The Good Neighbor

by R. J. Parker

  The chewing behind her stopped. ‘All in position.’

  Leah realised he was talking softly into a radio.

  Ten minutes passed but Leah’s shoulders remained rigid. And Travis kept chewing. After a minute or so, Byrne walked a few paces left then a few right as Fitch pretended to be absorbed by the screen of his iPhone.

  The traffic in and out of the park gradually increased. Leah blinked as she tried to keep up with the faces passing and crossing in front of Byrne.

  ‘Just take a breath.’ Travis clearly sensed her apprehension. ‘We’ve still got three minutes before he’s due.’

  Leah nodded once. Squeezed her eyes briefly shut to moisturise them. There was a brief lull in the activity, but Byrne didn’t once look in their direction.

  ‘Who’s this guy?’

  Leah wasn’t sure if Travis was talking directly to her or into his radio, but she could see who he was referring to. A man in a white baseball cap was walking from the right-hand side of the street and slowed as he reached the gates.

  Was that him? With the hat on it was difficult to tell. He was wearing jeans and a tan casual jacket. She held her breath as he lingered there.

  Byrne stepped back a pace as he hesitated outside, but he walked on past her and didn’t enter the park.

  ‘Could that have been him?’

  Leah wasn’t sure. ‘Could have been.’

  The man walked out of their field of vision. Byrne turned to watch him go.

  ‘No positive ID. Let’s see if he comes back.’

  Leah rubbed her eyes. Perhaps he was going to come the way Fitch had. He still had his head bowed to his phone but was now perched right on the edge of the bench. He’d clearly thought that could have been their suspect too.

  More pedestrians, more faces. Leah’s eyes darted about them as the footfall increased.

  ‘Just keep calm.’ Travis started chewing again.

  Leah’s phone buzzed.

  She opened it and looked at the message that had arrived. Her heart stumbled as she realised it was from her unknown caller.

  Elliot says hi and not to tell police anything about our conversation.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  ‘Everything OK?’ Travis asked from behind her. He’d clearly caught her intake of breath.

  ‘Fine.’ Leah held the phone against her leg so he couldn’t see it. ‘Just my husband. I need to call him back,’ she heard herself lie.

  Travis responded but Leah didn’t hear him. Was this a bluff? Did Tate really expect her to believe that he had Elliot with him? She speed-dialled Elliot’s number but as she held the phone tightly to her ear, she got his answering service.

  ‘Any luck?’

  ‘No,’ she eventually replied, realising she’d got the beep and that her voice was now being recorded.

  ‘If you can just concentrate on the park.’

  The phone buzzed. Another message had arrived. A photo.

  Leah surreptitiously opened it. It was of the back of Elliot as he walked down the street. He was wearing his hooded light-blue jacket and clutching his overnight bag. It had been taken that morning, as he’d headed off to the station. Leah’s hand trembled as she took it in. Alice Booth’s killer had been feet away as they’d both left the house.

  ‘Can you contact him later?’

  Leah nodded and turned her head right to look out of the window but her eyes were still on the image of her husband. Had Tate followed Elliot to the station? But what could he have done in broad daylight? Maybe he’d got on the train with him. Leah’s mind raced. There was no denying the implication of the messages. Elliot’s life was being threatened if she didn’t stay silent. But how did Tate know she was with the police?

  Leah’s eyes darted around the street. Was he watching her right now?

  ‘Anybody familiar yet?’

  ‘Nobody.’ Leah replied before returning her gaze to Byrne and Fitch at the park gates.

  ‘OK, it’s eleven, try to stay focused.’

  But Leah suspected that nobody was about to arrive there and release her from the ordeal that had begun the moment she’d collided with the deer.

  Byrne folded her arms and walked back a few paces to allow the human stream to pass, her eyes on each person that entered or exited the park.

  Did Tate know Leah was here and was watching from a distance? He’d set up the whole meeting. He had to be. And, if that was the case, where was Elliot? Should she turn and tell Travis? Should she let him and Byrne know that they were wasting their time?

