Page 26 of The Girl in the Grave
‘You’re quite close, Audrey, I’m a doctor of sorts.’
Audrey smiled sweetly at Bob. ‘I knew it.’
‘No one likes a smart-arse, babe. Don’t gloat, it doesn’t suit you.’
It was only then Beth realised that Audrey and Bob were a couple. She looked at their ring fingers to see the matching wedding rings and smiled; she was learning something new every day. How many months had she spoken to them, wrestled with them on the mats and hadn’t even made the connection? Was shethatself-absorbed these days? Trying to deflect the conversation away from herself, Beth asked, ‘What about you, Audrey, do you work?’
Bob nodded. ‘She works all right, drags me there with her most days.’
Audrey nudged him. ‘Shh, you enjoy it. So don’t pretend that you don’t. How many pretty brides do you get to flirt with?’
He laughed, and Audrey turned to Beth. ‘I’m a florist. I own the little shop near to the marina called Pretty Flowers.’
Beth smiled. ‘I love the flowers from there, they’re beautiful. If I’m passing, I always pop in for some.’
Audrey’s face beamed. ‘Thank you, make sure you tell the girls who work there you’re my friend next time, and they’ll give you a discount. Now, what kind of doctor did you say you were, pet?’
Beth inhaled: this was the moment of truth. Most people she told were horrified and would excuse themselves quickly after hearing what she did for a living.
‘I’m a pathologist, specialising in forensic pathology.’
Phil began to laugh, which made her grin. Audrey was looking ever so pleased with herself.
‘You mean, like Quincy?’
Beth had no idea what that meant. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t follow.’
‘Oh, it might have been before your time. Quincy was an American pathologist on a television show I used to love. Such a good-looking man, and he always solved the murders. Then he’d go and confront the killers himself.’
Now it was Beth’s turn to laugh. ‘I do remember that show now. I’m afraid it’s nothing like that. Sorry. I tell the police how the victim died. I give them as much evidence as I can, so they can go and find the killer. Thankfully, the chasing part has nothing to do with me. When they catch them, I go to court to give my evidence against them and hope that it’s enough to secure a conviction.’
Bob reached forward and patted her hand. She did her best not to draw it away from him.
‘You are a very clever young lady; thank you for all that you do. Especially for the people whose lives have been taken from them. I’m sure they appreciate it.’
For the second time in less than thirty minutes Beth felt her eyes fill with warm tears, and she wondered if the block of ice around her heart was finally beginning to thaw; if she might just be on the verge of remembering what it was like to be human.
Excusing herself to go to the toilet, she bumped into the man who’d come to fix her cameras. He was staring down at his phone and lifted his head to apologise.
‘I’m so sorry.’ He looked at her for a moment, and she smiled at him.
‘The lady with the lovely lakefront house and the broken front door camera, how are you?’
She laughed. ‘You have a great memory. I’m good thanks. Yourself?’
‘I’ll be wonderful when the part for your camera arrives tomorrow. I don’t like keeping customers waiting too long. I know how unnerving it can be when you’re used to the security.’
‘It’s fine, it’s only been a couple of days, but thank you. And yes, I am very security conscious.’
‘What brings you to The Stag? I haven’t seen you in here before.’
‘I came with some friends. They’ve been asking me for months and I finally decided to give it a try.’
He laughed. ‘You don’t know what you’ve been missing. I come here most evenings for a drink before going home to my lonely old house to warm up a microwave meal for one.’
‘Oh dear, it sounds as if your life is as exciting as mine.’ She hesitated, and then said, ‘Listen, it was nice seeing you; hopefully I’ll see you soon with the parts.’
She began to walk away, and he called after her: ‘Can I buy you a drink?’
