Page 23 of No Safe Place
‘But David …’ She hesitated. ‘He was good with OCD patients?’
‘Oh yes.’ Simon nodded emphatically, like a proud father. ‘One of the best.’
Field opened her mouth, then closed it again. An image of Toby as a teenager came to her unbidden.
No.
She turned over a new page in her notebook, even though the previous one was still blank, and gripped the pen more firmly. ‘Were you aware of David and Penny’s separation?’
For the first time, Simon looked uncomfortable. ‘Well, yes. I’d spoken to both of them, as it happens.’ He uncrossed and recrossed his legs.
‘She didn’t want to come to the hospital,’ Field said, gently. ‘That’s unusual, in my experience.’
‘She hasn’t always had an easy time of it,’ Simon said. The warmth was gone from his voice.
Field examined his posture, the new hunch of his shoulders.
She waited for him to continue.
‘Penny wouldn’t wish David any ill, whatever was going on between them. She gave you my details, didn’t she?’ He waited for Field’s nod. ‘Well, then.’
Field wasn’t sure the erudite doctor had quite made his point, but she let it drop.
From then on, the rest of the conversation was perfunctory, and straightforward. A list of colleagues it might be useful to speak to. David’s mood, his favourite pubs. He wasn’t dating. He hadn’t had any issues at work.
They spoke for another ten minutes, and as far as Simon Dawes was concerned, there was no reason for anyone to wish David harm.
‘That’s been really useful, thank you, Simon.’ Field drew the conversation to an end, feeling less perturbed than she had at the beginning.
‘Of course, if there’s anything else I can do …’ He got out of the low seat with a slight groan.
‘Well, actually, I do think we need to speak to Penny again today. Briefly.’
His expression darkened. Was that protectiveness?
‘But it may help her to have you there, for support.’ Field held the door open for him. ‘I’ll let you spend some time with David. I’m going to head back to the station for a few hours.’
‘But you want me back at the house later, when you speak to her again?’ he asked.
‘I think it might help.’ Field gave an apologetic shrug.
Simon picked up his bag, and Field registered that if he’d come from Cambridge with a bag that size, he might be planning to stay in the area.
‘Are you heading back home today?’ she asked.
‘I was thinking of staying with Penny, for support. That is, if she would like me to,’ he said stiffly. ‘So I suppose I shall see you later.’
Chapter 12
Wednesday | Afternoon
Field
Riley and Wilson had run a full team briefing while she was at the hospital. By the time Field got back to the station, her DCs were talking in hushed voices, moving busily between desks – getting on with the job at hand, while Raynott’s bored officers looked on enviously.
Field went straight into her office, which had the same sterile, over-bright strip lighting as the hospital, and chucked her handbag under her desk.
She felt like she had jet lag, but there wasn’t time to go home and sleep. The first few days would be crucial, and she had plenty of ironed shirts ready on the back of her office door.
