MURDER BY SUICIDE

by S FEATES

  The main difference between

  a cat and a lie is that a cat

  only has nine lives.

  Mark Twain

  ONE CAT - NINE LIVES

  1

  The cat was the only witness. What else could I do, I had to take it with me. I was not a killer of animals and I had not been paid to be despite the fact that I had just become a professional killer.

  I had arrived at the home of Jackie Nolan on the pretext of fixing the security surveillance system. It was her husband's idea, he being the man who had propositioned me to kill his wife. He had, earlier that day, disabled the system and told Jackie that it was faulty and that he would send someone round to look at it. That someone was me.

  I was in debt to Tony Nolan, a notorious bookie and hard man, and he wanted paying. I had no means to pay and wasn't likely to have in the near future. What choice did I have, pay up - not happening, submit myself to a life changing beating or offer my services to the man who now owned me. I pleaded with Nolan that I would do anything to pay off the debt and to my surprise he accepted my offer. I didn't realise that I was about to get myself into a life changing career move. Gambling, I finally realised, was a mugs game but I took that final gamble and saved my skin.

  Jackie Nolan answered the door on my second push of the doorbell. Westminster chimes echoed loudly somewhere inside. She was an attractive woman with noticeably ice blue eyes, probably early thirties, she had long fair hair and a slim, flat chested body. She was no taller than 5 foot I guessed. She greeted me with a warm smile and held an index finger to her lips. She was holding a kitten in the other hand.

  ''Quick come in but keep the noise down, I have just managed to get the twins to sleep. They have been a nightmare today.'' She said in a well educated London accent as she stood to one side to let me enter the home. Nolan was punching well above his weight I thought.

  The home was a 'small' country pile deep in Sussex and isolated by large grounds and surrounding countryside. Very private and worth a few million I calculated. Inside was decorated very tastefully, a woman's touch evidently rather than that of an East End gangster made good.

  I walked into the long hallway and dropped my holdall by a small, regency style table that served as a mail and key holder. The holdall held a few tools, just for effect.

  ''You must be from the security firm, my names Jackie.'' She held out a slender, well manicured, hand which I shook gently. She let the kitten go and it scampered off into a side room. Jackie explained that she had only bought the pedigree Siamese that morning and was going to surprise Tony with it later. It didn't even have a name yet, she said. Apparently he was a huge cat fan as were his family. Not something you associate with gangsters outside of a fictional James Bond movie I thought.

  ''Yes, my name is Steve.'' Our hands parted and she waved me towards the kitchen.

  ''Come through and I will make some tea before you start. The control panel is through there in the laundry room.'' She pointed the way as we entered the kitchen.

  ''No, that's ok I had a cup at my last job. I'm on a bit of a tight schedule so I would rather crack on,'' I said. I just wanted to get the job done and away before I had an attack of conscience and changed my mind. I was starting to like the doomed Mrs Nolan.

  I knew there were a couple of kids in the house, Nolan had told me when he explained the deal. He wanted his wife dead and it was important that it was made to look like suicide. Jackie Nolan gave birth to the twins nine months ago and she was over the moon. Tony Nolan feigned happiness too but he knew that it was impossible for him to be the father of the twins. Tony was a medically confirmed Jaffa, seedless. Nobody knew this but him. He had always pretended to want kids to keep the peace.

  During their three year marriage he had managed to dodge a bullet even when IVF was mentioned. Jackie was desperate to give him heirs to the Nolan empire. Nolan kept making excuses and blamed his wife for not being fertile. Nolan had only married her to gain access to the London elite, Jackie's father was an MP and a member of the cabinet. It paid to have Toff's on board. Nolan was apoplectic with rage when he found out his wife was pregnant and made it his business to find out who the father was. It didn't take him long to find out it was a family friend who Jackie's brother had been to Eton with. He introduced her to him and she liked him straight off. Seeing an answer to her conception problem she spent one night with the man and bingo, she was with child. Not fertile, I don't think so!

