Till Death Do Us Part

by Stephen Edger

  Fearing the worst, Alice scooped up the page, holding it carefully by the edges, and read the typed words.

  Dear Alice,

  Why do you love Ben?

  He’s killed before,

  And he’ll kill again.

  She shuddered at the message, now seeing why Ben had been so angry. It had to have come from Liam O’Neill. It was no coincidence that he’d turned up at the pub yesterday when she was there alone, nor was it an accident that he had happened to appear at the door of the French restaurant when they’d been there. It would have been easy for him to leave them there with their meals, knowing he had plenty of time to get back here and leave the note before they’d even finished their food.

  Was this intimidation really the result of childhood bullying? What did he hope to achieve? To drive a wedge between them? If anything, these notes were only forcing Ben and Alice together more.

  Ben marched back into the kitchen, holding the laptop with the security camera feeds. ‘I’ll find out who you are, you bastard,’ he muttered under his breath as he began to fiddle with the cursor.

  ‘I’ll make us some tea,’ Alice suggested, reaching for the kettle and carrying it to the stainless steel sink. If her mother had taught her anything, it was that a strong cup of tea could put even the most troublesome of issues into perspective. She filled the kettle before carrying it back to its stand and turning it on.

  She studied the note again, recognizing the same font and size as the first. Again, there was no name left on the note, making it all the more sinister.

  He’s killed before, and he’ll kill again.

  As angry as Ben was to read the words, he had yet to deny them, and her mind couldn’t help wandering back to those images of the older woman he’d been engaged to.

  Find out what you can about Mary, but watch your back.

  Was O’Neill suggesting that Ben had killed this Mary woman and got away with it?

  ‘Son of a bitch!’ Ben yelled from behind the laptop. ‘The bastard smashed one of the cameras. Have a look.’

  He swivelled the laptop’s screen as she approached and replayed the clip. It was from the camera on the wall above the gate. At first there was nobody in sight, and then just as suddenly a large figure in a wide-brimmed hat came into view in the bottom right corner of the screen. He only appeared for a moment, though, as in the next shot he swung up the end of a cane and the screen smashed, before the camera’s signal was lost to grey fuzz.

  ‘The son of a bitch smashed the camera!’ Ben exclaimed. ‘Not only is he invading our privacy, he’s now done criminal damage. When I find out who’s behind this, I’ll … I’ll …’ He allowed the threat to hang in the air, either unwilling or unable to complete the sentence.

  ‘We should phone the police again,’ Alice said as the kettle reached boiling point. ‘Maybe they can still recover a DNA trace from the envelope or the tape, or maybe the cane left a trace on the camera. Either way, we should report it.’

  ‘You report it!’ he said, pushing the laptop away from him. It teetered on the edge of the counter, but thankfully gravity didn’t take it over. ‘I’m done with the police, they’ve brought us nothing but trouble so far. It’s time we take care of things ourselves.’

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  He was silent for a moment before fixing her with an understanding look. ‘Your safety is my paramount concern, and the only way either of us will be safe is with our own private army patrolling the grounds. I dare this prick to come within ten yards of this place when I have a crew tooled up inside the boundary.’

  ‘Don’t do anything illegal, Ben. The last thing we need is to give the police any more reason to hound you down.’

  ‘Who said anything about acting illegally? I intend to hire a private security firm to bring guard dogs and patrol the outer edge of the property 24/7. Whoever’s behind this won’t stand a chance if he comes back. Once he’s caught, and I’ve had my time to interrogate him, we’ll turn him over to your friends in blue.’

  He came over to her and delicately placed his hands either side of her waist. ‘I just want you to be safe, which is why I think it’s even more important we get away from here for a few days. Okay? Give me a couple of hours to get some security sorted and then we’ll go online and pick a last-minute deal. Money is no object. Okay?’

  She allowed him to kiss her, though did little to reciprocate the gesture, and watched as he moved away, grabbed the phone from the side, and put it to his ear.

  ‘Dave? I need a favour.’

