Page 227 of The Hallmarked Man
‘Craig’s really never told you the man’s name?’
‘No, never. He says it’s more’n his life would be worth, telling people.’
‘Other than that he’s rich, and sometimes on TV, has he mentioned any other personal details about the man at all?’
‘Only that his wife doesn’t know about the flat.’
‘And he’s a Freemason,’ said Robin, as though she already knew beyond doubt that this was the case, and the unsuspecting Fiona nodded.
‘This is my card,’ said Robin, handing one over as she hoisted her bag back over her shoulder. ‘If you remember anything else about that man, please call me. Nobody else is going to know you’ve spoken to me, other than Strike.’
‘So… Dannywasthe guy in the safe?’ said Fiona tearfully, following Robin back up the hall.
‘I don’t know,’ said Robin. ‘But if you text me your number, I’ll let you know who it was, as soon as we’ve found out.’
Robin passed outside onto the top stone step and then turned to face Fiona again. Strike’s words, ‘we aren’t fucking social workers’, ran through her mind as she said,
‘You don’t have to stay with him. You could do something else.’
‘What?’ said Fiona.
‘I don’t… it doesn’t sound to me as though Craig treats you very well,’ said Robin. She was ten years older than Fiona, but felt ancient as she said it. ‘Men who read all your emails and texts – I was with a man who listened to my voicemail messages and didn’t pass them on. It ended badly. But,’ she added, ‘I know it isn’t any of my business.’
‘No,’ said Fiona, ‘it isn’t.’
Robin heard the front door slam behind her as she reached the pavement. Shortly before she reached the corner, she glanced back. Fiona was watching her from the front window; Robin expected her to raise her middle finger again, but the girl’s expression was simply blank.
70
Life, misfortune, isolation, abandonment, poverty, are battle-fields, which have their heroes,—heroes obscure, but sometimes greater than those who become illustrious.
Albert Pike
Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Rite of Scottish Freemasonry
On Tuesday morning, Strike sat down to eat breakfast beside an attic window fogged with condensation, and saw that Robin had emailed him overnight. Ever since she’d told him she wasn’t coming to Scotland with him to interview Jade Semple she’d chosen to email when, normally, she’d have phoned. He’d also noticed that these emails were never prefaced with a salutation.
Audio file of Fyola Fay interview attached. Important points: Dick de Lion’s real name is ‘Danny’, he comes from an island with no cars and disappeared end of May.
Fyola Fay’s partner knew the rich man ‘when he was a kid’. I’ve done some research: Craig Wheaton spent his teens in a boys’ care home partly funded by Oliver Branfoot’s trust.
Also attached, possible Land Rover.
R
Strike picked up his mobile and called her.
‘Just seen your email.’
‘Oh, right,’ said Robin coolly.
‘Bloody good work. You’ve found the link between Branfoot and de Lion.’
‘An indirect link, yes,’ said Robin, unfortunately reminded of the ‘weak link’ comment Strike had made in Ironbridge. Strike was speaking as though everything was normal between them, and even though she didn’t want any conversation in which she might become angry or, worse, tearful, his matter-of-fact tone grated. She was damned if she was going to apologise for anything she’d said at the Swan Taphouse, but she was riled by the fact that Strike didn’t seem to feel he ought to make any amends.
‘Well, I’ve just found Rupert’s friend Tish Benton, or her parents, anyway,’ said Strike.
Robin suspected this was supposed to show her he hadn’t forgotten about Decima.
