Page 150 of A Death in Cornwall

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“Permission to come aboard.”

Gabriel frowned at Peel’s black policeman’s footwear. “Not in those things, you don’t.”

Peel left his shoes on the quay and stepped over the lifeline. “Is there anything to drink on this vessel?”

“Is that an official inquiry, Detective Sergeant?”

“I could use a beer, that’s all.”

“It’s possible there’s some Carlsberg in the icebox.”

Peel ducked into the cabin and emerged with two dripping-wet bottles and an opener. He pried the cap from one and handed it to Gabriel. “You didn’t run her aground or smash into anything, did you?”

“I had a couple of close shaves, but I was able to pull her back from the brink.”

“I had a rather close shave myself recently. A nasty piece of business in neighboring Somerset.” Peel opened the second Carlsberg. “But thanks to your friend Christopher, I came through it without a scratch.”

“And when the story broke about Charlotte Blake and the Picasso?”

“I played dumb, didn’t I?”

“My name come up?”

“Not at the headquarters of the Devon and Cornwall Police. And my colleagues from Avon and Somerset have no idea that you and Ingrid were ever in that manor house. It’s as if it never happened.”

“Is it really, Timothy?”

He drank some of the beer but said nothing.

“Can you ever forgive me?” asked Gabriel.

“For what?”

“Allowing you to be placed in a situation where you were forced to take two human lives.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Mr. Allon. It was your friend Christopher’s doing. Besides, the men I killed weren’t exactly pillars of the community, were they?”

“Neither were the men that I killed. But I paid a terrible price nonetheless. Killing people ruined my life, Timothy. I would hate myself if it ruins yours.”

“How much does Chiara know about what happened?”

“The basics.”

“Does she know that you threw yourself in front of Ingrid?”

Gabriel shook his head.

“Bravest thing I ever saw.”

“But you won’t mention it to her, will you? I’m in enough trouble as it is.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Allon. It will be our little secret.” Peel glanced at the old foreman’s cottage. “Just the way it was when I was a kid. You looked after me back then. And now I’ll look after you.”

“I didn’t realize I needed looking after.”

Peel gave a knowing smile. “Did you or did you not purchase that rather large property at Gwennap Head?”

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