Page 245 of The Hallmarked Man
‘You look gorgeous,’ he told her.
‘You’re a liar,’ said Robin, kissing him. ‘I look like I feel. Wrecked.’
Having been on her feet all day it was a relief to sit down, and Robin ordered a glass of wine hoping, as with the whisky on Christmas Eve, that it would make her feel more celebratory.
‘Listen,’ said Murphy, once they’d toasted the new house, and Robin had taken a large gulp of wine, ‘I’m not having a go here, all right?’
Oh God, now what?thought Robin.
‘Why didn’t you tell me they’ve ruled out Jason Knowles as the body in the silver vault?’ said Murphy. His tone was light, but his gaze was searching. ‘You knew, didn’t you?’
‘Yes, I knew,’ said Robin, too tired to lie. They were moving in together; she needed to be honest with him, at least wherever honesty was practicable. ‘Kim Cochran told us the team working the case had ruled him out. I didn’t tell you because I know you didn’t want us to investigate the body in the first place, and you said that thing about “showing up the Met”, so I felt awkward about mentioning it.’
‘Right,’ said Murphy. ‘So, d’you know who it was, in the vault?’
‘No,’ said Robin, with a slight ripple of guilt as she thought, again, of Dick de Lion and Lord Oliver Branfoot.
‘Would you tell me if you did?’
‘Ryan, come on. You think we’d hide information like that from the police?’
‘No,’ said Murphy, ‘I don’t think you’d hide it from thepolice, but I wondered whether you’d tellme, specifically.’
‘Well, of c—’
‘Because I know I’ve been an arsehole about it,’ said Murphy.
Robin reached for his hand and squeezed it.
‘I understand how you felt,’ she said. ‘I know why you didn’t want us barging in. The case was really sensitive. I get it.’
Murphy took a sip of his beer, then said,
‘I heard Strike tipped them off that Knowles’ body went to “Barnaby’s”.’
‘Yes,’ said Robin.
‘Have you found out what Barnaby’s is? Or who it is?’
‘No,’ said Robin, reminded yet again that she still hadn’t bought her new nephews presents.
‘Who’s this contact Strike’s got, who knows all this inside stuff?’
‘I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to. I don’t know his real name.’
‘He’s clearly well informed,’ said Murphy.
‘Yes,’ said Robin.
‘A crim, obviously.’
‘Yes,’ said Robin again. She drank more wine, still holding Murphy’s hand.
‘Well, I’ve got some info for you, if you want it,’ said Murphy. ‘About that Peugeot. The getaway car.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Yeah. It’s going to be made public – their first step in admitting Truman fucked up. But you can have it early.’
