Ask Me No Questions

by Louisa de Lange

  Praise for Louisa de Lange

  ‘A hugely promising debut. Overturns every assumption you have at the beginning in a startling and clever twist’ Cara Hunter, bestselling author of Close to Home

  ‘I absolutely raced through it and couldn’t put it down! It was so unsettling and had me holding my breath the whole time. And then that ending … it had me questioning everything! So clever and twisted and disturbing’ Elle Croft, bestselling author of The Guilty Wife

  ‘In a crowded thriller market, it’s hard to stand out, but The Dream Wife by debut author Louisa de Lange pulls it off with a could-never-have-predicted-that-ending’ Good Housekeeping

  ‘A clever tale where things aren’t what they seem … The real cleverness lies in the way the plot and those dreams weave together. Thriller-writing at its best’ Daily Mail

  ‘Beautifully written from a mother’s point of view, this book is shocking, involving and so completely gripping that I guarantee you won’t be able to put it down’ Joanne, Goodreads

  ‘I loved this book. I devoured it in one sitting’ Julie, Goodreads

  Dedication

  For my mum and dad,

  Janet and Richard de Lange

  Louisa de Lange

  Contents

  Cover

  Praise

  Dedication

  Title Page

  Newspaper Article

  Part 1

  Monday, 21 January 2019: Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Tuesday: Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Wednesday: Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Part 2

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Thursday: Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Friday: Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Saturday: Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Sunday: Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Monday: Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Tuesday: Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Wednesday: Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Thursday: Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Part 3

  Friday: Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Saturday: Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  July 2004 Fifteen Years Ago: Chapter 65

  Chapter 66

  Chapter 67

  Sunday: Chapter 68

  Chapter 69

  Friday 8 February 2019: Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  Acknowledgements

  Advert

  Author Biography

  Credits

  Copyright

  Monday, 26 July 2004

  MARRIED COUPLE SLAIN IN LOVER’S BRUTAL ATTACK

  Spurned lover retaliates from rejection, gunning down loving parents in sleepy suburb

  Shock has descended across Southampton this week, hearing news of the brutal murder of local residents, Robert and Madeleine Patterson, on Saturday. Gunshots were reported to police at 2.13 p.m. and on entering the property on Limewood Road, Bassett, armed officers found the blood-spattered bodies of local artist, Madeleine Patterson, 42, and finance director, Robert Patterson, 45, next to their neighbour, Harrison Becker, unconscious. Becker, unemployed, 46, came round at the scene and instantly confessed to the double murder. When questioned later by detectives, Becker admitted to killing the couple in a jealous rage when Madeleine Patterson ended their long-running affair.

  Madeleine and Robert Patterson were both pronounced dead on site. They are survived by their twin daughters, Gabriella and Thea Patterson, 18, currently being treated at Southampton General Hospital. The twins were unaware as their parents lay dying, having been in the garden at the time of the murders with Harry Becker, 18, son of Harrison Becker.

  Local residents are shocked by the seemingly unexpected crime, but described the relationship between the two families as unnaturally close. One neighbour said: ‘The dad and his boy were always over their house. And she was so glamorous, it doesn’t surprise me they were having an affair. I worry what will happen to those poor kids now.’

  More on this story as details emerge.

  Part 1

  Monday, 21 January 2019

  1

  She was led down a long corridor, closed doors either side. Neither of the police officers said a word. One walked quickly ahead, his shoes squeaking on the tiled floor, the other following closely behind. Dressed in black, their stab vests made them look intimidating and bulky, and she stomped after them, her previously unfruitful questioning rendering her mute.

  The walls were painted a bland magnolia, regular black scuff marks punctuating their progress. A single window lit the end of the corridor; fluorescent strip lights flickered overhead.

  They stopped at the last door and the officer opened it. He ushered her inside.

  The room was empty, except for a grey table in the centre and two brown wood and metal chairs. As she sat down, she realised all the furniture was bolted to the floor. The walls were encased with a light grey panelling, but apart from that, nothing. She was almost disappointed by the lack of a two-way mirror.

  A black box was positioned on the side of the table, a small video screen showing two views: one of the whole room and the other of her face. She glanced around to locate the camera: a black dome on the far side of the wall.

  The officers hovered at the door. They moved aside for a woman to enter the room. She nodded at them and they left, closing it behind them.

  The woman sat down at the table and opened the beige folder in front of her. She was wearing a grey suit, a rumpled white shirt underneath. Her long brown hair was tied back severely and it didn’t suit her; coupled with her minimal make-up, it made her look tired. Despite this, the woman was alert – sitting up straight in her seat, her eye contact unflinching.