  Somebody halted in front of Byrne.

  Leah stiffened and peered hard, but the volume of traffic was obscuring them.

  ‘Who’s that?’ Travis said aloud.

  Leah craned forward.

  Fitch stood up from the bench.

  ‘Recognise them?’

  ‘I can’t see.’ But it was clear they’d stopped to talk to Byrne.

  ‘Is it him?’ Travis demanded.

  Leah shook her head. ‘I still can’t make them out properly.’

  Fitch had already covered the space between the bench and the gates and was only a few feet away from Byrne.

  Leah could see the back of the man as he spoke to the DI. He had a dark-blue hood pulled up.

  Fitch reached Byrne and joined the confab.

  ‘What’s happening?’ Travis walked into Leah’s field of vision, radio to his mouth.

  ‘I can’t see his face.’ Leah wanted to get out of the car.

  ‘Unable to ID.’ Travis spoke into his radio.

  But why would he give himself up? Leah seized the opportunity to look around the street. No sign of him. But he could easily be concealed in a car or behind one of the windowpanes of the houses.

  When Leah’s eyes swung back to the park, Fitch was reversing his steps and Byrne was slightly shaking her head in their direction.

  ‘It’s a false alarm,’ Travis confirmed.

  The man in the hoodie tried to continue on his way but Byrne took hold of his elbow. The man argued and she pulled out a badge.

  Fitch returned to the group and put a restraining hand on the man’s shoulder.

  Travis took up his position at the rear of the car again.

  Leah didn’t turn to him. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘I think Byrne just got propositioned. Looks like she’s going to hold him.’

  Leah’s thoughts skated between the messages she’d just received and the situation in front of her. She watched the two officers talking to the man and him gesticulating. He was much younger than Martin Tate. Probably only in his twenties. ‘It’s definitely not him.’

  Fitch led the man to the bench and gestured for him to sit down. He refused and continued to argue.

  Byrne’s attention had returned to the pedestrians outside the park again.

  The man was still complaining. Fitch took his arm and led him out of the park the other way.

  ‘Where’s he taking him?’ Leah asked.

  ‘Away from the situation. Don’t want to frighten our boy away. Ignore that now. Just keep your eyes on the people around the gates.’

  Leah tried to but didn’t see Tate.

  Half an hour later, Byrne returned to the car.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  ‘How much longer do I have to be here?’ Leah rose from her plastic chair as soon as Fitch entered the poky interview room.

  ‘Just a little longer,’ he said appeasingly as he closed the door with his back.

  There had been no further message from Martin Tate and Leah was getting increasingly uncomfortable being in the police station. She knew the longer she was there the more tempted she would be to tell them about the image that had been sent to her phone. Tate knew she was with the police and he’d warned her explicitly. She couldn’t risk it. Couldn’t risk losing Elliot. At least she was communicating with Tate and, so far, everything the DI knew about him had come from Leah. For whatever reason, Tate had singled her out and spared her life at Alice Booth’
s home and in her own. She had to use that. Tate had already proved he could effortlessly play the police and she’d already been at the station forty minutes while they interviewed the man who had propositioned Byrne outside the park.

  ‘She’ll be in to talk to you when she’s finished. Can I get you a coffee?’

  ‘No,’ Leah replied a little abruptly. ‘Are you actually holding me here?’

  ‘You can go whenever you like…’

  Leah knew there was a ‘but’ coming.

  ‘But the DI wants to update you so you may as well wait here for now.’

  ‘I need to sort out my dad’s meal in half an hour.’ That was true.

  Sympathy registered on Fitch’s face. ‘She should be done soon. I’ll let her know you need to get away.’ He turned and opened the door.

  As soon as it closed, she tried Elliot again for the umpteenth time. Leah hung up when she got his answering service. She opened the text messages and the one she’d sent back to the unknown number.

