Kill Them Cold Read online

  "It was Alex's site, wasn't it? The failure came down on him—"

  "Yes, they certainly made sure that it did!"

  Tamara was taken aback but didn't let it show. "How do you mean?"

  "It was a joint venture. Alex was only responsible for half of it. He was desperate to prove his theory. He'd spent years working towards it and this was the culmination of so many months … years even, of energy and effort. But it didn't pan out and someone had to carry the can, so to speak."

  "It fell on Alex?"

  She nodded furiously, sniffing hard and rifling through her pockets looking for a tissue. Tom rose from his seat and returned with a box of tissues, placing them alongside her. She thanked him, plucking one from the box and wiping her nose.

  "It shouldn't have been that way. There were those of us who joined the call for the excavation; me, Tim … and Billy." She looked between them, wondering if they knew who she was referring to. Tamara signalled that she did. "Good old Billy. He made damn sure he didn't shoulder any of the responsibility. If anyone was as accountable as Alex then it was him, but nothing stuck." She looked dejected. "Tim tried to speak up for Alex at the review. I couldn’t, the two of us being in a relationship skewed my perspective in the mind of the review body's Chairman. As I say, Tim tried but Billy was so keen to tie it around Alex's neck and watch him sink."

  "I thought they were friends?" Tom asked.

  "They were, great friends," she said, smiling weakly and then shrugging. "But Billy was the one making great strides in his career and Alex was the closest to him in that respect. They both shared a competitive streak and there was a fellowship on the horizon for Billy, and all of us thought if Alex proved his thesis then he would be the one who garnered the limelight. Billy … he's not keen on sharing the platform, you know?"

  "To such an extent that he'd throw his best friend under the bus for the sake of his own career?" Tamara asked.

  Rose closed her eyes, shaking her head. "They were friends, close friends even, but you also have to appreciate the dynamic between them." Tamara sat forward, eagerly waiting for the explanation. "Although Billy was the one making great strides in building his reputation, it was Alex who our peers admired the most." She smiled, fondly recalling her memories. "Alex was quite the personality. When he walked into a room everyone turned towards him. Have you ever met someone like that? Someone who almost attracts you whether it be consciously or not. He was rather dashing, charming, quick with a smile and people hung on his every word."

  Tamara found it difficult to reconcile this image of the man with the wreck of an individual whom she met. Julia Rose must have read her mind because she found her watching her intently as she processed the information.

  "Have you seen him recently?" Rose asked tentatively, chewing her lower lip. "Alex?"

  "Yes, we've spoken to him," Tamara replied, her eyes moving to Tom. Rose followed her gaze.

  "How is he?"

  Tamara ducked the question for now, keen not to get sidetracked. "When was the last time you spoke to him?"

  Rose thought about it, her eyelids fluttering and her expression turned vacant. Tamara noticed her hands shaking.

  "When did you last eat something?" she asked. Rose shook her head to say she didn't know. Tom got up and went over to the vending machines. The serving staff from the kitchen had cleared away from lunch and there was no hot food available. Tom returned to the table with a few biscuits on a side plate and a cheese roll wrapped in cellophane. He set them down in front of Rose who smiled appreciatively. Reaching for one of the biscuits, she broke off the end and put it in her mouth, sweeping away the crumbs that fell onto the table in front of her. Picking up her coffee cup, she sipped from it.

  "I've not spoken to Alex for over a year, not seen him for even longer." She swallowed hard. "It's difficult when … when you have such a shared history."

  "Didn't you break up eighteen years ago?" Tamara asked.

  "Longer, I think," Rose said, her eyes lingering on the roll. Tamara gestured for her to help herself and Rose didn't need to hear the offer twice and set about unwrapping it. "But I still care for him very deeply." She lifted the roll to her mouth, hesitating. "We just couldn't stay together anymore."

  "Why not?"

  Rose chewed on her food slowly, Tamara waiting patiently.

