Keep Her Close. M.J. Ford

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СКАЧАТЬ She’s really nervous.

      ‘Why don’t you tell me, and we’ll see.’

      ‘There’s a tutor here – Professor Ronald Myers. Malin made a complaint about him … being inappropriate. Anyway, he’s retired now. I just thought you should know. It’s probably nothing.’

      ‘You mean sexually inappropriate?’

      ‘He tried to kiss her,’ said Anna. ‘She told him she wasn’t interested.’

      ‘And Myers teaches at Oriel?’

      ‘Not anymore,’ said Anna. ‘He left in the summer.’

      ‘How old is he?’

      ‘I don’t know. Sixties, I suppose. I didn’t want to say before – it’s seems quite unlikely …’

      Jo’s heart quickened, her chest fluttering. ‘Do you know where we can find Myers now?’

      ‘I’m sorry, I don’t,’ said Anna. ‘Ms Frampton-Keys will be able to tell you. I’d rather you didn’t mention me, though.’

      ‘No, of course not. Thanks, Anna. Oh, one more thing. We spoke to Ross, and he told us that Malin thought she was being followed recently. Did she ever mention anything like that to you?’

      A pause. ‘I’m sorry – I don’t think she did.’

      ‘It’s something you’d remember, presumably?’

      ‘Well, yes. I can’t imagine why she’d keep anything like that from me.’

      ‘Okay – thanks for your time.’

      Jo waited by the counter. Maybe she wasn’t being followed at all, and it genuinely was paranoia. It did seem strange that she’d only made the claim to Ross Catskill. Unless he’s lying, to throw us off …

      Jo thought about ringing Frampton-Keys for Myers’ address, but thought better of it. She’d shown where her loyalties lay already, and would probably call Professor Myers right after getting off the phone. The college office might help, but the same issue applied. She called Heidi instead, and asked casually for an address check without mentioning the case it related to. In half a minute, she had it.

      ‘Thanks, Heidi.’

      With the Korean food losing heat and filling the car with its scent, Jo turned around and drove to the address in the north east of the city. Her toes still stubbornly refused to warm up. Ronald Myers’ place was a quaint cottage in Marston that opened right onto the narrow pavement. Jo drove past once and, seeing lights on, parked around the corner. She walked between the pools of light from the streetlamps, her breath clouding on the air. She used the heavy brass knocker.

      As he opened the door onto a narrow and cosy hallway, Jo’s first impression was that Myers wasn’t all that old. A swarthy black beard covered his lower face; he looked more like a sea captain than a tutor of history. The thick and slightly shapeless jumper he wore only added to that impression, and his broad forearms stuck out through the bottom of the shrunken sleeves. His nails, on his squared fingertips, were thick and yellowing.

      Jo introduced herself. ‘We’re investigating the disappearance of a former student of yours – Malin Sigurdsson.’

      Myers’ brows contracted around a deep vertical cleft. ‘Has something happened to her?’

      ‘Maybe I could come in?’ said Jo.

      Myers moved aside. ‘Go on through,’ he said.

      Jo squeezed past and found herself in a cosy lounge, lined on two sides by floor-to-ceiling shelves of books. A wood-burning stove was blazing and she was too hot at once. On a small table was a set of car keys with a branded Morris Garages keyring.

      ‘Can I get you anything?’ asked Myers, with his back to her. He crouched, opened the stove and placed on another log.

      ‘No, thank you,’ she said. ‘I won’t take up much of your time. When did you last see Malin Sigurdsson?’

      Myers straightened, turned to face her and spread his shovel-like hands. Jo wondered how he’d feel about giving fingerprints. ‘I haven’t seen her for weeks,’ he said. ‘Months. Not since I retired. Before the summer break.’

      ‘So you’ve had no contact since then?’

      He sat on a sagging armchair and placed both hands on his knees. ‘Perhaps you could explain what this is about?’

      ‘Malin’s missing,’ said Jo. ‘We’re following a number of leads to ascertain what might have happened.’

      ‘I assure you I know nothing of that,’ said Myers.

      ‘Can you tell me exactly the nature of your relationship with Malin?’

      ‘I was her tutor.’

      ‘Until you … retired?’ He nodded. ‘You see, I heard you left under something of a cloud.’

      ‘Who told you that?’

      ‘That doesn’t matter,’ said Jo. ‘You were attracted to Malin, though?’

      ‘Is that a crime?’

      ‘You tried to kiss her and she didn’t like it.’

      ‘I went through all this with the college,’ he said. ‘I made a mistake, as foolish old men are wont to do.’

      ‘Sounds like sexual assault to me,’ said Jo.

      ‘All right – I’d like you to leave,’ said Myers.

      ‘We haven’t finished talking.’

      Myers stood up. ‘Do I need to call your superiors?’ he said. ‘I’m quite aware of my rights.’

      Jo stood as well. ‘Don’t worry – we’re on top of things,’ she said. ‘All right if I have a look around?’

      She began to walk towards another door. It looked like there was a dining area on the other side, with a set of stairs running right to left. Myers blocked her path.

      ‘It isn’t,’ he said. ‘This is my home, and I’ve made my wishes clear.’

      ‘We can come back with a warrant,’ she said.

      ‘Then do so.’ He gestured towards the door, impatient and resolute. ‘Good evening, detective.’

      She showed herself out into the cold street, looking up and down. He was probably watching her from inside. She walked back to her car, drove slowly back past his house, then pulled up in a layby a couple of streets away. The fact he hadn’t consented to a search didn’t mean much, in her experience.

      The food would be stone cold. She texted Lucas to let him know she’d been delayed. It wouldn’t be the first time work had got in the way of sustenance.

      After five minutes, СКАЧАТЬ