Page 89 of The Last Love Song
‘Miss McCarthy, I believe you know a man by the name of Tony Bryant.’
‘Yes, yes, I do.’
‘Good, good.’ Garratt’s eyes slowly moved about the room, taking in the surroundings, before they fixed on Helen’s gaze. ‘Mr Bryant was found dead in the bath at his flat a week ago. He’d been stabbed several times. It was a vicious attack.’
Helen stared at the detective, too shocked to react.
Garratt studied her for a while before he spoke again.
‘I am sorry to be the bearer of such bad tidings. Was Mr Bryant a good friend of yours?’
Helen felt tears pricking the back of her eyes. She nodded.
The detective took a notepad from his pocket and began to flick through its contents. ‘Were you at his flat last Thursday?’
Helen nodded again.
‘Good. We found the note you’d written. May I ask how you gained entry? Did you have a key?’
Helen shook her head. ‘No...no...the door was open. Excuse me, I—’ Her breath was coming in short sharp bursts and she rested her head in her hands in order to control the dizziness.
‘I understand, Miss McCarthy. Take your time.’ Garratt didn’t adjust his posture. He was still leaning in towards Helen, expecting an answer.
‘The door was open.’
‘Open, you say? Was there any sign of forced entry?’
‘I...no,’ Helen sobbed.
‘Sorry to give you such a shock. I presume you and Mr Bryant were close?’
‘Yes. I mean, no...we...we were very good friends. He’d been my tutor at college and...and...’ Helen reacheddown and rifled through her handbag for a handkerchief. She blew her nose hard. ‘I’m sorry. I...I just can’t believe what you’re telling me. Are you sure it’s Tony?’
‘Unfortunately, yes. His father has given a positive identification.’
Detective Inspector Garratt watched and waited as Helen wiped her eyes, blew her nose again and swept a hand through her hair in an attempt to regain her equilibrium.
‘When you went to Mr Bryant’s flat last Thursday, did you enter the bathroom?’
‘No. I called out to him a few times. If he had been in the bath, I thought he would have heard me.’
‘Of course, Miss McCarthy. Do you know of anybody who had a grudge against Mr Bryant? Any secrets he may have confided to you about any trouble he was in?’
Helen was resolute. ‘No, absolutely not. Tony was always so...happy. As I said, he was very good to me. He helped me a lot.’
DI Garratt cleared his throat. ‘You understand that I have to ask the nature of your relationship with Mr Bryant?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘What I mean, put bluntly, is whether you and Mr Bryant were lovers?’
Helen did not hesitate in her answer. ‘We were for a while, in the summer, but that had finished.’
Garratt nodded slowly. ‘I see. May I ask why the affair ended?’
‘Because Tony’s girlfriend came back. It was what we’d agreed – that we’d stop when she returned.’
‘And do you have any idea who this girlfriend was?’
