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‘Not necessarily. Were you in last night?’
‘Yes, but—’
She broke off.
‘Oh. Actually, I do remember hearing the letter flap last night.’
‘What time?’
‘Must’ve been around ten. I was having a bath.’
‘Did you check to see whether anything had been put through the door?’
‘No. I kind of registered there was nothing there when I went downstairs to get a drink. I thought I must have mistaken a noise outside for the letter box.’
‘D’you need help getting rid of the snake?’ asked Strike, who felt this was the least he could do.
‘No,’ she sighed, ‘I’ll call the RSPCA or something.’
‘All right, I’ll contact the people I’ve got tailing the brothers, find out where they were last night at ten and get back to you. Glad to hear you’re not too shaken up, Tasha,’ he added, her name having just come back to him.
‘Thank you,’ she said, mollified. ‘OK, I’ll wait to hear back.’
When she’d hung up, Strike called Barclay.
‘You were on Frank One overnight, right?’
‘Yeah,’ said Barclay.
‘Where was he around ten?’
‘At home.’
‘You sure?’
‘Aye, and so was his brother. Frank Two hasn’t been oot at all these last few days. Mebbe he’s ill.’
‘Neither of them been near what’s-her-name’s house lately?’
‘Frank One took a stroll round there on Monday. Midge was on him.’
‘Right, I’ll call her. Thanks.’
Strike rang off and phoned Midge.
‘He definitely didn’t post anything through the front door,’ said Midge, when Strike explained why he was calling. ‘Just lurked on the opposite pavement, watching her windows. He’s been at home the last few days and so’s his brother.’
‘So Barclay said.’
‘She can’t have another stalker, can she?’
‘That’s exactly what she just asked me,’ said Strike. ‘Could be some deluded fan’s idea of a surprise gift, I s’pose. Apparently she used to own a corn snake.’
‘I don’t care how many snakes you’ve owned, you don’t want one posted through your bloody door at night,’ said Midge.
‘I agree. Have you seen any coppers visiting the Franks yet?’
‘Nope,’ said Midge.