  Alice remained in the kitchen filling two cups with water from the kettle and swishing the teabags around. Ben might not have any faith left in the police, but she still did, and something deep inside told her it would be for the best to report the latest threatening letter. At the very least, she wanted someone to realize the pressure they were being put under by Liam O’Neill, or whomever else was behind the letters. It was the latter prospect that sent a shiver down her spine: what if someone else was behind the threats?

  Reaching for her mobile, she dialled Hazelton’s number.

  THIRTY-NINE

  It was as if her life were being played out on a big screen before her eyes: she was powerless to interrupt as Ben and DC Hazelton went back and forth. Neither acknowledged Alice in the room, and neither seemed aware that she was even sitting there while they argued.

  Ben had only just finished his phone call with Dave when Hazelton had arrived. She’d been about to finish for the day, she’d told Alice on the phone, but had agreed to make a detour on her return to Bournemouth.

  Ben had glared at Alice as he’d opened the door to the detective; it had felt wrong to go against his instructions, but he’d left Alice with little choice.

  ‘It’s not bloody good enough. I told you yesterday we were in danger,’ Ben moaned, pacing the floor in front of the French doors that led out to the garden. ‘That’s two threatening letters left for us to find in less than twenty-four hours, and now the shit has destroyed one of my cameras. Who’s going to pay for the repairs? Hmm? It’ll be muggins here who has to foot the bill! In the same way as you lot buggering up my honeymoon, leaving me with the financial headache. It’s not cheap, flying to Barbados, you know! One of those once-in-a-lifetime holidays, and that got flushed down the toilet because your overzealous DI pinched me with no evidence of wrongdoing.’

  Hazelton was struggling to keep her cool this time. In fairness she’d been under attack for the best part of ten minutes, and now some of Ben’s remarks were clearly starting to cut at the fibre of what she believed in.

  ‘As I’ve already explained, Mr Goodman, we had valid grounds to arrest you initially as your DNA profile was the only one identified on Kerry Valentine’s body. Given the nature of how she was killed, and us learning that you – our only suspect – were about to fly abroad for two weeks, we had no choice but to pull you in. I am personally sorry that your honeymoon had to be cancelled, but given the circumstances, it seems a small price to pay.’

  ‘Small price to pay? You have a spare six grand you can give back to me, do you?’

  Alice remained where she was, watching them parry and joust, Ben with blatant insults, Hazelton’s more reserved, but equally cutting.

  ‘Perhaps we should concentrate on who might have sent the letter,’ Hazelton said, keen to switch direction. ‘Do you have any enemies who might want to interfere with your recent nuptials? Anyone who would be keen for you to be distracted with personal matters instead of business ones? Perhaps a rival firm, or someone you double-crossed in business?’

  Something in Ben’s demeanour changed, as if she’d read his mind. ‘I’m already exploring those avenues myself, thank you very much. If I leave it up to you lot, I’ll still be waiting to hear at Christmas. I told you on Saturday that someone was trying to set me up, but what have you done to explore who that might be?’

  Hazelton was silent for a moment. ‘What about you, Mrs Goodman?’ she said, tu
rning to face Alice, but her voice somehow wasn’t coming through clearly. ‘Is there anyone you can think of who would send you these letters? After all, they are addressed to you.’

  ‘It’s nothing to do with her,’ Ben challenged. ‘She’s just a pawn in this madman’s twisted game. Leave Alice out of it.’

  Alice could see Hazelton biting her tongue, could see that steely determination to remain professional to the end. ‘Okay then, if you have no idea about the perpetrator, how about the content, Mr Goodman? Both notes make reference to you being guilty of killing in some way – any idea what that’s about?’

  He looked from Hazelton to Alice and then back again, exasperation tightening every muscle in his face. ‘Isn’t it obvious? Whoever’s trying to screw me over is trying to convince Alice that I’m guilty of killing that girl, even though you’ve already cleared me as a suspect.’

