The Dinner Party

by R. J. Parker

  ‘We all drank a little too much.’ Ted knew they shouldn’t be arguing like this. Juliette had lost her best friend. He took a breath and lowered his voice. ‘Keep remembering, the trust game was Evie’s idea. Just because it happened around our table …’

  ‘Let’s forget it.’ She swallowed hard. ‘Maybe Renton is going to be suspicious because you tried to call Jakob.’

  ‘I know that was stupid, but anybody could do it. I’m sure Jakob will hand himself in, if he hasn’t already. Then we’ll know exactly what happened.’

  ‘Will we? We’ll have his account. We’ll never hear Evie’s side.’

  They both fell silent as they allowed that to sink in.

  Ted knew neither of them had even begun to absorb what had happened yet. It was all so surreal. Where was Jakob?

  Juliette opened up and they found Zoe just inside the door bouncing Pip. She acted startled.

  ‘You OK?’ Ted stepped inside after Juliette.

  ‘Sorry. I thought I heard a car dropping you off, but then you didn’t come in.’

  Ted wondered if she’d just listened to their entire conversation.

  ‘What’s happened? Why have you been talking to the police?’ she asked anxiously.

  Juliette inhaled. ‘My friend Evie has been murdered.’

  Zoe’s mouth fell open.

  As Juliette explained, Ted asked himself why he would feel so uncomfortable if Zoe had eavesdropped on their conversation. After all, they had nothing to hide.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Ted checked on Georgie and he was still fast asleep, completely oblivious to their absence and what they’d just seen. His son’s chest gently rose and fell, his face untroubled. He envied him.

  Juliette had told him to rest, even if he couldn’t sleep, and stayed downstairs with Zoe. They’d agreed to carry on the weekend as normal for Georgie’s sake, and he would be up early for football practice at eight.

  But when Ted entered their bedroom he knew he couldn’t lie down or close his eyes. In the sudden silence he realized just how fast his heart was still beating. He picked up the photo frame that he’d knocked over and carefully put the glass shards into the bin.

  He moved some clothes off one of the club chairs and sat down, body rigid. Glancing at his watch he could see it was nearly six. He could just hear Juliette talking low to Zoe in the dining room. Only hours ago Evie had been seated there and now she was probably getting zipped up in a bag. What the hell had happened between her leaving with Jakob and the crime scene on the lawn?

  No matter how he’d tried to comfort Juliette, Ted knew the game was very likely the catalyst. Maybe she hadn’t picked up on it, but Ted had registered how withdrawn Jakob had been when they left. Had he and Evie argued in their cab? That was definitely worth mentioning to Renton. Ted had called Greenaway Cabs, their trusted firm, so it wouldn’t be difficult to track down their driver. It was usually one of three guys who came out to their address.

  But maybe it had all blown up when they got home. Did Jakob need to know his wife’s secret, or had it been the other way round? He considered whether he should call Kathryn, Rhys, Orla and Connor. They were all probably still sleeping. The detective hadn’t forbidden Ted from contacting them, but he didn’t want to ring anyone he shouldn’t again.

  He took the card that Renton had given him out of his back pocket. He’d said to get in touch with any other details and that he’d be speaking to them later that day. Were he and Juliette actually suspects? But their story would check out. There would be a record of the call to them early that morning, plus their driver would confirm he’d picked them up and dropped them off there. But there must have been ten minutes between them arriving and calling the police. And with Jakob missing they had been the only ones on the property when the patrol car had arrived. If Renton suspected them, however, surely he wouldn’t have let them go.

  But another thought occurred to him. Had their cab driver paid attention to any of the conversation they’d had on the way to Evie and Jakob’s, when he’d questioned Juliette about withholding the specifics of her phone conversation with Evie? And they hadn’t mentioned Evie’s trust game to Renton. The others were bound to if they were questioned. How would that make them look?

  Ted took a breath and told himself to stop panicking. They hadn’t done anything wrong except respond to a friend in need. But Juliette’s glossing over of what had happened at the dinner party still unsettled him. Was it because she just felt guilty?

