Will dabbed up the breakfast juices with some toast, shaking his head. “How you can think about alcohol after last night is unbelievable. Right, you’re obviously going to take another two hours to eat that, so I’m going to grab my wetsuit and head off. See you later. Do not forget Luke.”

  He placed his plate next to the sink, bent to kiss Adrian’s cheek and left without another word. Adrian listened to him rummaging around upstairs and waited till he went out of the front door. The Audi crunched across the gravel and Adrian judged it safe to feed Huggy Bear the rest of his sausage. He took a rasher of bacon over to Dumpling, which was warmly received. He scraped the rest into the bin and poured himself more tea.

  “Well, now, Miss Bear. ’Tis just the two of us today. Whither shall we wander?”

  The woods behind Upton St Nicholas didn’t look especially large and paths were clearly marked. Adrian and the terrier set off with no particular route in mind, just appreciating all the glories of a forest in summertime. Huggy Bear led the way and Adrian simply followed. They wandered through patches of shade into pools of sunlight, along a brook, and came across some sort of birdwatcher’s hut on stilts. The dog had a good sniff around while Adrian eyed the structure with idle curiosity until he realised what he was looking at. This was the precise spot where his husband had almost lost his life the day before their wedding. A wave of emotion broke and he physically recalled the incapacitating fear of losing Will. And now look at the two of them. Bitching at each other and arguing over nothing. He vowed to be extra nice to his husband tonight.

  Huggy Bear scampered towards him, her tail wagging and teeth jutting out, as if she was politely asking him to get a shift on. She took off down an overgrown track leading to some rough steps which descended towards a pond. The village spread out on the other side, with distant sounds of cars, voices and church bells. Adrian sat on a bench to absorb the simple beauty of the English countryside. The pond was like watching a David Attenborough programme, if you paid attention. Water-skaters, a family of coots, a pair of mallards, some yellow butterflies and iridescent dragonflies all went about their business. Adrian reached for his phone to capture the moment and realised he couldn’t. So he sat and observed, the dog at his feet.

  Out of the blue, three muddy beasts streaked past them and launched themselves into the water. Huggy Bear began barking furiously and Adrian scrambled to put her on the lead. He had no idea if those dogs might be dangerous.

  “Adrian, hello!” Heather Shaw, Gabriel’s mother, came in his direction, wearing an ombré sundress and a floppy straw hat. At the ankles, the dress was deep green, lightening to a pale blue at the very top. It gave Heather the appearance of emerging from the earth like Mother Nature herself.

  “Did they soak you? I’m so sorry. They are a pack of gallumphing great oafs.”

  In the pond, three mismatched dogs swam in circles. Adrian released Huggy Bear who rushed to greet Heather.

  “No, they just gave me a bit of a fright. How are you, Heather? Have you heard any news from Gabriel?” He was careful not to mention the murder, in case she didn’t know.

  She flopped on the bench beside him. “Isn’t it ghastly? Beatrice is a total brick for dashing off to help them. I hear you’re taking care of Luke. That’s awfully good of you, but what a horrible thing to happen, and on their honeymoon! Worst of all, Tanya saw the murder victim’s body. I said to them, and I will insist when they get back, she must have counselling.”

  “She saw the body? I didn’t know that. Poor Tanya, that must be traumatic. You’re absolutely right, she will need counselling. That sort of thing could give you PTSD.” The dogs emerged from the water, one after another, each following the same pattern of a huge shake, spattering droplets high into the air.

  “God knows how Hoagy will come back from all this. It wouldn’t surprise me if it puts an end to his whole career.” She turned to Adrian, her eyes wide. “Do you suppose that could have been the motive? Professional envy? But what kind of psychopath would murder a rival’s muse?”

  The three dogs, all different sizes and none of them a breed Adrian recognised, inspected Huggy Bear. While Adrian grew nervous, the Border Terrier didn’t mind, giving as good as she got.

