‘You’re quite sure?’ Her voice is sharp.
‘Yes. I brought the painting back with me. I thought you’d want to see it.’
‘If anything like this happens again, please call me.’
‘I did.’ There’s surprise in my voice. ‘I got put through to your phone and I left a message.’
‘It must have been the office phone. It certainly didn’t come through to my mobile.’ She sounds irritated. ‘I’ll come over. We need to see that painting. Are you there if we call over this evening?’
Hope rises in me. ‘I’ll be here.’
‘And Jess, we still don’t know where Matt is – or even if he’s still alive.’ She hesitates. ‘But you do realise, don’t you, that if there’s any chance he is out there, you need to be careful.’
From her words, I know she hasn’t ruled the possibility out. She goes on. ‘I’m going to text you my mobile number. If you see anything suspicious, I want you to call me.’
After she ends the call, I turn to Cath and Zoe, who must have heard most of the call. ‘They have proof that Matt changed his name by deed poll. But they’re still holding Mum.’ Tears prick my eyes as I pause. ‘She said I need to be careful – in case he’s still out there.’
‘She’s right.’ Zoe shakes her head. ‘You must be. It’s unbelievable isn’t it, the lengths he’s gone to already. Who knows what else he’s capable of?’
‘He’s a vile, twisted human being.’ I shake my head. ‘I hope the police find him and lock him away for good.’
‘Hopefully they will.’ Cath goes to the kitchen windows and closes the curtains. ‘I’ll do the rest, shall I?’
Zoe nods. ‘Thanks. Now, Jess. How about I make us something to eat?’
*
Half an hour later, when PC Page arrives, I show her the painting. ‘Thanks, Jess. We’ll take it with us.’
‘It’s proof, isn’t it?’ I insist. ‘That Matt is Charlie’s brother?’
‘It’s certainly possible.’ She pauses. ‘I’ll be in touch.’
*
That night, I try to think where Matt could have been since he disappeared or where he could have hidden. Then as I think of the painting again, my heart starts to thump. If all this has been about Matt losing Charlie, he’s going to go back to the house, I’d put money on it. He’s going to want to pick up his brother’s painting, I know Matt and the twisted way his mind works. Then it’s like a light switches on in my brain. Even though it’s late, I call PC Page.
‘It’s another hunch, but I think I know where Matt may have been hiding.’
‘Where?’
‘I honestly think he’s playing a cat and mouse game. It’s somewhere close enough to watch my mother, but the last place anyone would guess at.’ I pause. ‘Mrs Guthrie’s house.’
She’s silent for a moment. Then all she says is, ‘I’ll get a car up there straight away.’
‘There’s something else.’ I hesitate. ‘I think he’ll go back to our house. He was obsessed with that painting. It’s his only remaining link to his brother.’
Outside my bedroom door, I hear a floorboard creak. Then there’s a knock, followed by Cath’s voice. ‘Jess? Are you OK? I thought I heard voices.’
‘I’m fine. I was talking to PC Page.’ Going to the door, I crack it open to see her face, dimly lit by the light from the landing, enough to see her frown.
‘Is anything wrong?’
I shake my head. ‘No. Everything’s fine. It was just something I thought of – to do with earlier.’ I break off. ‘I think I know where Matt may have been hiding. In Mrs Guthrie’s house – across the road. She died recently.’ Conveniently. The word shocks me. Could Matt have had a hand in that too?
‘God.’ Cath looks horrified. ‘That’s a bit close. As long as you’re OK?’
I nod. ‘I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed.’
But as I lie in bed, my mind won’t rest. As I go over the events of today, I imagine Matt at Mrs Guthrie’s upstairs window, hidden in the shadows as he peered from behind the curtains. I picture his eyes on me as I walked up the lane. The more I think about it, the more certain I am that he’ll be wanting his painting back. I envisage his anger when he finds it isn’t there.
*
The next morning, I wake early, through the gap in the curtains, peering outside, edgy, constantly on the lookout. For Matt. When I go downstairs, Cath’s sitting at Zoe’s table, texting on her phone. When she hears me come in, she turns around. ‘Did you sleep OK in the end?’ Her voice is bright. ‘Have you heard anything from the police yet?’
