Till Death Do Us Part

by Stephen Edger

He pushed himself closer so his lips were practically touching her ear. ‘Well, now that you mention it, I do have a few ideas in mind. Maybe after lunch we should get home and spend the rest of the afternoon in bed.’

  Alice felt her cheeks flush, and desperately hoped the woman behind the window was no longer paying them any attention.

  Alice whispered back coquettishly, ‘I should warn you my husband will be home at some point, so you’ll need to make yourself scarce when he shows up.’

  She could feel his lips curl into a smile. ‘Is that right? I bet he’s a scary guy, right?’

  Alice turned her head to face him. ‘Oh yeah, he’d skin you alive just for looking at me.’

  ‘Well we’d better get out of here then,’ he said, his grin widening.

  She pushed him away playfully. ‘Lunch first. I think I’m going to pass out if I don’t get something to eat soon.’

  He nodded. ‘Very well, we shall eat, and then I’m taking you home and won’t let you out until you’re fully satisfied. I know where we should go and eat too. I won’t tell you where, but they do the best garlic dough balls.’

  Her stomach rumbled, knowing exactly what he had in mind.

  TWENTY-TWO

  Alice’s stomach growled in dissatisfaction as the car stopped at another set of traffic lights. Ben had piled the flowers into the back seat, and anyone passing by would think they were heading to a wedding or funeral as the blooms pressed against the windows. It was lucky she didn’t suffer from hay fever because the pollen count in the car had to be through the roof.

  ‘We’re nearly there,’ he muttered, reaching for her hand and tenderly kissing the back of it.

  She knew exactly where he was taking her. On their third date he’d tried to impress her, taking her to a very fancy restaurant he’d never been to before and ordering champagne the moment they’d arrived.

  The owner had shown them to a small table in the window where a single candle flickered, showing off the delicate alcoves in the old building. It was a beautiful setting, and it had impressed her. As they’d sat at the table though, both excited by the prospect of getting to know each other better, they had felt so out of place, Alice because she wasn’t used to such finery, and Ben because, in his words, he’d never imagined falling for someone as beautiful as her.

  Although Ben had told her to ignore the exorbitant prices and choose what she wanted, she’d made an effort to pick one of the cheapest things on the menu. After all, she’d barely known him at that point and hadn’t wanted him to think she was a freeloader. She’d studied the menu, unable to find anything she wanted to eat.

  Ben had looked none the wiser as he’d studied the items, and had asked her to recommend something to him, eventually admitting he’d never been there and didn’t know what duck confit even was. She’d then come clean and told him she was happy to stay if he wanted, but would be just as happy to leave. He’d then suggested they scarper before the waiter came to take their order. Dropping some money on the table for their drinks, Ben had grabbed her hand and the two of them had charged out, erupting into a fit of giggles as they’d made it onto the street. To this day, they’d never stepped back inside that particular restaurant.

  He’d then driven her to an Italian restaurant near to where he was living at the time. When she’d suggested they go for pizza instead, she hadn’t expected him to take her to a proper restaurant, but the second they’d stepped inside, Alice had immediately felt more comfortable. The hostess had clearly recognized Ben and had put them at a small table away from the other diners, where they could talk undisturbed. After the hilarity of their earlier experience, the conversation was no longer stilted. That had been the first moment she’d allowed herself to imagine a future with him.

  Now, Ben indicated as he pulled the 4x4 into the restaurant’s small car park and killed the engine.

  ‘It looks busy inside,’ Alice commented, as they exited the car and headed for the door.

  ‘I’m sure they’ll make space for us.’ He winked.

  Alice hadn’t known back then, but Mariella – the owner of the restaurant and effervescent hostess – had once been Ben’s babysitter before she’d gone on to open her own restaurant with her cook husband. As far as Mariella was concerned, Ben was always welcome. Even if the restaurant was packed to the rafters, she would find them a space to eat, and the garlic dough balls really were to die for.

  Mariella clapped her hands in delight as she saw them walk in through the door. She kissed them both on the cheeks. ‘I am so glad to see my favourite couple,’ she cooed in her Italian accent. ‘It has been too long since you have eaten with us.’

