“And it wasn’t appropriate for you to do it to me all those times,” Simon replied without any feeling.
She inhaled sharply. “Fine.”
She gestured to a table and chairs, which had seen better days, on the small patio by the French doors that led inside. “I’ll bring us some tea. Tilly, Matty, come with me.”
The two children did as they were told. “Oh, no, it’s fine, we can watch them,” I said without thinking. Little Matty seemed most annoyed at having to get out of his paddling pool. I didn’t blame him; it was scorching.
She narrowed her eyes but eventually nodded. “Fine, kids, stay with Mr Anson and his … friend.”
I beamed. She went inside, and Tilly came over to me and held out her rabbit. “Oh,” I said, as Simon looked at me like I’d grown an extra head. I got down on my kneesto be at Tilly’s level. “Nice to meet you,” I said, shaking the rabbit’s paw. “I’m Arden, how do you do?”
Tilly giggled. “This is Mr Bunny,” she told me. I gave a mock bow in solemnity.
“Mr Bunny, an honour, indeed. I have heard about you on my travels.” This made Tilly laugh again, and out the corner of my eye, I could see Matty coming towards me. He was holding a toy truck. When he reached us, it was presented for my inspection.
“Goodness, this is a fine vehicle. Do you partake in Formula One with it?” I asked. Both children descended into giggles.
Simon was still staring as if he’d never seen a creature such as me before. I heard the rattle of a tea tray and looked up to see Marina staring at me, too.
“Do you want to see me race my trucks?” Matty asked me, jumping with excitement.
I gave my finest Shakespearean gasp. “Could I? What do you think, Tilly? I think we should, don’t you?”
They both seemed to enjoy that, and before I knew it, I was being led to the French doors where a large number of toy vehicles were laid out for my assessment. “Ah, yes, the red fire truck, a classic,” I said, stroking my chin. “And this wooden police car on a string. A fine vehicle for apprehending criminals.”
“Children, why don’t you go and watch TV? I need to talk to these men for a moment,” Marina’s voice was tight. Both kids looked annoyed and gave me beseeching stares. I pouted as hard as I could.
“Adults are no fun,” I whispered to Tilly and set her off giggling again.
“Kids,” Marina said in a warning tone, and both Matty and Tilly ran inside.
I took a seat at the patio table beside Simon. Both he and Marina were eyeing me strangely.
Eventually, Simon turned to Marina. “We’ve been to see Suzy Rabbit.”
Marina’s hands were shaking as she poured the tea. “That bitch,” she said with more than a little intensity.
“She told us a number of interesting things,” Simon said. Had she? “About you,” he continued. “About what you and Riz were up to.”
“We weren’t up to anything. I was trying to stop Riz!” she said, clearly without thinking.
She pursed her lips together and put the teapot down. “Milk? Sugar?”
“Yes, please,” I said at the same time Simon said “No.”
“She doesn’t much like you either,” I said to Marina. “Why is that?”
“Because she’s a snake. She spread rumours about me.” Marina rubbed at her neck. She was pink from the sun, but this seemed to be more of a nervous habit.
“Were these rumours that you and Riz had been up to something?” I asked.
Simon was quiet, watching.
“No! Yes, well, look, I told the police all this. That she wasn’t to be trusted. They laughed at me.”
“Do you think she leaked the pictures of Guy?”
Marina went quiet for a long time after I asked her that. “No, I know she didn’t. Because Riz did.”
