Page 153 of The Hallmarked Man
‘Were you aware Rupert had an antique silver ship he wanted to dispose of?’
‘No,’ said Zacharias, looking genuinely confused.
‘He stole it because he needed cash to get Dredge off his back, after you fucked off to Kenya.’
‘I never told him to nick any bloody silver ship!’ said Zacharias, now turning slowly purple. ‘If he did that, it’s on him!’
He reached out of shot for a glass of what might have been water or gin, and took a large swig.
‘So it’s news to you Rupert might’ve got his head bashed in, because you don’t pay your debts?’
‘I don’t even know who this Dredge—’
‘Spare me the bullshit,’ said Strike. ‘We both know you’re not in Kenya for the scenery. When did you last hear from Rupert?’
‘Not since we moved out of our house.’
‘Any idea where he might’ve gone, if he wasn’t the body in the silver vault?’
‘I dunno – back to Switzerland, maybe, gone to be a ski instructor or something? He speaks German and Italian. It’s whatI’d’ve done, if I were him.’
‘Probably not much demand for ski instructors in May, which is the last definite sighting of Rupert,’ said Strike.
‘He could’ve stayed with his aunt and uncle in Zurich, before the season started.’
‘His aunt says Rupert’s in New York.’
‘Well, then, he probably is.’
‘Did he ever talk to you about getting a job in New York?’
‘No, not that I can remember – look, if he’s run off somewhere, it’s nothing to do with me, OK?’ said Lorimer. ‘I never made him steal anything! He was all over the fucking place, in that fucked-up relationship – she’s nearly forty, that Longcaster woman! I think he had a fucking Oedipiddle complex, or something.’
‘Oedipiddle complex?’
‘Yeah, you know, when you want to screw your mother,’ said Zacharias. ‘I’m telling you, he was going weird in the head before I left. Ripping up his clothes and shit.’
‘What d’you mean, ripping—?’
‘Tish not told you about that?’ said Zacharias, with a sneer.
‘This is your girlfriend?’
‘Ex-girlfriend. She probably knows where he is, go ask her, they were cosying up by the end.’
‘They were romantically involved?’
‘No,’ said Zacharias, scowling, but Strike suspected a different kind of betrayal; perhaps that the pair had bonded over mutual fear of Dredge’s displaced revenge.
‘What’s Tish’s surname?’
‘Benton, Tish Benton,’ said Zacharias with a promptitude that suggested a vengeful hope that Strike would redirect his unnerving attention towards his ex.
‘Have you got a number for her?’
‘Not a current one.’
‘Any idea where she’s living?’
