1 The Cuckoo's Calling

“That’s just what’s so difficult,” said Bristow. “When Tony—my uncle—
heard what had happened, he contacted Mr. Bestigui to protest about him
badgering my mother, and from what I’ve heard, there was a very heated
argument. I don’t think Mr. Bestigui would welcome further contact from the
family. Of course, the situation’s further complicated by the fact that Tansy is
using our firm for the divorce. I mean, there’s nothing in that—we’re one of the
top family law firms, and with Ursula being married to Cyprian, naturally she
would come to us…But I’m sure it won’t have made Mr. Bestigui feel any more
kindly towards us.”
Though he had kept his gaze on the lawyer all the time that Bristow was
talking, Strike’s peripheral vision was excellent. Ursula had thrown another tiny
smirk in her sister’s direction. He wondered what was amusing her. Doubtless
her improved mood was not hindered by the fact that she was now on her fourth
glass of wine.
Strike finished his starter and turned to Tansy, who was pushing her virtually
untouched food around her plate.
“How long had you and your husband been at number eighteen before Lula
moved in?”
“About a year.”
“Was there anyone in the middle flat when she arrived?”
“Yah,” said Tansy. “There was an American couple there with their little boy
for six months, but they went back to the States not long after she arrived. After
that, the property company couldn’t get anyone interested at all. The recession,
you know? They cost an arm and a leg, those flats. So it was empty until the
record company rented it for Deeby Macc.”
Both she and Ursula were distracted by the sight of a woman passing the table
in what, to Strike, appeared to be a crocheted coat of lurid design.
“That’s a Daumier-Cross coat,” said Ursula, her eyes slightly narrowed over
her wineglass. “There’s a waiting list of, like, six months…”
“It’s Pansy Marks-Dillon,” said Tansy. “Easy to be on the best-dressed list if
your husband’s got fifty mill. Freddie’s the cheapest rich man in the world; I had
to hide new stuff from him, or pretend it was fake. He could be such a bore
sometimes.”
“You always look wonderful,” said Bristow, pink in the face.
“You’re sweet,” said Tansy Bestigui in a bored voice.
The waiter arrived to clear away their plates.