‘Even if she died of heart failure?’

‘’Fraid so. It’s a bit unusual, picking up stray Chinese people and shutting them in an attic room with no bed. She was sleeping on the floor, for God’s sake. What was that all about?’ Then the detective put up a hand. ‘No, don’t tell me. I haven’t got time. But if it was murder, you’ll have to show somebody where you found her yesterday – the exact spot. Can you find it again?’78

‘Yes. Easily. So you’re not going to be around, then?’

‘That’s right – I’m not. It’s not just the rare species business. There’s been some trouble in a farmhouse, this side of Northleach. Why in the world did I ever sign up for a job in such a place? I spend half my life driving from one remote little village to another.’

Thea knew Northleach, with its big old church and unusually useful shops. If she had been staying there, she’d be able to buy all the bread and milk she wanted, she reflected gloomily. ‘It’s not very nice here without a car,’ she said. ‘We didn’t think that through very well, did we? There aren’t even any buses on a Sunday.’

‘Why? Where do you want to go? Is this some kind of displacement activity, to take your mind off what’s happened here?’

‘Not really. I need to get to a shop. I didn’t bring enough food with me. And don’t tell me to order it online, because that’s even more hassle than getting to a shop.’

‘Only you would think that,’ Gladwin sighed. ‘Well, I suppose I can drive you to the supermarket in Cirencester, if you come now. But you’ll have to get a taxi or something back again. Although …’ She eyed one of the uniformed policewomen, who had still not left the house. ‘Hi!’ she called. ‘Sorry – I don’t know your name. Do you think you could drive Mrs Slocombe back from Waitrose in about half an hour’s time? She’s got to get some urgent shopping.’

The officer looked pained, but compliant. ‘Okay,’ she said.79

‘There you are. Sorted. Come on then, if you’re coming.’

Thea threw a few words at the reluctant chauffeur, as to where she could be found with her shopping, and scrambled after Gladwin.

80

Chapter Six

It was a ten-minute drive at most. On the way, Thea was treated to a monologue about the ease with which a person could order up a selection of unlimited diversity from any one of three or four supermarkets without leaving the house. ‘Even on a Sunday,’ the detective added.

‘So they tell me,’ said Thea. ‘But this is still going to be quicker.’

‘Hasn’t hit you yet, has it? Someone dying in the house while you were asleep. That’s quite a thing, you know, even if it wasn’t murder.’

‘Yes. No. I mean – I do feel rather numb about it. She was so mysterious. I’ve got a hundred questions I still want to ask her. It’s like running into a brick wall, to think she’s never going to answer them now. And it’s so weird to think she was right to be scared. Somebody really was after her. We both thought she’d be safe in the attic – that nobody would ever find her. It’s terribly sad. And everyone’s going to think I was a total idiot to leave her there with the door unlocked.’81