Page 170 of The Hallmarked Man
‘Because she’s entitled and spoiled. My father adores her and gives her everything she w—’
The waiter reappeared to take their food orders. Both Strike and Robin chose pasta at random.
When the waiter had disappeared, Strike said,
‘I’ve got a few new questions for you, Decima, if you wouldn’t mind.’
Now looking as though she suspected a trap, Decima said,
‘Go on.’
‘Did Rupert ever mention a man by the name of Calvin Osgood, or Oz?’
‘No. Why?’
‘There’s a possibility Oz was involved in the murder.’
‘He might have been one of Dredge’s friends!’ said Decima at once.
‘Possibly,’ said Strike, who wanted to stave off tears, if at all possible. ‘What about a girl called Sofia Medina?’
‘No,’ said Decima again, but now she looked worried. ‘Why?’
‘She might have been involved, too,’ said Strike.
‘No, I never heard him mention anyone called Sofia.’
‘OK, moving on: would you happen to have a phone number for Tish Benton? Her parents in Hampshire seem to be away and I can’t find a current address for her.’
‘Why d’you want to talk to Tish?Shewon’t know anything.’
‘Lorimer told me she’d become something of a confidant to Rupert before the household split up.’
‘I don’t thinkthat’strue,’ said Decima at once.
‘Well, that’s what Lorimer said.’
‘No, I haven’t got Tish’s number… she and Zac got on Rupe’s nerves, bickering all the time when they were sharing the house. I don’t think she was ever close to Rupe,’ Decima added, with a tinge of fear that made Robin’s heart clench in pity.
‘What line of work is Tish in, do you know?’ asked Strike.
‘Marketing – she worked for some firm that makes handbags. I can’t remember which one.’
‘OK,’ said Strike, making a note. ‘Still on Lorimer: he suggested Rupert might have gone back to Switzerland to be a ski instructor.’
‘Rupe wouldneverhave gone to be a ski instructor – for God’s sake,’ said Decima, her voice suddenly raw. ‘Never!He didn’t want to learnto ski in the first place, but they made him, at his bloody school. He hated it. Who wouldn’t, after their parents died that way? Zac was supposed to be hisfriend, you’d think he’d realise that’s thelast thingRupe would have wanted to do!’
‘I thought it was unlikely myself,’ said Strike. ‘Now, this next question might seem strange, but Zacharias mentioned Rupert having a “lucky T-shirt”.’
‘Oh – yes, he did,’ said Decima, and for a split second, their client almost smiled, but then her face fell. ‘They found it in Wright’s room?’
‘No,’ said Strike, ‘but can you tell us about it?’
‘Why?’
‘Lorimer says Rupert tore it up before he disappeared.’
‘What?’ said Decima weakly. ‘No, he… he’dneverhave done that.’
