The Stone Wife

‘May we come in?’

‘It’s not my house.’ Bernie turned and raised his eyebrows at Tess. ‘It may not be convenient.’

She froze, uncertain what to say.

‘We can do it at Marlborough nick, if you prefer,’ Diamond said. He’d played this game many times before.

Bernie swore, turned his back and beckoned at the same time. They followed him into a spacious living room that must have been in Tess Thompson’s family for generations. It looked out of the 1930s, a three-piece suite in chintz, dining table and chairs, standard lamp and Welsh dresser laden with crockery. Framed family photos adorned the walls.

Having thrust himself into the main armchair beside the stone fireplace, Bernie said, ‘This had better not take long.’

The owner of the farm hesitated in the doorway. ‘Do you want me here?’

‘It’s your gaff, gorgeous,’ he said. ‘No reason for you to leave.’

She crossed to the other armchair, leaving the sofa for Diamond and Halliwell.

Diamond came straight to the point. ‘Do you recall where you were on the day Professor Gildersleeve was shot?’

‘Not in Bath, if that’s what you want to know,’ Bernie said. ‘I was home in Maidenhead or London. Can’t remember which.’ A problem only ever faced by a man with about five different places of residence.

‘So how do you know you weren’t in Bath?’

‘I read about it in the paper next day and thought bloody good thing I wasn’t about when that happened, or some of your lot would come knocking on my door.’

‘Why? Why would you expect a visit from us?’

‘Obvious, isn’t it? He was having it off with my slag of a wife for the best part of two years before I got to know about it. I had good reason to plug him. But I didn’t, because I was a hundred miles away.’

‘He was shot by one of three masked gunmen.’

‘So?’

‘Somebody may have hired them to carry out a contract killing.’

‘Oh yeah?’ Bernie folded his arms. ‘And you’re thinking I’d pay good money to rub out a waste of space like Gildersleeve? I’m a businessman. I spend my profits on good causes.’

Diamond’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Such as?’

‘My yacht and my house in Spain. Anyway, I’m not a violent man.’

‘That isn’t true, is it?’ Diamond said.

Bernie didn’t answer.

‘You have a criminal record.’

A moment of tension was broken when he laughed. ‘Pathetic. That’s ancient history. Kids growing up do daft things. They all do. Me, I was unlucky, got caught, paid my dues and reformed. I’m a success story, in case you haven’t noticed.’

Diamond chose not to mention the violence to Monica. There was no advantage in stoking up aggression before he’d explored another avenue. ‘Four weeks ago, you travelled to Bath and Bristol. What were you doing there?’

‘You’re well-informed,’ Bernie said, looking less confident. ‘Who told you that?’

‘We have our sources. It wasn’t a secret trip, was it?’

‘You must be joking.’ He reached for the wine bottle and topped up his glass, trying to recover his poise. ‘I was checking previous work we undertook. We always follow up, however small the project, just to make sure our clients are well satisfied.’

‘Dealing with complaints?’

He shook his head and glared. ‘Come off it, mate. We finish to a high standard.’

‘What was the project in Bath?’

‘Outside the town. You probably know it, if you come from there. Two hundred houses off the A46, forty percent of them affordable.’

‘What are the other sixty percent — millionaires’ row?’

‘Don’t get sarcastic with me. You bloody know it’s government speak, affordable homes for first-time buyers.’

‘And then you went on to Bristol.’

‘What’s wrong with that?’

‘More business?’

‘A satisfied client took me for a meal. We built a major extension for him six months ago — fitness suite and sound studio. All the latest gear. He was well satisfied, but I’ve handled jobs for him before and he knows it’s always top quality.’ He looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. ‘This is getting us nowhere. Any more questions? Because I want to get on with my evening.’

‘Here’s one,’ Diamond said. ‘Did you ever meet Professor Gildersleeve?’

‘Only once, at the divorce court. I wasn’t impressed.’

‘You threatened him. You said you’d make him pay.’

Bernie leaned forward and stabbed the air with his finger. ‘Listen, I was the mug who did the paying. My ex came out of it ten million quid better off.’

‘The words said to Gildersleeve weren’t about money. It came across as a physical threat.’

His voice became a growl. ‘How would you know what I said? Has Monica stitched me up?’

‘The law works on hard evidence, not hearsay, Bernie. If it wasn’t said, it can’t harm you.’

‘Loads of things are said in the heat of the moment. Doesn’t mean shit.’

‘So you used the words — about making him pay — and did no more about it?’

He seemed to regard the question as too trivial to answer. ‘If that bitch decided I had Gildersleeve killed, she’ll do everything in her power to frame me. She hates my guts. I’m no angel, but this won’t stick. I wasn’t there and I didn’t put a contract on the guy.’