Gloria and her father called in while you were gone. To thank us for yesterday.'
`I hope you told them it was de nada.'
`Of course.'
`How's she bearing up?'
`Pretty well. She's got guts — and her father being here's helping her a lot too. Arturo's told her that he'll release the body tomorrow straight after the autopsy, all being well. They're fixing the funeral for Wednesday. Gloria asked if we'd go. I said yes, if Kathleen could find us a babysitter.'
`Wait and see: Kathleen'll do it herself. There'll be no stopping her.'
`Then she'll be Jazz's first official sitter. It's just too bad about the reason we need one.'
`Yes. Here, try this theory for size. Apparently Ainscow's footloose and fancy free. No current missus. Arturo was wondering if he and Gloria might have been having it off, then Santi found out and couldn't take it. What d'you think?'
`No way. She's a well-brought-up Spanish lady. She wouldn't do that. And Santi was a Spanish guy, remember. If Arturo's idea was right, Santi would have been more likely to kill her, and Ainscow, than himself. No way, no way, no way.'
`Yes, that's more or less what I said to Arturo as well.'
They were dining at home, on their wide terrace. The air had cleared with the cooling of the day, and the jagged skyline of the Pyrenees was etched sharply on the horizon. The sun had just fallen and the sky along the mountains had taken on the pinkish tinge that they knew would darken and turn purple with the breakthrough of the earliest of the evening stars.
Sarah raised her glass of Fonter towards the Pyrenees in a toast. 'To my big mountain. It's a dream here; Bob, isn't it?'
He looked at her and smiled; a smile from the eyes, a smile from the heart. 'Because of you, Professor Sarah, all because of you. The best night I ever had in this town was the night you said you'd marry me. I still dream about that — here and in Scotland.'
She smiled back at him. Their eyes locked, and the air between them seemed to grow warmer, in defiance of the gathering — dusk. 'Ask me again,' she whispered.
He gave a tiny shake of his head. 'No. You might give me a different answer.'
`No chance of that, copper. You're stuck with me.'
He reached across the table and took her hand. 'Well, in that case.His smile widened again into a grin which had, only one meaning.
And then the telephone rang.
'Bugger.' Bob walked into the villa and picked it up. 'Nola.'
`Hi, hombre. How goes it with you, and how's my kid brother?' Alex's timing has always been accidentally impeccable, Bob thought.
`It goes great with us all, and your kid brother is unstoppable. Eats, sleeps, shits and smiles; that just about sums him up. He doesn't stint on any of them, either.'
`Buy him a drink for me, then.'
Bob laughed at his daughter's obvious delight in her new sibling. 'Aye, I'll do that.'
`I hear you're busy out there, Pops. Andy said you'd fallen on some police work.'
`Andy said?'
`Yes. I'm at his place just now.' Before he could comment, she added, `I'm staying at Fairyhouse Avenue tonight.'
`Yes, fine. How are the finals?'
`One to go, on Tuesday. Studying's over, though. You could say that quiet confidence is flowing down the telephone line.'
`Good. Keep your mind on Tuesday, and let's hope that confidence is not misplaced.'
`So what is this thing you're caught up in?'
`It's a mess, but we'll sort it out in the next couple of days, I reckon. Now go and give Andy's phone bill a break. I'll call you after your last exam.'
`Don't make it Tuesday evening, then. Andy's taking me out to celebrate. Bye.'
He went back to the terrace, and to Sarah. She looked at him, enquiring with her eyes.
`Alex. Asking after Jazz. She's at Andy's.'
`Mmm.' Sarah smiled a quiet smile.
Bob reached his hand across the table once more. 'Now Professor, as I was saying..
And then, through the baby intercom, came the strident sound of Jazz's first waking cry.
Bob shook his head and laughed. 'That does it. I'm going to have a beer. I know whose needs come first in this house!'