by R. J. Parker
Jakob’s breath whistled in through his nostrils as he studied him.
‘I promise. You asked me not to, but this …’ Ted gestured around them. ‘This is as far as it goes. Let me take you to the police now.’
Jakob shook his head and wobbled on his feet, the blood draining from his face.
‘Are you OK?’
Jakob stumbled to the back of the pavilion to lean on it and threw up.
Ted watched him finish and spit a few times. ‘What happened?’ He couldn’t delay the question any longer.
Jakob sniffed and wiped moisture from his eyes. ‘I really don’t know.’
Ted suddenly felt like he’d made a big mistake. ‘Come on, me and Juliette found Evie.’ He couldn’t keep the revulsion from his voice. ‘You ran away. What do you expect people to think?’
‘I don’t know, OK!’ Jakob yelled. He inhaled heavily and held his hand up in apology, then lowered his voice again. ‘I really don’t remember. I woke up on the lawn and Evie was lying there …’ Jakob’s face twisted up and it looked like he was going to cry. ‘And to begin with … I didn’t even know who she was.’
What story was Jakob going to try and feed him?
Jakob’s pupils darted as he relived the moment. He wiped some vomit from his lips with the cuff of his shirt. ‘I had to rack my brains …’
Ted remained silent. There was real fear in Jakob’s eyes. Was that part of his performance?
‘I’m … I walked back inside the house and heard somebody upstairs. I thought I was the intruder. I ran and it felt like I was looking at what was happening through a telescope. Like I was withdrawn from it, just observing. I still feel like it now. It was only later that I remembered.’
‘You were fine when you left us, drunk but fine,’ Ted reminded him.
‘Yes.’ He gazed at the ground and frowned. ‘I recall getting into the taxi but not much of the journey.’
‘What about at home? What happened after you got out of the cab?’
Jakob kept fixated on the butts and bottles. ‘We argued.’ He shook his head again but this time as if he were trying to dislodge a memory.
‘Was it because of the trust game?’
Jakob looked up at him, nodded once. ‘I think so.’
‘You didn’t want to play.’ Neither did Ted.
Jakob’s face froze as if to channel his energy to recall what happened after. ‘That stupid game …’
‘You were getting hostile towards Evie when we played it.’
‘This was later, much later. I remember the rage I felt.’ Jakob pinched the bridge of his nose as if it would somehow release the moment. ‘We were back home but I can’t think where.’ His right side jerked. ‘I think she hit me with something. I’ve got a huge bruise on the back of my head.’ He gingerly touched the area.
‘And what then … you woke on the lawn?’
Jakob nodded, dread like a mask tightening on his face.
‘You don’t remember attacking her?’
Jakob gulped. ‘I never have before. Even during our worst fights.’
The only thing Ted knew for sure was that Jakob’s personality changed when he’d drunk too much alcohol.
‘I’ve never struck Evie, never raised a hand to her.’ His shoulders rose and fell.
Ted knew his blank expression wasn’t what Jakob wanted to see.
‘I didn’t kill her, Ted. I know I didn’t.’
‘But you clearly blacked out. Maybe your brain’s blocking what you did, I don’t know.’ This was a Jakob he’d never seen. Four hours after the event and he was still wired, a million miles from the personality Ted sat with at dinner parties.
‘I didn’t kill her. I’m positive.’ The statement was resolute, but Jakob’s eyes were full of desperation.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
‘Do you remember Evie calling Juliette?’ Ted watched Jakob’s chest heave.
Jakob flinched, as if it hurt to remember. ‘No.’
‘That was around four this morning.’ But was this all an act? Was Jakob’s last defence to feign convenient amnesia?
Jakob shook his head. ‘This doesn’t happen to me. I lose a few chunks of the evening when I’ve been drinking but this …’
‘It’ll come back.’ Ted had to calm him. ‘You’re not thinking straight. You couldn’t have been. Where did you go after you left the house?’
Jakob raised his arms and let them fall again. ‘I found myself in Nine Beeches.’
