Crane nodded.
‘That’s reasonable to expect,’ he said.
Erika went on, ‘The launderette where I used to live in Forest Hill was always closing if one of the old ladies who worked there died.’
‘Maybe it’s the older generation who have more respect and value for life. Or maybe they can’t close the restaurant, cos they need the money?’
Erika nodded and frowned.
‘Fiona, the Family Liaison, just said that the brother-in-law made them a big cooked breakfast this morning, the works, blood pudding. Is that weird?’
‘The blood pudding?’
‘The sister was stabbed to death the night before. Tess finds her body. Then the next morning, they’re up as usual, tucking into a big greasy cooked breakfast. It’s weird. Isn’t it?’
‘People are weird, boss. Don’t forget that. And being weird doesn’t necessarily mean criminal,’ said Crane.
‘Okay, you’re right,’ said Erika. ‘Sorry to bug you.’
‘Any time,’ he said. He turned back to his computer and clicked on a video file showing a view of the concourse and ticket office at Blackheath train station. Erika turned back to her computer and stared at the screen before googling ‘Do restaurants close for family bereavement?’ She then deleted it, feeling stupid.
The rest of the afternoon crawled by. There was so much information coming into the incident room, and it all had to be checked and followed up on. Erika left two more messages for Isaac. By 8pm, everyone had gone home, and Erika decided to call it a day.
When she reached the exit to the car park, she was about to pull out of the junction, when she remembered what Peterson had said about the bed sale nearby. The last thing she wanted to do was visit a bed shop, but the thought of sleeping on bare floorboards spurred her on.
When she pulled up outside Bed World, the car park was busy, despite the late hour. Scrawled on the window in huge black and red bubble writing was: DOUBLE QUEEN AND KING DISCOUNT MADNESS!
Erika got out of her car and went inside, determined to buy the first decent bed she saw, and then skedaddle. There were few other people milling around, and as Erika went to look at a queen bed with a nice modern-looking headboard, she saw Peterson and Fran two beds over. He was lying on the mattress and she was sitting on the end, testing the ‘give’。
Erika was about to turn round and leave when they both looked up and saw her. Peterson froze, and then sat up. An odd look crossed his face, as if he’d been caught in bed with the wrong person. Fran got up and smoothed down her skirt.
‘Shopping for beds?’ she asked. Erika paused and looked around.
‘I could use you on my team, with those powers of deduction,’ she said. She meant it to come out jokingly, but she heard her voice and it sounded catty.
‘Erika was telling me she didn’t have a bed in her new house, and I told her this place was doing a discount,’ said Peterson, who was now sitting up and adjusting his tie.
‘Yes, sleeping on an airbed isn’t much fun,’ said Erika. You could have told me you were thinking of coming here tonight, she thought. There was an awkward pause.
‘Well, nice to see you. We’ll let you get on,’ said Fran. And she turned her back on Erika, and started to talk about the width of the bed and if it would fit into their bedroom.
Peterson gave Erika an apologetic nod and turned away. Erika moved off to the other end of the store. Her heart was beating fast and she felt embarrassed. Glancing around wildly, she saw she’d stumbled into the children’s section, which was full of beds shaped like racing cars, and dinosaurs, and there was even one which looked like a giant glow-worm. A little girl was bouncing up and down on the racing car bed, gripping the steering wheel.
Erika crossed to the other side of the store, and saw it was all couples, and couples with children, and she suddenly felt exposed for her single childlessness. A tall teenage boy, in a black suit like Lurch from The Addams Family, appeared at her elbow.
‘May I help you, madam?’ he intoned. He had a tape measure around his neck, and he reminded Erika more of an undertaker than a bed salesman.
‘Yes. I want to buy that bed. Now,’ she said, pointing.
‘Lovely, madam. This is a very good choice. This particular bed has a patented four level internal spring system, impregnated with anti-bacterial, organically sourced cotton. And I can see, if you don’t mind me saying, that you are a taller lady…’
‘Yes, I’ll buy it,’ said Erika, cutting off his patter. Fran and Peterson were now lying side by side on an exotic-looking four-poster bed with a chiffon canopy. Fran was holding his hand and laughing loudly.