  Ted took his phone out. He would call Renton, tell him about the cab firm that picked up Evie and Jakob. Then he’d mention the trust game and that he thought Jakob had gone quiet afterwards and that Juliette hadn’t registered it. Would talking about it now seem suspect? But it was just a stupid game. Better Renton had all the details before he spoke to the others. Ted squinted at the number on his card.

  Call it.

  The handset buzzed against his palm. Unknown caller. Renton? But it wasn’t the number on the card. ‘Hello?’ There was a pause and Ted anticipated a recorded message telling him he’d won a prize.

  ‘Ted?’

  He immediately recognized the whispering voice. ‘Jakob?’

  ‘Who are you with?’

  ‘I’m alone. Where are you?’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘We’ve just got back from your house. We found Evie …’ How the hell could he broach the question he needed to ask? ‘We … called the police.’ He wanted to scream at him.

  ‘I know what you’re thinking. I didn’t kill her, Ted.’

  ‘What the hell happened?’

  ‘You’re sure you’re alone? Where’s Juliette?’

  ‘Downstairs. You’ve got to give yourself up.’

  ‘I want this conversation to remain between the two of us. No police.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Just say it will or I’m hanging up now.’ Jakob’s normally composed voice rose an octave.

  ‘OK. Just stay on the line.’

  Jakob sniffed harshly. ‘I need to talk to you.’

  ‘You need to talk to the police. How d’you think this looks?’

  ‘I will do. But I need to speak to you first. Face to face.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I can’t talk here. I’m on a public payphone.’

  ‘Give yourself up. You shouldn’t have run. The longer you leave it the guiltier you seem.’

  ‘When can you get away?’

  ‘I have to take Georgie to Roath Park at eight but—’

  ‘On your own?’

  ‘Yes. But I’m not—’

  ‘I’ll see you behind the pavilion on the other side of the park at ten past eight.’

  ‘Jakob—’

  ‘You promise you won’t bring anyone else? No police.’

  ‘Jakob.’

  ‘Promise.’

  Ted looked up and caught his reflection in the dressing table mirror, his expression as suspended as the moment.

  ‘I’m hanging up then.’

  ‘Wait. OK. I’ll see you there. OK?’

  ‘Behind the pavilion. You’ve promised this will stay between us. If there’s anyone else with you, you won’t see me.’ Jakob cut the call.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Ted remained seated, turning the phone over in his sweaty palms, and then noticed he could no longer hear voices downstairs. He rose and was about to open the door when Juliette did, apprehension on her face.

  ‘You OK?’ She frowned uneasily.

  He nodded. Should he tell her about the conversation he’d just had? Jakob had made him promise though.

  ‘Sure?’

  He nodded again. He had to tell her, had to tell the police. He couldn’t withhold anything else. But why had Jakob wanted to keep it between them? Could it explain the exchange Juliette had had with Evie on the phone before they’d gone to the house?

  Juliette wiped a tear from her eye. ‘Georgie’s still sleeping.’ She softly closed the door. ‘How are we
going to tell him?’

  Ted sighed. He hadn’t even considered that. ‘And should we call the others?’

  ‘I’ve just spoken to Kathryn.’

  Ted was slightly taken aback. ‘When?’

  ‘After Zoe left.’

  ‘Shouldn’t we have asked Renton first?’

  Juliette shrugged. ‘Surely he would have told us if we couldn’t.’

  ‘But he said he wants to speak to them.’

  ‘He took their details. Doesn’t mean he’s going to. And I’d rather the news came from me.’ She sniffed and then opened her arms.

  Ted embraced her. Her body was so cold. He hugged her tighter. It felt good.

  ‘I can’t believe it,’ her lips said against his shoulder.

  He shook his head. It would take them some time to process their ordeal. But if he was going to tell Juliette about the phone call from Jakob, now was the moment.

  ‘Jakob must have lost his mind.’

  And that’s what Ted found the most difficult to accept. But he’d only seen him at their social gatherings, had no idea what went on between him and his wife at home. He tried to tell Juliette but again something stopped him. It felt like a whole minute passed. ‘How was Kathryn?’

