The organ, which had been playing a melancholy tune as people filed in, stopped and a hush seemed to descend over the church. Shawn left his post on the door, and walked down the aisle towards the front and joined his group of friends, who sat a few rows in front of Erika and Moss.
A moment later, a soft voice said, ‘All rise,’ and in the hushed silence the priest stood at the lectern. He started to recite, ‘Our father, who art in heaven…’
51
The church service was strangely stilted. Erika had expected this. She knew from experience that a Catholic funeral was more of a commercial for the Catholic faith than a celebration of the person who had died. The priest had announced （looking like it left rather a bad taste in his mouth） that after the church service, there would be another ceremony at the crematorium later at 3pm. After the service Erika and Moss left the church first, and hung around to watch the mourners filing out. She kept checking her phone, hoping Becky might call.
They overheard one of the mourners say that there was an unofficial plan for some of them to go to the Brewer’s Arms pub on the high street for a drink and something to eat in between. There were four black cabs waiting on the road at the edge of the courtyard. Erika watched as Tess and Jasper emerged from the church and made a beeline for them. An ancient-looking old man and woman followed behind at a much slower pace. The woman leant on crutches and the man had a walking frame. They were helped by another man and woman, who looked to be in their forties and had the passive detachment of carers.
‘I don’t think my mum and dad could cope with the pub,’ Tess said to Jasper, looking back at their slow progress towards them. ‘There’s a quiet coffee shop up on the high street,’ she said. Jasper’s parents appeared behind them, and Conrad murmured something in Jasper’s ear, his crinkled lips pursing as he spoke.
‘Mum and Dad want to go for a drink,’ said Jasper to Tess.
‘The pub’s too crowded,’ she said.
‘Jesus, Tess. We need a drink!’ said Jasper. It was an interesting tableau. Tess’s parents were staring blankly at the doors of the black cab as the breeze off the beach flapped at their wispy hair and smart clothes, waiting to be told what to do next. Jasper and his parents were standing a few feet away in a huddle, and Tess was slap bang between them, alone in no-man’s-land on a patch of pavement. She noticed Erika and Moss standing further away.
‘Enjoying this, are you?’ she shouted. ‘Who invited you?’
‘We’re very sorry for your loss,’ said Moss after a moment. ‘We just wanted to pay our respects.’
Jasper’s parents seemed emboldened by Tess calling out to Erika and Moss. They came over to them, and both seemed to switch from contemplation to fury.
‘Our Jasper had nothing to do with this!’ said his mother, pointing a rolled-up copy of the order of service close to Erika’s face. Her cockney accent was harsh and shrill. ‘Nothing! He loved Vicky like a sister!’
Conrad walked up and got very close to Erika and Moss, and they both took a step back. Erika felt alarmed by his aggressive behaviour. He smelt of alcohol and cigarettes. He was very tall, towering over Moss, and even Erika had to look up slightly to see into his eyes.
‘The police don’t need to be here. I think it would be best if you made yourselves scarce,’ he said. His black eyes burned with a real hatred. Anger flared up in Erika, but she resisted the urge to show him her warrant card and remind him why they were there.
‘Are you Conrad, sir? What’s your wife’s name?’ asked Moss, looking up at him and keeping her cool. Erika noticed that Henrietta and Charles were standing watching, along with Shawn and his group of friends.
‘Fuck off is my only answer today,’ he said.
‘Conrad, come away,’ said Jasper’s mother. He abruptly turned on his heel and started to walk away from the church.
‘Can’t you leave us alone? We’re mourning,’ she said. She turned away from Jasper, adjusted the collar of her coat against the stiff breeze coming off the beach, and hurried after Conrad who was now weaving his way down the seafront, the wind fluttering at the thin grey hair on top of his head.
When Erika looked back at the taxi, Tess and Jasper were climbing in with Tess’s parents. Jasper glowered at them as they drove away.
‘His parents know we had Jasper under surveillance for the best part of a week,’ said Moss.
‘And wasn’t that an expensive week,’ said Erika. Jasper and Tess had spent the first week after Vicky’s murder staying with Jasper’s parents in their house in Catford, and on the sixth day, Conrad had walked up to the police car and been abusive towards McGorry and Amir, telling them that the only thing they were trying to do was mourn, and having a police car skulking on the street was upsetting his wife.