That was the wood behind their property that bordered the east side of Ibbotson. ‘You hadn’t taken anything?’
‘Of course not.’ Jakob glared at him, but the intensity quickly waned. ‘Haven’t for years.’
Ted and Jakob had once shared a joint at a New Year’s gathering. That had been more Evie’s thing in the past, but neither of them had particularly enjoyed it. ‘Come with me back to the car and we can sort this all out.’
Jakob snorted. ‘Sort this all out?’
‘With the police. It’s your only option.’ Ted watched Jakob’s frame tauten. ‘Sooner or later you’ll have to. Better to hand yourself over now than be caught.’
‘You’ve told them, haven’t you?’ Jakob clenched one fist.
‘No. If I had, you’d be in custody by now.’
Jakob’s eyes darted around them.
‘Take a few breaths. You’re overwrought.’
Jakob stepped back. ‘I need to get my head together first.’
‘Where?’
He opened his eyes wide, as if trying to wake himself up. ‘Not where I’m going to be interrogated.’
‘I’ll be there for you, Jakob. Just come with me.’ Ted held out his hand.
‘I need to know the answers to the questions myself first. Once they have me …’ Jakob recoiled from Ted.
‘Then just come back to the car. We can talk before you speak to the police.’ But Ted wondered how far his offer really extended. Evie’s lifeless and bloodied face was still vivid in his memory.
Jakob seemed to sense his unease and took another pace away from him. ‘Just stay there, I’m not going anywhere. And don’t tell me that Juliette doesn’t know where you are.’
‘She doesn’t, I promise you. But if she did, she’d be saying the same thing.’
‘Liar.’ Jakob shot a glance at the border fence.
‘Why does her knowing make any difference?’
‘This whole thing, the game, that didn’t just casually happen.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘I know how Evie works. She had that ready to go before the evening started.’
‘And you’re saying Juliette was part of it?’
‘The envelopes and paper turned up quickly enough.’
But Ted knew Juliette would instantly be able to locate those. She had a cupboard full of stationery that her mother bought her each year for Christmas that she never used. ‘You’re being paranoid now. Listen to what you’re saying.’
Jakob pressed his palms against his face and rubbed his eyes hard.
‘You haven’t slept. And you’re right: you have to get your head together somewhere. Come with me. Where else can you go?’ Jakob didn’t have any family in the UK. And from what Juliette had told Ted, he and Evie had very few friends outside of the dinner group.
Jakob’s shoulders sagged.
‘I’ll drive you.’ Ted was positive Georgie’s coach would drop him home. He wouldn’t have him sharing the car with Jakob.
Jakob’s eyes were on the middle of Ted’s chest.
At that moment, the drizzle, which neither of them had seemed to register during their exchange, turned to hard rain. It was like a full stop to the conversation.
Jakob swayed, blinked, and seemed to withdraw to the night he’d escaped from.
‘Jakob?’
His eyes eventually shifted, reluctantly, to Ted’s.
‘Come on, let’s get out of the rain.’
‘No,’ Jakob said flatly.
‘What is it?’
>
‘I need more time.’ Jakob immediately started walking towards the border fence at the rear of the pavilion.
‘Jakob.’ Ted followed. He couldn’t let him go. What were the consequences if he did, for both of them? ‘Jakob.’ He took hold of his elbow.
Jakob swung round and slammed his knuckles into Ted’s mouth.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ted went down on one knee in the wet mud and put his right hand out to break his fall. His palm slithered and he fell onto his back. He lay there dazed for a few seconds, lip throbbing as the rain fell on his face, and then hinged upright to see Jakob trying to find a gap in the wooden fence. ‘Jakob!’ He got to his feet but tottered dizzily.
Jakob didn’t turn and instead crouched to angle himself through a mass of brambles and ivy that blocked a gap in the lower part of the fence.
‘Think about what you’re doing!’ Ted followed, but the ground tilted under his boots. His lip already felt tight against his teeth.
‘Don’t come after me! I don’t want to hit you again!’ Jakob gripped the upper bar of the fence and swung forwards, breaking the creepers with his bulk and dragging his body through.
