Chapter 36 #2
There was a woman there that day . . . a redhead with an accent. Was she Scottish? Pauline couldn’t recall. She’d asked what room Harry Woodbead was in. But Pauline doesn’t remember seeing her leave, and she certainly didn’t think anything more of it. Not even after she found Handsy Harry dead.
Pauline worked at that care home for twenty-five years.
She was used to finding dead bodies. No, not used to , because you never really get used to something like that.
But she had seen enough of them not to scream or run about the hallways making a fuss, like some of the newer staff members sometimes did.
He was in bed. He looked peaceful enough. He was even smiling a little.
She checked his pulse and went to inform her manager, Gary.
Gary had called the authorities. Everyone thought he’d taken the meds himself, ended things.
There were whispers that Harry must’ve been storing them up to take all at once.
At the time she’d felt only fear that she’d be in trouble for not double-checking he was taking them as prescribed.
Someone with a badge had come and asked Gary questions, but only because it was standard procedure.
No one had asked her anything particularly interesting or followed up afterwards.
She hasn’t even heard from the care home since she’s been on leave.
Shouldn’t Columbo have been in touch if he’d been assigned to the case and thought it suspicious?
The man clearly isn’t as good as his TV namesake.
Pauline shakes her head. ‘I wouldn’t have been any good as a witness. I didn’t see anything.’
Audrey’s nostrils flare. She breathes out heavily, her relief obvious, those donor lungs working hard.
She looks up after a moment and her eyes are clear.
‘I thought as much, my darling, but I couldn’t take the chance.
I had to protect my daughter. I couldn’t protect her before, when she was young, but I had to this time.
At any cost. I had to protect her! I wasn’t going to risk anyone thinking she was the one who’d done this.
She has a life. She has a partner and a job.
She deserves to live.’ Audrey nods, mostly to herself.
‘So I told anyone who’d listen that I killed him.
I even took the empty bottle of Digitalis that Nina used, and I’ve kept it as evidence – evidence against myself.
I was more than prepared to take responsibility.
I am more than prepared. It’s why I haven’t been too bothered by Columbo following me around, asking questions.
As long as he leaves Nina alone and focuses on me. I . . . I have to protect her.’
She falls silent, her heart racing. Pauline feels frozen in her seat. The air in the room has vacated and it hurts to breathe.
Audrey is not who she said she was. She has lied to Pauline from the start.
She has been moving all of them like chess pieces since day one.
Setting up the group with the sole purpose of finding Paula.
Just so she could keep her quiet! And then pretending to be someone else for months; pretending to be a jackpot winner to win their trust. The group sit dumbly for a minute, processing; trying to make sense of this.
After a moment, Ivy reaches for Audrey’s hand. ‘I think I understand,’ she says softly. ‘You were protecting your child.’
Pauline stands up, her chest tight. She has always taken everything lying down. She has been steamrollered her whole life, staying quiet and subdued and mousey. But she won’t do it anymore.
‘Well, I don’t understand!’ she explodes and Ivy looks up at her with shock.
‘You lied to me. To all of us! You manipulated everyone and only befriended me so you could . . . control me. Do you know how familiar that sounds? It’s what John’s done to me for years!
Controlling me – using me! You’re just like him!
’ The anger feels unfamiliar but hot and good in her belly.
She whirls around on her heels, looking for the front door.
Her mind is racing. She has to get out of here, away from these women.
Tilly was right all along: there was – there is – something wrong and weird about this group of women.
And it’s not just that they’ve won the lottery and killed their husbands.
Some of them haven’t even done that! She trusted them.
She trusted Audrey! She thought they were her friends.
She thought that she finally had a safety net, a security blanket that she could— Goddammit, where’s the front door?
She’s all disoriented in this absurdly giant place.
‘Pauline . . .’ Ivy stands up, too, her face full of regret and upset. She steps towards her, reaching for her friend, but Pauline puts up a warning hand.
‘Don’t!’ she says, her voice high and choked with emotion.
‘I agree with Pauline,’ Teddy says furiously.
‘You’re a liar, Audrey. The whole point of this group was that we could trust each other – rely on one another – when we’d all been screwed over time and time again.
You lied about so much. You lied about your own name, for God’s sake!
How would we ever believe anything you ever said again? ’
Audrey hangs her head. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘Sorry isn’t good enough!’ Pauline explodes again.
‘I’m done with this, and I’m done with you.
’ She finally locates the right corner of the room, storming towards the door to leave.
She’s almost shouting as she reaches for it – something Pauline can’t remember ever doing before.
‘Don’t message or call me,’ she yells. ‘I don’t want to hear from any of you.
Just leave me alone. I’m done with The Lottery Winner Widows Club. For good. Stay out of my life.’
She slams the door behind her, hoping they heard every word, because she means it. She’s never meant anything more in her life. She’s done. She’s done with all of it.