Page 12 of No Safe Place
To give Penny a moment of privacy, Field stood, as if stretching her legs for a moment.
Penny wasn’t crying, but that wasn’t unusual. This sort of news did strange things to people.
The living room was expensively furnished, tasteful but still homely, with bookcases of battered paperbacks on either side of the chimney. There were photos of Penny and David on the mantelpiece – one in a park or garden, a couple on holiday. In all of them David was grinning goofily, arm thrown round a tight-smiling Penny.
Field wondered about the age gap again. There had to be ten years between them, at least.
Field heard Wilson’s steps in the hall, and then she was back in the room.
‘I turned the oven off,’ Wilson said, quietly.
Field took a mug from the tray, and then sat again, this time taking the spot on the sofa closest to Penny. ‘I know this has been a terrible shock.’
Penny turned wide, blank eyes to her.
‘You’ll be assigned a family liaison officer today – you might hear us refer to them as a FLO,’ Field said. ‘They’ll be your main point of contact as our investigation progresses. She’s called Zara and she’s a star.’
Penny gripped her tea but didn’t drink any.
‘I’m going to ask you those questions, now. Is that okay?’ Field asked.
Penny nodded.
‘Take your time,’ Field said quietly. ‘When did you last speak to David?’
Penny looked up at the ceiling. ‘Not for a while. We’re—’
Field waited.
‘We’re separated. He’s been staying in a flat in Plumstead somewhere. I don’t have – have the address.’
The words tumbled out of her. It explained why David had been so far from the house.
‘We’re getting divorced,’ Penny said, finally.
‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Field said.
‘It’s amicable,’ Penny said. She looked to Wilson, and the notes she was taking. ‘We were taking some space. I last spoke to him maybe – maybe three months ago?’
Penny put the mug down on the coffee table, placed her hands on her knees.
The living room, with its pictures of the couple, didn’t feel like Penny had gone in for the clean break. Field made a mental note to check the download of David’s phone for communication with his wife.
Field moved on. ‘Do you know if David has any after-work routines? He was walking home quite late.’
Penny shook her head. ‘No.’
Wilson pressed the point. ‘Did he have a local?’
‘I don’t know. He drank in The Mitre while he lived here, but I don’t know about now.’
‘That’s okay, Penny, thank you.’ Field kept her next question nonchalant. ‘Were you with anyone last night, Penny? Did you go out?’
‘No,’ Penny said. ‘I was here, on my own.’
‘Okay, thank you.’ Field shut her notebook. ‘Do you have any questions for us, Penny?’
Penny tipped her head back and looked at the ceiling. ‘Was it a mugging? Why would someone—’
