The Therapist(72)

‘It sounds amazing, but I don’t want to put you to any trouble.’

‘It’s not a problem.’

He takes out his phone and lays it on the table. ‘I’m afraid I don’t have any news about the murder in France. I should hear back before the end of the week, though.’

‘I couldn’t find anything about anyone being arrested for it,’ I say.

‘I couldn’t either. Which makes me think it’s an ongoing case. That said, I still think it’s a long shot that the two murders are connected, given that they occurred in different countries.’

While I peel the mushrooms, I tell him about the conversation I overheard between Eve and Tamsin when I went to Tamsin’s for coffee. I feel bad for telling him, but I want his take on it.

‘Does Leo know about the gaps in the fence between your house and your neighbours?’ he asks.

‘Yes, I told him. He thought it was a good idea.’

‘I hope you don’t mind me asking, but how are things between you?’

‘He isn’t living here at the moment.’

‘I’m sorry.’

I turn away, not wanting to think about Leo. I tip the whisked eggs into two frying pans and begin cooking them slowly. The simple act of pulling the cooked edges into the centre and letting raw egg run into the space left behind is strangely soothing.

‘Have you met Tamsin’s husband?’ Thomas asks.

‘Yes.’

‘What do you think of him?’

‘I don’t think he’s a murderer, if that’s what you mean.’

‘I know I’m not telling you anything that you don’t already know, but appearances can be deceptive.’

‘You’re right, I do already know that,’ I say feelingly, adding the mushrooms and a sprinkling of cheese to the eggs.

He gives a sympathetic smile. ‘But if Tamsin thinks he had an affair with Nina,’ he begins.

‘He didn’t,’ I say quickly, and launch into an account of my conversation with Tamsin in the café. ‘The thing is,’ I say when I finish, ‘I’m not sure how much of it was genuine.’

‘Oh?’

I fold the omelettes in half, pressing down on them lightly with the spatula to melt the cheese inside. ‘Just that a part of me wonders if I’m not being set up by Tamsin. When people asked how I found out about the murder, I told them that a reporter called me. And ever since, Tamsin has been worried that the reason the reporter contacted me is because the police are actively looking into the murder again. Even though I’ve denied it, I’m sure she thinks that I’m still in contact with the reporter. What if she’s feeding me misinformation on purpose? Those two back-to-back conversations – the one I overheard, and the one I had the next day with her in the café – there’s something off about them.’

‘It does sound as if Tamsin is doing everything to let you know that her husband didn’t kill Nina. On the other hand, she also told you that he didn’t take rejection easily.’

‘I know exactly how Eve and Tamsin must have felt when they heard that Nina had had an affair,’ I say, sliding the omelettes onto plates and carrying them over to the table. ‘Those few seconds last week, when there was the possibility of Leo having known Nina, were hard. Even Maria must have wondered about Tim, if only for a few seconds. And he’s the least likely candidate.’

Thomas looks appreciatively at the omelette. ‘This looks wonderful, thank you.’ He picks up his knife and fork. ‘I’m curious as to why you think Tim is the least likely candidate. He and Nina could very easily have bonded over their interest in psychology.’

‘Maybe, but he and Maria are a really solid couple. So are Eve and Will, which is why my money would have been on Connor.’

I sit down opposite him and watch him surreptitiously from under my eyelashes while we eat. It feels right, him sitting here at the table with me.

‘You know when you said that Nina having her hair cut off could have been some sort of judgement?’ I say. ‘If someone was judging her, isn’t it more likely to have been a woman?’

I regret my words immediately.

‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’ Thomas asks, reading my face.

‘I don’t know.’ But I am, it’s just that I feel terrible for thinking it.

‘Tamsin definitely had a motive,’ he says. ‘Not only had Nina turned her back on her, she also suspected that her husband was having an affair with her—’

‘But she’s always believed that Oliver didn’t murder Nina,’ I interrupt. ‘She’s thought all along that he’s innocent. Why draw attention to the fact that someone else killed her, if she was the one who did it?’

‘Because, as we’ve already worked out, she could be playing a very clever game. And didn’t you overhear her say that everyone is capable of murder?’

Suddenly, it becomes too much. ‘No. No. I’m a hundred per cent sure it wasn’t Tamsin. I can’t believe the thought even crossed my mind.’ I sit back in my chair, needing to physically distance myself from him, from everything that we’re doing. But it’s not far enough so I stand and start gathering up our plates. ‘I’m sorry, but this isn’t right. Can’t we just accept that Oliver murdered Nina?’