“He had a couple of really close friends. Gang of Four, they called themselves. Good kids, too. Freya and Howie Williams, both older, and Pippa White, the youngest of the group. I got the impression Luke enjoyed time away from his family. Don’t get me wrong. His sister was fine—quiet, but polite—but the twin brother was an odd sort. Harmless enough, but…odd. Looking back, I think he probably suffered from an undiagnosed form of autism. And his mother could be overbearing if you know what I mean? The younger son stuck to her apron strings like a leech. Not sure I ever saw him smile.”
To Leonard, that sounded exactly like the Matthew he had met.
“After the ordeal,” continued Mrs Llewellyn, “they rarely came back to the house. Understandable really. Why would they want to stay in a house where their eldest had hanged himself from a bedroom light fitting.”
“He killed himself in Bryn Bach?” asked Leonard, aghast. That part of the story had not registered.
“Yes, dear. Didn’t I say? They hadn’t heard from him for two or three weeks, contacted everyone he knew locally and searched the places he used to visit out in Clifton. Eventually, the father and brother came down here and found him in one of the bedrooms. Had to deal with the whole aftermath with the police and emergency services. Millicent drove down later, to be with him and help out. As for the father—Mum said she’d never seen a man so utterly lost and defeated in her whole life. After that, we never saw them. Well, sometimes the brother would come, but only to check the place over, as I heard it.”
Leonard began to understand why his aunt might want to keep the place, rather than have strangers living in the house where her first-born had killed himself. How on earth did a mother manage to console herself after such a dreadful tragedy?
“I’d better start clearing up,” said Mrs Llewellyn, standing up from the table. “What time do think you’ll have breakfast in the morning?”
“We’re planning an early start,” said Leonard. “How does eight sound?”
“Perfect,” said Mrs Llewellyn. “And as you’re our only guests, I’ll cook breakfast to order tomorrow.”
“Thanks for your help, Mrs Llewell—Megan,” said Leonard. “I know it’s early, but I’m ready to turn in after that long drive. How about you, Ade?”
“Yeah, me too. But you go on up while I finish my drink and then sign for our food and drinks.”
“Don’t let him pay for anything, Megan,” said Leonard, to an amused Mrs Llewellyn. “Put everything on the room bill. Remember you’re doing me a favour here, Ade, so I’m paying all your expenses. And I don’t want any arguments.”
“Whatever you say. Just make sure you leave the room door unlocked for me.”
Leonard felt sure Adrian was being a gentleman, wanting to give him time to change and get into bed without worrying about Adrian being in the room. At some point he needed to clear the air with his new friend.
After the long drive and with a couple of pints of ale inside him, he already felt exhausted. He used the bathroom without showering, just a quick face wash before climbing into bed and checking his phone.
He had no idea when he fell asleep or what time Adrian returned, but woke the next morning with the mobile phone still sitting next to his pillow and Adrian in the bed across from him, his broad back on view.
Chapter Eight
Cottage
Adrian woke refreshed but disorientated to the sound of running water. Once his brain made sense of the unfamiliar surroundings, he looked to the bedside table, where the LED lights of the digital clock read seven-twenty. At first, he assumed the noise came from the drone of persistent rainy weather outside the darkened window. After a few moments, he heard variations in the resonance of the falling water, along with a familiar tuneless humming, and only then noticed the empty bed across from his.
Lenny had hit the shower already. Almost by unspoken agreement, they’d chosen to move carefully around each other. The previous night Adrian had purposely stayed behind for another drink, and chatted more to the landlady about the local area. Tiredness had not really been an issue for him, having spent all day in the passenger seat, but he wanted to give Lenny time to get ready for bed before he came into the room and locked up.
Still wearing his tee and sweatpants, he pulled himself into a sitting position at the side of the bed and scrubbed a hand through his short hair. Despite the pervasive smell of paint and the acrid odour of an industrial adhesive caulk odour he had used professionally when fitting bathrooms, he had still managed to sleep like a log.
The night before, he had spotted a small kettle sitting on top of the free-standing fridge. In preparation for the morning, he had filled the device with water and placed two empty mugs to one side. With Lenny still in the bathroom, and unsure whether to make him tea or coffee, Adrian opened a single coffee sachet and poured in the grains. Checking the fridge, he smiled when he saw the hotel had provided a half-pint carton of fresh milk. Coffee mug nursed in his hands, Adrian returned to sitting with his feet up on the bed and flicked through channels on the room television until he landed on a news station.
“Smells good.”
As Adrian finished the last of his coffee, Lenny appeared in the doorway to the bathroom. Wearing a white bath robe, he rubbed his hair dry with a small towel. Even in the towelling gown that reached his knees he looked good, the dark hair of his chest enticingly visible. Adrian couldn’t help giving him a full appraisal.
“Didn’t know if you took tea or coffee.”
“Nothing for me. Why don’t you go and shower? Then we should head down and have a huge breakfast with a decent brand of tea before we get going. Not sure we’ll eat again until tonight.”
“Actually, after you came up last night, I stayed and asked Mrs Llewellyn to arrange flasks of coffee and tea and packed lunches. To take with us. Wasn’t sure there would be any shops or other places to eat.”
“See? I knew there was a reason for bringing you along. Now go and do your business while I get dressed.”
“Will do,” said Adrian, standing up from the bed and stretching. “And we’re going to need a lot of waterproofs today, by the sound of the weather outside the window.”
* * * *