  “I cannot imagine anyone would be so vile,” Adrian replied. “Like you, I’m glad Beatrice is there with them. She has her moments, but generally speaking, PI Stubbs applies logic and common sense. Are all these your dogs, Heather?”

  “For now, yes.” She fanned herself with her hat. “I’m a foster carer for a local animal rescue charity. A sort of halfway house, if you like. Both Huggy Bear and Dumpling used to live with me, until Beatrice took them home. Some of these creatures need to learn domesticity before finding a forever family. I don’t suppose you and Will in are the market for a dog, cat or guinea pig?”

  Adrian considered Will’s urge to take care of Beatrice’s animals and his role-playing as substitute Daddy with Luke. Perhaps a creature would distract him from his broody phase. “That is a strong possibility. Shall we walk back towards the village together and you can tell me more?”

  True to her word, Frankie turned up at half past six on the dot. Luke was ecstatic to see her. When Will began the list of instructions, Frankie crossed her eyes.

  “I got this, Will, don’t worry. I’ve been his babysitter since he was born.” She looked down at Luke. “Even through the nappy stage.” She wafted a hand under her nose.

  “Frankie!” Luke protested, but he was laughing.

  “OK, you have our numbers and we’ll be back by eleven. Have fun, you two!”

  “Have fun, you two too!”

  The pair of them stood on the doorstep, waving at the taxi until it turned the corner, Will and Adrian twisting to look out of the rear window to wave back.

  El Pescador was only a twenty-minute journey from Upton St Nicholas. In the back of the cab, Adrian and Will were silent, occupied with their own thoughts. Will, Adrian was quite sure, was envisaging every possible disaster that could befall Frankie and Luke before they returned. For his own part, Adrian was rehearsing various ways of pitching the adoption of a rescue dog to his husband. With occasional diversions towards El Pescador’s menu. Thankfully, their taxi driver was a monosyllabic sort of chap and the drive passed peacefully until they arrived at the legendary restaurant.

  The reception was everything one would hope for from an establishment of its status. This was a delayed birthday present for DS William Quinn, so Adrian had made a particular effort. Months before, when securing one of the elusive reservations, he had included the request of a birthday cake and a bottle of champagne. Something subtle and discreet but an acknowledgement of Will’s special day. Welcomed by name, escorted to the table, offered leather-bound menus and an aperitif, they could see they were in the hands of experts.

  The tasting menu began with the amuse-bouche: local prawns skewered with cucumber and a soy sauce dip, mackerel pâté served in a savoury cone like an ice-cream, fermented vegetables in a white dish the size of an espresso saucer, and tiny blini topped with a dab of sour cream and two different kinds of caviar. The wine waiter explained the accompaniment was an English sparkling wine from the Torquay area. Will’s grin lit up the table as they toasted his belated birthday.

  Five courses later, Adrian had still not managed to bring up the subject of adopting a rescue dog. They were too busy appreciating the food, the wine and the ambience. Will enthused over the freshness of the produce, Adrian raved over the wine pairings and made notes in his booklet. The waiter removed their empty plates after torched hake with braised fennel and nettle cream.

  “Did you enjoy your main course?” he asked.

  “Divine!” Adrian exclaimed. “That white Burgundy is a thing of beauty.”

  “That was so good,” Will agreed. “Goes right into the top ten of best meals ever. Can we have a little break before dessert?”

  “Of course. I’ll give you ten minutes or so.”

  It was the moment to broach the subject, Adrian knew. “I didn’t ask how the surfing went, what with all the rushing around to get ready. You look really stylish, you know. How many times have I said you could wear a Tom Ford like a pro?”

  “Thank you. It’s so comfortable, I don’t feel like I’m wearing a suit. Or maybe the ones I wear for work are just crap. Surfing was so much fun. It does my mind good just to focus on the board, the waves, my balance and working with nature. We’ve been to some incredible places together, but this holiday will stick in my mind.”

  “Me too. This afternoon I sat with Huggy Bear just watching pond life and loving it. Oh, by the way, I met Gabriel’s mum, Heather.”

  He watched Will carefully as he described the encounter, keeping his tone light and chatty.