  Hazelton made no effort to face Alice again. ‘The letters make no reference to Kerry Valentine, Mr Goodman. Is it possible they’re referring to something else?’

  The two exchanged a knowing glance, but Alice had spotted it too.

  ‘This is nothing to do with that,’ Ben insisted. ‘I’d prefer it if you didn’t go dragging up the past. Your lot were wrong back then, and you’re wrong again now. Why do you seem to think it’s okay to pin other shit on me, just because the lead investigator screwed up last time?’

  Alice kept her head low, holding her breath, waiting for the answers she’d been craving for days.

  Hazelton rested her palms on the counter across from Alice, leaning into it and letting out a deep sigh. ‘Is there anybody who was around at that time who could be looking to take advantage now? Someone who knew what happened before and is keen to use it against you now? Anybody? You run a very successful business, don’t you? Is it not possible that somebody within your organization sees this as a chance to oust you and take control?’

  ‘Absolutely not! They’re family.’

  Hazelton had seen the momentary hesitation. ‘Tell me, Mr Goodman, is there maybe one person who was with you in the early days, who witnessed what you went through and is seeking to rectify matters? Maybe someone you’ve trusted down the years with your secrets?’

  A cough caused all three of them to look suddenly towards the kitchen entrance.

  Dave glanced at each of them in turn, trying to work out what he’d stumbled into. ‘I’ve sorted the security,’ he said, nodding at Ben. ‘They’ll be here inside half an hour. I thought I’d take up guard until then.’

  Ben cut across the room, wrapping an arm around Dave’s shoulders and leading him away so that Hazelton wouldn’t overhear what he had to say. There was little point though, as Alice could hear every word.

  ‘Did you get it sorted like I asked?’

  ‘Yeah, no problem, all sorted.’

  ‘Thank you, mate, I owe you for this. You know what to do if they catch him. Alice and I are going to be away for a few days, but I want you to phone as soon as you have him. Then you can keep him on ice until I get back.’

  Dave looked up and smiled at Alice, a pained look in his eyes that she didn’t quite understand. It was gone in an instant though as Ben shook his hand, and he headed back out towards the front door.

  ‘Anything I should be worried about?’ Hazelton asked, raising her eyebrows sceptically.

  ‘I hired some private security to keep an eye on the place,’ Ben said nonchalantly. ‘Alice and I are planning to go away for a few days. Which reminds me, I’m going to need that passport back pretty sharpish. Did you bring it with you?’

  She shook her head.

  ‘I don’t understand why you’re still hanging onto it.’

  ‘As I tried to explain earlier, we have procedures in place for a reason. As soon as the paperwork is complete, it will be released. For all I know, it could be ready now. I’m happy to drive you down there if you want to see if it’s ready.’

  ‘How about you stop dicking me around and phone someone instead?’

  ‘With respect, Mr Goodman,’ Hazelton began, but Alice wasn’t prepared to sit and listen to yet another argument.

  The room was spinning and her heart was racing, her whole upper chest burning with pain. She had to get out. She couldn’t cope with anyone else trying to control her life.

  Leaping from the bar stool she’d been perched on she tore at the door, pushing Hazelton and Ben apart, offering no apology in her wake. Then she was out of the door, running towards the gate, grateful to find it was still open from where Dave had just exited. As he turned to see her running he reached out to stop her, but she ducked beneath his outstretched arms and darted to the right.

  Fat raindrops splashed against her thighs as she pumped her arms, and the faster she moved the heavier the drops seemed to get as they streaked against her face. In the distance she could hear Dave calling after her but she pushed the sound of his voice from her mind, just needing to get free, just needing to breathe. As she made it to the end of the pavement, a car suddenly pulled out ahead of her, causing her to stumble as she tried to avoid crashing into it. Skidding to the floor, she lowered her arms to brace for impact, cursing as the sodden floor scraped her legs.

  Straining to see who had caused her fall, her heart skipped a beat as she instantly recognized the face staring back at her through the misted window.

