‘Uh-huh.’
‘Yeah. I’ve become this kind of guru for him, you know? He’s keen to learn about that stuff from me. How to act with women.’
‘I see,’ says Webley. ‘So, you act as a tutor to him. You give him the benefit of your expertise.’
Cody hears the underlying note of sarcasm in Webley’s voice.
‘Well,’ Sam says, ‘I wouldn’t call myself an expert exactly—’
‘No.’
‘—but I’ve been around the block a few times. And the things I told him…’
‘Go on.’
‘Well, they weren’t always a hundred percent true, you know?’
‘No?’
‘No. Some of it was, but sometimes I just made it up. Toby seemed to like the stuff I made up.’
‘Like sleeping with Alexa, for example?’
‘Yeah. I just came out with it one day. We were in the café, talking about women, and he was saying how much he liked Alexa. Toby is into comics – you know, the ones about superheroes? – and he thinks that Alexa looks like Supergirl. And so I said I had a secret about her, and that he had to promise never to tell anyone else.’
‘And that’s when you said you’d been to bed with her?’
‘Yeah. I don’t know what came over me.’
‘Did Toby believe you?’
‘Absolutely. I think it fuelled his fantasies. He wanted details, so I made up stories for him.’
‘That’s it? All make-believe?’
‘Yes. Not real. I swear to you.’
Cody says, ‘Sam, can you tell us where you were during the period Thursday evening to Friday morning?’
‘I was here. I worked. I slept. I was never with Alexa.’
‘Can anyone confirm that?’
‘I was alone. Maybe my neighbour upstairs heard me.’
‘Do you know anyone who might have wanted to harm Alexa?’
‘No. I know nothing about her. I only know she looked like a model.’
* * *
In the car heading out of Greasby, Cody thinks that probably nothing has fundamentally changed in human nature here since 8,500 BC. Even way back then, men would have been fighting over women they considered desirable and slaughtering them when they failed to meet their demands.
Webley’s thoughts seem to be on a similar track. ‘Don’t you think it’s sad?’ she asks.
‘What is?’
‘Every time we ask a bloke about Alexa, the only thing they want to talk about is her looks. They don’t talk about her mind, her personality – nothing like that. It’s all about what’s on the surface.’
‘I can understand it. It’s the only reason I went out with you.’
Webley slaps him on the bicep, then lapses into silence. It lasts only a few seconds.
‘Do you still think I’m attractive?’
Shit, Cody thinks. She’s put a spade in my hand again. I really need to stop digging.
‘I’ve matured now,’ he answers. ‘I’ve learned to look at what lies beneath.’
She slaps him again. ‘Why do you have to make it sound dirty? Jesus, Cody, you’re such a sleazebag.’
12
We Found Love
– Rihanna, featuring Calvin Harris
Webley is at her desk, staring at the flowers. They’re lovely flowers, all right, but what the hell, Parker?
