He pinches the bridge of his nose. ‘Simone was my first serious girlfriend. She always used to joke that she knew I was the man she’d marry the moment she saw me in the library readingThe Great Gatsbythat day. But she wasn’t joking, not really.
‘We were inseparable that first year. It was…intense. Simone even came to stay at mine during the holidays because her parents were always jetting off around the world and she didn’t want to stay in an empty house on her own. Things were great. She was great.Wewere great.’
‘It sounds like a “but” is coming.’
He pulls an ‘is it that obvious?’ face. ‘In the second year I started getting…not cold feet exactly, but I was beginning to realise there was more to uni life than being one half of a couple. I’d always loved rugby at school and hadn’t realised how much I missed it. Not just the game itself but the social side of it. Rugby playersreallyknow how to enjoy themselves.’ He smiles, but it’s the sad kind of smile when someone remembers a much-loved and long-dead pet. ‘When I went along to the uni’s rugby trials Simone had a complete meltdown. She said it was because she was worried I’d get injured and pleaded with me not to join. But I didn’t want to let the guys down and stood my ground. She didn’t speak to me for days.
‘Eventually, she came round and when I was picked for the first team she told everyone how proud she was of me. She came to every match and always cheered the loudest when we won. Life was good again. What I didn’t realise was that while I was playing matches and getting pissed with my mates, she was making five- and ten-year plans for our future.’
‘You didn’t see it as a long-term thing?’
‘I was twenty-one, Amber. I wasn’t thinking beyond the next weekend. But Simone’s always been a planner. I think it stems from her childhood. The lack of control she had when she was growing up.’
‘The poor thing,’ I say sarcastically.
‘I know your childhood was much tougher than hers, but just because someone is born with privilege doesn’t mean things are easy. Simone said her dad was a workaholic and her mum wasemotionally distant. What was it that poet said? “Your parents fuck you up”.’
He’s paraphrasing Philip Larkin’s famous poem, but I don’t bother to correct him. I’m more interested in Simone’s parents.
‘Have you ever met them?’
He shakes his head. ‘I was supposed to a few times but they always cancelled at the last minute. They’re estranged now. Simone always said her life began when she started at Durham.’
‘So when did it all go wrong between you?’ My voice is offhand, like I don’t give a damn, but I’m watching his reaction closely.
‘She wanted us to move to London together when we graduated, but it was too much too soon. The night I told her it wasn’t going to happen was the night she almost overdosed.’
‘That’s emotional blackmail!’ I explode.
‘Maybe. But I’ve felt guilty every day since.’ He raises his haunted eyes to mine. ‘So you see why I had to make sure she was all right the other night?’
‘I guess,’ I mutter, because what else can I say that doesn’t make me sound like some kind of unfeeling super-bitch?
‘Thank you.’ He places his palms on the table. ‘Want another coffee?’
‘OK.’
I digest everything he’s told me as he busies himself grinding more beans and warming the cafetière. He’s still eaten up with guilt over Simone’s suicide attempt, because that’s clearly what it was. No one downs pills and a whole bottle of vodka just to get to sleep. The only reason you’d do that is if you didn’t plan on waking up.
It does at least explain the hold she seems to have over him.
Even if Dominic is telling the truth, it doesn’t solve my current problem – I’m screwed without an alibi.
Somewhere inside the villa the doorbell chimes.
‘Sounds like our friendly Greek inspector is back for another round of questioning,’ Dominic says, raising an eyebrow.
The thought sends an arrow of fear right through me.
‘He thinks it was me. That I killed Felix,’ I blurt. ‘They found my necklace by his body.’
‘What?’ Dominic freezes, his hand suspended in the air like it doesn’t belong to him.
‘You heard me, Dom. They found my amber necklace, the one you said was stolen, next to Felix. I might not have an alibi but I do have a motive. At least, Demetriou thinks so.’
I start to shake. I can’t help it. My chest is tight as I meet Dom’s gaze.
‘He thinks I murdered Felix.’
