‘A hostess – really?’
‘Uh-huh.’
Lucy gave a significant nod, then lay back on the rug and closed her eyes. Julia tipped her head to the sky. A couple of birds appeared as black spots in her perfect blue. Surely it must be too hot for them up there. Another shadow appeared across them. Julia looked up just in time to spot Alan staring at Lucy in her tiny bikini. He averted his gaze the moment he realised Julia had seen him.
He sat down on the grass, still in his work clothes.
‘Did you know we’re getting a new housemate?’ he said.
‘That’s what I was going to tell you, Julia,’ Lucy said. ‘Have you met him, Alan?’
‘How do you know it’s a him?’ he said.
Lucy pulled Genevieve’s dreamy expression, focusing on the middle distance, ‘I feel the female energy in the house is overpowering. We need more Yang to the Yin.’
Julia giggled and even Alan had to smile.
‘You’re right, of course it’s a bloke. I don’t know anything else. Jenny’s being mysterious.’
‘Don’t let her catch you calling her that,’ Lucy said. ‘And Genevieve’s mysterious about everything. She thinks it makes her interesting.’
‘He’s probably another accountant,’ Julia said. ‘Sorry, Alan.’
Alan raised his head. ‘This from a computer geek.’
‘The geek shall inherit the earth,’ Julia said.
‘But not original puns, it seems.’
‘Cut it out, you two,’ Lucy said. ‘It’ll be good having someone else about the place.’
Alan looked as if she’d lost her mind. ‘Why? More mess, less shower time, or just another bit of male flesh for Genevieve to drool over?’
‘Jealous?’ Julia said.
‘Oh pur-leeese,’ Alan said.
Julia took pleasure in finally having riled him, perhaps coming closer to the truth than she’d guessed. Alan feigned horror at Genevieve’s advances, but was oddly proud of them, as if it made him more generally desirable. Ridiculous really, when the only attributes required were to be under thirty and male.
Lucy was obviously having the same thoughts. She smiled with fake sweetness.
‘Look on the bright side, Alan – there’ll be more of you to share the burden.’
‘Lessen the load,’ Julia added. ‘We know how tiresome it is for you being a sex magnet.’
‘You’re not funny,’ Alan said. ‘You’re just sad. And remind me who’s single and who’s not.’ He stood up and marched towards the house.
‘Remind me who’s got a girlfriend who no one’s ever met,’ Lucy called after him.
Alan ignored her.
‘He’s so up himself,’ she said when he was out of earshot.
‘I thought that was just me,’ Julia said.
‘The next one better not be like him.’
‘Or Brandon.’
Lucy raised her eyebrows. ‘You didn’t seem too against him the other night, I hear.’
‘Who said that?’
‘Alan.’
‘He’s making it up.’
‘Brandon’s all right actually,’ Lucy said. ‘We had a little heart to heart – underneath that macho shit, he’s a nice guy.’
‘Urgh, really?’
‘And I think he likes you.’
‘He likes all women.’
‘No, I mean … Never mind.’
‘No, tell me.’
Lucy leant forward about to speak, then looked up.
‘Hi, Brandon,’ she said, in an unnecessarily loud voice.
‘Hi,’ Brandon called from the patio steps.
He came down into the garden with another guy. No doubt another best mate, who Brandon had met five minutes ago down the pub.
‘We’re about to head to The Ship to get better acquainted,’ Brandon said. He stood back and let them view the stranger. ‘Girls, meet your new housemate. This is Gideon.’
Chapter 30
2017 – Guildford Police Station
The interview room feels colder. Warren and Akande’s eyes rest upon me as the lamp that crushed Brandon’s skull and the rug in which his lifeless body was wrapped stare up at me from the photograph.
‘I’ve no idea how these objects came to be with Brandon,’ I say.
‘Gideon and Alan are telling us a different story,’ Akande says.
I can almost hear Alan, eager to blame me, repeating a story devised by Gideon. I want to scream – it wasn’t me, it wasn’t my fault, I couldn’t stop it. Shazia is watching me. This is the tactic she warned me about – divide and conquer.