  A small television screen was on behind the bar, not that anyone appeared to be watching it, too busy with their own conversations. Ben gave Mariella a hug and asked if she could squeeze them in.

  She looked around the packed restaurant. ‘I have a special table for my two favourites. Follow me.’ She picked up two menus and led them towards the back of the restaurant, where a small table was already set up with two candles and a rose in a flute-like vase. A bottle of champagne stood in a metal ice bucket to the side of the table, and on one of the plates was a small jewellery box.

  Alice gave Mariella a curious look, but the hostess simply looked over to Ben.

  ‘Wait,’ Alice said, as she connected the dots, ‘did you arrange this?’

  Ben couldn’t stop himself laughing as his latest surprise was revealed. ‘I phoned ahead before I came to the school,’ he confessed. ‘I asked if they could keep our original table free for when we stopped by.’

  ‘How did you know …’ but her words trailed off as he gave her a knowing smile.

  ‘I didn’t know, but I hoped you’d want food. I thought we should come back to where it all started. I still remember that first night I brought you here.’

  Mariella waited for them to sit before handing them menus and telling them she would return in a few minutes.

  ‘You only remember that night because you seduced me when we got back to your place,’ Alice whispered affectionately.

  ‘That’s not the only reason I remember it,’ he smiled back. ‘Why don’t you open the box,’ he said, nodding at the gift on her plate.

  ‘You didn’t need to buy me anything else,’ she said.

  ‘I didn’t,’ he promised. ‘Just open it.’

  She sighed, knowing there was no point arguing with him. His guilt must have been in overdrive for him to have gone to such effort, and she did hope he would stop spoiling her soon. Lifting the box carefully, she snapped open the lid and gasped as she saw the beautiful jewel-encrusted ring inside.

  ‘This must have cost a fortune,’ she admonished, studying the finish.

  ‘A small fortune once upon a time, maybe, but it didn’t cost me a penny. It was my grandmother’s. She bequeathed it to me on the understanding that one day I give it to someone deserving of its splendour. I had it cleaned up and adjusted so it will fit the index finger of your right hand. I had planned to give it to you on our first day in Barbados, but with that messed up, I had to come up with a plan B. Do you like it?’

  She felt happy tears welling in her eyes. ‘Are you kidding? I love it!’

  ‘Phew,’ he said, exhaling loudly. ‘My grandfather was given it by his grandmother who managed to take special care of it throughout the Second World War. That ring has survived the Blitz, and it’s an antique. I can’t think of anyone more worthy to wear it. My grandmother would have loved you, and I know she’ll be looking down and smiling from ear to ear right now.’

  One of the tears escaped down Alice’s cheek, and she quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand. Carefully lifting the ring from the small cushion inside the box, she held it for a moment. ‘Are you sure you want me to have it?’

  He took the ring from her and slipped it over her finger. ‘A ring this beautiful requires the wearer to be just as beautiful, if not more so. I can’t think of a single woman in all the world better
suited to wear it.’

  The ring slid over her knuckle, and felt so natural that she couldn’t imagine ever taking it off. Pushing herself across the table she kissed him. ‘I don’t know what to say. Thank you.’

  ‘You’re more than welcome.’

  She pushed her chair back. ‘Would you excuse me for a moment? I’d better go and fix my face before Mariella returns.’

  In the bathroom, she couldn’t stop looking at the ring, and as she washed her hands ever so carefully, she dabbed a tissue against her eyes and took several breaths to compose herself.

  Then, stepping out of the bathroom, Alice froze as she saw Kerry Valentine’s face filling the screen of the television behind the bar.

  TWENTY-THREE

  The camera zoomed out, and Alice could now see the image of Kerry Valentine was one of two posters on a pale blue wall, in front of which were sitting DC Hazelton and two other detectives. A scroll of text at the bottom of the screen advised the press conference was live.