‘No.’ But I’m sure if there’s any news, PC Page will keep me posted.
Cath gets up. ‘It’s a gorgeous day out there. Shall we go out for breakfast? My shout.’
‘I don’t know.’ She’s trying to cheer me up, and I don’t want to sound dismissive, but until I know what’s happening with my mother, I don’t really feel like going anywhere.
‘Go on, Jess. It’ll do us both good.’
Against my better judgement, I let her sway me. ‘I’ll just go upstairs and get my stuff.’ In my room, I brush my hair, then grab my phone, as Cath’s voice comes from her room. ‘You ready?’
‘Just coming.’ I open my door. ‘You’re right. It’s a good idea.’ I follow her downstairs. ‘Where are we going?’
‘There’s a place the east side of Hove – a diner. I thought as well as breakfast, some sea air would do us good. I was thinking, that if you haven’t heard anything by then, maybe you should call PC Page for an update?’
‘Yeah.’ With that in mind, I feel a little brighter.
But as we get into her car, I’m frowning, thinking back to a comment she made, a while back. About how she owed my mum. ‘What you said before … you said you owed Mum. What did you mean by that?’
Cath’s quiet for a moment. ‘She was always there for me when Oliver was at his worst. I felt it was my turn to do the same for her.’
‘Was there any other reason? To do with Matt?’ As I mention his name, her hands stiffen on the steering wheel. ‘It was just that you said he tried it on with you.’
‘There’s really not any more to say about it. At the time, I told him where to go. But I’ve wondered since, that if I’d told your mum at the time, she might have ended their relationship and none of this would have happened. But knowing the way Matt works, he’d have persuaded her to end our friendship, instead. To be honest, I’m embarrassed about the whole thing.’
When my phone rings, I glance at the screen, where a photo of Rik is flashing up. ‘Do you mind if I answer it? It’s Rik. He’s been worried about me.’
‘Sure, be my guest.’
‘Thanks. I’ll be quick.’ I pick up my phone. ‘Hey Rik, how are you?’ I’m silent for a moment, listening. ‘Can we catch up later on? I’m in the car at the moment. Cath’s taking me for breakfast at a diner along the seafront …’ I pause. ‘OK. I’ll let you know.’ Blowing a kiss at the phone, I hang up. ‘He’s going to call me later on.’ I pause. ‘Do you know when you’re going back to Bristol?’
‘I haven’t decided. I don’t want to go while this is still going on. Let’s take it as it comes. Hopefully, there’ll be some good news before too long. I was thinking maybe later you and I should go back to the house. Finish putting it straight and get rid of anything there to do with Matt.’
‘Maybe.’ I don’t tell her that knowing Matt might be around, even the thought of going there terrifies me. ‘Can we see what PC Page says?’ As the diner comes into view, Cath pulls over and parks at the side of the road. Getting out, I walk onto the shingle, standing there, looking out across the sea. The sun is low, the sea millpond flat, the breeze cold on my skin as Cath joins me. ‘Beautiful, isn’t it? The sea is the thing I love most about living in Falmouth.’
‘It is lovely.’ She’s quiet for a moment. ‘Shall we get some breakfast?’
Side by side we walk across the shingle towards the diner. Done up like an Americ
an beach shack, inside it’s light and airy, decorated in a wash of colour and driftwood, with huge windows and a view of the sea. Apart from one or two tables, it’s relatively empty. Wandering over to a table in the furthest corner, Cath pulls out a chair for me. ‘You have the view.’
The waitress leaves us with menus, but as I peruse mine, my phone buzzes. Glancing at it, PC Page is flashing up on the screen. ‘Sorry. I need to take this.’ When I answer it, she’s brief and to the point.
‘It’s possible you’re right. There’s definitely been someone in Mrs Guthrie’s house. No-one was there when we went to check, but there’s evidence of the sink being used and the sofa being slept on. But no-one’s broken in. Whoever’s been in there has a key, possibly coming and going when they need to.’