  FORTY

  Liam O’Neill wasn’t smiling. A mask of concern descended as quickly as the passenger window of the battered Honda.

  ‘Jesus!’ he exclaimed. ‘Are you all right? I didn’t mean to startle you.’

  Alice remained where she was on the ground, one leg stretched out ahead of her, the other tucked beneath her bottom, bearing her weight. The rain continued to fall around her, but it was too late to worry about being wet and dirty; the fall had already seen to that.

  O’Neill climbed out of his side of the car and hurried around, extending a hand and helping her back to her feet. Her thin cotton dress was soaked through and red scuff marks were already glowing on one knee and the other shin. Opening the passenger door, he helped her into the seat before hurrying back around to his side and slamming the door against the rain.

  Alice kept her door open for now. She wasn’t in the habit of getting into cars with strange men, and the need to run wasn’t far from her mind, not that she was sure her legs would be up to much yet. Every other raindrop seemed to splash against the wet material of her dress.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ Alice began, though she already suspected the answer.

  ‘I was driving to your house, as it happens,’ he said.

  ‘Driving to, or driving away?’

  He pulled a face. ‘Away? I only just got here.’

  Alice picked some grit out of the gash on her knee, dropping it out of the side of the car. There was now bright red sticky blood just beneath her kneecap, but the sting was worse than the pain.

  ‘Don’t pretend it wasn’t you who left those letters stuck to our gates,’ Alice challenged.

  She regretted rushing from the house without her phone and handbag. If he wanted to drive away with her locked in the car she’d be powerless to stop him, and nobody would know where she was or what had happened to her.

  ‘What letters?’ he asked, his face contorting in confusion.

  She looked at him scornfully. ‘I know it was you who sent them. What is it you want from us? Turning up at the hotel on Sunday, following me to the pub, then appearing at the restaurant today: what do you want?’

  He reached into the panel in his door, pulled out a packet of tissues and passed them to her. ‘Have you found out anything about Mary yet? Have you asked Ben about her?’

  Alice took the tissues, tearing open the packet and pressing one to her knee, wincing at the further sting. She thought about the photographs from the secret shoebox; the older woman wearing the necklace and her ring.

  ‘Who is she? What does she have to do with Ben?’

  Liam fixed her with a cautious
look. ‘Are you sure you want to know?’

  Part of the tissue remained attached to her knee as she tried to pull it free. At least it would stem the blood for now. She could worry about cleaning it up later.

  ‘I found some photographs,’ she admitted, allowing curiosity to get the better of her. ‘Mary – she was older than Ben?’

  ‘A good fifteen years older than him. Are you sure you want to hear what I’m about to tell you? This is your red and blue pill moment, Alice. If you’d rather keep your head buried in the sand, you can get out of the car and head home. You’d be back inside within five minutes, none the wiser about the man you married.’ He paused, and looked away for a moment. ‘Or, you can close the car door and allow me to take you to meet someone who will tell you everything you need to know about Ben but were afraid to ask. You won’t like what we have to say – in fact, you’ll probably refuse to believe it – but I promise we won’t lie to you.’ He turned to face her again. ‘What’s it to be?’

  She stared out of her door. The rain was still falling, the ground sodden, but the clouds overhead were lightening, suggesting the downpour wouldn’t be around for too much longer.

  Reaching out, she coiled her fingers around the door handle and pulled it inwards. ‘I prefer to know all the facts before I make any decisions. I’ll listen to what you have to say, but if I get any sense that you’re trying to trick me, I’ll be gone in a shot. Do you understand? Now, where’s this friend of yours?’

  He smiled as he started the engine. ‘Buckle up.’

  They’d travelled for five minutes before he switched off the car’s stereo. ‘How are your legs?’ he asked.

  She glanced down and was satisfied the healing process had started – the skin around the gashes was starting to yellow. ‘I’ll live. How far do we have to travel?’

  He sighed. ‘I’d say you should make yourself comfortable. We’ve got at least another half an hour, depending on traffic.’

  ‘Swear you didn’t send the letters.’