Lethal White

Do I take it to heart, to find myself so hampered
and thwarted in my life’s work?
Henrik Ibsen, Rosmersholm
The long hike to and around Chelsea Physic Garden the previous day had not
benefited Strike’s hamstring injury. As his stomach was playing up from a
constant diet of Ibuprofen, he had eschewed painkillers for the past twenty-four
hours, with the result that he was in what his doctors liked to describe as “some
discomfort” as he sat with his one and a half legs up on the office sofa on
Thursday afternoon, his prosthesis leaning against the wall nearby while he
reviewed the Chiswell file.
Silhouetted like a headless watchman against the window of his inner office
was Strike’s best suit, plus a shirt and tie, which hung from the curtain rail, shoes
and clean socks sitting below the limp trouser legs. He was going out to dinner
with Lorelei tonight and had organized himself so that he need not climb the
stairs to his attic flat again before bed.
Lorelei had been typically understanding about his lack of communication
during Jack’s hospitalization, saying with only the slightest edge to her voice
that it must have been a horrible thing to go through on his own. Strike had too
much sense to tell her that Robin had been there, too. Lorelei had then requested,
sweetly and without rancor, dinner, “to talk a few things through.”
They had been dating for just over ten months and she had just nursed him
through five days of incapacity. Strike felt that it was neither fair, nor decent, to
ask her to say what she had to say over the phone. Like the hanging suit, the
prospect of having to find an answer to the inevitable question “where do you
see this relationship going?” loomed ominously on the periphery of Strike’s
consciousness.
Dominating his thoughts, however, was what he saw as the perilous state of
the Chiswell case, for which he had so far seen not a penny in payment, but
which was costing him a significant outlay in salaries and expenses. Robin might
have succeeded in neutralizing the immediate threat of Geraint Winn, but after a
promising start Barclay had nothing whatsoever to use against Chiswell’s first
blackmailer, and Strike foresaw disastrous consequences should the Sun
newspaper find its way to Jimmy Knight. Balked of the mysterious photographs

---

at the Foreign Office that Winn had promised him, and notwithstanding
Chiswell’s assertion that Jimmy would not want the story in the press, Strike
thought an angry and frustrated Jimmy was overwhelmingly likely to try and
profit from a chance that seemed to be slipping through his fingers. His history
of litigation told its own story: Jimmy was a man prone to cutting off his own
nose to spite his face.
To compound Strike’s bad mood, after several straight days and nights
hanging out with Jimmy and his mates, Barclay had told Strike that unless he
went home soon, his wife would be initiating divorce proceedings. Strike, who
owed Barclay expenses, had told him to come into the office for a check, after
which he could take a couple of days off. To his extreme annoyance, the
normally reliable Hutchins had then caviled at having to take over the tailing of
Jimmy Knight at short notice, rather than hanging around Harley Street, where
Dodgy Doc was once again consulting patients.
“What’s the problem?” Strike had asked roughly, his stump throbbing. Much
as he liked Hutchins, he had not forgotten that the ex-policeman had recently
taken time off for a family holiday and to drive his wife to hospital when she
broke her wrist. “I’m asking you to switch targets, that’s all. I can’t follow
Knight, he knows me.”
“Yeah, all right, I’ll do it.”
“Decent of you,” Strike had said, angrily. “Thanks.”
The sound of Robin and Barclay climbing the metal stairs to the office at half
past five made a welcome distraction from Strike’s increasingly dark mood.
“Hi,” said Robin, walking into the office with a holdall over her shoulder.
Answering Strike’s questioning look, she explained, “Outfit for the Paralympic
reception. I’ll change in the loo, I won’t have time to go home.”
Barclay followed Robin into the room and closed the door.
“We met downstairs,” he told Strike cheerfully. “Firs’ time.”
“Sam was just telling me how much dope he’s had to smoke to keep in with
Jimmy,” said Robin, laughing.
“I’ve no been inhalin’,” said Barclay, deadpan. “That’d be remiss, on a job.”
The fact that the pair of them seemed to have hit it off was perversely
annoying to Strike, who was now making heavy weather of hoisting himself off
the fake leather cushions, which made their usual farting noises.
“It’s the sofa,” he snapped at Barclay, who had looked around, grinning. “I’ll
get your money.”
“Stay there, I’ll do it,” Robin said, setting down her holdall and reaching for
the checkbook in the lower drawer of the desk, which she handed to Strike, with
a pen. “Want some tea, Cormoran? Sam?”