  “... because I had no idea about Huggy Bear’s past. She’s never mentioned it. Then Heather asked if we might be in the market for a rescue dog. Obviously, I wouldn’t dream of saying yes without your consent, but the idea appeals to me. What do you think? Wouldn’t you love a scruffy little pup we could take to the park at weekends?”

  Will’s face softened. “Yeah, I would. But dogs aren’t just for weekends. How would we ...”

  The lights dimmed and two waiters approached. One held a cheesecake, Will’s favourite dessert, and the other carried a bottle of champagne and an ice bucket.

  Adrian could have kissed them for their timing. “Happy birthday, Mr Quinn!”

  Their taxi was waiting for them when they emerged, full of excellent food and in a celebratory mood. This driver was far more talkative and wanted to know all about the restaurant, the prices and dress code. Adrian let Will do the chatty stuff, quietly confident that he had won the first round in the Can-We-Get-A-Dog competition. He had all the answers to Will’s inevitable questions. He’d get up early and walk the new arrival. After breakfast, he’d take the dog to work with him. He’d take full responsibility for training, registering with a vet and all the other things dog owners do, including picking up poop. He could handle this, he knew it.

  The taxi stopped on the driveway and Will asked the driver to wait and take Frankie home. He tipped the guy, who wished him happy birthday again, while Adrian unlocked the front door. As if she’d overheard their conversation, Huggy Bear was first to the door, dancing and weaving between their legs, overjoyed to see them.

  Frankie came into the hallway, her bag in her hand. “You’re early! How was it?”

  “Indescribably delicious. What a birthday treat!” Will replied. “How’s the wee man?”

  “Good as gold. We watched some YouTube videos which made us both laugh; he went to bed about half an hour after the specified time and I’ve not heard a peep since. As birthday dinners go, Will, on a scale of one to ten?”

  “Ten, easy. You have to go there at least once, Frankie. It’s unforgettable. OK, here’s your money and the cab is outside waiting to take you home. Thank you for letting us have our night out.”

  She hugged them both and Will walked outside with her to thank the taxi driver, Huggy Bear on their heels. He was such a decent man.

  Adrian relaxed on the Chesterfield, waiting for his husband, too full and content to think about making them a pot of herbal tea. Dumpling slept on Matthew’s chair, ignoring him completely. Man and dog returned. Will stood in the doorway, his eyes intense.

  “Thank you for an amazing birthday treat. I loved it. Maybe tomorrow we can discuss the practicalities of dog ownership in a London flat, but I am ready to take on a canine dependant. Do you want tea or shall we add the cherry to the birthday cake?”

  Adrian stretched out an arm, Will pulled him to his feet, and they looked into each other’s eyes.

  “Happy birthday, DS Quinn. I love you so much.” He kissed his husband, his emotions high. “Let’s go to bed. Miss Bear, are you coming? Goodnight, Dumpling, sleep well.” As the three of them made their way upstairs, Adrian put in a request. “I know one can’t pick and choose, but I’ve always fancied a Schnauzer.”

  Chapter 15

  The waiting room at the police station was dark and dusty, the shutters closed to keep out the heat of the afternoon. Strips of sunlight patterned the flagstone floor and dusty motes danced in the air while Beatrice and Theo waited and waited and waited. She did her best not to fidget, but the wooden bench was uncomfortable and Theo had gone into one of his Zen-like trances. On top of that, she had left her water bottle in the car. It was exceptionally rude to leave them sitting here for forty-five minutes, especially as they had made an appointment.

  Eventually, a young woman in uniform opened the door to their right and asked them to come through. She showed them to an interview room – Beatrice guessed it was probably the only one they had – and stood against the wall. Quintana took his time to make his entrance, naturally. Sure enough, several minutes later the bullish little man barged his way into the room with a sheaf of papers in a grey folder. He glared at his visitors, but when his colleague introduced them by name, he shook their hands.

