Blood Red

Fourteen

To my surprise Tom was still at the table in Can Coll, finishing up the biggest ice cream they have on offer — as I had allowed in my moment of weakness — accompanied by Ben, who had closed for his afternoon break, plus Charlie, Cher and Mustard. (By the way, before you get any ideas about Charlie and Cher, she’s been fixed; so, for that matter, has Mustard, when he wasn’t looking, although it hasn’t affected his sense of smell.)

‘Everything okay, Primavera?’ the shopkeeper asked.

‘Yes, but I’ll tell you later.’ He read the message in my eyes and let it drop.

My son didn’t quiz me about what we had been doing. He simply handed me back the fifty unbidden. . he knows that’s too much money for him to carry normally. . and told me that he and Ben were going to walk the dogs. Since I was long overdue lunch, I let them get on with it, and took over the table. Justine reckoned this was a good idea, and joined me.

Before we’d left, I’d made my mind up about what I was going to have, so I didn’t need to consult anything before ordering omelette and chips, but I did add a jug of sangria to the order, plus some water, for instant rehydration.

As our waiter left to get things under way, I turned to the mayor. ‘So,’ I said, ‘you’ve lost your majority on the council. Where does that leave you?’

She frowned. ‘I’ve been thinking about that,’ she admitted. ‘I’ll need to consult our lawyer, but I believe you’re wrong. Planas was an independent, a one-man slate. Normally, when someone leaves the council, the party involved nominates the next person on their list of thirteen at the election, and that person takes over. In this case, there’s nobody to nominate; logically, the vacancy will be unfilled. That means that we have only twelve councillors. My party and the combined opposition have six each. I’m the mayor, I have the casting vote, so, our majority is now absolute.’

‘Hey presto,’ I chuckled. ‘But you realise that gives you a damn good motive for bumping him off. Hope you can tell Gomez where you were on Friday night and Saturday morning.’

She winced. ‘I hope I don’t have to.’

I winked at her. ‘Oh yes?’

‘It’s that obvious?’

‘Afraid so.’

‘Shit.’ She looked at me. ‘Between us, yes?’

‘Of course.’

‘I wasn’t in L’Escala. We spent the night in a hotel in Figueras. He’s as busy as I am, and we meet up when it suits his schedule, and mine.’

‘Not a local, then.’

‘I didn’t say that, but please don’t ask me who he is.’

‘Intriguing. . but it’s none of my business. The truth is, Justine, you’re confiding in the right woman. I don’t care how many secrets you have, I’ve still got more than you.’