When Night Closes in by Iris Gower Page B

suddenly felt intimidated by Lainey. He seemed so focused, so serious as he took the plastic bags from the sergeant and held them towards her. Inside, she could see a creased shirt, a pair of buff chinos and a solitary shoe.
    â€˜Recognize anything?’
    She recognized the shirt all right, it belonged to Jon. A renewed sense of loss swept over her. Whatever Jon had done, he had been her lover, her friend and she missed him like hell.
    â€˜I think so,’ she said. ‘The shirt is the right make. Jon – Jon always wore good shirts, crisp and clean as the day they were bought. That was one of the things I liked about him.’ She was not aware of Lainey self-consciously touching his own collar as if to assure himself it was in place.
    â€˜And the trousers?’
    â€˜Well, I don’t know, they all look the same. Jon is size 32-inch, are those the right size?’
    Lainey did not answer. He seemed disappointed that she had not been more positive. A thought struck her and she looked at the shirt again. It was white, slightly crumpled but clean.
    â€˜That shirt hasn’t been worn,’ she said.
    â€˜It doesn’t look like it.’ Lainey waited for her to speak again.
    She closed her eyes momentarily. ‘What do you think has happened to him?’
    â€˜That’s what we are trying to find out,’ Lainey said. ‘Are you all right?’ He seemed to move closer to her, his brow furrowed, as if he was genuinely concerned. Lowri wished she did not remember the closeness that had been between them so briefly.
    â€˜Yes, I’m all right,’ she said, ‘just a bit hung-over.’ She looked up at him, meeting his eyes for the first time that morning. ‘And I’m confused. I don’t know if I should be angry at being deceived by the man I thought I loved, or if I should be grieving for him.’
    â€˜That’s understandable,’ Lainey said quietly.
    Lowri met his eyes. ‘Do you think he’s dead?’
    â€˜I don’t know.’ He shook his head. ‘Can’t you think of anything that would help, Miss Richards? Even the most insignificant detail might prove valuable.’
    She moved away from him. ‘I’m sorry, there’s nothing. He just went out of my life, vanished as if he had never been, that’s all I know.’
    â€˜Well, never mind. Shall we go, Sergeant?’ As he opened the front door and stepped outside, she had the absurd impulse to call after him. She watched him walk away along the road towards where his car was parked. He did not look back.
    Lowri sank into a chair. In little over an hour she would be meeting her mother – perhaps it would be a good idea to take the whole day off. There was no way she could concentrate on work, not now.
    What did the discarded clothes mean? Had Jon gone for a swim and then drowned? The currents around the coast could be treacherous at times.
    She changed out of the smart suit she kept for work and pulled on a thin cotton shirt and a pair of pants. She felt restless, as if she had an itch she could not scratch. Why were there always questions and no answers?
    Lowri went into the kitchen. It was filled with sunlight and the yellow and green checked cloth on the pine table looked fresh and clean. Like Jon’s shirt. She looked in the fridge: the salad was ready in the bowl, all she needed to do was to boil some potatoes and make a dressing. She closed the door again and wandered aimlessly around the house. ‘Damn and blast Jon Brandon!’ she said.
    The train had arrived early, and Lowri found her mother waiting in the snack bar on the station.
    â€˜Mum! It’s lovely to see you again.’ The two women hugged and Lowri felt some of her tension ease. ‘Come on, let’s get home.’ She slipped her hand in the crook of her mother’s arm and together they walked to the car.
    â€˜How’s Father?’ Lowri asked.
    â€˜Just as difficult