  He sat and placed his palms flat on the desk in front of him, as if he were about to charge, then barked a question in Spanish. Beatrice couldn’t understand much but she did hear the words ‘Nuria’ and ‘porque’, which she knew meant ‘why’. He knew they had spoken to his niece, as predicted. Judging by his intonation, he was just as aggressive and uncooperative as when Beatrice first met the man.

  In contrast, Theo spoke slowly and his body language projected humility. He spoke in short sentences, employing lots of pauses and at one point turning to glance at Beatrice. Quintana flicked his gaze in her direction and back to Theo’s face. It was all very frustrating to be excluded but Beatrice forced herself to remain calm and let Theo play this the way he knew best.

  While she listened to their conversation, observed the gestures and tried to pick out any recognisable word in the flood of fluent Spanish, she noticed there was another source of information she could use. The uniformed officer whose hands were folded in front of her stomach was listening to the discussion, her interest matching Beatrice’s. Her facial expressions were subtle and restrained, but with the right level of attention, one could deduce a great deal from the way she reacted.

  At Theo’s first questions, her head turned towards him, her eyes widening just a touch. She was impressed and she instantly glanced at her boss to see if he felt the same. Quintana gave little away but his response was significant on two counts. He toned down the belligerence in his voice and dropped his volume to more of a conversational manner than a drill sergeant. The young woman’s eyebrows lifted a fraction and the corners of her mouth slid upwards.

  At one point, Theo asked a question and Quintana flipped open the file in front of him. He ran his finger down the page, checked some information and replied. Theo made a note and asked a follow-up question, to which Quintana simply shrugged.

  “Detective Quintana has kindly agreed to share some police information with us. The coroner believes time of death occurred between three and five am. Also, the CCTV footage of the gates shows no one coming in or out between the time Tanya and Gabriel left the previous evening and when Philly went out with the dogs the following morning. This is why Detective Quintana believes the killer was a member of the household.”

  Beatrice made a face intended to convey she understood. “That makes sense. Please thank him very much and would you let him know everything we have discovered?” She knew perfectly well Quintana could understand enough English so as not to need a translation, but maintained the pretence for the sake of politeness.

  The conversation lasted over half an hour and Quintana grew increasingly more thoughtful and less combative. He shook their hands again as they left and handed Theo his card. Once out in the sunshine, they wandered up the hill towards the scene of the crime. Theo related everything the detective said and shared his own interpretation of the man’s words.

  “He’s willing to talk to us and share a limited amount of information. My impression is, he needs all the help he can get. His usual beat involves parking tickets and handling drunken tourists. But now there’s an organised gang of pickpockets operating in the town and an upsurge in drug dealing. The last thing he wants is a murder case which blurs the lines between his personal and professional life.”

  “Did you ask him about that? About whether he should be in charge of a murder case when his niece is a potential suspect?” Beatrice was slightly out of breath as they crested the hill towards the villa.

  “Yeah. He told me the same as he told Philly. There is no one else. OK, how do we play it with Señora Navarro? Just ask about the CCTV and if she saw anything on Monday night?”

  “Yes, exactly. I’d also like to have a tour of her grounds. Make it sound like I’m an avid gardener and admire her property enormously. Here we are, you press the buzzer.”

  “No, you press the buzzer and I’ll do the talking off camera. How likely is an elderly lady to open the gate to a strange black bloke?”

  As it turned out, no one answered the intercom and the mechanism began to creak. Neither spoke as the gates swung open and they walked up to the entrance of the villa. A very glamorous older lady met them at the door, with a scarf around her head and painted-on eyebrows. She wore a printed silk shirt and high-waisted trousers, like somebody in a 1970s Martini advert. Her voice was husky and smoke-raddled as she greeted them.

  Theo turned on his smile and charm as he presented his business card. The woman eyed it and handed it back suspiciously. His gestures indicated he was introducing Beatrice, so she did the same and offered her card. The woman shook her head in irritation and said something to Theo with an exasperated hand gesture.

  “She hasn’t got her glasses, she thinks we are fraudsters and we can’t come in.”