  The father of the twins was living on borrowed time but he would be dealt with at a later date. Tony Nolan wanted justice served on his wife now. Nobody fucked him over. Ever!

  It was time for me to reveal the real reason why I was at the Nolan's family home. This wasn't going to be pleasant.

  ''I haven't been honest with you Mrs Nolan,'' I began. ''Your husband didn't send me here to fix the security system, in fact he disabled it this morning so that there would be no evidence of what we are about to do. I hope you will cooperate fully, it will make our time together easier.''

  A worried, confused look appeared on the face of Jackie Nolan as she backed away from me. ''I don't understand what do you mean, who are you, what do you want?''

  There was nowhere for Jackie to run so I relaxed and quietly explained what was required of her.

  ''I have come here today with instructions from your husband, Tony. He wants you dead I'm afraid. Now all I have to do is persuade you to take your own life. It will be better that way for you and for your children's future wellbeing.''

  The look of confusion on Jackie's face as she tried to take in what I was saying was replaced by the realisation that I had mentioned her sleeping babies and their welfare. Her protective instinct kicked in and she made a sudden dash for the kitchen door in a vain attempt to reach the stairs. With one stride I caught her around the waist and pulled her back into the kitchen. I managed to force her down onto a seat at the kitchen table where she sat wringing her hands and crying hysterically.

  ''Don't hurt my babies! Please I beg you.'' She pleaded with me through tear stained, bloodshot eyes. Her mascara was running and she was sniffing back the tears. ''I don't believe you, why are you doing this to me, why does Tony want me dead?'' she sobbed.

  I gave her a brief resumé of my conversation with her husband and her face blanched at the realisation that he knew of her indiscretion. She knew her husband was a man who had a dark side and she wasn't stupid when it came to his business dealings. That was what had attracted her to him in the first place, a dangerous man was a powerful aphrodisiac. Now she needed to think and think fast.

  ''Please, you don't have to do this. There must be something I can offer you, I have money. Sex, we could go upstairs and you can do anything you like and then leave, I won't tell anyone. My father is a well connected MP, he would see you financially secure and get you protection.'' She was brighter now, in control and fighting for her life.

  ''Sorry Mrs Nolan but it's non-negotiable. I have known Tony a lot longer than you and to be honest he scares the shit out of me. Your father may be connected but he doesn't move in the same circles as your husband and I value my life more than yours. You should have thought about this outcome before you jumped into bed with a stranger, let alone compound the issue by offering yourself to me. Please don't cheapen yourself any further.'' I was not going to be diverted from my task, tempting as she was.

  Jackie started crying again, she put her head in her arms and sobbed, her body shaking with fear and defeat. It was pitiful to watch.

  ''Here is what's going to happen,'' I'd had enough, ''you are going to get a piece of writing paper and you are going to write a note asking for forgiveness, saying that you can't go on anymore and requesting that your twins should be cared for by someone bet
ter qualified than you as you cannot manage them. Basically you will be writing a suicide note to your husband Tony.''

  Tony had said that he made it well known that his wife had been struggling with post natal depression since the birth and that he was concerned about her. He had made sure that as few people as possible had seen her over the past few months. Putting her isolation down to the depression and heavy drinking.

  Jackie Nolan baulked at the suggestion that she would be weak enough to take her own life and that anyone would be crazy enough to believe it, ''You are fucking joking, I won't do it!'' she screamed at me.

  Suddenly Jackie's iphone started ringing. It had l been sitting on the side since we entered the kitchen. Looking at the screen I could see the name Tony flashing in time to the ringtone.

  ''Don't answer it!'' I shouted at Jackie. ''Tony said he would ring a couple of times to make it look like he is checking on you.''

  ''My God, you've got it all planned out between you. Haven't you! You pair of sick, sadistic bastards. How can you be so cruel?''

