Tobias knocks back his glass of water and looks around the dining room with an air of dissatisfaction. Despite his profusion of freckles, the sun-burned nose, his face has a clammy, greyish pallor and he does not look well. He flags down a passing waiter and orders a double gin and tonic without asking anyone else around the table if they would like a drink.
‘So, Marcus,’ he begins. ‘What’s the story?’
Marcus coughs, choking slightly on a mouthful of the calzone which he has been labouring away at. He swiftly regains composure, Olivia notices, but not before she sees a look of alarm in his eyes.
‘Story?’ he asks, buying for time and clearing his mouth with a sip of water.
‘I asked you to look into the small print for me. The situation with the build, of course. Where do we stand in terms of the insurance, depending on whether this turns out to be a definite case of arson or not? Are we covered?’
‘Oh yes, well, it wasn’t the most comprehensive of covers, I must say,’ says Marcus. ‘It will all depend on the final police report and whether your insurer plays ball. But I shouldwarn you that some fire claims are often denied due to policy exclusions. Damage caused by negligence, intentional acts; fires occurring in unoccupied properties. That sort of thing.’
There is a pregnant pause as everyone around the table silently acknowledges the fact that all of this could apply to their renovation.
‘Well that’s just great, isn’t it?’ says Tobias finally. ‘Fucking marvellous.’
‘Please don’t swear, darling,’ says Olivia.
Tobias gives an exasperated sigh.
‘In case you hadn’t realised,darling,’ he says in a sardonic tone, ‘that means we’re probably scuppered either way. If it turns out this thing was an accident, some dodgy oversight or other, then it will be our responsibility. Personally, I still suspect foul play. And my money’s on that young couple next door,’ he adds.
‘Oh no, surely not,’ replies Olivia. ‘They seem like such a nice ordinary little family. I’m sure there’s some perfectly rational explanation for all this. Let’s not start raking it all up now, Tobias, please.’
She wants to nudge the conversation away from the events of Saturday, aware that neither she nor Marcus have really given a full account of themselves for that night. It’s still possible that someone from the hotel, one of the guests or even an employee, might have seen them together. But then a brazen part of herself no longer cares. She almost wishes the truth was out, that she and Marcus could be free and finally open together. Yet she recognises the time is not right. It’s too soon, too raw. Not after what happened to Drew and Bella, not to mention the situation with the house fire.
She hates all this suspicion and intrigue. To be involved in an ongoing police investigation … it’s like a sword of Damocles hanging over them. The thought that their property might have been targeted, that she and her family might have enemies inthe local community. No, she would much rather believe that this was all just a terrible accident and the fire started naturally.
‘Yes, well, I’d love to think the same too, Livvy,’ says Tobias, swallowing half of his G & T in one slug. ‘But my camera footage seems to have captured some suspicious activity.’
‘Camera? What camera footage?’ asks Marcus, suddenly alert. Both Drew and Bella’s heads come up at the same time too.
‘I didn’t know you’d installed cameras, Tobias,’ says Olivia. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘What would be the point of telling everyone about cameras that were intended to be hidden? First rule of surveillance: keep it secret. Tell no one.’
He looks around the table then. Four other sets of eyes meet his as he takes another deep drink before tapping his glass to order the same again.
Marcus clears his throat.
‘And? What does it show?’
‘Well, it shows you for one, Marcus. Entering the property briefly, earlier in the evening.’
‘I was checking everything was securely locked up. As you asked me to,’ he responds.
Olivia tries to catch his eye, to give him an encouraging smile, but he is not looking her way.
‘Quite so,’ says Tobias. ‘Although, sadly I didn’t get around to installing any internal cameras so we’ll never know what you actually did while you were inside.’
Marcus directs a look of cold steel towards Tobias across the table.
‘Are you accusing me of something?’
Tobias laughs, accepting another drink from the waiter. ‘Oh, calm down old chap. I’m only joshing with you!’
Marcus squares his shoulders at this.
‘I don’t think it’s a laughing matter. Innocent people have been hurt.’
