‘I see…’
Judy smiled, nodded at Mary and walked away.
‘If the police can’t get here,’ said Ayesha, ‘then you shouldn’t try driving home.’
‘Maybe not,’ said Mary. Something else occurred to her. ‘I’d better phone Em—make sure she’s okay.’
Mary walked back to the café. As she’d expected, it was almost empty now. She got a coffee, then phoned her daughter, Emma.
‘Hi, Em. Did you get to college alright?’
‘Of course, mum.’ Emma spoke with the world-weary patience of a teenager who was used to round-the-clock hi-quality mumming. ‘It’s a big bus, it just sailed through all those puddles. No problem. What about you? Did you get to work okay?’
‘I’ve only got a small car. It wasn’t—it wasn’t easy.’
‘But you’re okay?’
‘Yes, yes, of course I am. But look: I won’t be able to come back tonight.’
‘No problem, mum.’
‘And no funny business while I’m away.’
There was a pause and Mary could imagine Emma smiling to herself.
‘Of course not, mum.’
‘Do you remember Miranda?’ asked Mary. ‘Mrs Kil… Kulischer’s daughter.’
‘Yes… Yes, I remember her. She’s older than me. In the year above me. We used to hang out a bit. She had to leave college, didn’t she?’
‘Does she get on with her mother?’
‘Yes, yes, of course she does. She does so much for her, doesn’t she? But—well, now I think about it—’
‘Yes?’
‘There was something. Miranda’s boyfriend, I think that was it…’
‘And?’
‘Well, Mrs K didn’t like him.’
Mary thought about this for a moment.
‘Did you ever meet him?’ she asked Emma.
‘No, no… Don’t think so. But, mum, why are you asking all these questions?’
Mary sighed. ‘Something’s happened, something bad has happened. Mrs K has died.’
‘Oh. Oh dear. But: it’d been coming, hadn’t it? It’s not a surprise.’
‘No, of course. Look, I’ve got to go now. I’ll phone you this evening.’
‘Sure, mum.’
Mary looked out the café window. The rain had stopped and some weak sunshine played over the carpark. She felt—she felt unsettled, what with that dreadful drive and now all this about Mrs K. Something was wrong, she was sure. She’d thought Miranda and her mum had been close.
But… She felt a pain at the back of her neck, as if a headache was coming on. Mary looked at the trees, remembering the track she’d discovered. A walk would do her good, it might clear her head. Why not? She could go for thirty or forty minutes without anyone noticing. She kept a pair of wellies in her office and it would be at least an hour before the police arrived.