Judith nodded again. ‘I’m really not here for that,’ she said. ‘I came because I saw Jack today, and he asked me to check on Cameron.’
‘Oh. Really?’ Elsa raised an eyebrow in surprise.
‘Really. He asked me to double-check that Cameron was here, and to see how he was doing. If it’s possible, I’m sure he’d appreciate a visit.’
‘Of course! My god. Of course I’m going to visit him.’ Elsa nodded in the direction of the kitchen table, a beautiful, sleek thing that looked like it had been custom made for the house. There were small stacks of clothes on the table. Men’s clothes—folded T-shirts and tracksuit bottoms and underpants and socks, all with the labels still on. ‘Andrew—that’s Jack’s lawyer—sent me a list of things that Jack might need, that the remand centre allows you to send in, and I had my assistant... well, she’s really my au pair, but she does a little of everything... pick up everything this afternoon. I had no idea that you could bring clothing to prisoners. I assumed that they had to wear prison-issued clothing only.’
‘I suppose it saves money. Having family and friends supply extra bits and pieces.’
‘I suppose. Andrew said that it will take at least a few days for my name to make it onto Jack’s visitors’ list, but as soon as I’m on it, I’ll go and see him. Will you see him before I will?’ Elsa’s brown eyes were troubled.
‘It’s possible,’ Judith said.
‘Will you tell him that Cameron’s doing fine? I think he probably needs to hear that, even though I’m not sure that it’s true.’ Elsa raised her left hand and pressed gently at her temple, as if she had a headache. There was a sheen of sweat on her forehead. Her hand trembled a little.
‘You’re a good friend. How long have you and Jack known each other?’
‘Since school.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. You seem surprised.’
‘No, it’s just... well, to be honest, it’s that Jack doesn’t seem to have any money, whereas you...’ Judith waved her hand to indicate their surroundings.
‘Oh, I had no money growing up,’ Elsa said. ‘My dad died when I was five, and my mum was a nurse raising three of us alone. We were fine. I mean, we had a flat and we always had enough food and mum was great. But I didn’t go to private school, if that’s what you’re thinking. Jack and I went to high school together. Not all the way through school. His parents dragged him around a bit, you know, but we were together for year eleven and twelve.’
‘Together, together?’
‘You mean like, boyfriend and girlfriend?’
‘Yes.’
‘No, it was never like that.’ Elsa smiled a little. ‘I love Jack, but he’s not my type.’ She put her head to one side. ‘I don’t think I’m his, either.’
‘Did you stay friends through uni?’
‘Yes. Well. Mostly. We both went to the same uni for a while, but I dropped out eventually. I was modelling, and I had to travel and, well... there were other reasons, but that doesn’t matter so much.’
From upstairs, Judith heard a child shouting. Elsa cast a glance in that direction, but the shouting quickly subsided.
‘Celine’s with them,’ Elsa said. ‘Our au pair. She hasn’t been with us long but she’s marvellous. Like a member of the family.’
‘Did you know Jack’s ex, Miriam Hall?’ Judith asked.
Elsa’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘I... yes. Of course.’
‘You knew her when she and Jack were together?’
‘I knew her before, and I knew her during. Miriam and I were friends first. I introduced her to him.’ Elsa pressed her hand briefly to her stomach, as if the thought had made her nauseous.
‘Are you okay?’ Judith asked.
‘Yes. Fine. Sorry. I’ve been feeling a little off all day. And you surprised me. Asking about Miriam. It’s all such ancient history.’
‘I understand,’ Judith said. ‘Things must have been rough towards the end.’
Elsa shrugged uncomfortably. ‘It’s possible. I mean, more than that, given how she died. I’m sure she was depressed, but I didn’t see her, those last few months. We’d grown apart by then.’
