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his parents as well as his grandparents throughout his childhood. He was a scholarship boy at the
grammar school. He did well and won a place at Bristol University Medical School. He’d arrived in
Bristol to start his degree twenty years ago, in 1992, and never left after that. He’d worked his way
up and done well. Proof of that was his current position as consultant at the Children’s Hospital. He’d
become a general surgeon. I knew just enough about the world of medicine to know that that must be a
coveted position in a competitive world.
Finch’s composure first faltered when I wanted to talk in more detail about Ben’s mother, and the
reason their marriage ended.
‘My marriage ended because Rachel and I were no longer suited to each other.’
A perceptible stiffening of his body, words a tad sticky as his mouth became drier.
‘It’s my understanding that this came as a surprise to Rachel.’
‘Possibly.’
‘And that there was another party involved?’
‘I have remarried, yes.’
‘Could you give me an idea of why you and Rachel were no longer suited to each other?’
A single bead of sweat had appeared by his hairline.
‘These things don’t always last, Inspector. There can be a host of small reasons that accumulate to
make a marriage unsustainable.’
‘Including a younger girlfriend?’
‘Please don’t reduce me to a cliché.’
I didn’t reply. Instead I waited to see if more information would seep from him, just as the
perspiration had. It’s surprising how often that works. People have an almost compulsive need to
justify themselves. I made a show of looking through notes, and just when I thought he wouldn’t spill,
he did.
‘My marriage wasn’t an emotionally fulfilling one. We didn’t…⁠’ He was choosing his words
carefully. ‘We didn’t communicate.’
‘It happens,’ I said.
‘I was lonely.’
His eyes flicked away from mine and I saw a frisson of emotion in them when our gazes
reconnected, though it was hard to say exactly what. John Finch was definitely a proud man, and
unaccustomed to sharing the personal details of his life.
‘Is Rachel a good mother to Ben?’ I asked him. I wanted to catch him when his guard was down.
His reply came immediately, he didn’t need to think about it: ‘She’s an excellent mother. She loves
Ben very much.’
I took the interview back to practicalities. I asked him what he and his wife were doing on Sunday
afternoon between 13.00 and 17.30 hours. He said that they were at home together. He was working
and she was reading and then she started to prepare their evening meal. He got a call from WPC
Banks at 17.30 to inform him that Ben was missing and he’d driven directly to the woods.
‘Did you make any calls, or send any emails during that time?’ I asked.
He shook his head. ‘I was catching up on paperwork.’
‘I’ve asked Ms Jenner whether she’d be willing for us to look through her phone records, and she’s
agreed. Would you be willing for us to do the same?’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Whatever it takes.’
‘One more thing.’
‘Yes?’