‘If Gideon knows anything different, he’s never told me,’ I say.
Akande smiles. ‘Gideon is only telling us what we already know. We don’t need witnesses to place you at the scene of Brandon’s death.’
‘If you’ve further evidence, you need to inform me and my client,’ Shazia says.
‘We intend to,’ Akande says.
Warren leans forward. ‘Ms Winter, would you tell us your shoe size please?’
‘What’s that got to do with anything?’
‘If you could just answer the question?’
There doesn’t seem any point in refusing.
‘I’m a size seven.’
Warren pushes forward the photo of us sitting in Genevieve’s lounge. He taps his pen on it, where my foot touches the rug.
‘Would it surprise you to know that we found a footprint on the rug we found wrapped around Brandon? It’s not visible to the naked eye, but with lighting and the correct photography …’ He shows me the picture of the rug with the tread mark highlighted. ‘It corresponds to a size seven Converse trainer. The same brand you’re wearing in this photo.’
‘I was living in the house – it’s hardly surprising.’
‘The footprint was in blood.’
I look at my blue suede trainers in the photograph, my favourite footwear at the time.
‘Would you like to tell me how it got there, Ms Winter?’
‘No comment.’
‘Is that really the route you’re going to take?’ Akande says.
I look down to hide the antipathy, which must be written across my face.
‘Is there anything to link this footprint specifically to my client’s trainers?’ Shazia asks. ‘And can you state that, without question, the blood belongs to Brandon Wells? It’s my understanding that a sample like this, exposed to the elements, wouldn’t yield DNA. There’s zero evidence linking my client to the crime.’
‘Incorrect,’ Akande says. ‘Gideon and Alan link Ms Winter to the crime.’
‘If they’re saying anything different to me, they’re lying,’ I say.
‘Gideon said you were angry with Brandon, for seeing other women.’
‘I couldn’t have cared less.’
‘He says you’re unable to control your temper, something you’ve already demonstrated to us. And that you actually threatened him with a knife during an argument.’
‘Of course he’s going to say things like that, because—’
‘Julia,’ Shazia says. ‘I advise you not to respond further.’ She turns to Warren and Akande. ‘I’d like to talk to my client – alone.’
‘Don’t blow it now,’ she says when the detectives have left the room. ‘They’re trying to turn you against one another. They’ll be telling Alan and Gideon the same thing – Julia told us you did it. Julia said you had a grudge against Brandon. Really, it’s a good sign. They’ve nothing concrete. Go back to “no comment” and you’ll be out of here by the end of the day.’
On their return, Warren tries a different angle, while Akande leans back in her chair, restless and dissatisfied.
‘We know Brandon liked you, but the feeling wasn’t mutual. How did he react to being rebuffed?’ Warren asks.
‘He didn’t,’ I say.
‘Did he attack you?’
‘No.’
‘Julia.’ Warren attempts an avuncular tone. ‘If there was some so
rt of fight or struggle, was there an element of self-defence?’
If they wanted me to plead self-defence, they shouldn’t have told me about Brandon’s skull being smashed.
I look at Shazia. She inclines her head.
‘No comment,’ I say.
Akande leans forward. ‘What does your son think about your bed-hopping twenties?’
Anger twitches through to my fingers, but I’m not letting her rile me a second time. I look straight at her.
‘No comment,’ I say and enjoy watching her almost spitting with frustration.
‘No comment’ has switched the balance of power.
Realising they have little to go on, Warren terminates the interview and switches off the recording equipment.
‘I assume my client can leave. You’ve no evidence that will stand up in court,’ Shazia says.
Warren stares at Shazia, then me.
‘We’ll see,’ he says before marching out of the room. Followed by Akande, who’s too angry to look.
‘You did well,’ Shazia says once they’ve left. ‘Especially after she mentioned your son.’
‘Is that it?’ I ask.