‘I’m sure he’s going to go back to the house,’ I tell her urgently. ‘If nothing else, he’s going to want the painting.’
‘Quite possibly. Jess, to try and flush Matt out, we’re issuing a press release, that the police have closed the case, concluding that he’s been murdered and washed out to sea. It’s presumed his body might never be recovered.’
‘When are you doing it?’
‘As soon as we can organise it. We’ll make sure it goes out on local radio, TV and press. Before it happens, we’ll have a plainclothes team monitoring the house. He’s certain to be following local news. It’s a long shot, but if he thinks we’re no longer looking for him, he’s free to go back to pick up that painting and whatever else he wants to take – preferably soon, before you’re back there. I’m going to have to ask you to stay away from the house again – just for now.’
As she speaks, hope fills me. But when I put the phone down, I’m frowning as I turn to Cath. ‘Someone’s been in Mrs Guthrie’s house. They have a key. The police are issuing a fake press release. They want Matt to believe that the case has been closed and the police are no longer looking for him. It isn’t true.’ Not telling Cath what PC Page said, about staying away, I stare at her. ‘But they’re hoping that if he believes it’s done and dusted, it might make him a little more reckless. Enough to go back to the house to pick up his painting.’
‘My God. I hope it works. When are they doing it?’
‘Today.’ I pause. ‘On local radio, TV and in the press.’
‘I ordered you a coffee. I didn’t know what else you wanted.’
I shake my head. ‘Just the coffee is good.’
‘Jess.’ From across the table, Cath reaches for my hand. ‘You should eat something.’
I shake my head. ‘I’m not hungry.’ My mind is racing. Matt might go there anyway, before the press release goes out, in which case the police would miss him. Suddenly I’m furious, that they’re even taking the chance. ‘We have to go there. Now. If we park the car on the main road, then take the back way across the fields into the garden, if he’s watching the front, he won’t see us.’
Forgetting about breakfast, we hurry back to her car. As she unlocks it, Cath frowns. ‘You’re sure you want to do this?’
I have a feeling in my bones I can’t ignore. ‘I have to. What’s he going to do? There are two of us. If he’s there, we call the police.’
As we drive to Steyning, my certainty grows that my hunch is right and at long last, we’re on to him. After parking away from the house, I lead Cath the back way across a sheep field, then over the far end of the wall into the back garden. Making our way towards the house, when we reach the sliding doors, instead of locked, they’re cracked open.
Startled, I turn to Cath. ‘Someone’s in there.’
Her eyes are wide with shock. ‘You think it’s him?’
Nodding, I tiptoe closer. ‘Call the police,’ I whisper.
While she gets out her phone, I carefully slide the doors open enough to let me slip through.
Turning, I glance at Cath shaking her head, mouthing at me, ‘No, Jess … don’t go in …’
But I ignore her. Without giving it a second thought, very slowly, without making a sound, I creep through the kitchen, where I hear a noise coming from one of the bedrooms. My heart thudding, I make my way up the stairs. Then in the doorway of my mother’s room, I stop.
I watch for a moment, then find my voice. ‘Looking for something?’
Across the room, Matt freezes, then turns to me, a look of hatred on his face. I should be terrified, but knowing what he’s done, thinking of my mother charged with his murder, I find a strength I didn’t know I had. Incensed by his arrogance, that he thinks he can intimidate me, thinking of his twisted mind games, my fear is gone. ‘You can’t honestly believe you’ll get away with this. You’re scum, Matt. A despicable human being. You know it and I know it, and soon the whole world will know it.’ My voice is trembling, not from fear, but from anger at what he’s done to my mother, furious at everything he’s done to me; and who knows who else along the way. ‘You have no right to fuck up other people’s lives.’
He starts to laugh, a cynical, cruel sound. ‘You should tell that to your mother and her friend. They didn’t care about anyone other than themselves. Two selfish teenagers, wrecking all those lives … And all this time, they’ve got away with it.’
I shake my head. ‘You’ve got this so wrong. My mother is innocent.’
