I deserved that, didn't I?' He leaned over and kissed her hard. ‘I'm sorry, Polly. You were right. I've got to stop running away.'

The knocking echoed loudly through the workshop and she felt a cold fear. She was still hesitating when the door opened and her hand reached out for a nearby cutting tool from the bench. The figure was momentarily silhouetted in the light of the doorway, but as soon as he strode in she recognised him. Only Matt. She released her grip, feeling slightly foolish.

‘You OK? You look a bit tense.'

‘I'm fine, thanks,' she said. ‘Come in, sit down.'

He pulled over a chair and sat across the workbench from her. ‘I've only just realised you're here – saw the light on. Your car isn't outside.'

‘No.' She deliberately ignored his fishing and paused to enjoy the effect. ‘What can I do for you?'

‘I had the police round earlier.'

‘Oh?' She laughed. ‘What have you been up to?'

He scowled. ‘I think you know what it's about. If not, you should.'

‘Go on.'

He told her about the door-to-door enquiries among town-centre businesses and anyone who might have been on the marketplace two weeks ago, the day her purse was stolen. Looking for information about Vinko.

‘They came to see me yesterday,' she said and told him about her purse. It felt like a confession as she explained it was probably her description that had made the link.

‘That was you? You never told me you'd had anything nicked.'

She bristled. ‘Sorry. I'll remember to give you a full report next time.'

‘Only saying. By the way, did you catch up with your friend? Jay?'

‘Yes, I got him. Thanks for passing his message on. Eventually.'

‘Does he know anything?'

‘Why should he?' But she remembered Matt saying he'd seen Jay meeting someone – Vinko, she knew now – last Saturday.

‘So it wasn't this lad they're looking for that I saw him with?' She said nothing. ‘I was worried you'd mind me mentioning you in connection with him, but if you've spoken to them yourself… So is there anything in it? Murderous intrigue or merely a casual fan-to-busker encounter?'

‘Oh, stop being so melodramatic! Intrigue! I don't see why you even had to mention it. Jay bumped into an old friend, is all.'

‘An old friend called Vinko? Whom the police want to talk to?'

‘Just because they want to talk to him doesn't mean he had anything to do with it.'

‘It
is
him? Christ, Lynnie, I was only winding you up. I suppose you've had Daniel Freeman, or whatever his name is, round for drinks too.'

‘Never heard of him.'

‘I'm sure you haven't. Your Jay probably has, though. Another one the police are looking for.'

‘What's the connection?'

‘They're hardly likely to tell me, are they? Just asked if I'd heard the name.'

‘They never mentioned it to me.'

‘Probably only just come to light.'

He was fiddling with a piece of paper, rolling it up one way, flattening it and rolling it the other. She wished he wouldn't.

‘Oh, what have you got yourself involved in?'

‘Whoa, steady. “Involved”? You're jumping to far too many conclusions.'

Matt shifted in his seat; leaned forward.

‘Because you're not being straight with me?'

‘Straight? I don't
have
to tell you anything, OK?'

Her phone rang. Jay. She glanced from the screen to Matt and turned it off. ‘It'll wait,' she said, a silent apology going through her mind. She'd call him as soon as Matt had gone.

‘So if you're being straight, tell me why you appear to be covering up for the little shit who stole your bag.'

‘Purse. That was all. Only took the cash at that.' She shrugged. ‘He needed the money, I suppose. I'm not judging till I know the details. That's one thing you used to like about me, remember? Anyway, I'm not covering up; I didn't know he was anything to do with Jay when I saw the police yesterday.'

‘And today? I take it you've gone to them with all you know.'

‘I'm leaving that to Jay. Seeing as he's the one who knows it.'

‘Is that where he is now?'

She felt like telling him it was none of his business, but knew that was even more likely to make him stir. ‘He's gone to talk to someone first.'

Matt laughed incredulously. ‘Getting their story straight, hey?'

‘Nothing of the sort.'

‘You haven't lent him our jeep, have you?'

‘
My
jeep. Hasn't been “ours” for months, remember. Why shouldn't I? You think I'll never see it again, is that it? It's fine. And as for the rest, I'll tell you when there's something worth you knowing. Until then it's… It's honestly nothing for you to worry about.'

He gave the scrap of paper another twist. ‘But that's just it; I
am
worried. You look worried. I can tell.' She thought it was a pity she couldn't remember him showing such insight and concern when they'd been together. ‘You're getting yourself dragged into trouble. You don't have to. I understand that he's your “friend” and you don't want to do wrong by him, but if he was a decent friend he wouldn't be putting you in this position. To my mind it'd be perfectly reasonable to ask him to leave until all this is sorted out. If you know nothing you don't have to cover anything up – or betray him, or however you see it. OK, so he's helping with your building work, but that needn't matter – you can stay here as long as you like. Sorry if I gave you the impression it was a problem. It isn't.'

He looked slightly embarrassed as his little speech came to an end. And so he should, she thought as the anger rose inside her.

‘I thought you and Lucy seemed happy. Or is it just that you can't let go? I can't believe you'd stoop to such a blatant display of jealousy.'

‘Jealousy? You probably don't want to hear this, Marilyn, but I still
care
about you. You've fallen for this guy. You're blinded.'

She rolled her eyes. ‘And you know, do you? I've had enough! I appreciate your concern, but I can assure you I'm – we're – fine.' She stood up, waved a hand over the workbench. ‘Now, I'm here because I've got stuff to do. Believe me, it's perfectly safe to leave me here on my own.'

After he left she stood for a long moment watching the door. She remembered Jay's call and immediately tried his number. A glance at her watch told her he'd be in the middle of his meeting with Vesna; he must have switched it off. She glanced at the door again. She recalled Matt saying he'd mentioned her to the police, and wondered how much he'd said. What if they wanted to see her again? She'd have to make the choice between lying or betrayal. Would it actually be such a betrayal? If they had nothing to hide, what was the big problem? Not for the first time, she wondered if Jay was as sure as he made out that Vinko wasn't involved. Perhaps he was the one who was blinded, by the memory of his oldest friend, and whatever else was going through his troubled mind.

She tensed as she heard the door to the main building bang. Footsteps. Heading up the stairs, presumably to the shop. She let out a sigh of relief. It was no good; she wasn't going to concentrate on anything. She phoned Sue who said she'd be delighted to see her that evening. Her friend's voice relaxed Marilyn immediately and she found herself saying more than she'd intended about what had been happening.

‘You know, I think Matt's got a point.'

‘Oh, not you as well!'

Marilyn wished she hadn't said too much before she'd gathered her thoughts properly.

‘It's no secret that I was never Matt's biggest fan, Marilyn, but this time…well you've got to admit it all sounds a bit weird.'

‘I'm not putting it very well, am I?' She stared at the unfinished design on the workbench in front of her. ‘You can't judge till you've heard the full story.'

‘OK, OK. Tell me all about it later. But I might not say what you want to hear. Perhaps I – and dare I say it, even Matt – perhaps we can see things more clearly. I haven't looked into your Jay's melting brown eyes, have I, fallen under the spell?'

‘They're green, actually.'

They both laughed momentarily.

‘Whatever; I think it'll do you good to get away. You're welcome to come over. Though I've got a busy night ahead. Unexpected party booked for dinner; they'll be arriving in a couple of hours. Listen, hope you don't mind me asking, but would you be OK to help out behind the bar for an hour or two? We can talk afterwards.'