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‘You think I’m insouciant?’ Before Clara could think of a suitable retort he held his hand up. ‘Don’t answer that, I’ve a feeling I won’t like it. Does my father know about these test results?’
‘Not yet. I wanted to tell you first. I can call him if you’d like.’
‘I’d be grateful if you would. I’ll call him this evening.’ Gabriel picked the new phone up from the coffee table. ‘You’re sure that no one’s listening in on this one? I’d hate for anyone else to have to put up with his endlessly boring observations about my personal safety.’
‘No one’s listening. But I’m afraid I have some more boring observations and questions myself...’
‘I’m sure yours will be delightful. Shall we do them over a glass of wine?’ He got to his feet.
‘Not for me, thanks.’
‘Working. Of course. I can’t drink alone, though, so maybe you’ll indulge me by letting me make you tea. You decide whether or not you want to drink it.’ Gabriel shot her a smile and swept from the room.
* * *
Gabriel might change his mind when he heard what she had to say. The list that the investigation team had prepared was pretty standard, but she had a feeling that Gabriel wouldn’t relish the questions any more than she wanted to hear the answers.
He returned, holding a glass of red wine and a cup of tea, which he set down on the coffee table.
‘So... I’m wondering from the look on your face exactly how much I’m not going to like this talk of ours.’
‘It’s just routine.’ Clara was beginning to wish that Gabriel’s mood radar was a bit less accurate. ‘The questions are intrusive, but it’s all information we need to know. Your answers will be treated with the strictest confidentiality, and only shared with our investigation team.’
‘All right, let’s hear them. I can take it.’ He sat down taking a sip of his wine as if to prepare himself, and Clara felt a shiver run up her spine. Each nerve ending sparking in response to the dark gaze that seemed to devour her every time he turned it onto her.
Clara cleared her throat. She couldn’t skirt around this, and the only way forward was through it, so she’d better get on with it.
‘Romantic involvements?’ She almost fell at the first hurdle.
Gabriel nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘Yes?’
‘I mean, yes, I have romantic involvements.’
‘Can you tell me how many? In the last three years?’
‘Not offhand.’
That meant that the figure was more than either he or Clara were disposed to count. ‘Right. And did any of those end badly?’
He thought for a moment, and then shook his head. ‘Not unless I’m very much mistaken. Isn’t ending well the whole point of the exercise?’
For him, maybe. Clara couldn’t pretend to the lofty heights of many romantic involvements, and the one she could lay claim to had ended catastrophically.
‘All right. Is there any possibility that a liaison may not have ended as well as you thought? A pregnancy maybe, or someone who was very upset over a break-up? A jealous partner, or someone who felt they’d made a mistake?’
‘Let’s not mince words. I don’t sleep with women who are married or have partners. And I’m not in the habit of persuading anyone to do anything against their wishes or their own best interests.’
Clara felt her throat dry suddenly, as she saw a small pulse beat at the side of Gabriel’s brow. This clearly wasn’t as easy for him as he wanted to pretend.
‘I’m sorry—’
‘It’s all right. I know you have to ask. And the answer is that my lovers are friends. I’d know if there was a pregnancy or any bad feeling as a result of our affair.’
‘Okay. Thank you. I imagine you’re not going to give me any names.’ Names would make the investigation team’s job easier, but Clara couldn’t help feeling it would be a disappointment if Gabriel did give them.
‘You imagine quite correctly.’ He smiled suddenly, as if trying to distance himself from all of it. ‘Unless I’ve underestimated you, you have a list of contacts from my phone, but that’s not going to do you much good because I don’t sleep with everyone I talk to. And I dare say you could try to coerce the names out of me, but I’ll resist for as long as I’m able...’
