He hangs up, then heads across to Webley’s desk. She is studying a card that came with the flowers.
‘What’s the occasion?’ Cody asks.
Webley doesn’t seem particularly pleased with her gift. ‘No occasion. I think Parker’s trying to make it up with me. He’s being a bit weird about it, though. Seen this card?’
Cody takes it from her and reads it out loud. ‘“Like the song says, this maniac’s in love with you. I’m not going to stop until you’re mine again.”’ He hands it back. ‘Alice Cooper.’
‘What?’
‘This Maniac’s in Love with You. It’s by Alice Cooper.’
‘Yeah, it wasn’t the song I was referring to, Cody. Don’t you think the message is a bit, well, freaky?’
‘What can I say? You pick freaky boyfriends.’
‘I went out with you.’
‘Precisely my point. Wanna come out with me now?’
‘Please don’t tell me you’re talking about a date.’
‘Not unless you get turned on by the thought of another encounter with our friend Toby. If you like, I could ask him to wear a superhero costume.’
‘Which one? The Flasher?’
Cody laughs. ‘He’s called The Flash, not The Flasher.’
‘Hey, I’ve seen how tight those costumes are.’
* * *
Except for the absence of a plate of beans on toast, Toby Hooper’s flat is no more presentable than it was last time. Its tenant looks as though he’s about to hyperventilate with anxiety.
‘Wasn’t sure we’d catch you in today, Toby,’ Cody says.
‘I-It’s my day off,’ Toby answers. ‘Back in tomorrow, though. Sunday can be our busiest day. People like to do DIY on Sundays. Not me, though. I’m rubbish at DIY. See Thor’s hammer on the wall over there? Took me a whole day to get that up there.’
Cody smiles inwardly as he stares at Toby’s puny arms and pictures him manipulating that hammer, his veins bulging and his face cherry red as he strains to lift it.
He says nothing, and Webley joins him in saying nothing. They simply sit down and allow their uncomfortable host to babble on. It’s a tried and trusted technique. Nervous interviewees often feel they have to fill a void.
Toby is no exception. ‘Have you… I mean, do you know who did it yet? Who killed Alexa?’
Cody shakes his head. ‘Not yet. We’re working on it, though. That’s why we’re here again.’
Toby is on the very edge of his chair, his knees pressed tightly together. He looks at Webley, then back at Cody. He hasn’t been asked a question, but the silence gets to him once more.
‘I already told you everything I know.’
Webley says, ‘Maybe you forgot one or two things, Toby.’
‘I… I don’t think so.’
‘Are you certain? Think back to when you had your membership of the leisure centre revoked.’
‘Okay. W-What about it?’
‘You told the staff there that Alexa had been sleeping around.’
‘Did I?’
‘Yes. Specifically, you said she’d slept with at least one other guy that you knew of.’
‘I… I don’t remember saying that.’
‘No? Because the staff member you spoke to remembers it very clearly.’
Toby’s hands are all over the place, touching his face, his neck, rubbing along his thighs.
‘Well… if I did say it – and I really don’t remember doing that – then I must have just made it up.’
Cody jumps in again. ‘Why would you make it up, Toby?’
‘Isn’t it obvious?’
‘Explain it to us.’
‘Well, she was saying bad things about me, and so… and so I said bad things about her, too.’
