Page 113 of Three Widows

‘I bet that went down a treat.’

Frankie smiled. ‘A joy to behold. He was in agony with an infected molar, otherwise he’d have walked out.’

‘Did you see him on more than one occasion?’

‘I gave him a script for antibiotics with dates for follow-up appointments. I think I saw him two or three times in total. I can—’

‘Check when you get to the office. Do that. Where were you when Tyler disappeared?’

‘I don’t know for certain, but it was this time last year, so I was probably in India. Yes, that sounds about right.’

‘Can you check it now?’

‘I keep my diary on my work computer, Inspector.’

‘Ring me as soon as you know.’ She waved a hand around the room. ‘You have a lovely home. Did you decorate it yourself?’

‘Owen and I did it together. Why?’

‘You didn’t hire an interior designer, did you?’

‘Owen had some great ideas. I agreed with most of his suggestions.’

‘But not all?’

‘You really know how to pick words apart.’

‘It’s my job.’

‘To answer your question, we mutually agreed on the decor.’

‘Has Owen been to an ashram with you?’

‘Yes. He claims I dragged him along.’ He laughed.

‘And you converted him?’

‘That sounds like I shoved him into a cult,’ he said with a half-hearted smile. ‘No, he came to accept the way of life I proposed.’

‘Was he with you in India a year ago?’

‘No, I went alone.’

‘You say you got him to accept your lifestyle. Was he always a yoga instructor?’

‘Not at all. When we first met, he was a college tutor in Athlone.’

Lottie felt her jaw drop. ‘Did he know Tyler Keating there?’

‘You’d have to ask Owen.’

‘I can’t believe he gave that job up to teach yoga?’

Frankie rose to his feet like a lithe panther and held out a hand to help her up.

‘Inspector, I can’t make anyone do something they don’t want to do. Owen was in a rut. He was trying to impart his wonderful knowledge to a bunch of uninterested students. He was almost suicidal when I met him. He was open to all I could give. Including my love. I helped him build a state-of-the-art business.’

Lottie paced around the small apartment, lifting elephant and tiger ornaments and replacing them, noticing no dust around them. It made her realise that everything was pristine. Maybe Frankie could have a word with her kids.

---