Chapter Tuesday, 6 March 2035 #2
‘I can’t bear the sight of blood. I don’t even like my periods.
I put up with them cos I have no choice, like everything else in the world when you’re my age, but no way could I kill someone.
Yes, I’m a bit temperamental. Yes, I have been known to play truant and get into the odd fight.
And yes, my biological mother is a convicted serial killer. But I’m not, all right?’
Heather stepped forwards and backed me up for once, amazingly. ‘Ivy’s a vegetarian, actually. Always has been, since she was a baby.’
‘Never liked the taste of it,’ I added.
Heather nodded. ‘And she’s usually picked for a lead role in all the end-of-term musicals – Anita in West Side Story a few years ago, and Maria in The Sound of Music.
’ She pointed up to the stage photos on the wall behind him and found one of me, belting out ‘Little Girls’ from the time I was Miss Hannigan in our production of Annie.
Even though I do say so myself, I was terrific.
That was opening night, just before I shouted at that guy in the front row to turn his phone off. Had detention for six months for that. Prick. I didn’t know he was the mayor.
Heather kept up the defence. ‘She loves her animals – she has a house rabbit, some pet mice, and even puts food out for some crows that visit her garden. She’s a really caring girl, and a very good footballer too; just a bit of a troublemaker now and then.’ I shot her a scowl.
‘I don’t see what liking animals and being good at football and singing has got to do with it,’ scoffed DI Sherrin.
‘Myra Hindley loved dogs. So did Bundy. And Hitler liked goose-stepping to Wagner, so that doesn’t cut much ice with me.
I’m more interested in whether the apple fell far from the tree … ’
‘That sounds like an accusation, detective,’ said Heather, narrowing her eyes and going into lawyer mode. She stood between Sherrin and me. ‘You said this was an informal evidence-gathering chat.’
‘It is, madam, it is absolutely informal. But you see, Mr Andrews wasn’t just stabbed, was he?’ He looked at me. ‘He had a flower carved into his skin.’
‘A what?’ I asked.
‘Whoever killed him stabbed him eleven times and carved a flower into the skin on his chest. Almost cut his heart out.’
I swallowed down the rising nausea and turned to the window to take a breath of non-existent air. ‘God, that’s gross.’ They were all still staring at me.
Heather walked towards me and bent forwards. ‘You went to see Chloe, then the arcades, then chips, then home on the bus, yes?’
‘Yes.’
‘What time was the bus?’
‘Eight-fifteen. The electro-bus back to Axminster.’
‘We can check with the driver if he—’
‘—it was driverless,’ I clarified.
‘Well, we can still check the cameras,’ Blunt assured. ‘If you did go to Andrews’, we will know, so speak now or—’
‘—I did not kill Kieran Andrews …’ I proclaimed. A silence descended and Blunt and Sherrin put away their notepads. Heather breathed a sigh of relief. Christensen sat back with a satisfied smile on his gammon mug.
‘… but I’m glad he’s fucking dead.’
‘IVY!’
Classes were suspended for the afternoon in favour of counselling sessions with candles and lavender and shit, but it was optional attendance so Heather said she’d take me home.
She stayed behind talking to the detectives while I grabbed my things and waited on the front steps, picking the scabs on my knees.
The bleep of her Mercedes heralded her arrival.
She stood beside me on the step as I got to my feet, tucking my bag over my shoulder.
‘You think I did it as well, don’t you?’ I asked.
‘I don’t actually,’ she sighed as we walked to the car. ‘I don’t think you’re capable of that. But I know you hated him. And how deeply you love Chloe.’
I threw my bag in the back and got in the passenger’s side.
When both doors were shut, she turned to me. ‘How’s Claudia today?’
‘Still dying.’ Heather seemed awkward and I didn’t like her face. ‘She had some orange juice and a bit of toast and marmalade. She says she likes sharp foods – citrus and stuff – she can taste them better.’
‘Are the new carers any better?’
‘Yeah, they do everything for her. The lunchtime one yesterday changed her bed without being asked. And the one last night stayed for a full two hours and chatted, even though she’s only getting paid for one. Turns out they went to the same university. I don’t have to tell her about this, do I?’
Heather shook her head, eyes creeping to the tiny glass bottle hanging from my necklace. She lifted it up and inspected it. ‘That’s pretty.’
‘My grandma sent it from Australia. It’s some of my dad’s ashes.’
Heather dropped the bottle like it was hot. ‘Oh, I see. I’m sorry.’
‘I miss him, even though we never met. Is that weird?’
‘No. I don’t think so.’
‘Still doesn’t make me want to go to live in Australia.’
‘Let’s not do this now.’ She went to start the engine but stared at the bushes through the windscreen instead. ‘Did you go to Andrews’ last night?’
Heather wasn’t going to start the engine until I answered. ‘Yes.’
She fogged up the windscreen with breath. ‘Did you google his address?’
‘On a school computer yesterday. I deleted the search history though.’
‘Oh my God.’ Heather leant her forehead against the steering wheel. ‘Oh Ivy, bloody hell. You’re going to be on cameras. You’re going to—’
‘—I snuck in through the back of the dog park, it’s fine.
There’s no cameras there. But anyway, I didn’t kill him, Heather.
I was just going round there to … I don’t know why I was going round there.
I just wanted to do something. And then I did go round there, but when I got to Anning Court, I froze.
I couldn’t go any further. I felt sick. So I turned back and went to the bus stop.
I got some chips and then I went straight home. ’
‘Ivy … why? Why can’t you behave? Why do you constantly want to mess up your life? You’d have everything going for you if you’d just—’
‘—I can’t believe you think I could do that. Nothing happened.’
‘Well if you didn’t kill him and carve a sweet pea into his chest, then who the hell did?’
Dear Sweetpea,
Your going ahead with a tv interview and we warned you last time what we’d do if you did. you just don’t get it do you? Your not suffering at all. Your not paying for what you did so we must make you pay.
WE know where your daughter goes to school, bitch.
St Emily de Vialar girls school, right? rich bitch school in the country.
She wears a burgundy and black uniform and she has curly hair and a green phone case with butterflies on it.
we will be waiting for her and will do to her whats been coming to you.
Now ur in prison ur not going to get justice but we are. I will make her scream and she will die in pain just like you should, bitch.
Your sweet little ivy is going to die. And i will stand over her body laughing. if you aren’t going to pay, she will.
Sorry Sweetpea. Nobody is coming to dig you out of this one. Hahahahahahahahaha.
The Fiends.