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“What can I get for you, sir?”
“Are you Joseph Barclay?”
The young man’s amiable expression shifted into something more wary. “Who’s asking?”
“Detective Inspector Pierce.”
Barclay swallowed and then glanced at Electra, brow bent in confusion.
“I have questions about Miss Calliope Collier.” To Gideon’s shock, the young man’s face immediately lost all its fierceness, and he looked like he might burst into tears.
“Saw the paper about the inquest. Was no surprise to me. Knew she would not have done herself in.”
“I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“You investigating her as well? There was another one. Detective Sergeant Hardy said he oversees the case.”
“He is indeed investigating the murder, but we’re investigating the disappearance of Iris Delacourt, Miss Collier’s friend.”
“Right. Saw the papers about her too. She’s gone and walked off.”
Gideon nodded. “Her family hasn’t seen her in three days, and it is unlike her to not be in touch.”
Barclay shot a look at the older man with him behind the bar.
“Go on, Barclay. Answer his questions. I’ve got it covered.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“He’s a good lad,” the older man shouted as Barclay came out from behind the bar and joined Gideon at the table Electra had secured.
“Did you know Iris Delacourt?” Gideon asked as soon as Barclay sat.
Barclay immediately crossed his arms, and Gideon could not tell whether it was wariness over the topics he intended to question him about or a distrust of police officers in general.
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say I knew her, but I did meet her on at least two occasions when she was with Calliope.”
“Where did you meet them?”
“Well, Calliope brought her here once.”
Gideon couldn’t quite mask his surprise at that admission. He struggled to imagine Iris Delacourt at The Willows pub. “What did the young ladies do during that visit?”
Barclay pointed to a table across the way from them. “They sat at that table, and I believe Miss Delacourt had her first pint of beer. She didn’t take to it very well, but Calliope praised her for trying it.”
“And she never came again?”
Barclay shook his head. “Not Miss Delacourt, no. But Calliope came now and then while I was working. She never brought anyone else. Only Miss Delacourt and only the one time. They sat and talked, and then Miss Delacourt went off. Assumed she got a cab back to her home.”
“And what was the other time you met her?”
“I went to the museum and waited outside for Calliope, and she came walking out with Miss Delacourt. We all went to a tea shop nearby. To be honest, I wanted to get Calliope to myself, but Miss Delacourt had only come because Calliope invited her. Couldn’t blame her for that.”
“So they were friendly?” Gideon asked.
“Yes, as far as I could see, but they were different as chalk and cheese. I think that led to a few rows.”
Gideon glanced at Electra. She had seen both young women rowing with Nicholas Frye, but never with each other.
