Like Oliver Selby, Cody thinks.
‘I don’t know. Anyone.’
‘I don’t think so. She left here alone, and she didn’t say anything about picking someone up on the way.’
Webley says, ‘Has she mentioned anyone staying here at the house with her?’
‘Like who?’ Bobby says again.
Jeez, thinks Cody. This is like pulling teeth.
‘Anyone.’
‘No. She lives alone. She used to have a husband, but he turned out to be a dick.’
‘Do you know if she’s been in another relationship since then?’
Bobby wipes his greasy hand down his baggy denim jeans. ‘Nothing serious as far as I know. We don’t really talk about stuff like that, though. You know, relationships and that.’
Cody wonders if Bobby is in a relationship, and what kind of woman would go for someone like him. But maybe he shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Maybe Bobby’s a real hit with the women.
‘We understand that Claire used to work at a jewellery shop in Heswall,’ says Webley.
‘That’s right, yeah.’
‘Did you ever go there?’
Bobby waves his free hand over his figure. ‘Do I look like I can afford jewellery? I can barely keep myself in beer.’
‘I just wondered if you ever went there to see Claire.’
‘Nope. Never.’
‘Ever meet her boss?’
‘Nope.’
‘I’ve got a photo of him here.’ She detaches a picture from her clipboard and shows it to Bobby. ‘Look familiar?’
Bobby leans in for a better look. His breathing sounds even heavier. Cody thinks he’s probably a walking heart attack.
‘Never seen him in my life.’
‘Okay. Did Claire ever talk to you about him?’
‘Nope.’
‘Reason we’re asking,’ says Cody, ‘is that he was found dead on Friday morning. Claire didn’t mention anything to you about that?’
‘Not a thing. Is that what this is about? Like, a murder?’
‘Yes, it is.’
Bobby stares at him. ‘Shit, that’s serious. You don’t think Claire had anything to do with it, do you?’
Cody decides he needs to be careful about how he answers. There’s every possibility that Claire is tied to the murder, especially if Oliver has been having an affair with her, but Cody doesn’t want to send out any signals that may cause her to go on the run. If, indeed, she hasn’t already done that.
‘That’s not the reason we’ve come here. It’s her ex-boss we want to speak to. We were hoping she might have some idea where he is.’
Bobby just nods and eats his pizza.
‘Do you have a phone number for Claire?’
‘Of course,’ Bobby says. ‘She’s my sister. Do you want it?’
‘Please.’
Bobby gets his phone out and searches his contacts. He reels off a number as Webley writes it down.
‘Thanks,’ Cody says.
‘No problem.’ A thought occurs to Bobby. ‘Oh, she always turns off notifications while she’s driving. If you intend to call her today, you might want to give it an hour or two.’
‘Will do. Thanks again.’
The detectives head back to their car, Mrs Irlam’s eyes on them once again. As they drive away, Cody says, ‘What do you think?’
Webley shakes her head. ‘I think it’s another dead end. I think Oliver was doing what guys always do when they’re drunk, i.e. make shit up about women they fancy, and that we’re clutching at straws like this one because we’re in a hole and we’re getting desperate. That’s what I think.’