  The woman cleared her throat and looked at her. ‘You are Thea Patterson, correct?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘My name is Detective Sergeant Munro.’ She shuffled some papers and pulled out a sheet of A4. She clicked open a biro, and wrote a few details on the top. ‘We are investigating a violent attack on your sister, Gabriella Patterson. I am intending to interview you. You are not under arrest and you are free to leave. However, I must tell you that if you decide to terminate this interview and leave the police station before I have asked you all the questions that I consider relevant, I will reconsider whether your arrest is necessary for the effective investigation of this offence.’ DS Munro spoke without looking up, reading from the piece of paper with barely any intonation. ‘Do you understand the above?’ She pushed it to Thea, with the biro.

  Thea looked at it with surprise. ‘What’s happened to Gabriel
la?’ she asked.

  ‘She’s in hospital.’ She paused when Thea didn’t respond. ‘You weren’t aware?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Gabriella was attacked on Southampton Common in the early hours of Sunday morning – she’s in a coma with severe head injuries.’ DS Munro gestured towards the piece of paper.

  Thea took the pen and signed it. ‘You think I did it?’

  The detective looked straight at Thea. ‘You’re a suspect in the investigation.’ She stopped again, watching Thea’s reaction. ‘Why are you unaware your sister is in hospital?’

  ‘We’re not close,’ Thea said, quietly. She didn’t look at DS Munro. She picked at her nails, worrying at a piece of skin on her cuticle.

  ‘And why is that?’

  Thea continued to stare at her hands, searching for the right words.

  The DS frowned. ‘If I’m going to be completely honest, Thea, in cases like this, when we don’t know who attacked the victim or why, we look to the family first. Especially when the family isn’t – as you say – close. So anything you can tell me at this point would be beneficial.’ She glanced at her notes, then back at Thea. ‘You’re twins, correct?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Identical?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And yet, you’re not close.’

  Thea looked at the detective. ‘No.’

  DS Munro studied the photo again, and Thea knew she would be taking in the exact same nose structure, same dark brown eyes, same chin, same ears. She was used to the fascination people had with identical twins. When they were younger, she found it boring; this assumption they were one: ‘the twins’. Now, it was just annoying.

  ‘You live in your family home?’ the detective continued.

  ‘If you know so much, why do you need me here?’

  The detective ignored her. ‘Can you account for your whereabouts on Saturday night and Sunday morning?’

  Thea took a slow breath in. She felt the irritation grow. ‘I was at home, working.’

  ‘Was anyone with you?’

  ‘No. I live alone.’

  ‘And what do you do?’

  ‘I’m a photographer.’

  ‘Weddings, babies?’

  ‘Mainly corporate shots, stock photos for newspapers, some arty stuff. A few weddings to pay the bills.’

  DS Munro paused and opened the beige folder, enough so she could see inside while keeping the contents hidden from Thea.

  ‘And what happened last Wednesday when you saw Gabriella?’

  Thea looked at her. ‘I think you know,’ she replied.

  ‘Don’t mess with me, Thea.’ The detective stared at her, her hands covering the folder. ‘We haven’t arrested you for this attack, but we could. This is potentially a charge of attempted murder, given your sister is lying in hospital unconscious right now, and that’s a long time in prison. Now, what happened on Wednesday when you saw your sister?’

  ‘Nothing. We were talking.’

  ‘That’s not what your neighbours told us.’

  Thea looked at her, eyes narrowed. ‘We had an argument.’

  The detective sat back in her seat, clearly already aware and now satisfied with Thea’s response. ‘And what was the argument about?’

  Thea paused. She knew she was trying to intimidate her. To scare her into giving something away. But Thea wasn’t bothered; she’d been through worse than this. ‘Normal sister stuff,’ she said at last. ‘It was our mother’s birthday. She was angry because I hadn’t left flowers on the grave.’

  ‘This is your mother that …’

  ‘Yes,’ Thea said quickly, cutting her off.

  ‘And why hadn’t you?’

  ‘I’d been busy. I don’t dwell on what happened like my sister.’ Thea met the detective’s stare. ‘Listen, DS Munro. You sound like a good police officer. I’m sure you didn’t get to where you are by being lazy. Take a look at Gabriella’s lifestyle. At the places she goes, the men she hangs out with. Speak to them about the nightclubs, the alcohol, the drugs, and I’m sure you’ll find a plethora of people more interesting than me, with better motives for attacking my sister.’ She tilted her head to one side, regarding the woman opposite. ‘Why did you take so long to contact me?’ she asked.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I mean, she was attacked early Sunday, today is Monday. As next of kin, you needed my permission to get her medical records, and I assume time is of the essence.’ Thea stopped, a slight smile on her face. ‘Why did that take twenty-four hours?’

  DS Munro frowned. ‘She didn’t have any identification on her. It took us a while to find her bag.’

  ‘She was mugged,’ Thea said.

  ‘We’re exploring all lines of enquiry.’

