Gerry blushed. ‘Never you mind, guv. What I’m saying is that parents don’t necessarily know everything. When it comes right down to it, they don’t know very much at all.’
Banks thought about his own adolescence and how little his parents knew about what he got up to. It had been the same with his own children too. ‘True enough,’ he said. ‘I suggest that first we find out what we can from Adrienne’s teachers and friends at the college. Winsome and I will head down there later this morning. We’ve got results on some of the phone numbers from her mobile. Nothing suspect so far, except perhaps the ex-boyfriend her parents mentioned to us. Colin Fairfax. They were supposed to have split up last year, but there are a number of calls from him since then. He may have been pestering her or stalking her. The last call made from her phone was on Saturday morning. The parents. That checks out. Annie, I’d like you and Gerry to keep on trying to find out the identity of the male. Put a bit of pressure on Peter and Ray. And keep in touch with Adrian Moss, too. He might be a bit of a pain in the arse, but he does have the contacts and the occasional good idea when it comes to media liaisons.’ Banks picked up his folders and empty coffee cup as the detectives drifted out of the boardroom.
Annie got his attention in the corridor.
‘Got time for a coffee? My treat.’
‘Fine,’ said Banks.
The Golden Grill had morphed into a Costa almost overnight, or so it seemed, and by mid-morning on a Thursday it was full of shivering shoppers taking a break. Banks ordered simple black coffee and a lemon poppy seed muffin, while Annie went for a latte and a giant chocolate chip cookie, and they made their way through the prams and shopping bags that cluttered the aisles and managed to find a table for two at the back, next to the toilets. The sound of children overdosed with sugar, and of babies crying for attention, made it unlikely that anyone would overhear their conversation.
Before Banks could open his mouth, Annie touched his forearm and said, ‘I want to apologise for last night. I was out of line.’
Banks nodded. ‘Maybe I was insensitive. I hadn’t realised how difficult it must be for you seeing Ray and Zelda together.’
‘No need to be patronising, Alan. I’ve said I was out of line. I’ve apologised. And, by the way, you were flirting with Zelda.’ She paused and took a bite of her cookie without taking her eyes off him.
‘She’s a remarkable woman. Ray’s a lucky fellow.’
‘There you are. That’s exactly what another bloke would say. I’m trying to apologise here, not start another argument.’
‘All right, all right.’ Banks tested his coffee. It was still too hot.
‘It’s just so sudden, that’s all,’ Annie said. ‘And startling. I mean, I’ve been used to Ray having girlfriends over the years. Of course I have. I was just a kid when my mother died, and when I look back, Ray wasn’t so old. He had his needs, as they say. And they all treated me respectfully.’
‘It’s quite a shock when you realise how young your parents were at certain key moments of your life. Somehow, they always seemed so much older than you.’
‘That’s because they were, you daft pillock.’
Banks laughed. ‘You know what I mean.’
Annie smiled, cradling her latte in both hands. ‘Yeah, I suppose I do. My mother always seems young. In my memories. In my dreams. But she never got old, so I suppose that makes sense.’
‘You still dream about her?’
Annie nodded. ‘Sometimes.’
‘What’s so different about this time, about Zelda?
‘I don’t know what it is. Partly because they’re here, of course, and not in Cornwall. Also maybe it’s because it so obviously is the “real thing” this time, whatever that is. For Ray, at any rate. And maybe it’s because I’m getting old, and I don’t have anything like that myself, or anyone in my life, for that matter. I could analyse myself till the cows come home and still not find an answer. Maybe I’d like to be adored. I mean, I couldn’t even keep Nick bloody Fleming, and he’s not exactly the catch of the day.’
‘Simple jealousy?’
‘Jealousy’s rarely simple.’
‘It’s still a dog-in-the-manger attitude.’
‘Sort of. Maybe. I don’t know. Watching them just put me in a bad mood, that’s all. Not being able to drink didn’t help much, either.’
‘Next time we’ll take a taxi.’
‘Lord knows what I’d say or do if I got pissed with them.’
Banks laughed again. ‘Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as you think’
Annie gave him a sideways glance and cockeyed smile. ‘Ever the optimist.’
‘Do you really hate Zelda?’
‘I think I do, yes.’
‘Why?’
‘Because she’s young and beautiful and she’s going to break my father’s heart.’
‘You can’t know that. What makes you say that?’
‘Come on, Alan. Open your eyes. You can’t tell me a beautiful woman like Zelda is going to stay with Ray on a permanent basis. She’ll be off with the first handsome pizza delivery man who comes along, and guess who’ll be left to clean up the mess.’
‘I wouldn’t be too sure about that, Annie. And I think it’s a harsh thing to say.’
‘I’m talking about my feelings now. Aren’t I allowed to talk about my feelings?’
‘Calm down. I didn’t say that.’
‘You certainly implied it.’
Banks paused and sipped some coffee. Just right. The espresso machine hissed and gurgled in the background. ‘For what it’s worth,’ Banks said, ‘I think they’ve got a chance. No, hear me out. I don’t know why, but there’s a powerful chemistry about them, and that may be what makes you feel the way you do. Maybe Zelda needs a father figure. What’s so bad about that? I get the impression that she’s had some tough experiences in her life. In fact, I think she was probably trafficked herself. It would be one way of explaining how she first saw those faces her organisation wants her to recognise again. Remember, she recognised the man with Keane and said he was evil, that he liked to hurt the girls. If that’s so, can you imagine what her experiences must have made her feel about men, about sex?’
‘Yuck. I don’t even want to think about their sex life. Besides, how do you know what her life was like? You’re only guessing.’
‘Perhaps. But maybe she feels safe with Ray. Have you thought about that? That’s all I’m saying.’
‘Whatever that means.’
‘It means he’s a good man, Annie, a kind man, a gentle man. Maybe that’s what she sees in him. Maybe that’s what she needs. Maybe that’s why she loves him. Not all women are hung up on six-packs and pecs.’
‘You’re so bloody naive sometimes, Alan Banks. Most of us aren’t really interested in six-packs or pecs at all. We’re far more interested in the person inside than in the packaging. That’s why you men can let yourselves go, eat what you want, get fat and grow man breasts and still end up in the sack with a stunner like Zelda. Look at you. What about that Italian babe you had, Ophelia, or whatever her name was, and the lovely Sonia? They were both young enough to be your daughters.’
‘Surely you’re not saying I’m fat or have man breasts?’ Banks said. ‘And besides, it’s Oriana and Sophia.’
Annie stared at him open-mouthed for a moment, then she burst out laughing. One or two people at the nearby table gave her funny looks. ‘No, Alan,’ she said. ‘That wasn’t my point at all. As a matter of fact, you’re in pretty good shape for a bloke your age. No tits at all.’
‘Now you’re talking.’ Banks paused. ‘Anyway, I’m sorry. Sorry you feel that way. If you ever want to talk about it again...’
‘I’ll know where not to go. Just joking. Strangely enough, I do feel a bit better, thanks. At least you’ve given me a good laugh.’