Strike’s professional life had more often seen him as interrogator rather than interrogated, but in recent years he’d found himself on the uncomfortable end of a police interview far more often than he’d have liked.
I was a bit surprised they actually went so far as to arrest him, given that he had done them a favor of alerting them to a murder scene. I do wonder, had Jim Todd actually been reported as a missing person? Was anyone looking for him? Had Strike bothered to tell Ramsey his cleaner was an ex-con working under a false name?
In any case, even though Strike was the interviewee, we saw some of his best interviewer skills here, as he always seemed to be a couple of steps ahead of both cops and made masterful use of his "stick" and his "carrot." Of course, the most interesting part for me was the interest that Iverson and Northmore had in who Shanker was, given that Murphy had asked Robin the same question only a couple of weeks earlier. That had enough material for its own post.
Since Wardle's liaison with Susan Iverson at the end of the book makes it likelier that she'll turn up later, I decided to check her name meaning. Susan means "lily" or "lotus flower"-- so another "white purity" name that gives off albedo vibes. Iverson means "son of Iver" with Iver itself being a name that can mean yew tree, bow, archer or warrior. So, definitely contrasting imagery between the first and last names.
The most interesting information Strike gets is that "William Wright" had told the Mohammeds that his girlfriend was pregnant and he was saving for an engagement ring. There was also confirmation that Todd and McGee had met up before the delivery of the silver.
Strike was tired, hungry, his leg was throbbing and he’d been forced to leave his BMW in Harlesden. Nevertheless, he felt he’d come through the night on the profit side of the ledger.
Robin, too, is having a sleepless night, as we learn in the very short Chapter 94, thanks to RFM calling and texting her all night,
At five a.m., Robin, who’d barely slept, decided there was no point staying in bed, and got up to make herself coffee.
Predictably, RFM has been calling and texting all night, begging for forgiveness. Much as she did with the Flobberworm, she isn't answering. Unlike with Matthew, she is partially blaming herself and trying to decide what to do.
You say you love me, but I feel like you withhold part of yourself from me… was she part of the reason Murphy had turned, again, to drink? There’s a distance between us sometimes and I don’t know if that’s just who you are, and this is how you love… she thought of the relief that had washed over her when they’d been gazumped… Can’t let even Christmas Eve go without sneaking off to text him… she hadn’t texted Strike, but she’d checked her phone in the hope that he’d texted her… she was so often guilty, not by the letter, but in the spirit…
Note that the intrusive memories are not just of Chapman Farm, the rapist or more recent attacks; her past difficult interactions with RFM are starting to intrude on her, as well. This does not necessarily mean that her relationship with the guy counts as trauma, but it is definitely a source of stress. She is also showing two other traits of PTSD:
- Overly negative thoughts and assumptions about herself or the world.
- Exaggerated blame of herself or others for causing the trauma.
Unable to bear thoughts that were leading her deeper into misery, Robin went to shower and get dressed. As she dried her hair, Murphy texted her again.
Please don’t leave me. Please.
Robin didn’t respond. It was ridiculously early, but she didn’t care: she’d head to the office and catch up with paperwork.
This chance decision leads to a very nice breakfast with Strike in Chapter 95.
Shortly after leaving Tottenham Court Road station an hour later, Robin realised that Strike had sent her a text while she’d been on the Tube.
Call when you’re awake, I’ve had a busy night.
“Where am I? Hang on… Little Portland Café on Little Portland Street. I’m having a full English. Didn’t have any dinner."
"D’you want some company?"
"Yeah, if it’s you," said Strike and, tired and miserable though Robin was, she felt a flicker of comfort at these words.
Given how much of this book Strike and Robin spend angry at each other, these little moments are all the more precious. Robin is, of course, shocked by both Strike's discovery of Barnaby's, two corpses and his arrest. Like Strike, she finds the news that Wright claimed to have a pregnant girlfriend most alarming, because it seems to greatly increase the chances of Wright being Fleetwood.
She also gives the news that Tish Benton is now working as a brand manager for Clairmont Hotels. I must admit, the timing of this puzzles me. Tara got Rupert his job back in June, when she bought the nef off of him and helped him get out of the country. Why is Tish only now getting her job with the luxury hotel chain, eight months later? Did they call Tara up and blackmail her, threatening to spill the secret if she didn't set Tish up as well? Or does it just take longer, even for a Clairmont, to set up someone as a brand manager, as opposed to a waiter?
Robin panics a bit at the mention of Murphy's name coming up at the police investigation and speculates that Rupert had a mental breakdown of some sort. She remains very curious about why Rupert gate-crashed Sasha's birthday party and made Cosima cry. Finally, she shows remarkable insight into the Kimphomaniac's character, in that she is certainly not going to "go quietly."
“So… Todd."
"Extremely dead Todd," said Strike,
"Tod" is the German word for "death."
They now suspect Jim Todd collaborated in luring Wright to the shop by helping him with the CV and interview (no mention of the fact that earlier they had concluded Fleetwood would not need Todd's help with that) and may have also helped him secure the apartment, and therefore had keys. Oz, they conclude, has killed at least four, possibly five people, depending on whether Sapphire Neagle is still alive.
Strike is disgruntled that the De Leon brothers have not kept their word about exposing Branfoot in the press, and reports about speaking to the "Scottish Gateshead" on Thursday (it was actually Friday, in the Blind Spot before he met KFC). He is also interested in getting plans for the shop and the Freemason's Hall to see if there could be an underground link between the two. But overall, they are still features of the killing that don't make sense, and they circle back to their chronic question:
“Why did it have to be done in the vault," said Strike, frowning. "Yeah. Right back where we started.”
Coming up Tuesday: Robin's visit to Dino's and Mrs. Two-times becomes a client.
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