---

“Aye, go on, then,” said Barclay.
“You’re both bloody cheerful,” said Strike sourly, writing Barclay his check,
“considering we’re about to lose the job that’s keeping us all in employment.
Unless either of you have got information I don’t know about, of course.”
“Only excitin’ thing tae happen in Knightville this week was Flick havin’ a
big bust up wi’ one o’ her flatmates,” said Barclay. “Lassie called Laura. She
reckoned Jimmy had stolen a credit card out o’ her handbag.”
“Had he?” asked Strike sharply.
“I’d say it was more likely to be Flick herself. Told ye she was boastin’ about
helpin’ herself to cash from her work, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, you did.”
“It all kicked off in the pub. The girl, Laura, was scunnered. She and Flick
got intae a row about who was more middle class.”
In spite of the pain he was in, and his grumpy mood, Strike grinned.
“Aye, it got nasty. Ponies and foreign holidays dragged in. Then this Laura
said she reckoned Jimmy nicked her new credit card off her, months back.
Jimmy got aggressive, said that was slander—”
“Shame he’s banned, or he could’ve sued her,” said Strike, ripping out the
check.
“—and Laura ran off intae the night, bawlin’. She’s left the flat.”
“Got a surname for her?”
“I’ll try and find out.”
“What’s Flick’s background, Barclay?” asked Strike as Barclay put his check
into his wallet.
“Well, she told me she dropped out o’ uni,” said Barclay. “Failed her first-
year exams and gave up.”
“Some of the best people drop out,” said Robin, carrying two mugs of tea
over. She and Strike had both left their degree courses without a qualification.
“Cheers,” said Barclay, accepting a mug from Robin. “Her parents are
divorced,” he went on, “and she’s no speaking tae either of them. They don’t like
Jimmy. Cannae blame them. If my daughter ever hooks up wi’ a bawbag like
Knight, I’ll know what tae do about it. When she’s not around, he tells the lads
what he gets up to wi’ young girls. They all think they’re shaggin’ a great
revolutionary, doin’ it for the cause. Flick doesnae know the half o’ what he’s up
tae.”
“Any of them underage? His wife suggested he’s got form there. That’d be a
bargaining chip.”
“All over sixteen so far’s I know.”
“Pity,” said Strike. He caught Robin’s eye, as she returned to them holding

---

her own tea. “You know what I mean.” He turned to Barclay again. “From what I
heard on that march, she’s not so monogamous herself.”
“Aye, one o’ her pals made a gag about an Indian waiter.”
“A waiter? I heard a student.”
“No reason it couldn’ta been both,” said Barclay. “I’d say she’s a—”
But catching Robin’s eye, Barclay decided against saying the word, and
instead drank his tea.
“Anything new your end?” Strike asked Robin.
“Yes. I got the second listening device back.”
“You’re kidding,” said Strike, sitting up straighter.
“I’ve only just finished transcribing it all, there was hours of stuff on there.
Most of it’s useless, but…”
She set down her tea, unzipped the holdall and took out the recording device.
“… there’s one strange bit. Listen to this.”
Barclay sat down on the arm of the sofa. Robin straightened up in her desk
chair and flicked the switch on the device.
Geraint’s lilting accent filled the office.
“… keep them sweet, make sure I introduce Elspeth to Prince Harry,” said
Geraint. “Right, that’s me off, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“G’night,” said Aamir.
Robin shook her head at Strike and Barclay and mouthed, “Wait.”
They heard the door close. After the usual thirty-second silence, there was a
click, where the tape had stopped then restarted. A deep, Welsh female voice
spoke.
“Are you there, sweetheart?”
Strike raised his eyebrows. Barclay stopped chewing.
“Yes,” said Aamir, in his flat London accent.
“Come and give me a kiss,” said Della.
Barclay made a small choking noise into his tea. The sound of lips smacking
emanated from the bug. Feet shuffled. A chair was moved. There was a faint,
rhythmic thudding.
“What’s that?” muttered Strike.
“The guide dog’s tail wagging,” said Robin.
“Let me hold your hand,” said Della. “Geraint won’t be back, don’t worry,
I’ve sent him out to Chiswick. There. Thank you. Now, I needed a little private
word with you. The thing is, darling, your neighbors have complained. They say
they’ve been hearing funny noises through the walls.”
“Like what?” He sounded apprehensive.
“Well, they thought they might be animal,” said Della. “A dog whining or

---

whimpering. You haven’t—?”
“Of course I haven’t,” said Aamir. “It must’ve been the telly. Why would I
get a dog? I’m at work all day.”
“I thought it would be like you to bring home some poor little stray,” she
said. “Your soft heart…”
“Well, I haven’t,” said Aamir. He sounded tense. “You don’t have to take my
word for it. You can go and check if you want, you’ve got a key.”
“Darling, don’t be like that,” said Della. “I wouldn’t dream of letting myself
in without your permission. I don’t snoop.”
“You’re within your rights,” he said, and Strike thought he sounded bitter.
“It’s your house.”
“You’re upset. I knew you would be. I had to mention it, because if Geraint
picks up the phone to them next time—it was the purest good luck the neighbor
caught me—”
“I’ll make sure and keep the volume down from now on,” said Aamir. “OK?
I’ll be careful.”
“You understand, my love, that as far as I’m concerned, you’re free to do
whatever—”
“Look, I’ve been thinking,” Aamir interrupted. “I really think I should be
paying you some rent. What if—”
“We’ve been over this. Don’t be silly, I don’t want your money.”
“But—”
“Apart from everything else,” she said, “you couldn’t afford it. A three-
bedroomed house, on your own?”
“But—”
“We’ve been through this. You seemed happy when you first moved in… I
thought you liked it—”
“Obviously, I like it. It was very generous of you,” he said stiffly.
“Generous… it’s not a question of generosity, for heaven’s sake… Now,
listen: how would you like to come and have a curry? I’ve got a late vote and I
was going to nip over to the Kennington Tandoori. My treat.”
“Sorry, I can’t,” said Aamir. He sounded stressed. “I’ve got to get home.”
“Oh,” said Della, with a great deal less warmth. “Oh… that’s disappointing.
What a pity.”
“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I said I’d meet a friend. University friend.”
“Ah. I see. Well, next time, I’ll make sure to call ahead. Find a slot in your
diary.”
“Della, I—”
“Don’t be silly, I’m only teasing. You can walk out with me, at least?”