  "Alex was – is – a troubled soul. It just got too difficult to manage." She tilted her head to one side thoughtfully. "He was always difficult to manage. There was so much going on behind the smile."

  "We understand that the failure of the Branodunum dig dealt him quite a blow, career wise?"

  "That was a catalyst, certainly," Rose said, setting her roll down on the side plate. "But he was struggling for years before that." Her eyes reflected an unspoken pain. "He hid it well. I helped him. Together we kept it from the others. From the outside looking in, Alex was everything we all aspired to be but it wasn't the reality. Many nights, even when we were undergrads, I would find him curled up in his room, in tears. He was prone to drinking binges, often leading to blackouts where he'd disappear for a couple of days and have very little recollection as to where he was, who he was with or what he got up to. Or that's what he'd tell me."

  "You didn't believe him?" Tamara asked.

  She smiled weakly and rolled her eyes, indicating to Tamara that she just didn't know. "I wanted to. Sometimes he would self-harm … the pain he suffered and the pressure he would put himself under in order to maintain his success was immense. It was impossible really. Don't get me wrong, he was brilliant, truly brilliant in the field. His career was only on an upward trajectory and was going to be anything he chose it to be, that's how impressive he was!"

  "It didn't go that way though."

  Rose pursed her lips, offering a curt shake of the head. "If only he could have got control of his demons then it all would have panned out differently."

  "You say he self-harmed but did Alex," Tamara paused, searching for the right words, " ever hurt you or anyone else?"

  Rose fixed Tamara with a hard stare. "Emotionally? All the time. He didn't mean to, I'm certain, but he would spiral into these depths of depression and if we couldn't catch it early enough then he was prone to draw in those closest to him. It was a devastatingly destructive cycle. That's why I had to leave in the end; I couldn't bear seeing him that way and I felt myself slipping into it as well."

  Tamara solemnly bobbed her head. "And what about any physical manifestations?"

  "Against me?" she asked, averting her eyes from Tamara's watchful gaze. She looked awkward now, uncomfortable with the question. Tamara sensed her reticence.

  "Julia, was Alex ever physical with you?"

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  "One time, yes," Rose whispered. Then she looked straight at Tamara. "But it was one time and I know he didn't mean it. He was just lashing out and I happened to be the one to be there."

  "They never mean it," Tamara said quietly. Rose bristled. "Can you describe it? When did it happen?"

  Rose closed her eyes, her fingertips gently drumming on the table in front of her. "That night; the last Friday at Branodunum." Tamara saw Tom edge forward in his seat. "He'd been drinking. We'd all been drinking. There were some heated words spoken that night, accusations flying around in all directions; about the dig … and … other things." Rose, wringing her hands, was on edge.

  "Tina Farrow?" Tamara asked. The hand wringing stopped and a dark veil descended across Rose's face. "You remember Tina?"

  "Yes, Tina. Who could forget her?" she said, dismissively.

  "Is that what you and Alex were arguing about?"

  Rose was surprised, drawing herself upright.

  "A witness reported seeing the two of you in a heated discussion. She said it was unpleasant to watch—"

  "It was a damn sight more unpleasant to be a part of, I can assure you! Yes, it was outside the Crown. We argued in the rear lobby and it spilled outside. He tried to walk away and I pulled him back."
She shuddered. "I should have let him go but … I was furious with him." Rose took a deep breath, rubbing at her cheeks and then pressing her fingertips into her eyes. Slowly drawing her hands from her face, she sighed, looking like she was carrying the weight of the world. "It wasn't about Tina, not really. It was no secret she'd taken a shine to Alex. She wasn't the first and wouldn't be the last either."

  "How did that feel, having Tina flirting with your partner so brazenly? Because it was brazen wasn't it, flaunting it in front of you?"

  "Yes, it was," Rose said, exhaling heavily. "I didn't care for it, that's for sure. Fair enough though, isn't it, to be annoyed? I mean, I barely knew her. The guys on the other hand … they lapped up the attention."

  "An attractive girl."