‘Should be. All that “we’ll see”. They’re sore losers,’ Shazia says. ‘I have to go. An aggravated assault. Hopefully we won’t need to meet again.’
It feels unreal. This is to be my only punishment – fear, shame, a near miss? We were right all those years ago. No one can prove anything if we stick together. And even though the bonds between us have strained, they’ve not broken.
A uniformed officer comes in with yet another cup of coffee.
‘Aren’t they going to release me?’ I ask her.
‘No idea.’
‘But I’ve been here ages.’
‘Paperwork maybe,’ she says.
The coffee looks revolting. I’ll wait until I’m out and I can have a real drink. I walk around the room. What’s the delay? Are Gideon and Alan to be released before me?
I’m still pacing the room when the door opens. The uniformed officer re-enters.
‘You’re to come with me,’ she says.
I follow him along a corridor to the custody desk.
Warren is waiting there for me, accompanied by Akande, who makes no attempt to conceal her smile.
‘Can I call someone to pick me up?’
Pearl would come, whatever the hour.
‘I’m afraid not,’ Warren says. ‘New forensic evidence has been received. I’ve been advised by the Crown Prosecution Service to formally charge you with the murder of Brandon Wells.’
Chapter 31
1994 – Guildford
The sun blinded Julia. She had to use her hand to shield her eyes and still Gideon was just a silhouette. He was tall – not as tall as Brandon, a couple of inches shorter – and though square-shouldered, not nearly as broad. He wore light-coloured chinos and a white T-shirt.
‘Would you like a drink, Gideon?’ Lucy waggled her wine bottle.
‘That would be—’
‘Have a beer, Gideon,’ Brandon said.
Brandon sat down and took two cans from the plastic bag he was carrying. Gideon sat opposite Julia, the sun still behind him, so she couldn’t look at him properly. From what she could make out, he was a little older than the rest of them, perhaps twenty-eight or twenty-nine.
Alan reappeared on the terrace.
‘Are you joining us?’ Brandon asked.
More confident with the presence of two other men, Alan returned, still in his work clothes.
‘This is Gideon.’
Brandon tipped his beer in Gideon’s direction. Alan gave him a formal handshake as he sat down. He looked out of place in his office attire – the rest of them wore summer clothes.
‘Is that your BMW on the drive, the white one?’ Alan asked.
‘Yes.’
‘Lucky you,’ Alan said.
It was the only time Julia had seen Alan look genuinely impressed.
‘Where were you living before?’ Lucy asked.
‘London,’ he said.
‘And you swapped it for here?’ Julia was incredulous.
‘You’re the only one who thinks the streets of London are paved with gold, Julia,’ Alan said. ‘They’re actually paved with shit.’
Julia watched Gideon smile as he sipped his pint.
‘Not a fan of the place myself,’ Brandon said. ‘Too big, too noisy. You can’t hear yourself think, and the rent’s sky-high for some total dump.’
‘Is that why you left so quickly – couldn’t pay your rent?’ Alan asked.
Brandon hesitated and looked annoyed. ‘I didn’t want to get sucked into a long tenancy.’
Alan also noticed the hesitation. Julia would leave him to wheedle out the details. He was good at that.
‘Is that why you moved, Gideon?’ Julia asked. ‘Because London’s too expensive?’
‘I love London,’ he said and smiled at her. ‘But I was given a chance to work for my godfather. He hasn’t any children and is looking for someone to take over his business in a few years. If I work for him now, hopefully that will be me.’
‘Wow, your own company just handed to you on a plate, unbelievable,’ Brandon said. ‘What sort of firm is it?’
‘We source nutritional supplements,’ Gideon said.
‘Vitamins and stuff?’
‘More specialised than that. Things like green barley powder and algae.’
‘What are you supplementing, whales?’ Brandon asked.
Gideon managed a laugh.
‘I bet the women are all the size of whales,’ Alan said. ‘Kidding themselves they’re suffering from some nutritional imbalance, instead of gluttony.’
He glanced at Julia. She became aware of the slight bulge over her waistband.