  Have not spoken to police about messages. Please let me know Elliot is OK.

  But she’d sent it on the drive to the station and there had been no response. Was he deliberately tormenting her? And if he had been at the park, had he followed her back here? Might he assume she was telling them everything and what did that mean for Elliot? She had to leave now. Fitch had said she could.

  She lifted her handbag off the back of the chair but the door opened.

  DI Byrne entered and frowned.

  ‘Just going to get myself a coffee.’

  Fitch came in behind Byrne and met her eye suspiciously before he closed the door.

  Leah reversed to the table.

  Byrne folded her arms. ‘I’ve just spoken to the man who approached me outside the park.’

  Leah sat back down and waited for her to continue.

  ‘Vincent Lownes. He was sticking with his story until I told him I was going to charge him with solicitation. Now he’s admitted he was paid.’

  ‘By who?’

  ‘A man answering the description you gave us.’

  So Tate had been there. Leah felt the desperate need to tell Byrne everything that was about to burst out of her.

  ‘Lownes insists he’s never seen the man before.’

  ‘And you believe him?’

  ‘He’s professional homeless.’ Byrne caught Leah’s puzzlement. ‘Has an address and a phone but sells The Big Issue. Looks like he has addiction issues. I’ve got a couple of officers scouring the east side of the park where the transaction took place, but our man will be long gone.’

  ‘We’re trying to access camera footage from the street opposite the east entrance but that’s going to take time,’ Fitch added.

  ‘So, do you need me in the meantime?’

  Byrne seemed slightly taken aback by Leah’s impatience. ‘Fitch said you’re eager to visit your father…’

  ‘I’m already late.’

  Byrne unfolded her arms. ‘You say he’s in Brockford?’

  Leah was slightly surprised but then recalled she’d told the officer during their journey to the park. ‘Yes.’

  Byrne took out her phone. ‘Give me the address there.’

  ‘3, Hock Cottage, Menthorn Drive.’

  Byrne tapped her screen. ‘I assume you’ll have your mobile with you?’

  Leah nodded. She’d already given them that number.

  ‘OK.’

  ‘I can go?’ It seemed too good to be true.

  ‘I’ll be in touch with any news.’

  ‘You don’t need to interview me now?’ Shut up, Leah. Just get out of there.

  ‘We found one witness who saw you at the roadside last night. Your story checks out.’ But Byrne seemed almost pained to admit it.

  How long had the detective been sitting on that? She wasn’t sure how to react.

  ‘Just let us know if you plan to go further afield.’

  Leah nodded and picked up her overnight bag. ‘I will.’

  She walked by her and Fitch opened the door. She was in a hurry. She’d told them that. But perhaps they were wondering why she seemed so unconcerned about Tate still being at large.

  Was he waiting for her outside?

  Chapter Thirty

  ‘Do you need a ride?’

  Leah turned only a few paces from the interview room.

  Byrne was leaning out of the door. ‘I brought you down here…’

  In her rush to leave, Leah had forgotten that. ‘No, that’s fine, thank you. I’ll call a cab.’

  Byrne studied her uncertainly. ‘Everything OK?’

  ‘Fine. I just need to get to my father’s.’

  ‘Exactly why I’m offering.’

  ‘You’ve got enough on your plate.’

  ‘I won’t be taking you, but I can certainly make someone available.’

  ‘Thanks. No. You’ll call me if there’s any news?’

  ‘I’ve just told you I will.’

  ‘OK. We’ll speak soon then.’ Leah turned on her heel and strode down the corridor to the swing doors that led to reception. She had to get away from Byrne.

  As soon as she’d walked out of the building she paused at the top of the steps and gulped cold, fresh air. She felt dizzy and steadied herself on the handrail.

  ‘Are you all right?’ A young uniformed officer was just ascending.

  Leah nodded. ‘I’ll be fine.’

  But he loitered there. ‘Sure?’

  ‘Yes. Fine,’ she repeated pointedly.