When Ted reached the fence, he could see Jakob quickly striding across the churned-up clay of the building site. ‘Jakob!’ But what was the point of pursuing him? He was completely irrational. Ted watched as he darted out of sight behind a dark-blue foreman’s hut. Beyond that were gates to a parking area.
He’d certainly proved he was capable of violence. Ted put the pads of his fingers to his lip and examined the blood on them.
He stood there for a few moments, his hair plastered wet to his scalp, his clothes already soaked. Now he had no choice. The sooner Jakob was in custody the better. Was he dangerous? And where was he going? He seemed to think Juliette was partly to blame. Ted called her first and she picked up after three rings.
‘Juliette, lock the doors and call the police. I’m on my way home.’
‘What’s happening?’ She sounded breathless. ‘Is Georgie all right?’
‘Yes, don’t worry.’ But Ted was already marching back to the slope. ‘I’ve just seen Jakob.’
‘Where?’
‘Here in the park. I tried to reason with him, but he attacked me and ran off.’
‘What? Are you OK?’
‘He slugged me. Just a split lip, but I couldn’t keep him here.’
‘You shouldn’t have tried.’ There was a brief pause. ‘How did he know you’d be there? Did you tell him last night?’
It was time to own up. ‘He called me this morning. Told me to keep our meeting a secret, or he wouldn’t show.’
Silence.
‘He specifically asked me not to tell you.’
‘Why?’ Her tone had hardened.
He didn’t blame Juliette. ‘I don’t know. Perhaps he thought you’d call the police.’
‘Like you should have.’
‘I wanted to talk sense into him, offered to accompany him to the station. He was behaving like he was on something. I’ve never seen him like it.’
‘What were you thinking?’
‘He’s been wandering around Nine Beeches. Said he doesn’t remember anything about last night.’
‘Anything?’ She repeated warily. ‘And you believe him?’
‘We’ll talk about this when I get home. He slipped out the fence behind the pavilion. He’s running but I don’t want to take any chances. Have you double-locked the front door?’ Ted trotted up the slope with the phone pressed hard against his ear. He could hear Juliette whispering. ‘Who else is there?’
‘Kathryn and Rhys. Orla and Connor have just arrived.’
That was a relief. They were obviously rallying around her.
‘You’re sure Georgie’s safe?’
‘He’s training, other side of the park. Wait …’ Ted reached the top of the slope and looked across the playing field. ‘I can see him. I’m going to pull him out of the match and bring him home now.’
‘Don’t tell him why.’
‘Of course not. Call Renton.’
‘I’ll get Kathryn to do that. I’m staying on the line until you’re both in the car.’
‘OK.’ Ted could hear Juliette relaying the details to Kathryn. He felt a stitch jab him under the rib as he jogged back to the changing hut. ‘Wait … running … talk in a minute.’
When he got there, he passed the other parents and headed for Mr Travis. Some of the boys turned as he approached, and Georgie met his eye with a frown.
‘Sorry. I have to take Georgie home early.’ The bearded coach protested but Ted didn’t register what he said. ‘Family emergency, really sorry about this.’ Georgie ran over and Ted took his hand. ‘Just grab your bag and you can change in the car.’
They cut across the pitch, puzzlement and disapproval on the faces of the other parents. Or was his split lip more obvious than he thought?
‘You’ve got him?’ Juliette asked.
‘Yes. All fine,’ Ted answered breezily for Georgie’s benefit.
‘What’s happening?’ Georgie sounded panicked. ‘Who hurt you? Was it the gang?’
Ted knew what Georgie was referring to. A gang had beaten a man to death behind McCoy’s nightclub in Basildon a few weeks before and it had been on the local news. Juliette had spent the night trying to get a frightened Georgie to sleep. ‘Don’t worry, scout. I’ll explain when we get home.’ But he knew he’d need a story as soon as they were in the car.
‘Who are you on the phone to?’
‘Your mother’s just making sure we’re OK.’
‘Why wouldn’t we be? Is she OK?’
‘She’s fine.’