  Next to Hazelton was the older man who’d cuffed Ben at the wedding: DI Vernon. His shirt and tie looked just as dishevelled as it had done on Saturday night, and the dark bags beneath his eyes looked like they’d been there most of his life. He was clearly thinning on the crown of his head, but he’d made no effort with the rest of his hair, as the granite-coloured strands sprouted out in all directions. He was anything but the poster boy for modern law enforcement. He bowed his head, silently rereading the page of typed notes that had probably been prepared for him, as a flurry of camera flashes lit up the screen.

  He coughed. ‘Right ladies and gentleman, if I can have your attention, please?’

  His voice wasn’t what Alice had expected. She didn’t remember the Yorkshire twang when he’d briefly spoken to her outside the hotel, but with everything else that had been going on that was hardly surprising.

  He scratched a dry finger over his cheek and looked up, his eyes meeting Alice’s through the glare of the screen. ‘We are here today to share details of a horrific crime perpetrated around ten days ago in the Bournemouth area. The victim – whom you can see on the screens behind me – is Kerry Valentine, 22 and local to the Boscombe area. She was last seen in the town centre around half past eleven on the night of Saturday, the 27th of July, just over a week ago. We are today appealing for witnesses who may have seen her after this time, or may have any information about what happened to her.’

  Alice’s eyes hadn’t left the screen since he’d started speaking. The image of Kerry over his left shoulder made her look even younger and more vulnerable than she had appeared in the pictures on Dave’s phone.

  The detectives were alone at the desk, there was no sign of upset parents or a boyfriend, and Alice could only assume they were gone or couldn’t bring themselves to share their grief on camera for the world to see. Even so, it didn’t seem right that there was nobody there to reflect this poor girl’s humanity.

  The images of Kerry disappeared, replaced by a road map with a large green line at the centre.

  ‘We know this is the route she would have taken home,’ DI Vernon continued, his accent even more noticeable now. ‘She was last seen at this abandoned building, the former Merry Berry bar, where she was performing a dance routine for a group of men. She exited the premises at approximately eleven thirty, leaving through the bar’s fire escape, which would have brought her out onto this road.’ He paused, stood and pointed at the map. ‘Bennett Road. We have no record of what happened to her after this time. There is no CCTV in that area, so we are asking any drivers who happened to be in the area at that time to come forward.’

  Vernon retook his seat and glanced down at his notes before staring into the camera again. ‘The forensic pathologist has confirmed time of death as between eleven thirty and one a.m. that Saturday night, so it is vital we speak with anyone who may have seen Kerry during this time, or who may have spotted someone acting suspiciously.’

  Alice’s pulse quickened.

  Kerry had died in the immediate aftermath of her dance with Ben.

  ‘Kerry’s body was pulled from the River Stour on Friday morning, which means whoever killed her held onto the body for at least a couple of days before disposing of it.’ He paused and exhaled deeply. ‘Somebody out there knows what happened to this poor girl, and we urge that individual to get in touch as quickly as possible. It is also an offence to harbour a criminal, and if you know who was responsible and keep quiet, you too will be subject to the full force of the law.’

  The camera panned out so the three detectives and two images of Kerry filled the screen again.

  ‘We have taken statements from the witnesses who saw her leave the bar,’ Vernon continued, ‘and they have confirmed that Kerry was dressed in a miniskirt, lace top and petite leather jacket. Do you remember seeing anyone matching that description near Bennett Road on Saturday night or early Sunday morning? Did you hear a woman screaming for help anywhere in that vicinity? While we don’t wish to share the exact cause of death at this time, her slaying was brutal and deliberate.’

  DC Hazelton had yet to stare into the camera, keeping her head gently bowed, her eyes fixed on a single point on the table before her. Dressed in a black T-shirt, she clearly wasn’t one who revelled in the media’s spotlight, and Alice would bet it hadn’t been her idea to be sitting behind that table.

  ‘The number for the enquiries line is on the screen now,’ Vernon continued. ‘You don’t have to give your name, but any information that leads to the capture of the person responsible will be gratefully received. My team and I will be on standby waiting for your call.’