‘Keeping their secret all these years? I’d hardly call that innocent.’ He laughs again. ‘They’re both guilty, but quite honestly, I don’t care what happens to either of them.’
I watch him feel inside the wardrobe. ‘By the way, you won’t find anything. The painting’s smashed.’ I watch rage flicker in his eyes. ‘It’s outside. I’ve thrown it away.’ It’s deliberately inflammatory, but I’m past caring. I want to hurt him as much as he’s hurt me.
For a moment he doesn’t move. Then he takes a step towards me, sneering. ‘Do you know what, sweet little Jess? I’m going to tell you about my brother and after that, I’m going to make sure you can never tell anyone you’ve seen me. If only you’d stayed away …’ His eyes narrow. ‘But maybe there’s a certain justice after Charlie dying, in you also dying far too young. That was all I ever wanted. Justice.’
Knowing he’s capable of anything, I’m terrified. Out of the corner of my eye, I glance towards the window, praying the police are on their way. When I look back at him, there’s a wildness in his eyes as he goes on.
‘He was about your age when he died. It ruined my parents’ lives and by default, mine, too. After he died, my poor, weak mother took her own life. She couldn’t bear to live with the pain of losing him. She gave no thought to me, her other son, growing up without his mother and his brother.’ Words filled with venom as he breaks off, shaking his head. ‘Shortly after that, my father sold his business. He’d lost all interest in living. But I haven’t told you how Charlie died, have I? Shall I tell you?’ I stare at him, horrified, knowing what he’s going to say. ‘He had a girlfriend who was everything in the world to him. A beautiful, sweet, kind girl called Kimberley. They were going to spend the rest of their lives together. They were the kind of people that you felt better off for knowing. Just being with them, you could feel their love. I don’t know what cock and bull story your mother’s spun you, but it was her and her stupid friend who killed her. Charlie couldn’t come to terms with living without her. So he hung himself. From a tree. Out there. In your garden.’ For a moment, his expression is one of extreme sadness. But then he turns to me again. ‘I hadn’t planned to come here, but then I saw that magazine piece. When I realised who your mother was, after what she did to Charlie and Kimberley, I couldn’t let it go. It ate away at me when I read about the cosy little life she’d created for herself, the business she’d built, her lovely daughter. It was too unfair.’
Looking at him, I gasp. ‘You even sent the flowers, didn’t you? Using your own blood.’ I shake my head, feeling sick. ‘How could you?’
‘I cut a vein. It wasn’t difficult. Nothing is if you want it enough.’ As his eyes turn away, one of his sleeves slips back, revealing a
bandage.
Standing there, I’m shocked into silence as the final pieces fall into place, his story meshing with my mother’s as I know he’s insane. Hearing a car pull up outside, he glances towards the window.
‘You called the fucking police.’ As he turns back to look at me, his voice is loaded with venom. ‘You’ll regret this.’ Muttering under his breath, he steps close enough that I can smell his body odour, a menacing look on his face as he threatens me. ‘One day, when you’re least expecting it, I swear I’ll find you, Jess. You’ll look around and see me there, and this time, there won’t be any police to come to your rescue. You won’t be able to get away from me. Think about how it will feel, when at last I catch up with you – because I will. You haven’t heard the last of this.’
In that moment, my terror knows new heights. Knowing he’s going down, he’s left me with something I can never forget. Fear – that if he ever gets out of prison, he’s going to look for me; that wherever I go, I’ll never be safe. Rooted to the spot, I hear the police coming up the stairs. Then from behind me, comes PC Page’s voice.
‘Matthew Roche, I am arresting you on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. You do not have to say anything. But, it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’
As she finishes speaking, two more officers walk over to Matt, as she glances towards me. ‘Are you OK, Jess?’
I shake my head, watching as they handcuff him, then lead him downstairs, a look of pure malevolence on his face. Then as the police escort him outside and into a car, PC Page turns to me. ‘I can’t stop now, but I’ll call you shortly about your mother.’ As she walks away, Cath puts her arms around me.
The Vow: the gripping new thriller from a bestselling author - guaranteed to keep you up all night! Page 26