Free Dead Eyed by Matt Brolly Page A

‘Oh.’ She took a deep breath. ‘He was a bit like Laura to begin with, and then he went silent. He was close to Billy, you know.’
    ‘Yes, what was he like?’
    ‘Billy or Michael?’
    ‘Michael.’
    A brightness overcame Siobhan’s face, the memory clearly a fond one. ‘He was a sweet guy. What can I say, we were young. It was quite intense.’
    ‘Were you going out with him for long?’
    ‘Six, seven months.’
    ‘Was it a monogamous relationship?’
    ‘As far as I’m aware. Why all these questions about Michael?’
    ‘The most recent victim, he was also at University with you.’
    ‘What?’ said Siobhan, the colour vanishing from her face. ‘Michael wasn’t the victim, was he?’
    ‘No, no. Sorry, Siobhan. I didn’t mean to confuse you. The latest victim was called Terrence Haydon. He was at University at the same time as you.’
    Siobhan caught her breath. ‘He was in halls with us? What floor was he on?’
    ‘Floor six. Some people called him Mad Terry?’
    ‘Don’t remember him. What’s this to do with Michael?’
    ‘Oh, nothing directly.’
    Siobhan placed her hands in her lap. ‘You can’t think he has anything to do with it? That would be ridiculous.’
    May leant forward, catching a waft of antiseptic from the corridor. ‘No, of course not. We’re examining all the connections in the two cases. And obviously Michael knew Billy very well. Did you know Michael’s other friends?’
    Siobhan relaxed, her shoulders dropping. ‘Yeah, there was a gang of them.’
    ‘What were they like as a group?’
    ‘They were nice enough guys. They basically liked to drink and go with girls, like all boys that age.’
    ‘Remember Simon Klatzky?’
    Siobhan pursed her lips. ‘He was hot,’ she said, giggling. ‘God, listen to me. Yeah, he was good friends with Michael. We’d all go out as a gang sometimes. I think he was really close with Billy. From what I heard it hit him really hard as well.’
    May thought about the photo of Klatzky she’d posted on the whiteboard, the hard life he’d had since leaving University. ‘Was there any trouble amongst them as a group? Any fights, things like that?’
    ‘There were the odd fallings out but nothing significant. They all got on really well.’
    ‘Well, thanks for your time, Siobhan. It’s been much appreciated. As I said it’s a routine thing.’
    Siobhan had grown in confidence during the meeting. Her eyes were more focused. As they both stood, she asked, ‘So when did you see Michael?’
    May noted the keen interest in the question, was surprised that the inquiry made her bristle. ‘He’s in Bristol at the moment. I met him today.’
    ‘What’s he like now?’
    ‘Yeah, he seems really nice. What happened to you guys after University?’
    Siobhan walked her to the hospital elevator. ‘We met up once. He came to stay with me at my parents’ house for a week. He decided to go travelling for a year.’
    ‘And you didn’t want to go with him?’
    ‘We talked about it. I had another year at University as I was studying for my Masters. We said we’d stay in touch,’ said Siobhan. ‘But we never did.’
    Back at the station, May changed into her running gear, skin-tight running trousers and a fluorescent yellow jacket. She thought about the touch of melancholy in Siobhan’s voice as she recalled not staying in touch with Lambert, and briefly regretted that no one from her past could provoke the same reaction in her. She tied up her running shoes, pulling the laces tight until it squeezed her feet and left the locker room.
    As she left the changing room one of the uniforms, a constable by the name of Bickley, laughed. ‘Shit, I’m deaf,’ he said, pretending to shield his ears from the loudness of May’s jacket.
    ‘Very amusing. Better safe than sorry, don’t you think, Constable?’ she said, playing along.
    ‘No one’s going to miss you, that’s for sure, ma’am.’
    May tried to run at least three times a week. It was five