Merkulov stood up and shrugged. ‘I am too old to run,’ he said.
Yokely put his arm around Merkulov’s shoulders. ‘You and me both,’ he said.
They walked together to the cemetery gates. Yokely’s companions followed.
Charlotte Button looked at her cigarette. ‘Filthy habit,’ she said. ‘How come you’re not smoking?’
‘I smoke when she’s around, but that’s it.’
‘You don’t get a craving?’
‘I guess I don’t have an addictive personality.’
She raised an eyebrow. ‘You mean I have?’
Shepherd chuckled and poured more wine into her glass. ‘Most people could give up if they set their minds to it.’
Button took a long drag on her cigarette, then blew smoke at him. ‘At times,’ she said, ‘you’re a patronising prick.’
‘Thank you, ma’am,’ said Shepherd. The doorbell rang, startling them. ‘Shit,’ he said. ‘That must be her.’
Button put down her cigarette. ‘Okay, I’m your sister, my name’s Rachel,’ she said calmly. She picked up the bullet and slipped it into her bag. ‘I live in Cambridge, I’m a pharmaceuticals sales rep and I’m in Belfast pitching a new drug to GPs. I’m married with no children. I haven’t seen you since Christmas when you came to our house for dinner. My husband’s name is Clive. Got it?’
‘Got it,’ he said. ‘Just one thing, are you my older sister or younger?’
‘Answer the door, baby brother.’ She picked up her cigarette.
Shepherd hurried down the hallway. Outside, Elaine Carter was holding a potted plant. ‘Belated housewarming gift,’ she said.
‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘But you already gave me a bottle of champagne, remember?’
‘Actually there was a buy-one-get-one-free at the Spar,’ she said, ‘but it’s the thought that counts.’
‘Come in and have a drink,’ he said. ‘And say hello to my sister.’
‘Your sister? I didn’t know you had one.’
‘My brother lacks the basic social skills, I’m afraid,’ said Button, from the kitchen door. ‘I blame our parents, but they did a good enough job with me.’ She held out her hand. ‘Rachel,’ she said. ‘I’m the brains of the family.’
Elaine laughed. ‘I’m so glad to meet you,’ she said. ‘Jamie never talks about his family.’
‘He’s ashamed of us,’ said Button.
‘Leave it out, sis,’ said Shepherd. ‘Do you want some wine?’ he asked Elaine. ‘You’ll have to be quick before Rachel finishes the bottle.’
‘You know he drinks Frascati?’ said Button. Shepherd followed Elaine into the kitchen and put the plant into the sink. Button poured wine for her and the three sat down. Button clinked her glass against Elaine’s. ‘Any friend of Jamie’s . . . has my sympathy.’
‘She’s been drinking, as you can tell,’ said Shepherd. ‘I went round earlier to see if you fancied joining us but you weren’t there.’
‘Up to my eyes in work,’ said Elaine. ‘So, where do you live, Rachel?’
‘Cambridge. I’m in Belfast for a couple of days on business.’
‘Have you been here before?’
‘I’m over every few months. I’m a pharmaceuticals rep and our company keeps increasing the size of my territory. What about you?’
‘Financial adviser,’ said Elaine.
Button laughed. ‘You should take a look at Jamie’s finances,’ she said. ‘He’s forever in the red.’
‘I’m working on it,’ she said. She sipped some wine. ‘What was he like as a kid?’
‘A bit of a nerd, I’m afraid. Always had his nose buried in a book.’
‘That’s so not true,’ said Shepherd.
‘And he played with dolls.’
Shepherd glared at her. ‘Action Man wasn’t a doll,’ he said. ‘He was an action figure.’
Button winked. ‘Still sensitive about it, as you can see. What about you, Elaine? Got any brothers?’
‘Three sisters,’ said Elaine.
‘I didn’t know that,’ said Shepherd.
‘You never asked,’ said Elaine.
‘Typical man,’ said Button. ‘If you’re not talking about them, they’re not interested. Are they all in Belfast?’