  Thea knew the detective was beaten. ‘Fine. You do that. But for now, let me go. I didn’t get much sleep last night and I’d like to go home.’

  Thea stood up, waiting for a response. DS Munro didn’t move from the table, then nodded.

  ‘Thank you for coming in today, Thea,’ she said. ‘You’ll just need to do a bit of paperwork with my colleagues, then you’re free to leave.’

  Thea rolled her eyes and followed the plain-clothes officer who appeared behind her. For a moment, before the door to the interview room closed, she looked back. DS Munro was thinking, her face distorted into a determined frown, staring at the file in front of her.

  And Thea knew it wouldn’t be long before she saw that detective again.

  2

  DS Kate Munro stayed at the table, taking in the conversation. Well, that bloody didn’t go well, she thought, annoyed with herself for letting her suspect get the upper hand.

  Thea Patterson was clearly intelligent, confident and not easily intimidated. And she was certainly unique: a pair of identical twins couldn’t be more different. No one would look twice at Thea Patterson, while it seemed men couldn’t keep away from Gabriella.

  Thea Patterson was almost childlike. A grey jumper flooded her figure, with short black messy hair in a bob tucked behind her ears. She seemed to take little effort with her appearance. In contrast, the girl in the photo, a society shot from a night out, flaunted her femininity – red lipstick, breasts pushed up, a short dress consisting of no more than a scrap of material, high silver heels.

  Thea was prickly and slightly arrogant. And completely unfazed about being questioned in a police station. Most people would be nervous and fidgety, desperate to do or say anything to get them out, but not Thea Patterson.

  She closed the file and leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms. Something wasn’t right with this woman, but she couldn’t put her finger on what. Perhaps it was her lack of emotion – the uniforms said she’d barely blinked when they told her about her sister lying in a hospital. Evidence of guilt? Had she already known she was there? If only things were that simple.

  ‘Coffee, Sarge?’ The plain-clothes officer stuck his head round the door.

  ‘No, I’m fine, thank you,’ Kate replied. ‘I’ll be upstairs in a sec, Briggs. Did she say anything to you on the way out?’

  The officer shook his head. ‘Nope. Face like a slapped arse all the way. Met some bloke in reception though, walked off across the park.’

  ‘That’s interesting.’ DS Munro walked out of the interview room and hurried to the small window at the end of the corridor. It overlooked the large expanse of grass the officers affectionately referred to as the park, even though it was far from big enough to count as one.

  She scanned the path and, sure enough, barely halfway across she could see the tiny figure of Thea, accompanied by a tall man on her left. She could see they were talking.

  Another figure in the park caught her eye. She noticed him because he walked slowly, occasionally hesitating but always looking directly at the pair of them as they went. He was dressed in black and seemed to loiter in their periphery, trying to keep up but avoid being seen. She didn’t think they had noticed him.

  Thea and he
r friend disappeared out of Kate’s eyeline, and just as she was considering phoning one of the uniforms to check out the stalker, the man seemed to reconsider and turn in the opposite direction. Perhaps she had been imagining it after all; perhaps she saw a potential crime in the most innocent of circumstances.

  She tapped the beige file on the window, thinking about Thea Patterson. Kate had no siblings of her own, but she couldn’t imagine being an identical twin and not being close. These twins were so distant, she realised now, that Thea hadn’t even asked what hospital Gabriella was in. She had made no effort to find out more about her sister’s attack.

  In over ten years in the police force, she’d seen the full range of responses to hearing a loved one was in hospital. Crying, hysterics; some even violent and angry. But the strange lack of emotion from Thea Patterson? Kate shook her head in disbelief. One thing was for sure: she needed to know more about this woman. And fast.

  3

  ‘What did they want?’ Harry asked as they walked across the park, clear from the prying eyes of the police officers.

  ‘You’ll never get a nice girl to marry you if you carry on with those things.’ Thea scowled, gesturing at the cigarette Harry was flicking away into the bushes. She threw her bag over her shoulder and walked away as quickly as she could. It was freezing out, and her sweatshirt was offering little protection from the January wind.

  ‘It was about Gabriella,’ she muttered.

  ‘I guessed as much. What’s she done?’

  ‘She’s in hospital. Someone attacked her Saturday night on the common.’

  Harry stopped walking, and pulled Thea round to face him. ‘Is she okay?’

  ‘She’s unconscious. They didn’t tell me any more than that.’ Thea walked away quickly and Harry chased to catch up.

  ‘Did they say which hospital?’

  ‘I forgot to ask.’

  ‘Thea! Come on, she’s your twin. We should visit. We can find out where she is easily enough.’ They walked in silence for a few paces. Thea had no desire to see her sister, but she didn’t have the energy for an argument. ‘How long has she been back?’ he asked quietly.