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‘Who?’ said Strike, now watching the wing mirror.
‘The red Vauxhall Corsa behind the Mazda… but it might not be the same one.’
‘What d’you mean?’
‘There was a red Corsa right behind us as we drove away from the garage in London. That one,’ said Robin, glancing in the rear-view mirror again, ‘has been keeping a car between us and it for the last few miles. Can you see the number plate?’
‘No,’ said Strike, squinting into the wing mirror. The driver was a fat man in sunglasses.
‘Weird.’
‘What?’
‘There’s another adult in there but they’re in the back seat… try speeding up. Overtake this Polo.’
Robin did so. Strike watched the Corsa in the wing mirror. It pulled out, overtook the Mazda, then settled back in behind the Polo.
‘Coincidence?’ said Robin.
‘Time will tell,’ said Strike, his eyes on the pursuant car.
105
Conflict within weakens the power to conquer danger without.
The I Ching or Book of Changes
‘I was being paranoid,’ said Robin.
She’d just taken the turning onto the A309 leading to Thames Ditton, but the red Vauxhall Corsa had continued along the A307 and vanished.
‘I’m not so sure,’ said Strike, checking the pictures he’d taken covertly of the Corsa in the wing mirror. ‘They might just’ve wanted confirmation we’re visiting the Edensors.’
‘Which we’ve just given them, by turning off,’ said Robin anxiously. ‘Maybe they think Will and Qing are staying with Sir Colin?’
‘They might,’ agreed Strike. ‘We’d better warn him to keep a lookout for that car.’
The house in which Sir Colin and Lady Edensor had raised their three sons lay on the banks of the Thames, on the edge of a suburban village. Though its street face was unpretentious, its considerable size became apparent when Sir Colin led the two detectives through the house to the rear. A succession of airy rooms full of comfortable furniture culminated in a modern kitchen-cum-dining area, with walls composed largely of glass, revealing a long lawn running at a gentle slope down to the river.
Will’s older brothers were waiting silently in the kitchen: James, dark and scowling, was standing beside an expensive-looking coffee machine, while the younger and fairer son, Ed, was sitting at a large dining table, his walking stick propped against the wall behind him. Robin sensed tension in the room. Neither brother looked as though they’d been rejoicing that Will had, at last, left the UHC, nor did they make any noise or sign of welcome. The strained atmosphere suggested that hot words had been exchanged, prior to their arrival. With unconvincing cheeriness, Sir Colin said,
‘James and Ed wanted to be here, for the full update. Please, sit down,’ he said, gesturing towards the table where Ed was already sitting. ‘Coffee?’
‘That’d be great,’ said Strike.
Once five coffees had been made, Sir Colin had joined them at the table, although James remained standing.
‘So, Will’s staying with your office manager,’ said Sir Colin.
‘Pat, yes,’ said Strike. ‘I think it’s a good arrangement. Keeps him out of the vicinity of Rupert Court.’
‘I must give her some money for his food and board, until he… while he’s there.’
‘Very good of you,’ said Strike. ‘I’ll pass that on.’
‘Could I send over some of his clothes?’
‘I’d advise against,’ said Strike. ‘As I said to you on the phone, he’s threatened to take off again, if we tell you he’s out.’
