Lethal White

Of course you fucking did, thought Strike irritably, feeling in his pocket for
more cigarettes.
“Enjoy yourself?” asked Lorelei in the taxi, at one in the morning.
“Not particularly,” said Strike, who was watching the headlights of
oncoming cars.
He had had the impression that Robin had been avoiding him. After the
relative warmth of their conversation on Thursday, he had expected—what? A
conversation, a laugh? He had been curious to know how the marriage was
progressing, but was not much the wiser. She and Matthew seemed amicable
enough together, but the fact that they were renting was intriguing. Did it
suggest, even subconsciously, a lack of investment in a joint future? An easier
arrangement to untangle? And then there was Robin’s friendship with Vanessa
Ekwensi, which Strike saw as another stake in the life she led independently of
Matthew.
Blame sea-borne bacteria.
What the hell did that mean? Was it connected to the mysterious clinic? Was
Robin ill?
After a few minutes’ silence it suddenly occurred to Strike that he ought to
ask Lorelei how her evening had been.
“I’ve had better,” sighed Lorelei. “I’m afraid your Robin’s got a lot of boring
friends.”
“Yeah,” said Strike. “I think that’s mainly her husband. He’s an accountant.
And a bit of a tit,” he added, enjoying saying it.
The taxi bowled on through the night, Strike remembering how Robin’s

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figure had looked in the gray dress.
“Sorry?” he said suddenly, because he had the impression that Lorelei had
spoken to him.
“I said, ‘What are you thinking about?’”
“Nothing,” lied Strike, and because it was preferable to talking, he slid an
arm around her, pulled her close and kissed her.

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8
… my word! Mortensgaard has risen in the world.
There are lots of people who run after him now.
Henrik Ibsen, Rosmersholm
Robin texted Strike on Sunday evening to ask what he wanted her to do on
Monday, because she had handed over all her jobs before taking a week’s leave.
His terse response had been “come to office,” which she duly entered at a quarter
to nine the following day, glad, no matter how matters stood between her and her