Warhol's Prophecy

98

‘I’M GLAD TO see you’re feeling better now, Mr Gibson,’ said Tate as he shifted position on the sofa.

‘Thanks,’ Rob murmured.

Both he and Hailey were looking at the policeman intently. They saw his brow furrow, and he sat forward slightly.

‘I know you’re both wondering what I want, so I’ll try to get this over with as quickly as possible,’ Tate told them.

He looked directly at Rob. ‘Mr Gibson, you knew a young lady called Sandra Bennett, didn’t you?’ Tate made it sound more like a statement than a question.

Hailey glared at Rob.

‘She worked for me until recently,’ he said flatly.

Tate glanced at Hailey, saw the venom in her expression.

‘We know that,’ said the DC. ‘But you were personally involved with her too, weren’t you?’

Rob swallowed hard.

‘I’m sorry. I know this is difficult,’ Tate continued.

‘How do you know my husband had an affair with her?’ Hailey demanded.

‘We found some correspondence from your husband at her flat,’ Tate informed her. ‘A number of letters. There were some gift tags too, with your writing on them, Mr Gibson.’ He looked at Hailey. ‘You knew this affair was going on, Mrs Gibson?’

‘I found out in the end,’ said Hailey sharply.

Tate nodded, suddenly feeling very intrusive.

‘I didn’t know it was against the law to have an affair,’ said Rob, attempting a smile. ‘You’re not here to arrest me, are you?’

Hailey shot him a furious glance.

‘When was the last time you spoke to Sandra Bennett?’ Tate wanted to know.

‘When I sacked her,’ Rob informed him. ‘Why?’

‘She was murdered three days ago.’

‘Oh God,’ Rob murmured, colour draining from his cheeks.

‘I would have come here sooner, but there were other developments, and we weren’t sure of a positive identification at first.’

Rob ran a hand through his hair.

‘Who killed her?’ he said slowly.

Hailey looked at him angrily.

Still such concern? Even now she’s dead?

‘I wish I could tell you, Mr Gibson.’ Tate looked across at Hailey. ‘Did you ever meet her, Mrs Gibson?’

Hailey shook her head.

‘How was she killed?’ Rob asked quietly.

‘She was stabbed,’ Tate informed him.

‘There’s been nothing in the papers,’ Rob muttered.

‘A murder doesn’t merit many column inches in the nationals these days. It’s become too commonplace, I’m afraid. We haven’t released too many details to the media anyway.’

‘What’s this murder got to do with my husband?’ enquired Hailey. ‘Or did you just assume he’d be interested because he’d been fucking her?’

Tate regarded her evenly. He had heard the vehemence in her voice.

‘During your, er . . . relationship, did you ever meet her brother, Mr Gibson?’ the DC continued.

‘I didn’t even know she had a brother,’ Rob explained. ‘She never mentioned him.’

‘I’m not surprised. He was a small-time villain. Spent most of his life in and out of prison. Not the kind of sibling you’d want to talk about. It’s just that we have reason to believe it was Sandra Bennett’s brother who attacked you last week.’

Rob looked puzzled.

‘Forensics came up with hair and fibre samples that linked him to you. We think it might have been some kind of revenge for what you did to his sister.’

‘I didn’t do anything to his sister,’ Rob protested.

‘You sacked her from her job. You ended your affair with her. It’s possible that her brother, in some kind of twisted way, thought he was protecting her by attacking you. It’s unlikely she knew anything about it. However, it also gives you motive.’

‘For what?’ Rob asked.

‘For killing him. He was murdered last night.’

‘And you think I did it?’

‘No, Mr Gibson, I don’t. Just as I don’t think, for one minute, that you killed Sandra Bennett. But I’ll ask you anyway where you were last night.’

‘Here, with my daughter,’ said Rob.

‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘I won’t take up any more of your time.’

‘Do you think the same person killed them both?’ Hailey wanted to know.

‘It’s more than likely. I can’t say any more.’ Again the policeman smiled.

‘I’ll see you out.’ Hailey followed him towards the door.

Tate paused on the doorstep.

‘I’m sorry I had to drag up your husband’s involvement with Sandra Bennett,’ he told her apologetically.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Hailey replied, forcing a smile. ‘I know you’re only doing your job.’

‘Thank you for your time,’ said Tate, and set off back to his waiting car.

She closed the door behind him and leant against it for a moment.

Her smile grew broader.