Chapter Thirteen
Matthew was in his office early the next morning.
Then hed realized where he was and that it washisturn to make the coffee.
Poised in the doorway, Matthew stared at him for a moment: blond-haired, bare-chested.
At his desk, Matthew looked at the contact list Ross had left for him the night before.
There were a few people to follow up and hed pass them on to other members of the team.
Her name was Angela Bale and there was a mobile number.
She sounded suspicious because she didnt recognize the number.
This is Matthew Venn.
Im a police officer working on the Simon Walden case.
I wonder if you could come into the station to give us a statement.
You said you saw the victim on the day he was killed.
In a cafe in Braunton.
I cant come today, she said quickly.
Where do you work?
For the Landmark Trust.
In the booking office for theOldenburgat Ilfracombe Harbour.
The season has only just started and were very busy.
TheOldenburgwas the Lundy Island ferry.
He and Jonathan had spent a few days in a tiny cottage on Lundy in the autumn.
It had been wild and rainy.
Hed been sick on the boat across but Jonathan had loved the stormy sea.
Or arguing to relieve the boredom and then making up.
Youll have a lunch break, though?
Perhaps we could speak to you then.
There was silence at the end of the line.
My husband said I shouldnt have spoken to you, that I might have made a mistake.
That I shouldnt get involved.
Do you think you made a mistake?
Another silence before she spoke.
Then it would be very helpful if youd make a statement.
Would you be the person Id be speaking to?
If youd find that easier.
Meet me at work then.
He felt a moment of joy at having an excuse to leave the office.
It occurred to him that he should call into Chivenor on his way to Ilfracombe.
The dog-walker whod found Waldens body still hadnt made a formal statement.
The claustrophobia that overwhelmed him sometimes in the office had become almost pathological.
Hed been carrying a sack full of sweets.
Matthew had been entranced.
Hed wanted so much to believe that Santa was real despite his parents telling him otherwise.
Now, the base was still there, but much of the land had been sold off for housing.
He was early and when he arrived, loud music was playing.
He rang the bell, but there was no response.
He leaned on it and at last she heard the ringing over the noise.
She turned, gave him a little wave, switched off the screen and came to the door.
She was wearing purple floral leggings and a long T-shirt.
Sorry, I thought Id have time for a shower before you got here.
In the end, she led him straight into the room where shed been doing the workout.
I saw about the poor man at Crow Point on the TV.
I thought youd be in touch.
Shed told Ross she had a boy at school but there was no sign of him here.
Any toys in the place had been hidden away.
The house was spotless, a show home, bland.
A small dog lay in a basket with a floral print cushion to match the curtains.
It had lifted its head when Matthew came in, then went back to sleep.
Ill make some notes and ask you to sign a statement.
Any upset she might have felt at coming across a dead man on the beach had long gone.
He thought she was enjoying the attention, perhaps even the company.
Not at the moment.
Taking a career break.
He wondered what that was all about.
Had she been recently sacked?
Given up work because of stress?
She didnt seem the anxious jot down, though there was something driven about the exercise.
So, you were walking your dog on the beach at Crow Point.
Had you taken your car down the toll road?
I was on my way back when I saw the guy lying on the sand.
You were on your own?
There was a pause and he could tell she was wondering whether shed get away with a lie.
Were told all sorts of things during an investigation.
Not all of them are relevant and not everything comes out in court.
But we do need the details.
I was meeting a friend on the beach, she said.
Ill need his contact details.
She looked up at him, a kind of challenge.
But hes married, so can you catch him at work?
Where did you meet him that day?
Did you park together?
He was thinking of the evidence Colin Marston had given.
And he drives a Passat and you drive a Fiesta and hes older than you?
A look of total astonishment.
He was my boss at work and it came out that we were seeing each other.
I had to leave my job.
No, you didnt have to leave.
She might talk some sense into the woman.
Sharon looked at him.
My husband doesnt know.
He thinks I left work because I was bored in the office.
He likes me at home to keep on top of things, to be around for our son.
Nothing happened that afternoon on the beach.
We didnt make passionate love in the dunes.
Another moment of silence.
But Id been missing him.
I love his company.
Did you see the body when you were on your way to Crow Point?
No, not until we were on our way back.
And youwouldhave seen the man if hed been there?
Ive been thinking about that, Sharon said.
We were talking, catching up.
But I think we would have seen the body.
It wasnt hidden in any way and we followed the same tracks back in the sand.
That had been risky.
Perhaps Matthew should be looking for somebody reckless, who enjoyed danger.
She was staring into the empty coffee mug.
I didnt want to be left there on the beach with the dead man.
Not on my own.
I know I should have stayed with the body, but I just couldnt face it.
So Dave walked with me back to the cars and then he drove off to work.
He had a meeting.
I phoned the police from there and waited.
Can you give me some timings?
When you arrived, when you saw the body?
I was supposed to meet Dave at midday, but he was a bit late.
Matthew imagined her sitting in her car, getting more and more anxious that her lover wouldnt turn up.
It was probably nearer half past when he got there.
It was ten past two when we first saw the body.
I checked my watch.
Did you see anyone else on the beach?
Nobody that I was aware of.
He suspected the guy was stringing her along, making promises that he had no intention of keeping.
Would she enjoy the affair, anyway, if it stopped being illicit and exciting?
But relationship counselling wasnt in his job description and it wasnt his place to give advice.
He stood up and told her how helpful shed been and left the house.