  There was a cry from somewhere above. The sound of her screaming had obviously woken one of the twins. Jackie, again, lunged for the door but I intercepted her and sat her back down, carefully. It wouldn't be ideal for her to have unexplained bruises so I had to tread carefully and handle her with care.

  ''Behave yourself!'' I was getting annoyed now. ''After you have written the note we are going upstairs where you will run a bath. You will remove your clothes and fold them neatly by the bath. You will get in the bath and then I will hand you a razor with which you will cut your wrists. Don't worry it will be quick and fairly painless.''

  Jackie's face was a picture of horror as I matter of factly explained her demise at her own hand. She gaped open mouthed at me as she struggled to comprehend the words I was saying.

  ''You can't make me do it,'' she said defiantly. ''No one will believe it, people who know me know I would never kill myself. You will be hunted down and brought to justice, it's insane.''

  Time to get heavy. ''If you do not cooperate I will have no option but to seriously hurt one of the twins, I will even let you decide which one if you like.'' The crying upstairs tore at the mothers heart. ''Whatever happens you are going to die today. Now the preferred method is suicide but if you insist I can make it look like a botched burglary where you are beaten to death. I have in my holdall a sawn off shotgun, I will use it on your kids and the only way the police will be able to tell which is which will be by the DNA they get from what they manage to scrape off the walls.''

  Jackie's body language suddenly changed from defiance to submissive. She was now a broken woman, she realised that she was not going to win me over. For the sake of her children's health she would do anything I asked.

  ''Promise me that if I do as you ask you will not harm my twins. Promise me!'' She was pleading with me for their safety at the expense of her own. You couldn't help but respect this woman.

  ''I swear it, they will not be harmed in any way. Tony has told me to tell you that they will be looked after by your family. He wants nothing to do with another man's bastards. He will say that the trauma of losing you is too much to handle and he couldn't cope with two young children and run his businesses.''

  Jackie Nolan stood up and shakily walked to a bureau where she retrieved a pen and some sheets of quality writing paper. Returning to the table she took the pen and wrote her suicide note as I dictated it. She sobbed quietly throughout, the tears staining the paper added a nice touch I thought. I had grabbed a bottle of Lithuanian Vodka and a cut glass tumbler from a sideboard and filled the glass full with the strong, clear liquid.

  ''Drink this Mrs Nolan, it will help.'' I said offering her the tumbler.

  Snatching the glass from my hand she drained it in one and slammed it down on the table. I refilled it and offered it again.

  Leaving the tear stained note on the kitchen table I followed Jackie upstairs to the large bathroom on the first floor. The room was large and decorated in the style of a roman bath house all marble tiles and gold fittings. It should have been tacky but it wasn't, it had a certain classic charm. She crossed to the bath and turned on the dolphin shaped taps.

  ''Can you at least give me the chance to say goodbye to my babies please?'' she asked me in a submissive, monotone voice.

  I was not a heartless monster, this was business, I would not refuse her a last goodbye under the circumstances. I said she could but she should be quick.

  Jackie Nolan quietened the twins with a kiss and a hug. She whispered to each of them, telling them how much she loved them and told them that one day they would know the truth about her. She made sure they were both back to sleep before returning to the bathroom.

  The bath was half full of warm water. Jackie silently disrobed and as requested folded her clothing and left them piled on the toilet seat. Without even trying to hide her nakedness from me the dazed, broken and slightly intoxicated woman stepped into the bath and sat down. I took a razor from the bathroom shelf and removed the blade. Carefully I handed it to Jackie, she took it without looking at me. After a brief moment of hesitation she dragged the blade across her left wrist. The pressure was not applied enough to cut the skin, it only left a mark. Her hand was shaking as she sliced again, this time deeper. Crimson blood sprayed out across the surface of the water turning it pink. Jackie gasped at the pain and the sight of the blood. I encouraged her to cut the other wrist before she dropped the razor blade into the water.

