Page 52 of Dream a Little Dream

Aaron laughed. “Nah. Sorry. That was a joke. I was here on Saturday. Reading that book. You can check with my hall mates. I think everyone heard me yawn. So my mate Mel came round to try evoke some interest in the text.”

Bentley gave him a stern look, one that said stop pissing about. “Sunday?”

“Went to my pole dancing club. Had a drink after in the bar. Slept.”

Jack searched his face for a moment. “What happened to your eye?”

“A homophobe happened.”

“Have you reported it?”

“Why does everyone want me to report it? What’s the point?”

“You’re a victim of a hate crime.”

“Trust me, I’m no victim and the hate was all mine.”

There was another exchange of looks between Bentley and Kenny. Eventually, Kenny’s shake of his head seemed to indicate something to the detective, and Bentley went back to pressing Aaron about why they had pulled him in here.

“Why did you believe Rahul was missing?”

“Haven’t seen him in days. Went to his core lecture. He wasn’t in there.”

“Did you not believe he might have gone home?”

“Thought about that, yeah. But I doubted he would.”

“Why?”

“Because as much as he’s getting a hard time here, he’d be getting a worse one at home if he quit.”

“Why would you say that?”

“He’s a gay Muslim. Arranged marriage to a woman to look forward to and studying a degree he hates all to satisfy his parents.” Aaron cocked his head. “But you’ve used a lot of past tense in your questions. Shall I assume you’re not currently looking for him?”

Bentley closed his notebook. “Rahul was found in the river this morning.”

“Not having a leisurely swim, I take it?”

“No.”

“Shit.” Aaron rubbed his fingers along his brow. “Poor fucker. Did he drown?”

“We’re investigating.”

Aaron glanced up at Kenny. There was a small, miniscule nod of acknowledgement behind the chewing thumbnail, as if he was letting Aaron know he was there. He understood how he might be feeling. Y’know, the pastoral side of his job role.

Aaron turned back to Bentley. “Do you think he topped himself?”

“It’s what we’re investigating.”

Aaron thought about it, then shook his head. “Nah. He wouldn’t have.”

“What makes you say that? You’ve alluded to him being troubled. Having a bad time of it here. And not welcome back at home?”

“Yeah, but he was edging out. If he’d topped himself around Christmas, yeah, I could get on board with that. But not a week in. Not when he’d put the feelers out. Pretty sure he’s been called racist shit before. Maybe not homophobic shit. That’s probably just us bent ones, right?” He gestured to Bentley, ignoring Kenny. Because he doubted Kenny got mistaken for gay. Not only was he bi, but he presented as straight. Until he had his cock down a twink’s throat, that was. Then he wasallgay. “But I don’t think one comment would have sent him over the edge in a day. He’d have a thicker skin than that even if he’d been shielded from racists all his life.”

“You said he’d been missing a week? But you only reported him missing on Friday.”

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