  ‘OK.’ He moved by her.

  Leah remained still until the wooziness passed then carried on down into the parking area.

  A car screeched to a standstill then beeped at her as she crossed the concourse to the main entrance. She didn’t meet the eye of the driver as she made her way out onto the busy street. Checking her phone she confirmed that there was still no further message from Tate. She sent another to him.

  Please tell me what to do.

  She waited but nothing came back. Was he watching her now? She cast her eyes around the pedestrians and parked cars but couldn’t see a sign of him.

  She kept moving away from Middleton Police Station and tried Elliot’s number again. ‘It’s me. Please, please call me back the minute you get this,’ she said to his answering service. Then Leah quickly made another call. It rang for a long time before it was picked up.

  ‘Hello?’ He sounded scared.

  ‘Dad, it’s Leah.’

  There was a long pause. ‘Hello, Leah,’ he said, like he knew exactly who she was.

  She was used to playing this game. She couldn’t tell him directly that she was his daughter. That made him angry. More with himself than her. So she gave him enough clues so he thought he’d got away with his stalling tactics. ‘I did the shopping but I might be late bringing it over.’

  Another pause. At this stage he usually still got her confused with Rachel, the carer who called in on him. ‘Oh, right.’

  ‘Have you got enough food in to last you until this evening?’

  ‘Oh … yes,’ he replied, unsure.

  ‘Go to the kitchen cupboard for me. The one with my photo above it.’ She’d positioned it there last year and now she used it as a reference every time she called. She heard him walk out of the hall and into the kitchen.

  ‘Yes. Leah. Yes. How are you?’

  He’d seen it. Knew who she was. ‘I’m fine. Just let me know what you’ve got in the cupboard.’

  ‘And how is—’

  ‘Elliot.’ She didn’t have time to let him remember on his own. ‘He’s fine.’ Her father didn’t know that they were in the process of separating. And she couldn’t possibly tell him what was going on now. Her father used to be the one she could always turn to when life got on top of her. ‘Just tell me what you’ve got there. Plenty of tins?’

  ‘Oh yes … Elliot.’

  ‘Are there enough tins to open, if you get hungry?’

  ‘Yes. I’ve had my dinner,’ he answer
ed irritably, as if she were fussing over nothing.

  She wondered if he’d even had breakfast. ‘As long as you don’t forget to eat. I’ll be over as soon as I can, OK?’

  ‘Yes, yes, yes…’ he said dismissively. ‘Is your sister coming too?’

  Normally, his mention of Olivia was guaranteed to upset her. Olivia had been nine when she’d died. But today she had no time for the pain. ‘No, it’ll just be me.’

  ‘I haven’t seen Leah for an age either,’ he said conspiratorially. He’d clearly forgotten that he was talking to her and that she’d been there the previous Saturday, like she was every week.

  ‘I’ll be there as quick as I can, Dad.’

  There was another gap as he absorbed that. ‘Yes, I know.’ He sounded angry now.

  ‘Have something to eat.’

  ‘I’ve told you, I’ve just eaten!’ He hung up on her.

  Leah was approaching the railway station. There was a row of cabs waiting outside. She picked up her pace, quickly crossed the road and opened the door of the one at the front of the line.

  Reggae poured out from the interior but the young man with dreads was pasty white.

  He smiled at her, flashing a gold tooth.

  Leah thought he wasn’t much older than twenty.

  ‘Where you headed?’

  It was a good question.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Leah almost shut the door again but then dropped into the seat. ‘Forley ... please.’ Where else could she go? Would Martin Tate expect her to return there? It was the last place she’d seen Elliot.

  The driver seemed oblivious to her indecision and started the engine.

  Leah closed her door and he pulled out into the traffic. ‘D’you mind turning that down?’

  The driver adjusted the volume, but it sounded the same as before.

  What would she do when she got there? All that seemed important was putting distance between her and the police. She twisted to look out of the rear window at the cars behind them.