  Rose nodded. "Yes, and she made sure they all saw it. I've come across the likes of her before …"

  "How do you mean?"

  She shrugged. "Low self-worth, lack of confidence despite outward projections to the contrary … she was quite typical, really. A very damaged young woman."

  "Is that what you thought at the time?"

  "No, of course not. At the time I wanted to …"

  "You wanted to do what to her?"

  Her shoulders sagged and her eyes looked up at Tamara and away again. "Honestly? I wanted to smash her teeth in."

  Tamara raised her eyebrows at the venom behind the words.

  “I’m just being honest," Rose replied with a shrug. "I couldn't stand her. She barely spoke to any of the girls on the dig. Even her colleagues didn't like her, you could see it in the way they interacted. Looking back now, I can see how damaged she was, how vulnerable and I can only wonder what made her behave that way."

  "And Alex, how did he respond to her attention?"

  Rose scoffed. "Alex was hanging on by his fingernails at that point. I think he only noticed because it bothered me so much – and it did bother me – because she was attractive and adept at turning a guy's attention to her. They were all enthralled by her, Billy, Tim … her boss, practically anyone who moved in her sphere."

  "Did you challenge her on her behaviour?" Tom asked. She shook her head.

  "I didn't have the nerve to. I've never been good at dealing with confrontation. With Alex it was different, I could have a go at him quite happily." She smiled weakly, nursing her cup. It must have gone cold by now but she didn't say anything and drank it anyway. "Especially with a couple of gin and tonics inside me."

  "So that evening you had a row with Alex?"

  "Yes," she said flatly, her eyes looking up as she thought through the detail. "There was quite a party going on in the bar, with a lot of people there celebrating the end of the excavation. They don't always go well but you can be sure of a decent send off. Anyway, what with the stress of it all, the last few days were catching up on us; not enough sleep, the upcoming evaluations, hell, the absolute failure of it all, and it all came to a head. We'd been sniping at each other for a couple of days—"

  "You and Alex?"

  "No, the whole senior team. It was clear that the scrutiny was coming and I guess everyone was trying to get their heads around it. We agreed not to discuss it anymore that evening and we would just join the team in blowing off a little steam. These things happen after all. So we scheduled a discussion for the following day to run through it, to get all our ducks in a row before heading home."

  "A meeting with all of you present?"

  She nodded.

  "But none of us could set things aside and after a few drinks the finger pointing started again. Billy was constantly digging at Alex, bringing up every decision Alex had made during the excavation and in the months leading up to it as if it was all his fault. Usually I would step in and help but," she sighed," I was so annoyed with him. Tina was flitting around them all, more so than usual with a few drinks under her belt as well, so I left him to it which only exacerbated the situation. Tim wasn't himself either."

  "Tell us about Tim," Tamara said. There must have been something in her tone because Rose's demeanour shifted slightly, eyeing Tamara warily.

  "You've spoken to Tim already, haven't you?"

  "Yes. He was quite forthcoming."

  Rose sank forward, head in hands. It was a few seconds before she lifted it again, taking a breath.

  "It wasn't planned, at least not on my part. Alex and I fell out and he'd stormed off. I was going back to our room, fully intending to pack my things and leave." She laughed dryly. "Not that I could go anywhere. I was half cut, it was around ten o'clock at night and Alex was driving us! But I bumped into Tim."

  "On your way back to your room?"

  "No. I went out for some fresh air. It was a clear night, warm and I needed to clear my head. I met Tim outside. He saw I was upset and tried to do what any friend would do and calm me down, make sure I was all right." She hesitated, interlocking her fingers before her and staring at them. "It shouldn't have happened but," she said drawing a deep breath, "he was drunk as well and I guess ultimately, I allowed it to. I was so damn angry with Alex!"

  "What happened exactly?"

  Her brow wrinkled and she pursed her lips, trying to recall the events of that night. "It was so long ago."

  "Please try."

  "Okay … I don't remember who initiated it. It could just as easily have been me but I don't remember. I knew Tim fancied me. He wasn't overt with it but," she looked at Tamara, "a woman just knows, doesn't she?"