‘Is it Uncle Jakob?’
Ted slowed his pace and turned to Georgie. ‘Why would you say that?’
Georgie looked down at the grass. ‘Just wondered.’
‘But why?’
Georgie shook his head. ‘Is it Grandma then?’
‘No.’ Ted led them back to the car.
‘Grandpa?’
But Ted got the impression that Georgie was covering his tracks. ‘I’ve said I’ll explain when we get home. Go and get your rucksack from the changing hut.’
He watched him sprint off. ‘Juliette?’ Ted knew she would have heard the exchange.
‘I’m still here.’
‘He seems to know. D’you think he overheard us this morning?’ Ted was trying to recall exactly what they’d said during their exchange in the bedroom. But the door had been closed and they hadn’t raised their voices.
‘He was asleep.’
‘He’s pretended to be asleep before.’ Had Georgie been curious enough about where his parents had gone early in the morning to listen at the door?
Juliette whispered something else away from the phone.
‘Juliette?’
‘Kathryn’s on the phone to the police. Just get Georgie home.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Georgie said nothing as they drove out of the park and Ted considered his options. ‘What time did you wake up today?’
Georgie frowned at Ted in the mirror.
‘Was it just before breakfast?’
His son nodded nervously.
‘You weren’t awake before that?’
‘I don’t think so. Who punched you? Was it the gang?’
Ted wiped at his bottom lip and the back of his hand came away streaked with blood. ‘No. I’ll explain soon. Now, you didn’t overhear anything before you got up? I really won’t be cross if you did.’
‘No. Why?’
Juliette was right. They had to discuss how to break the news to him first. ‘It might be a little hard for you to understand.’
‘Is it why you took me out of practice?’
‘Yes. And I promise we’ll talk about it when we get home.’
‘OK,’ Georgie said, unsure. ‘I’m not in trouble?’
‘No. I just wondered why you mentioned Uncle Jakob.’
‘Is
he OK?’ Georgie asked innocently.
‘He’s fine.’ Ted accelerated the car through the park gates. ‘But we’re very concerned about him.’
‘Why? Is he ill like Auntie Evie was?’
‘No.’ Was that it? They’d given him the facts about Evie’s cancer when she’d started her treatment and Georgie had become a little obsessed about Uncle Jakob ‘catching’ the same illness. ‘He’s not ill like that.’
‘Good.’ Georgie seemed relieved.
When they pulled up outside home Juliette opened the front door to greet them. She exchanged a glance with Ted as they got out, her face trying not to react to his injury.
Georgie carried his rucksack into the house.
She touched the top of his head. ‘Sorry you had to come home early.’
‘Somebody hit Dad.’ Georgie sounded like he was on the verge of tears.
‘I know, we’ll fix him up. Go upstairs to your room and play on your Xbox for a bit.’
‘He won’t tell me who punched him.’
I’ll call you down soon.’
‘OK,’ Georgie complied reluctantly. ‘I’ll have a shower first.’
Ted heard Georgie greeting the others then thudding upstairs.
Juliette closed the front door behind him, and they walked down the hall. He could see Kathryn, Orla and Connor standing anxiously at the kitchen counter.
‘Jesus, that’s a belter.’ Connor regarded his mouth.
There was a first aid kit open on the chopping board. Juliette started rummaging through it.
‘I’m fine.’
‘Do you want a painkiller? I’ve got some strong ones.’ Kathryn’s eyes were puffy.
So were Orla’s. ‘He just attacked you?’ She flicked her fringe from her lashes.
‘Well … I tried to stop him leaving.’ He held up his palm to Juliette as she found a blister pack in the kit.
‘Let me take a look.’ Juliette squinted at his lip.
‘I’m fine … really.’ Ted noticed somebody missing. ‘Rhys not here?’
‘He was. But he had to pick the girls up from their sleepover,’ Kathryn answered, vaguely.
‘The police?’
Juliette nodded at Ted. ‘Renton’s coming over.’
‘Shall I see if he’s OK?’ Ted rolled his eyes to the ceiling.