Nine Elms (Kate Marshall #1)(81)

“Oh my Lord! When?”

“A couple of weeks ago.” Tristan went on to explain about the abduction and murder of Layla Gerrard.

“How terrible,” he said, clutching a hand to his chest. “You look very young to be a private detective. How old are you?”

“Twenty-one, sir,” said Tristan.

“You don’t think it was me who abducted her?” he said. “I’ve only just got back from a few weeks in hospital.”

“Sorry to hear that. The reason we’re calling is that we see you have a security camera on top of your house, looking at the road,” said Kate. “Have the police been in touch? In case it captured anything of the abduction?”

“No. They haven’t . . .” He peered up and down the road and then back to Tristan. He smiled. “I was just about to make a pot of tea. Would you like a cup?”

“Yes, thank you,” said Tristan.

“That would be lovely,” added Kate. Frederick seemed to direct the invitation at only Tristan.

“Do come in,” he said, standing back to let them into the hallway. “Perhaps you could give me a hand, with the tea?” Frederick asked Tristan.

“Sure.”

“Karen, you make yourself comfortable in the living room,” he added to Kate.

“It’s Kate,” she said, but he had already taken Tristan off down the hallway. She went into the living room. It reminded her of a house from the 1930s, with heavy wooden furniture and a bar in the corner with a soda siphon. There was a gramophone on a sideboard with an old-style horn, and the front windows were inlaid with lead and there was stained glass in the corners. The light cast soft colors over the edge of an oyster shell–patterned sofa with matching chairs. A modern flat-screen television had been plonked on a low credenza, and she peered behind it and saw an internet modem flashing.

A few minutes later, Frederick returned with Tristan, and he was asking him about his tattoos.

“Is it just the ones on your forearms?” he said.

“I’ve got an eagle with his wings spread on my back and shoulders,” said Tristan, placing the tray on the small table in front of the sofa.

“My goodness, may I see it?”

Kate gave Tristan a look, but he obliged Frederick and lifted his T-shirt, first showing a washboard stomach and muscular pectorals. He turned around to show the spread wings across his back and shoulders. Kate thought it sounded tacky, but when she saw it, it was beautifully done.

“My, my . . . I think I’ll have to have a lie-down when you leave,” joked Frederick. Tristan pulled his T-shirt down and sat next to Kate. Kate was grateful to Tristan for playing along but thought he shouldn’t have to start pulling up his clothes.

“Would you like me to pour the tea?” she asked.

“Yes, you be Mother,” said Frederick. Kate poured the tea and waited until Frederick eased himself into the armchair opposite, then passed him a cup. She passed one to Tristan and then sat beside him and took a sip from her cup.

“When was the security camera put on the front of your house?” she asked.

“Four months ago. It was put in for insurance purposes,” said Frederick, sitting back in his chair and adjusting his glasses. He blew on his tea and took a sip.

“Would you mind if we took a look at the footage, for the day the girl went missing?” asked Tristan.

“What girl?”

Kate briefly explained again.

“I don’t know how it works. My niece had it put in, and she comes to check it.”

“Where do you keep the system?” asked Tristan.

“The cistern?”

“No. The computer system for the security cameras. Is it in a box?”

“Oh. Yes. It’s in the cupboard under the stairs. Feel free to have a look. I haven’t got a clue how it works.”

Kate and Tristan went into the hallway. They had to move a small table and lamp from in front of the cupboard door, and inside among the dust and old boots and shoes, they found a small box with several green LED lights winking and flashing.

“It looks like it records the video from the camera to a hard drive,” said Tristan. “It has an app-based security system, which we can log on to remotely.”

He pulled a piece of paper off the top of the box and held it up to Kate. It had the log-on details and the password. He pulled out his phone, took a photo of the paper, and put it back.

They returned to the living room and finished their tea, and Tristan asked if they could have a look at the footage. Frederick didn’t understand how it all worked but said Tristan could look through it.

“I hope you find the person who abducted this young woman,” said Frederick, accompanying them to the front door. He seemed sad that his impromptu visitors were leaving.

“Thank you, this could be hugely helpful,” said Tristan.

They came back to the car, and Tristan downloaded the security camera app for his phone using his data signal.

“I feel bad. He didn’t know I took a photo of the password,” said Tristan.

“We’re just looking for the footage from one date, and it could help find Layla’s killer,” said Kate. “And you flashed him your abs . . . I’m sure that’s a mental picture he’ll be dining out on for a long time.”