Chapter 62
BETH
‘I’ve never seen her before.’ I hold onto the breakfast bar to steady myself. This isn’t good. That girl’s name is Scarlett, not Immy. I told him she wasn’t who she said she was. I damn well told him.
‘Are you OK?’ the DS asks me. ‘You’ve gone quite pale.’
Justin butts in. ‘My wife has cancer, officer. She’s not at all well. This is very stressful.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ the DS says. ‘It shouldn’t be stressful. I’m just making a few enquiries. But we won’t bother you any longer.’ He slowly waves the photo in front of our faces. He’s toying with us. ‘So neither of you have seen this woman before then?’
I shake my head.
Justin says, ‘And the point is? I’m not sure I follow. What interest does this woman, whoever she is, have in our organisation?’
‘The point is, Justin, that Daisy, Scarlett’s sister, died of a suspected drug overdose.’
He’s on to us. I’m a mess. I can tell by his expression that he thinks we know something.
‘Scarlett was adamant there was foul play. I’m inclined to believe her and am taking a personal interest. This is my case, Justin. Now she has disappeared, and I need to find her. Can you imagine what their mother is going through?’ DS Porter looks at Justin and then me.
DC Wiggins appears at the kitchen door. She catches the DS’s eye for a split second.
‘You see, when I get my teeth into a tragic case like this, I won’t let go. I’m unbearable until I get a solution. Isn’t that right, DC Wiggins?’
‘Totally unbearable, sir,’ she adds as if this is a performance they’ve rehearsed for moments when they know they’re on to something. Or someone. It’s intimidating.
‘Rightly so,’ Justin says. ‘But like I said, I fail to see what that has to do with us.’
‘Scarlett has been talking to one of her sister’s friends. She thought your company was of interest because her sister went to one of your conferences the day she died. Bit of a coincidence, wouldn’t you say?’
‘Tragic. I’m so sorry we couldn’t be of any help,’ Justin replies.
‘Yes. Tragic.’ There’s a pause as DS Porter takes a sip of the lemonade. ‘Delicious.’
‘Sir, we should get on.’ The DC seems keen to leave. It’s odd the way she speaks to her superior officer.
‘Yes, right,’ he replies before turning to Justin. ‘Thank you for your valuable time. Much appreciated. And keep up the good work.’ He steps over to the kitchen window. ‘Lovely place you have here. Bet you struggle to enjoy it what with all your travelling.’
‘We try,’ Justin replies with a laugh.
‘Sir,’ the DC says.
‘Yes. Yes.’ DS Porter hands Justin a business card. ‘In case anything comes to you. My personal number is right there.’
Justin takes the card. ‘Thank you. But I’m not sure what else we can add.’ He tosses the card in the dish on the centre island where we keep keys and points to the glass of lemonade on the table. ‘You haven’t finished your drink.’
‘You know what? I’m not actually that thirsty. I think I’ll leave it.’
Justin flares his nostrils. ‘I’ll show you out.’
As DS Porter gets to the kitchen door, he stops. I want to scream at him to go. ‘Oh, just one more thing.’ He pulls another photo from his other pocket and holds it up to Justin then to me. ‘What about this young woman?’
‘Who’s this?’ Justin asks. He knows damn well who she is.
‘This is Daisy Parker,’ the DS says. ‘Scarlett’s sister.’
‘Sorry I can’t help you,’ Justin says, running his hand through his hair.
I follow as he leads the police officers to the front door. On the way, DC Wiggins puts her head around the lounge door and says, ‘Thank you, Hattie. You have been most helpful.’
Justin and I exchange looks, before he leaves the room to see the officers out.
The front door bangs closed. I follow him through to the living room, where Hattie is still watching the TV.
Justin glances at me, his face like thunder, then looks out of the window.
I join him. ‘This is not good,’ he mutters.
The officers stand talking across the bonnet of the car.
The DC appears animated with plenty to say, her arms gesticulating wildly.
Whatever she’s saying, she’s not finished here.
‘Mother!’ Justin turns to Hattie. ‘What did you tell that policewoman?’ He raises his voice. ‘What did you say?’
‘I told her we were going to the seaside today.’ She gets up from the sofa. ‘I’ll go and get my costume on. I’ll see if Harold wants to come.’
When she leaves the room, Justin says, ‘We need to act fast here.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I need your help again. Immy, Scarlett, whatever her bloody name is, needs to go. She’s been playing games with us.’
‘No. No way. You told me no more. I made it quite clear I’m not going anywhere near that girl.’
‘But she’s on to us.’ He keeps running his hand through his hair. He’s sweating. ‘And the police have come knocking. We have to take action. You know it makes sense.’
‘No.’
‘This is the last one. I promise,’ he says.
‘How many times have you said that?’
‘I promise this time.’
‘I’m not having anything more to do with this. I’m finished. If you make me carry on, I’ll call the police myself.’
He stands silent, stock-still. He looks at me the way he always used to look at the girls he brought back here when they were no longer any use to him.
Head slightly back. Eyes slightly squinted.
Nostrils slightly flared. A look only I can detect.
He shakes his head and, combing his fingers through his hair, leaves the room, slamming the door hard.
I wander around the downstairs of the house in a daze, ending up in the annexe.
All Immy’s stuff has gone. The room has been cleaned, the bed remade with fresh sheets.
I check the bathroom. Nothing. He’s covered his tracks.
The door to the outside is open. I step out and sit at the small table, contemplating my next move.
I know what I need to do. I just need to do it.
After half an hour or so, I return inside and go to the kitchen.
That DS left a business card. I pick up my phone from the side and find the DS’s card in the dish on the centre island. I study it. I put it down. I pick it up again. An action I repeat three more times before calling the mobile number. It goes straight to his voicemail.
‘It’s Beth,’ I say, breathless. ‘Beth Lakeland. There’s something I didn’t tell you when you were here. I think you need to come back.’