Page 73 of We Chase Shadows

‘Sorry, Dotty,’ says Steve. ‘What did you find in your computer?’

‘2001,’ says Dorothy. ‘We were after a man called Connor Brooks. He was in that world, medication and all the rest of it. Shoo! Shooooo! Sorry, cow at the window. They’ll be indoors next.’

‘I don’t remember the name Connor Brooks,’ says Steve.

‘That’s what I’m here for,’ says Dorothy. ‘Nobody ever remembers anything. Mr Brooks was living in Málaga. Now, bear in mind that in 2001 everyone in Málaga was a British criminal, but he has always stuck in my mind.’

‘Why so?’ asks Amy.

‘We were a few days away from arresting him,’ says Dorothy. ‘Had it all ready to go, warrant issued, cooperation from the Spanish, which was no easy thing. They are recalcitrant as a people.’

‘Dotty,’ says Steve, ‘this is why you were sacked, don’t forget.’

Dorothy accepts this with grace and continues. ‘One of our lads was booked on the easyJet to go and get Brooks. You know how much detectives love going to Spain, so I remember there was some excitement.’

‘But?’ says Steve.

‘The Spanish received a call,’ says Dorothy. ‘From a housekeeper? I couldn’t swear to that. Connor Brooks had disappeared. He had left his passport, he had left his clothes, and – here is the important bit for us – he had left a suicide note.’

‘And the body?’ asks Steve.

‘Never found,’ says Dorothy. ‘As far as I remember. Which, as you know, Steven, is very far.’

‘Any trace of him still alive?’ Rosie asks. ‘Ever used his credit cards?’

‘Finally, the great novelist asks a question,’ says Dorothy. ‘Completely disappeared. Swept out to sea, we were expected to believe. But no body at the time or, as far as I’m aware, since.’

‘So,’ says Steve, ‘Connor Brooks disappears without trace, at the same time a man called Jakob Eriksson appears from a puff of smoke? One man disappears, one man appears, and business carries on as usual.’

‘So Connor Brooks is now Jakob Eriksson?’ says Rosie. ‘That’s our theory?’

‘Brooks knows he’s about to be arrested,’ says Steve. ‘Abandons ship, clears the slate and comes back with a shiny new identity?’

Amy holds up a picture of Jakob Eriksson. ‘I don’t suppose you recognize this man?’

Dorothy leans into the screen and takes off her glasses.

‘I couldn’t say for certain,’ says Dorothy. ‘I’m sure in one of Rosie’s books I’d be able to recognize a man I hadn’t seen for twenty-five years, but that’s because she cuts corners. And not just her, they’re all at it. If I ever write a crime novel, it will be called Here Is Everything that Happened in Order and with No Nonsense.’

‘Dotty,’ says Steve. ‘Come on now.’

Dorothy waves this away. ‘So, no, I couldn’t say for certain, but they are not unalike. And surely he would have had some work done?’

‘I have a surgeon who could make Steve look like Scarlett Johansson,’ says Rosie. ‘And vice versa.’

‘Is there anything else you need?’ Dorothy asks. ‘I have to go and complain about some bell ringers.’

‘You’ve been enormously helpful, Dotty,’ says Steve. ‘And it’s been lovely to see you.’

‘It’s nice to be asked, Steven,’ says Dorothy. ‘And sorry, Rosie, I really do enjoy your books, I don’t know why I took you to task.’

‘Don’t worry about it for a moment,’ says Rosie. ‘I’ll send you a signed copy of my new one.’

‘No, thank you,’ says Dorothy. ‘Take care, Steven.’

And with that, Dorothy Gunn is gone. Steve, Amy and Rosie sink back into their chairs.

‘So,’ says Steve. ‘Connor Brooks, ex-pat, living in Málaga, cops closing in, fakes his own death, disappears, then reappears as a taciturn Swede? Hell of a way to lose a tail.’