---

“Yes. Yes, of course.”
There was more scuffling, then the sound of the door opening. Robin turned
off the tape.
“They’re shaggin’?” said Barclay loudly.
“Not necessarily,” said Robin. “The kiss might’ve been on the cheek.”
“‘Let me hold your hand’?” repeated Barclay. “Since when’s that normal
office procedure?”
“How old’s this Aamir bloke?” asked Strike.
“I’d guess mid-twenties,” said Robin.
“And she’s, what…?”
“Mid-sixties,” said Robin.
“And she’s provided him with a house. He’s not related to her, is he?”
“There’s no family connection as far as I’m aware,” said Robin. “But Jasper
Chiswell knows something personal about him. He quoted a Latin poem at
Aamir when they met in our office.”
“You didn’t tell me that.”
“Sorry,” said Robin, remembering that this had happened shortly before she
had refused to tail Jimmy on the march. “I forgot. Yes, Chiswell quoted
something Latin, then mentioned ‘a man of your habits.’”
“What was the poem?”
“I don’t know, I never did Latin.”
She checked her watch.
“I’d better get changed, I’m supposed to be at DCMS in forty minutes.”
“Aye, that’s me off as well, Strike,” said Barclay.
“Two days, Barclay,” Strike said, as the other headed to the door, “then
you’re back on Knight.”
“Nae bother,” said Barclay, “I’ll be wantin’ a break from the wean by then.”
“I like him,” said Robin, as Barclay’s footsteps died away down the metal
stairs.
“Yeah,” grunted Strike, as he reached for his prosthesis. “He’s all right.”
He and Lorelei were meeting early, at his request. It was time to begin the
onerous process of making himself presentable. Robin retired to the cramped
toilet on the landing to change, and Strike, having put his prosthesis back on,
withdrew to the inner office.
He had got as far as pulling on his suit trousers when his mobile rang. Half-
hoping that it was Lorelei to say that she could not make dinner, he picked up the
cracked phone and saw, with an inexplicable sense of foreboding, that it was
Hutchins.
“Strike?”

---

“What’s wrong?”
“Strike… I’ve fucked up.”
Hutchins sounded weak.
“What’s happened?”
“Knight’s with some mates. I followed them into a pub. They’re planning
something. He’s got a placard with Chiswell’s face on it—”
“And?” said Strike loudly.
“Strike, I’m sorry… my balance has gone… I’ve lost them.”
“You stupid fucker!” roared Strike, losing his temper completely. “Why
didn’t you tell me you were ill?”
“I’ve had a lot of time off lately… knew you were stretched…”
Strike switched Hutchins to speakerphone, laid his mobile onto his desk,
took his shirt off the hanger and began to dress as fast as possible.
“Mate, I’m so sorry… I’m having trouble walking…”
“I know the fucking feeling!”
Fuming, Strike stabbed off the call.
“Cormoran?” Robin called through the door. “Everything OK?”
“No, it’s fucking not!”
He opened the office door.
In one part of his brain, he registered that Robin was wearing the green dress
he had bought her two years ago, as a thank you for helping him catch their first
killer. She looked stunning.
“Knight’s got a placard with Chiswell’s face on it. He’s planning something
with a bunch of mates. I knew it, I fucking knew this would happen now Winn’s
bailed on him… I’ll bet you anything he’s heading for your reception. Shit,” said
Strike, realizing he didn’t have shoes on and doubling back. “And Hutchins has
lost them,” he shouted over his shoulder. “The stupid tit didn’t tell me he’s ill.”
“Maybe you can get Barclay back?” suggested Robin.
“He’ll be on the Tube by now. I’m going to have to fucking do it, aren’t I?”
said Strike. He dropped back into the sofa and slid his feet into his shoes. “There
are going to be press all round that place tonight if Harry’s going to be there. All
it needs is for a journo to twig what Jimmy’s stupid fucking sign means, and
Chiswell’s out of a job and so’re we.” He heaved himself back to his feet.
“Where is this thing, tonight?”
“Lancaster House,” said Robin. “Stable Yard.”
“Right,” said Strike, heading for the door. “Stand by. You might have to bail
me out. There’s a good chance I’m going to have to punch him.”

---

29