In the Dark River by Conor Brady

Author:Conor Brady [Conor Brady]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New Island Books
Published: 2018-10-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Years of police work had brought him to an understanding that there could be many different and contradictory aspects to any individual and that character was a complex thing. Experience had taught him that sometimes in order to relate successfully to people, one had to put different parts of their lives into different spaces. The most brutal and determined criminal could turn out to be a loving spouse or caring parent. The most dedicated professional man could be cold and uncaring to his own flesh and blood. Thus, when he was in the art school in Thomas Street, Swallow thought only of Lily Grant as the class teacher. It was as if she ceased to be Maria’s sister and thus his sister-in-law. He became oblivious of the fact that she was Harry Lafeyre’s fiancée, and that they were to be married in the autumn. His relationship with her in the art school classroom was that between a willing, if average, pupil and a patient, talented teacher.

He had expected that when he would re-appear at the painting class, after an absence of almost a month, there would be something of a welcome from his teacher. But the moment he saw Lily’s unsmiling face he realised that the woman now glaring at him was not looking upon him as a returned prodigal but as her troubled sister’s neglectful husband.

‘Mr Swallow. We haven’t seen you here for a while.’

Her tone was curt. Cold almost.

‘I’ve been busy, Lily. Professionally, I mean.’

She smiled in greeting as other members of the class assembled, taking their work and settling in at their accustomed places.

‘So I’ve heard,’ she answered him. ‘You’ve had difficulties getting home to your wife at any reasonable hour.’

Clearly, she had been in recent conversation with Maria. He knew that was perfectly reasonable, but it irritated him. Notwithstanding, he decided to ignore the implied reprimand.

‘I hope you can help me to make up for lost time with my assignment,’ he said evenly.

Lily effected a sorrowful sigh.

‘Oh, we’ve moved on from the seascape assignments. Yours is over there on the bench.’

She nodded to the other side of the room.

‘We’re doing the human form again this week and next. I was too ambitious in moving the class on from it earlier in the year.’

He was disappointed. He believed he had made progress with the seascape depicting the Shelley Banks. He disliked working on the human form because he was not very good at it. But there might be an advantage to be gained if the class was to focus on the human form. The man who modelled for the class was none other than Charlie Vanucchi, the leader of the city crime gang of that name.

Swallow needed to talk to Charlie Vanucchi.

‘I was hoping you might give me some help with the seascape,’ he said to Lily.

She stepped to the window, away from the others and beckoned to him to follow.

‘Really, Joe, I think you’d make better use of your time today caring for Maria than being here.

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