  Alice jumped as Ben appeared behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

  ‘I was beginning to worry,’ he said, pressing his lips against the side of her neck. ‘I was about to send out a search party. What are you watch …?’ His words trailed off as his eyes landed on the screen and he saw the image of Kerry.

  ‘The police are appealing for witnesses,’ Alice said, turning to face him. ‘They’ve confirmed she died in the hours following her booking with you guys.’

  The blood drained from his face. ‘Oh God, it’s all our fault.’

  Alice stepped back, and for the first time saw just what an impact all this stress was having on Ben. Until now, she hadn’t considered what all this must be doing to him. He’d gone out of his way to apologize to her for messing up the wedding, and she didn’t doubt his sincerity. She hadn’t considered how much it had to be eating him up inside, knowing that he and his friends were an indirect cause of Kerry’s death.

  ‘If they hadn’t hired her, she wouldn’t have been in that area that night,’ he said, swallowing slowly. ‘We’re responsible.’

  Alice’s heart sank. ‘No, Ben, you can’t blame yourself for what happened. You weren’t to know that hiring her to strip would result in someone killing her.’

  ‘One of us should have offered to walk her home or ordered her a taxi.’ He collapsed into her as his legs turned to jelly, and it was all she could do to get him onto one of the stools beside the bar.

  ‘Can we have a whisky?’ Alice asked, as the barman returned.

  The barman nodded and poured a measure. Pressing the glass into Ben’s hand, Alice told him to take a sip.

  ‘It will help with the shock,’ she advised. ‘I can drive us home afterwards.’

  She’d never seen him look so upset, and it seemed as though he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

  ‘I can’t help it,’ he said, lowering the glass. ‘Every time I close my eyes I see her dancing in front of me. I should have done more to help her. We could have ordered her a taxi, or offered to give her a lift home. We just left her. We should have done more.’

  Although Alice’s stomach grumbled again, her appetite was gone. ‘Let’s get out of here. We can pick up some chips on the way home.’

  He didn’t disagree and climbed down from the stool, leaving the remains of the whisky in the glass. A
lice escorted him out to the car before returning to explain to Mariella that Ben wasn’t feeling very well, and apologizing for rushing off. Mariella insisted they return again when Ben was feeling better, but from the look of him, Alice wasn’t sure if he’d ever feel better again.

  TWENTY-FOUR

  Ben had insisted on driving, and Alice couldn’t determine if that was because he was worried about her driving his expensive car, or if he wanted something to distract him from the overwhelming guilt. If it was the latter, his silence was doing nothing to distract him. Several times Alice looked over to him, trying to think of something to break the tension, but every thought seemed petty in comparison to the heavy weight of what he was bearing.

  It wouldn’t matter how many times she repeated that he shouldn’t blame himself; he’d always been obstinate about his feelings, and she knew better than to poke a bear.

  She sat silently, staring out of the window at the wild vegetation and animals roaming the countryside of Hampshire’s New Forest. There would be an occasional break in the heavy undergrowth and she would spot a pony or a donkey chewing on the tall grass without a care in the world. In that moment, she would stare at the animal and yearn for such an uncomplicated life.

  The vibrant green countryside didn’t last forever, and almost as soon as they’d entered, they were back out on the grey and dreary motorway, leaving peace and serenity in the distance. Alice was about to try and engage Ben again when the Bluetooth system announced Ben had an incoming call. He answered it without a second’s hesitation.

  ‘Ben Goodman,’ he announced to the car.

  ‘Ben? It’s James Tomlinson, did I catch you at a bad time?’

  James was the Operations Manager at Ben’s logistics company, and one of the party to have been at both stag weekends. A quiet man, he only tended to speak when spoken to – at least in Alice’s experience. She’d briefly met James at the company’s Christmas party, an event Ben always asked her to attend. She used to tease him that he only wanted her there to keep the other women in the office at arm’s length – an accusation he had yet to deny. James was certainly not the kind of person she would ever have expected Ben to hire, but maybe that was why their working relationship was so strong: they were polar opposites.