‘So you met at the college?’
‘Student pub. He was a bit depressed when he came in, and I was serving behind the bar – my previous part-time job. The place was nearly empty. I was revising for my exams. We got talking over a couple of drinks. He told me about his mum leaving and how miserable he was up at the farm with his dad, how he’d gone off the rails a bit, stolen a car, he didn’t know why. Didn’t know why he was telling me, either. Neither of us really came on to the other… It just… you know… happened. It felt totally natural. I was lonely, too. I’ve been here with Ian now for about six years. We got the place when I was still with Lenny and Ian was two, but these past four years we’ve been on our own. One thing led to another. Funny, but we never thought about the age thing. People say I look younger than I am, and Michael looks older than he is, more mature.’
Annie glanced at the photos on the mantelpiece again. Alex was right. They made a handsome couple, seemed natural together, and no casual viewer would notice an age difference. ‘Where’s Lenny now?’ she asked.
‘God knows. Or cares. Last I heard of him he was working on the ferries from Immingham to Rotterdam. Up to something, no doubt, some scam or other. Lenny was a loser, but it took me a long time to realise it.’
‘I presume that if Michael does a lot of digital photography, he’s got a computer, right?’
‘We share mine. I’ve had it for ages, since before we met. He’s just about computer literate. I pretty much had to teach him everything he knows. He hadn’t used a computer before we got together.’
‘Not even at school?’
Alex shrugged. ‘Maybe. He never spoke much about school. He certainly didn’t know his way around a computer, anyway.’
‘We might need to examine it later.’ It was a delicate situation. Annie knew the rules on computers. No one but a qualified techie was supposed to touch one, and only then after it had been photographed from every angle, including what was showing on the screen and where the various devices were plugged in at the back, front or sides. Although this wasn’t a crime scene, if any information gleaned from Michael Lane’s computer indicated that a crime, or crimes, had been committed, then its value in court would be greatly diminished if Annie and Doug Wilson had been interfering with it first. On the other hand, she wasn’t at a point in her investigation where she had any reason to bring in the CSIs and have it removed. If there was incriminating information on it, there was nothing to stop Alex from erasing everything after Annie had left. She decided to have a quick look before then, with Doug Wilson and Alex Preston present as witnesses. She asked Alex if that was all right.
‘It’s fine with me,’ said Alex. ‘Now?’
‘Later will do. We have a few more questions first. Does Michael have a steady job at the moment, or has he managed to get on a photography course?’
‘He’s doing his A levels at night school, so he has a better chance of getting in college next year, if he does well, but he’s still unemployed. And it gets him down sometimes. He does odd jobs to help make ends meet.’
‘What sort of odd jobs?’
‘Farming stuff, mostly. That’s all he knows, apart from drawing and photography. But there’s plenty of it about, depending on the time of year. A lot of it’s unskilled, of course. Casual manual labour. Harvesting and such like. But he’s got a real knack for sheep shearing, and that makes good money sometimes. But it’s all so seasonal. Why are you asking me all these questions? Has something happened to him? Has he had an accident? Or done something stupid?’
‘Why would you think that?’
Alex studied the backs of her hands. Annie noticed how long and tapered her fingers were, how nicely manicured and clean the nails. ‘He can be a bit hot-headed sometimes, that’s all. When he gets frustrated. I don’t mean with me or Ian. He’d never lay a finger on us, and I’d never stand for it. Not after Lenny. So what is this all about?’
‘It’s nothing to worry about, really,’ said Annie. ‘His father’s neighbour’s farm was broken into on Saturday night. A valuable tractor was stolen.’
‘Beddoes?’
‘That’s right. Do you know him?’
‘I’ve never met him, but Michael mentioned him sometimes.’
‘In what way?’
‘He said Mr Beddoes never liked him. Used to chase him off his land. Called him a layabout and a retard. Michael said Beddoes seems all right on the surface, but he can be a nasty piece of work when he’s got a mind to be.’
‘Like?’
‘He told me Beddoes hit him once.’
‘John Beddoes hit Michael?’
‘That’s right. Clipped him around the ear, was how Michael described it. Said it didn’t hurt. He didn’t even bother telling his dad. And once Beddoes thought Michael had been upsetting his precious pigs, chucking stones at them or something. Beddoes threatened to drop him in the sty and said they’d eat him. Michael was just twelve or so.’
‘I see,’ said Annie. ‘But that was a long time ago, wasn’t it?’
‘Not to them, I don’t think. Long memories. They bear grudges.’ Her eyes widened. ‘Maybe he’s done something to Michael? Beddoes. Maybe he blamed him for stealing his tractor?’
‘It’s unlikely,’ Annie said. ‘Mr and Mrs Beddoes didn’t get back from holiday until late last night. The first thing they did when they noticed the tractor missing was call the police.’
‘Well, maybe you should talk to them again? Search the premises, or whatever you do.’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Annie, ‘We’ll be thorough. Has Michael ever threatened Beddoes? You said John Beddoes terrified him when he was younger. Do you think he might have wanted revenge?’
‘You think—’
Annie held her hand up. ‘I don’t think anything yet, Alex. I’m only asking. Michael’s father was tending to the farm while the owners were away. I talked to John Beddoes, and he mentioned a “tearaway” son. His words, not mine. Frank Lane, Michael’s father, didn’t speak so highly of his own son, either. Or of you. He said he’d never met you, that Michael had never brought you home for tea to meet him.’
‘Ha!’ said Alex. ‘As if we were ever invited. He knows nothing about me. To him I’m just the scarlet woman. A tart.’
Annie let a few seconds go by. ‘I just want to talk to Michael,’ she said. ‘That’s all.’
Alex gave Annie a disappointed glance, and for some reason, it hurt. ‘You’re all the same, you lot. Just because someone’s made a mistake once, you think they can never put things right, don’t you? Well me and Michael are doing just fine. OK? And he was here with me on Saturday night, all evening and all night, but I don’t suppose you believe that, do you?’
‘Why wouldn’t I believe you?’ said Annie. ‘You say you last saw him on Sunday morning?’
‘That’s right.’
‘Do you think he might have another girlfriend, and that’s where he is?’
Alex reddened, and her lower lip trembled. ‘No,’ she said, squeezing her fists together and putting them to her temples. ‘What are you saying? Why are you saying horrible things like that? What are you trying to do to me? All these questions you’re asking, things you’re saying. You’ve got me going out of my mind with worry. Stop this.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Annie, ‘but we have to know what’s going on.’
‘Why don’t you just do your job and go out and find Michael? He might be lying hurt somewhere.’
‘Where?’
‘I don’t know. Just somewhere.’
‘OK, I’m sorry. Calm down, Alex. We’ll get to the bottom of this.’