  ‘I woke her up. She’s in bits.’

  ‘What about Orla and Connor?’

  ‘I tried them too. Didn’t get an answer.’

  That was weird. It was only after six on a Saturday morning. But Ted knew that Orla had insomnia and often needed strong pills to sleep.

  Juliette seemed to read his thoughts. ‘They’re probably out for the count.’

  But Connor was one of those rare people who never got hangovers. ‘You tried their landline?’ Ted didn’t want to let her go, didn’t want to look into her eyes while he was harbouring a secret.

  ‘Tried all their numbers. Left Orla a message to call me as soon as she got it.’

  ‘I was about to call Renton.’ He felt her tense.

  ‘What for?’

  Her mouth felt hot against his shirt. ‘I thought we could give him the number of the cab firm that picked up Evie and Jakob.’

  Her body remained rigid. ‘Yes. We could do that,’ she said listlessly.

  She had to be running on empty. ‘Maybe the driver can shed some light on what happened.’

  ‘Good thinking,’ she responded flatly. ‘But you know what Jakob’s like. He hates airing dirty washing in public. It probably all exploded when they got back.’

  ‘And I thought we should mention the game.’ He held his breath as he waited for her reaction.

  She didn’t stiffen anymore, just slightly nodded her head. ‘Let’s see what comes to light when they find Jakob. He’s the only one who knows exactly what happened.’

  Tell her. Tell her.

  Juliette released Ted, rubbed her eyes and focused on the carpet. ‘The fact he ran isn’t a good sign though, is it?’

  Something in that moment changed Ted’s mind. He understood that Juliette was angry, bereaved and angry, but they still didn’t know why Jakob ran. If that had been him they’d heard fleeing the house.

  It was less than two hours until football practice. He could meet Jakob, find out what he had to say. Then persuade him to hand himself in and tell Juliette. If he didn’t keep it a secret, he might not have the opportunity to talk Jakob round. Juliette would probably urge him to involve the police. And he wanted to hear from Jakob exactly how Evie ended up dead on the lawn. He couldn’t accept the fact that he was capable of that.

  Juliette looked up at him and her lips were tight. ‘We’ll know where he is soon.’

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  ‘You’re quiet back there.’ Ted glanced in the mirror at his son strapped into his seat. They were on their way to Roath Park, but it had taken some time for him to notice Georgie’s silence.

  He didn’t shift his attention from the side window.

  ‘Still thinking about Jolian and Brendan?’ That conversation seemed like a lifetime ago.

  ‘No.’

  Ted knew when he was fibbing.

  ‘Are you OK, Dad?’ Georgie stared through the pane.

  ‘Don’t change the subject. I don’t want those boys to spoil your weekend. If there’s problems next week, we’ll sort them out together.’

  ‘You didn’t speak to me at breakfast time.’

  ‘I’m sorry. Just a few things on my mind.’ So it wasn’t diversion tactics. Georgie had picked up on Ted’s anxiety. He and Juliette had decided they would wait to hear from Renton before sitting their son down. Only when they had a full picture of what had happened could they even begin to work out how to tell him.

  ‘Anything you want to talk about?’

  Ted smiled. Georgie was replicating what he often said. ‘No. I’m looking forward to seeing you in action though.’

  Georgie met his eye in the mirror, but his smile was false. He knew he’d been fobbed off.

  ‘You brought your tracksuit bottoms?’

  Georgie shook his head.

  ‘You’re going to be freezing in just your shorts.’ There was still frost on the grass verges either side of the car. Ted considered turning around and returning home. He should have monitored Georgie packing his rucksack, but he’d been too distracted. If they were late that would land Georgie in trouble with Mr Travis, the school coach. ‘Can’t go back now.’

  Georgie shrugged.

  Ted felt the guilt kick in. He’d been thinking about meeting Jakob and now Georgie would be running about the freezing pitch in his shorts. They always struggled to get Georgie to wrap up against the cold, so Ted should have remembered to check. ‘Will you be able to borrow some?’ He knew it was unlikely.