‘The two elder ones, Kathy and Joyce. Eight kids between them. Our youngest sister, Sally, lives in London. Got married last year.’
‘And why did nobody snap you up?’ Button asked.
‘Sis!’ exclaimed Shepherd. He knew exactly what she was doing and that he had to play his part.
‘What?’ said Button.
‘It’s okay, Jamie,’ said Elaine, taking his hand.
‘What’s okay?’ asked Button, feigning confusion.
‘Elaine’s husband was murdered.’
Button’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said to Elaine. ‘I had no idea.’
‘Of course you didn’t,’ said Elaine. ‘Really, it’s okay.’
‘Murdered? Wow!’
‘Sis . . .’ said Shepherd.
‘Jamie, it was a long time ago,’ said Elaine. ‘You don’t have to walk on eggshells.’ She smiled at Button. ‘He was killed by the IRA.’
‘Elaine, how terrible. I’m so, so sorry. You must have been devastated.’
‘They did it in front of me and our son. So, yes, devastated would be about right.’
‘You have a son?’
‘Sis, do you have to interrogate her like this?’
‘I’m just asking, Jamie. Now what have I said?’
‘Elaine’s son died,’ said Shepherd, quietly.
He knew Button was faking her reaction, but she was entirely convincing. ‘Oh, my God,’ she said. ‘Did they kill him too?’
‘Leukaemia,’ Elaine said.
‘Oh, God, that’s awful. A friend of mine had leukaemia at university. She had chemo, her hair fell out and she was sick for months. She had a bone-marrow transplant and that’s what saved her.’
‘We looked everywhere for a donor but no one in the family was suitable,’ said Elaine, ‘so they went through all databases world-wide but still couldn’t get a match.’
‘I’m so sorry, Elaine,’ said Button. ‘Jamie was right, me and my big mouth.’ Tears were welling in her eyes.
Elaine rushed over to her. ‘It’s okay, it’s okay,’ she said, putting her arms around Button and hugging her.
‘I’m so sorry,’ repeated Button, and looked over Elaine’s shoulder straight into Shepherd’s eyes. The tears were fake too, Shepherd realised. Charlotte Button was one cool customer.
‘You weren’t to know,’ said Elaine. She kissed Button’s cheek, then sat down next to her. Shepherd passed across her wine glass. ‘It’s great to meet your family,’ she told him, and touched Button’s glass with her own. ‘It helps to put him in context.’
‘That’s a good thing, is it?’ asked Shepherd.
‘You were a bit of a man of mystery,’ said Elaine.
Button pushed back her sleeve and gasped at the time. ‘I’d better be going,’ she said.
‘You’re not staying here?’ asked Elaine.
‘I’m at the Hyatt,’ said Button.
‘You’re letting your own sister stay at a hotel, Jamie?’ Elaine remonstrated. ‘Shame on you.’
‘It’s my choice,’ said Button.
‘I don’t have a bed in the spare room yet,’ said Shepherd.
‘You can stay with me,’ said Elaine.
‘Maybe next time,’ said Button. ‘The room’s paid for now so I might as well use it. And I’m off early in the morning.’ To Shepherd, she said, ‘Can you call me a cab?’
‘You’re a cab,’ said Shepherd, straight-faced.
Button grimaced at Elaine. ‘I had to put up with jokes like that all the time I was a kid.’
Shepherd called a local minicab company, who promised him a car within ten minutes.
‘Just time for another bottle, then,’ said Button.
Merkulov shivered. He was naked and cold. His bare feet were flat on the concrete and his hands were crossed over his groin. They hadn’t tied him to the chair but there was no need. There were three of them and it had been decades since Merkulov had been anything but mediocre at hand-to-hand combat. He was a thinker, not a fighter, whereas the two men that had accompanied Yokely were muscular and looked as if they could kill with their bare hands. They had taken off their overcoats and were standing behind Yokely, their arms folded across their chests. They wore heavy cotton shirts, dark jeans and workboots.