Page 358 of The Hallmarked Man
‘OK,’ said Robin a little warily, wondering whether ‘unconventional’ meant crystals and reiki; she seemed to see Strike smirking in her mind’s eye. ‘In what way—?’
‘She can be quite directive,’ said Prudence.
‘Meaning she tells you what to do?’
‘Yes, she has opinions. She also swears a lot.’
‘I work with your brother, that won’t worry me,’ said Robin, and Prudence laughed.
‘She’s not cheap.’
‘That doesn’t matter,’ said Robin. ‘If she’s good… I know I need something. I’ve got to do something,’
‘I’ll send you her details, although, come to think of it, she might be away at the moment.’
‘If she’s the right person, I don’t mind waiting,’ said Robin. ‘I think I’ll feel better just for knowing I’m doing something about it all… and Prudence, please – please don’t tell Strike I called.’
‘Of course I won’t,’ said Prudence, ‘but—’
‘He knows,’ said Robin with difficulty, ‘that I’m not in a great place. I’d just rather he didn’t know I’ve roped you into it.’
‘It’s not “roping”, Robin,’ said Prudence. ‘I’m glad to help.’
After the call had ended, Robin sat for a moment, phone in hand, feeling better simply at the idea of the unknown, sweary therapist. She took off her coat, slung it on her bed, took a deep breath and re-entered the sitting room, where she found her brother sitting on her sofa, pouring wine into a mug.
‘I’ve got glasses,’ she said.
‘Couldn’t find any,’ said Martin, which meant, as Robin knew from long experience of her brother, that he couldn’t be bothered to open more than one cupboard. She went to fetch herself a glass, then sat down beside him on the sofa.
‘Why did Carmen chuck you out?’
‘I caught her fucking cheating.’
‘What?’
‘Got home last night and her fucking ex-boyfriend was there. “Oh, hiya Martin. Jason was just bringing Dirk a present.”’
Robin didn’t like the way Martin imitated his girlfriend; her ex-husband, too, had always adopted a whining falsetto to impersonate women.
‘He’s married, as well, the fucker.’
‘Were they—?’
‘Nah, they hadn’t got down to it yet.’ Martin glugged half a mug of wine. ‘Or maybe they’d already done it and got dressed again.’
‘Mart, are yousure—?’
‘What was he doing there, when I was out?’
‘Well – bringing the baby a present.Wasthere a present?’
‘Yeah,’ said Martin, ‘and I booted it out the window right in front of him.’
Robin groaned inwardly. She knew her brother: incurably hot-headed, impetuous and prone to rages an objective observer would judge to be entirely unjustified. Jealousy had been an issue in quite a few of his previous relationships.
‘How long ago did Carmen and this man split up?’
‘I dunno, six, seven years ago—’ Robin was reminded of Tyler Powell, and the allegation that he’d been jealous enough over a girlfriend he’d had at sixteen to sabotage a car. ‘I told her I didn’t want her seeing the slimy bastard any more and then she goes and has him over when I’m out!’