  Georgie nodded, but it was just to silence him.

  Part of him prayed that Jakob didn’t show, or that he’d already been picked up. Terminology that he’d only heard on the news and in crime dramas sprang to mind. Ted was concealing information from a police investigation. Was he aiding and abetting? Ted had been Jakob’s friend for over ten years, but did he really owe him this?

  But Ted’s ultimate goal was to get him to give himself up. Surely the police would understand Ted’s motive when Jakob was in custody.

  ‘You’re doing it again, Dad.’

  Ted checked the road then glanced in the mirror at Georgie’s concerned expression. He’d been deep in thought and they were nearly at the park. ‘Sorry. Which of your friends is going to be here today?’ He knew Jolian and Brendan weren’t in the team.

  ‘Just Yash, but he had a bad cold yesterday. His parents probably won’t let him come.’

  Ted didn’t like the idea of Georgie being on his own here. ‘It’s good to go rogue sometimes though.’ He wondered if that was true. He slowed the Corsa and swung it through the green metal gates of the park.

  Georgie frowned. ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘It means sometimes it’s good to do something by yourself.’

  ‘Nobody’ll pass me the ball.’

  ‘Then don’t wait. Take the ball off them.’

  They were both silent as Ted slid the car into a parking space in front of the changing hut. A light rain started falling on the glass.

  Ted turned to Georgie. ‘I’ll be here.’ But he wouldn’t be. He had to sneak off and meet Jakob on the other side of the park. The coach kept a close eye on them though. How long would his conversation with Jakob take, even if he showed?

  ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be OK,’ Georgie reassured him as he opened his door.

  Ted felt a rush of warmth for his son. ‘Have fun. See you at half-time.’ After he slammed his door, he watched him hitch his rucksack onto his back, even though he would be taking it off a few seconds later, and jog to the changing cabin. Ted scanned the park. A handful of parents were huddled together at the side of the pitch clutching steaming reusable coffee cups. The only other person in sight was a woman walking a red setter down the track on the adjacent side.

  He got out, locked the do
or, zipped up his leather jacket and made his way towards the pavilion.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Ted strode by the fountain and down the slope towards the cricket pitch and pavilion beyond, his boots squeaking on the overgrown grass. The pavilion was barely a year old. The previous one had nearly collapsed with rot. He’d been inside this one only once, last summer, at its inauguration at the local fair.

  He glanced at his watch. It was quarter past eight. There was nobody outside. A stiff breeze drove the cold drizzle at his face. Now a voice told him to call Renton, or maybe ring Juliette first. He prayed Jakob didn’t show because, if he did, Ted suspected things would get a lot more complicated.

  He halted and looked up at the closed door at the front of the buttermilk panelled wooden building. Was Jakob waiting inside? It was probably locked for the winter though.

  Ted continued down to the bottom of the slope and crossed the flat grass and pitch to the three steps that led up to the platform of the pavilion. He climbed them and pushed on the door, but it was locked. Cupping his hand around his eyes he peered in the window. The room was empty except for a table and some rows of stacked green plastic chairs.

  ‘Ted.’

  He turned in the direction of the voice and saw Jakob standing at the bottom of the steps. He had no coat and still wore the same dinner party clothes. They were as dishevelled as his expression and his pale-blue shirt was wide open at the collar. His chest rose and fell with heavy breathing.

  Jakob beckoned and moved away.

  Ted followed him to a bald patch of wet mud littered with cigarette ends, booze bottles and cans at the rear of the pavilion. It was clearly where the kids hung out. Ten feet away was the hedged border of the park and behind that a construction site.

  Ted wasn’t sure what to say first. ‘You look terrible.’

  Jakob nodded. ‘I feel it.’ He swallowed like it was painful. Mud was caked up the arm of one of his shirtsleeves. ‘Where’s Juliette?’ He squinted his red eyes distrustfully.

  ‘At home.’

  ‘You really didn’t tell her?’ Jakob sounded dubious.

  ‘No.’