12

The Doctor

Back in Stonebridge, Perez decided that the time had come to talk to Tom King. Sarah had told him not to, but he couldn’t see any way of reaching an end to the case without speaking to the doctor. It was lunchtime – in the school playground the children were racing and shouting – and this might be a good moment to find Tom free.

He went into the health centre and gave his name to the woman behind the desk.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘Doctor King has just finished his surgery, so he’s not seeing any more patients. Is it urgent?’ The place was empty apart from the receptionist.

‘I’m an old friend,’ Perez said. ‘Not a patient. Perhaps you could just tell Tom that I’m here.’

She looked at him over her glasses and then left through a door behind her. He could hear muttered voices, then Tom appeared.

‘Jimmy,’ he said. ‘What are you doing in this neck of the woods? Does Sarah know you’re in Stonebridge?’

Perez saw again how tired and tense the doctor looked. ‘I’m here because Sarah asked me to come. She thought you could both use my help.’

‘She didn’t say she’d been in touch with you,’ Tom said. He struggled to keep his voice pleasant, but Perez could sense the resentment.

‘We need to talk,’ Perez said quietly. ‘I think you can guess what this is all about.’

There was a pause, and for a long moment Jimmy thought Tom would refuse, but then he nodded. ‘Let’s go for a walk,’ he said at last. ‘I can’t think in here. I need some fresh air.’

Tom led Perez down a footpath next to the river and under the stone bridge that had given its name to the village. Soon they were out in open farmland. Bare fields stretched on either side of the water.

‘It’s about Anna Blackwell,’ Perez said. ‘How did you know her?’

Tom looked away and didn’t answer. They walked on in silence.

‘Were you lovers?’ Perez asked. ‘Are you the father of her child?’

‘No!’ Tom cried. He paused. ‘Is that what Sarah thinks?’

‘She’s worried and upset. I’m not sure that she knows what to think.’

Tom stopped suddenly and looked out over the water. It was so cold that his breath came in clouds. ‘I promised not to tell anyone. Not even Sarah.’

‘I have to find out what’s been going on,’ Perez said. ‘Anna didn’t commit suicide. I’m sure of that now. She was murdered. This isn’t a time for secrets.’

Tom turned sharply towards Perez. ‘My secret has absolutely nothing to do with Anna’s death.’

‘I’m sorry. You’ll have to trust me on this. You have to tell me what you know.’

There was a moment of silence while they stared at each other. At last Tom set off again along the path and started talking. He looked ahead of him, not at Perez.

‘You’re right. I do know the name of Lucy’s father.’