The Suffocating Sea

'Dad…'

'It's no good looking at me like that, Barney boy. I'm not one of your suspects.' But Toni Cantelli smiled lovingly at his son. 'Now where was I? Yes. Seb was the eldest. He was a restless, impatient young fellow. Tall, dark and handsome with those film star looks, a bit like Robert Mitchum and the swagger to go with it, whereas poor little Rowley wouldn't say boo to a goose. He was a quiet boy. He didn't look right in fisherman's overalls. Hardly got a word out of him. His father despaired of making him a fisherman. "Why can't he do something else?" I suggested one day. Well, you'd have thought I'd blasphemed. Gilly, as we called the old man, said, "My boys are born and bred fishermen," and there was a lot more of that rubbish. Did I give you grief, Barney, when you announced you were going to become a policeman? Or Marie when she went into teaching? No. Kids have to find their own way in the world, and you'd be best to remember that, Barney, with your five and you, Andy, with your girl.'

Horton had no idea what his daughter wanted to do when she grew up. At seven she had wanted to be a ballet dancer but then many girls went through that stage, or so Catherine said. Well, he'd be able to ask Emma soon.

'It's not for parents to foist their livelihood and desires on their kids,' Toni Cantelli said, 'but Gilly was from the old school of thought. Rowley hated fishing but he was bullied by Gilly and Seb into sticking it out, and he didn't have the guts to stand up for himself. I heard Seb bought him out in the end when old Gilly had a stroke. He was only in his mid-fifties; that must have been late 1970s. If I recall, Rowley jacked it in not long after. And I know why. Not only because he despised fishing but because of Teresa. She was stunning, a real beauty.' Toni Cantelli put his fingers to his lips and kissed the air.

Horton smiled as Barney pulled out the photograph and said, 'Is this her, Dad?'

The old man took it with thin trembling fingers. 'Yes, that's her and is this her little girl?'

'She died when she was seven, in a boating accident.'

'My God, how awful — and Teresa?'

'Suicide six months later.'

Toni Cantelli sat back on his pillow and closed his eyes. He looked a little paler. 'Perhaps we should go,' suggested Horton.

But the old man stretched out his hand and touched Horton's. 'No. I'm all right. It's just sad to think of all that beauty going to so much waste. She was so graceful, a lovely girl, came from a good family too, and she fell for Rowley in a big way. But she was Seb's girl first.'

Was she now! Horton sat up, interested and surprised. Sebastian Gilmore hadn't mentioned that his brother had taken a girlfriend from him, but then why should he? Horton hadn't asked about Rowland's wife, and Sebastian probably hadn't thought it relevant.

Then Toni Cantelli dropped his next bombshell. 'Seb and Teresa were engaged to be married. It was announced and all arranged, then two weeks before the wedding she calls it off and says she's in love with someone else who just happened to be her future brother-in-law, Rowley Gilmore.'

And what a smack in the face that must have been for a man like Sebastian! It could certainly explain why the brothers had fallen out, though. Horton wondered about that exchange between the brothers on the quayside at the Town Camber twelve years ago. Had Rowland told Sebastian about Teresa's death? How would Sebastian have reacted? Did he blame his brother for her death? Had Sebastian still been in love with Teresa? Did the old scars still itch? If they did he hadn't noticed Sebastian Gilmore scratching them. Could it be motive enough for Sebastian to poison his brother? But twelve years later! No. Horton was heading in the wrong direction with that thought. Sebastian Gilmore would have beaten his brother to within an inch of his life on that quayside if Teresa Gilmore had meant anything to him. He wasn't the type to harbour a grudge or brood on past disappointments. What had he said? You move on…

'How did Seb take it?' Horton asked.

'He put on a brave face but a man with his ego and that much pride wouldn't have liked it.'

No, and Sebastian Gilmore had married very quickly afterwards, as if to say, 'I'm not bothered, Teresa meant nothing to me.'

Cantelli said, 'Do you remember a man called Tom Brundall?'

'Course I do,' Toni Cantelli said so vehemently that Horton could see it surprised his son. 'He was a nice man, very intelligent, and quiet, like Rowley. We used to exchange the odd crossword puzzle, but it's Tom Brundall I've got to be grateful to. He helped me to really get the business going.'

Barney's mouth fell open. Even Horton couldn't hide his surprise. 'What do you mean?' he asked, recovering first.

Toni chuckled. 'I thought that would make you sit up. Tom was a genius when it came to money and I needed to borrow some to expand the business. I wanted to open another cafe at Southsea, the one Isabella runs now.' He dashed a glance at Barney. 'The lease was due on the building, just along from the pier, and there were a couple of people after it, but I wanted it. I knew it would be a good little earner and it is. I didn't like to go the bank. Tom loaned me the money.'

Cantelli's jaw dropped open in mid chew. 'You've never said!' he declared, astounded and shocked.

'Why should I? It's never mattered before and I hope it doesn't now.' He threw Horton a worried look.

Horton hastily said, 'It's fine.'

'I paid it back in a year,' Toni Cantelli declared proudly.

Horton noticed that the old man was beginning to look very tired. Barney could see it too. Horton flashed him a look, which he knew Barney would interpret as 'nearly done'.

'Tom left fishing not long after Rowley; he was never really suited to it. He was a wizard with figures. Should have been Chancellor of the Exchequer, wouldn't be in the mess we are in now if he had been, but like poor little Rowley, Brundall's dad was a fisherman and so Tom had to become one too. Soon as he saved enough money he got out.'

The old man sank further back on his pillow and closed his eyes. Barney stood up. 'We'll be off now.' He flashed a look at Horton who rose and grabbed his coat.

'I'm not tired.' Toni's eyes snapped open. 'You just made me think back down the years, that's all, and I felt sad.'

Horton apologized. He didn't want to leave Barney's father feeling that way. 'You've been a great help, Mr Cantelli.'

Clearly with an effort the old man stirred himself, and gave a tired smile. 'You're welcome, son. Only don't you want to know about the other one?'

Horton froze. He felt a shiver of excitement run through him. 'What other one?' he asked his pulse quickening.

'I forget his name. What was it?'

'Take your time. I can come back.' Though Horton silently prayed that he wouldn't have to. This was new information and he knew that it was important. That sixth sense, or copper's intuition, call it what you may, was back with him with a vengeance. He knew Cantelli could feel it too.

Toni Cantelli said, 'There were four of them on the boat.'

Four! Horton had thought only three: Seb, Rowley and Brundall. Sebastian Gilmore had said nothing about a fourth man. Why? Horton felt his heart racing.

'I can see him as clear as I see you, but I'm blowed if I can remember his name.'

'What did he look like?' asked Horton, his mind leaping in a direction that he could hardly take in. Could it have been the man he had seen with his mother on the quayside at the Camber? But why should it be? Why did he keep returning to that image? Had something in this case triggered that memory? It had to be.

Toni Cantelli said, 'He was good-looking, dark-haired, smart dresser, restless eyes.'

That wasn't enough to go on. The description fitted hundreds of men. Then why did Horton feel it must be the man with his mother? Did wishing it make it so? Shit, he was clutching at straws.