  I sat there for a long while watching as the life slowly ebbed from Jackie Nolan. I had to admire her, she was a strong woman, a lioness who would do anything to protect her cubs, even give her life. It took a while before she slumped down. Pale in death and those magnificent ice blue eyes now dull and lifeless, her precious blood mixing with the rapidly cooling water in the bath.

  Satisfied that she had finally passed away I checked the bathroom for any evidence of my presence and went downstairs. Making sure I had left no trace of me ever being in the house I headed for the front door, collecting the holdall on the way. As I walked down the hall the kitten rubbed itself against my legs.

  Once outside I climbed into my car and headed off down the long gravel drive. The Siamese cat was curled up on the back seat fast asleep.

  ONE LIFE DOWN

  2

  I named the cat Jackie. The name was out of respect for its previous owner and also because the cat had the same ice blue eyes as her. To begin with the eyes freaked me out, I could not get the image of Jackie Nolan out of my head. Although the whole episode had been easier than I thought it would be, I did have a touch of remorse for taking the life of someone whose only crime was to want children. Perhaps those feelings would fade in time. The ironic thing about the incident was if Jackie had called my bluff and carried on resisting my attempts to have her kill herself she would still be alive now. I would never have hurt the twins, I am not a person who would harm a child. A killer I might be but I am not completely without scruples.

  The newspapers were all over the story about the tragic suicide of the daughter of a prominent MP, the tabloids were telling a slightly different version by focusing on the brother. Toby Hartley-James was not buying his sisters suicide, he was very vocal about it to anyone who would listen. The tabloids however were more interested in telling the country about Toby's debauched lifestyle of sex parties and drug fuelled weekends. He was the black sheep of the family and a stain on his families good name. It was a better story than his attempted defence of his sisters reputation. The Hartley-James family had tried to curb Toby's behaviour, they had cut off his allowance, placed him in the best rehab centres money could buy but to no avail, he was set on self destruction. Just another privileged rich kid with too much too soon and no responsibility, all he had to do was sit back and wait for his inheritance whilst sticking two fingers up to the world. Most of his antics had escaped the radar of the gutter press but this tragedy gave them a golden introduction to Toby Hart
ley-James and his lifestyle. Tabloid editors were falling over themselves to sign him up to tell his story.

  The upside was the fact that Tony Nolan was over the moon with the result, he was so grateful that he gave me ten grand as a bonus on top of wiping my slate. Happy days! The moment I got back I had rung him and said job done so he could put the wheels in motion at his end.

  Tony had rung Jackie's mobile several times to make it appear he was worried about her. Obviously with no answer he contacted Jackie's mother Anne and asked her if she would be so kind and check up on her daughter. Anne Hartley-James had never liked Tony Nolan but out of concern for her daughter and the fact that he sounded distressed she said she would go there right away. All hell had broken loose when she found her daughter dead in the bath, the police were called and the Right Honourable Gerald Hartley-James turned up with his personal protection team. Tony Nolan was the last person to be called and the last to arrive.

  The house was crawling with people by the time Tony arrived, he had made sure that he was well prepared before he got there and gave a very convincing performance of a grieving, distressed and loving husband. Everyone felt sorry for him despite the fact none of them liked him. The police had questions for him as well as the family members. Tony explained his fears and worries about his wife's recent behaviour and mood swings. The birth of the twins had taken its toll on her and he had expressed his concerns on many occasions. The body was eventually removed and the twins were taken away by Anne and Gerald at the insistence of Tony who said he could not cope with looking after them at this time, in fact he said he could not even stay in the house as he was so distressed and would be staying in a hotel for the time being until he came to terms with Jackie's death. The police officer in charge assured him that there didn't appear to be any evidence of foul play and in his opinion it was nothing more than a tragic suicide. Tony Nolan had to stop himself breaking into a grin. There was to be an inquest into the death of Jackie Nolan, but that would be have to be arranged for sometime in the future.