  "Did you spend the night with Tim Hendry?"

  "No, no I didn't. Whether it was the sea air sobering me up or the realisation of what we were doing, I don't know, but I came to my senses and pulled away from him."

  "And?"

  She shrugged. "And nothing. I went back to my room. Tim tried to follow, pull me back but I shook him off and ran away from him."

  "Was he angry with you?"

  "No, nothing like that. I think he was frightened I'd say something to Alex I expect."

  "Did you?"

  She shook her head. "He wasn't there when I got back to our room. I crept in in case he was asleep but the bed was empty and hadn't been slept in. He didn't come back that night. I didn't set eyes on him until I got to the site the next day."

  "Where did he stay, did he tell you?"

  "No and I didn't ask. There was so much about that night that I wanted to forget ever happened." She picked up the remainder of her cheese roll and inspected it. It was only half eaten and she put it back down, pushing the plate to one side.

  "But you and Tim did have a relationship though, correct?" Tom asked. Rose looked at him glumly and nodded.

  "Some time later, after Alex and I split. It was over in a couple of months though."

  "Why, if you don't mind me asking?"

  "Not at all, no." She shrugged. "By then I was spending much of my time in Scandinavia, Sweden mostly at that time. Tim was carving out a career for himself in Southern Europe and the whole television documentary circuit had earmarked him as a fresh talent. Have you seen his shows?"

  "No, but," Tamara said, thinking of Eric, "but I know someone who probably has."

  "Anyway, it's hard to maintain a relationship at that distance. Besides, I don't think I was as interesting to him as he first thought." She met Tamara's enquiring look and smiled. "I think after years of silent pursuit, Tim found the fantasy was more exciting than the reality. In any event, he married soon after and that was that."

  "Can we revisit the final day, the Saturday," Tamara said, thinking. "Who do you remember was present on the site to close things down?"

  "That's easy: me, Alex and Billy plus a handful of others to help clear up any mess, pack up the tents and whatnot. Any finds we'd dug up were already catalogued and boxed ready for shipping. Not that there was a lot. Most people had been sent home already."

  "Tim Hendry?"

  She chewed on her lower lip. "No, he wasn't there. He had something on in London on the Saturday morning."

  "And have you any idea when he left for Lon
don?"

  "No, sorry. Why?"

  Tamara ignored the question.

  "And following your argument with Alex, did you see Tina Farrow again?"

  "No, I didn't. Why do you ask?" She looked puzzled.

  "Because it was the remains of Tina Farrow that were found at Branodunum."

  Rose gasped, raising a hand to her mouth.

  "You didn't know?"

  "I–I… no, I didn't."

  Tamara glanced at Tom, checking if he'd heard enough and he offered a slight wave of the hand to indicate he had no further questions.

  "We'll get you another cup of coffee," Tamara said, slowly rising and inclining her head for Tom to join her. "Then we'll arrange somewhere for you to stay. You must be exhausted." They walked over to the other side of the room to where the vending machines stood. Tamara dropped some coins into the machine and selected a white coffee, looking back at Julia Rose sitting in her seat, staring straight ahead with a vacant expression. She dipped her head in Rose's direction. "Is it possible she really didn't know?"

  Tom frowned. "If she's been travelling since early yesterday and – Svelgen being so remote – I'm not sure news of our local crimes necessarily travels there very quickly. Tina's name has been out in the public domain for less than forty-eight hours, so I guess it's possible."

  "And Hendry has been withholding information; didn't he say he'd left Brancaster for London on Friday evening?"

  "Yes, although his leaving out the part of the evening where he hit on his best mate's girlfriend is something we shouldn't be surprised about."

  "Speaking from experience?"

  Tom smiled ruefully.

  "Not to mention he would most likely have been well over the limit to drive, if she's right," Tamara gestured in Rose's direction, "and he was as drunk as she says."

  "Maybe the fresh air sobered him up too?"