‘Who says they’re all women?’ she said.
‘It’s not about weight,’ Gideon said.
‘What is it about?’ Lucy asked.
Gideon turned to her. Unlike Alan, who pointedly averted his eyes from Lucy’s bikini-clad body, he was unruffled and looked at her with neither lust nor embarrassment.
‘Our supplements are all nutrient dense, to counteract the deficiencies in the modern, processed diet,’ he said.
‘Counteract the deficiencies in the modern, processed diet – that sounds straight from an advertising blurb,’ Alan said.
Gideon broke into a broad grin. ‘Actually, it is.’
‘Hang on,’ Alan said. ‘You don’t believe in this rubbish any more than I do. It’s just snake oil – right?’
Gideon crossed his legs and placed his elbows on his knees. ‘The placebo effect is one of the strongest medicines known to science.’ A smile still flittered about his lips.
‘But you don’t believe the supplements actually help people,’ Brandon said.
‘I believe they could help people.’
‘Up for a trial?’ Alan asked Julia, while staring at her midriff.
‘Julia doesn’t need anything, she looks great,’ Gideon said.
Alan looked disappointed. Julia was starting to like Gideon.
‘But if any of you want to try anything, I can get you some free samples,’ Gideon said.
‘Great,’ Brandon said. ‘I’ve always wanted to be covered in plankton and harpooned.’
‘The harpooning could be arranged,’ Alan said.
Brandon looked hurt.
‘We don’t just sell algae,’ Gideon said before Brandon could reply.
‘Yeah, well, I think you should have stayed in London,’ Brandon said. ‘It’s the sort of craze that people fall for up there. But even people in London will realise it’s a con in the end, and you’ll be out of business. There won’t be a firm to take over. No one’s gonna keep buying, what was it, green barley? Wouldn’t feed it to my horse.’
‘You don’t have a horse,’ Alan said.
‘I do back home.’
Alan couldn’t think of a snide response and so turned his back to Brandon and
looked at Gideon.
‘How are you finding Genevieve?’ he asked.
‘Not that again,’ Julia said.
She knew where this was leading. Alan pretended to be horrified, but, in fact, enjoyed repeating stories of Genevieve’s nocturnal visits to his room.
‘Not what?’ Alan said.
‘You always make such a big deal – Genevieve did this, Genevieve did that. I’m sure Gideon can make up his own mind.’
‘Gideon?’ Alan asked.
‘She’s a sweetheart, isn’t she?’ Gideon replied. ‘Like your mother’s best friend, who’s known you since you were born.’
‘You’ll change your tune soon enough,’ Alan said.
‘Why?’
Alan darted a glance at Julia and took his time saying, ‘She has a hunger for young flesh.’
‘For God’s sake. You make her sound like a vampire,’ Lucy protested.
‘If the cap fits …’
‘I didn’t get that vibe,’ Gideon said.
‘I’m with Gideon,’ Brandon said. ‘She’s just being sweet. Her son died a few years ago. He’d be about the same age as us. We’re kind of substitutes.’
‘Makes sense of all that fussing – she wanted to cook for me tonight, you know?’ Gideon said.
‘No, I didn’t know.’ Alan made it sound as if this were a personal slight on him.
‘All this lusting after young flesh is Alan’s overactive imagination,’ Brandon said. ‘Or wishful thinking.’
Alan rolled his eyes. ‘Yeah, I’m some sort of gerontophile.’
‘What do you think, Julia, Lucy?’ Gideon asked. ‘A woman’s view.’
The way Genevieve talked about the boys made Julia uncomfortable. But she would sooner stick needles in her eye than admit Alan was right.
‘She’s just missing her son,’ Julia said. ‘It’s a maternal thing.’
‘Maternal, my arse,’ said Alan.
‘Has she been near your arse?’ Julia asked.
Brandon sniggered loudly, and Gideon joined in, then stopped and looked at Alan. The light was behind Alan and his expression was lost, but the heat of his anger was almost tangible.
The Verdict Page 14