Lies Love Tells (Eastcove Lies Book 1)

by Gina Dickerson

  12:45

  The pale, wintery sun offered no warmth as we stood on the pavement. The onlookers watched silently, their shocked faces staring at us from behind a line of police officers.

  Janet’s voice cut through the crowd. ‘I only went for milk!’ she wailed.

  An elderly woman I’d never seen before patted her arm. ‘I’m sure they’ll let you back in soon.’

  ‘At least they’ve got the murdering bastard!’ shouted a man.

  ‘Yeah!’ chipped in another. ‘Lock the sicko up and throw away the key!’

  ‘Bring back hanging!’ piped up a female voice.

  ‘Hanging’s too good for him!’ contributed another.

  The police van carrying Mr Him screeched off. Several bystanders chased after it.

  ‘Murderer!’ they shouted.

  ‘Psycho!’

  ‘Bastard!’

  ‘Kill him!’

  I folded my arms across my chest, trembling with emotion. ‘May I come too?’ I asked the paramedics as Mr Cool’s stretcher was eased into an ambulance.

  The paramedic looked from me to Darrelle. ‘We can take one of you. Anyone else will have to follow on.’

  ‘You go,’ I said to Darrelle. ‘You’ve known him longer than I have.’

  Darrelle smiled tearfully and squeezed my hand. ‘Will you bring her to the hospital?’ She turned her watery gaze to Mr Dry.

  ‘If that’s what Saze wants.’

  ‘Of course,’ I said hurriedly. ‘I’ll be there as soon as I can.’ I watched the ambulance move off, siren howling.

  ‘I suppose you want to make sure the tossing headteacher twat survives?’ Mr Dry asked gruffly, while he fiddled with his mobile phone.

  ‘I’ll collect my daughter and go straight to the hospital. Can you drive us or should I call for a taxi?’

  ‘What’s the hurry?’ Mr Dry flicked his eyes from his phone screen to me, then back again.

  I sighed in exasperation and stomped back towards Janet’s house. ‘Don’t you even care?’

  ‘About that jumped up idiot?’ Mr Dry chuckled dryly, following me but still concentrating on his mobile phone. ‘Should I?’

  I turned on him in fury. ‘He could’ve died!’

  ‘But he didn’t.’

  ‘Do you care about anyone other than yourself? All you’re interested in is your phone. I bet you’re texting some other woman. I don’t know what’s wrong with you. You act all superior and snooty then abandon me. Next you buy me a phone and give my daughter a gift before going back to ignoring me!’

  ‘Have you quite finished?’ Mr Dry asked.

  ‘No! You even followed me on a date like some kind of weird stalker!’

  Mr Dry raised a heavy eyebrow. ‘Go on, say it, you hate me.’

  ‘Don’t put words in my mouth!’ I screamed. ‘You frustrate me beyond belief. I miss you when you’re not here, and although you have the propensity to treat me like crap, I can’t help falling in love.’

  ‘You love me?’ Mr Dry smiled his lopsided smile.

  I pulled at my hair. ‘No, I don’t. I didn’t say that.’

  Mr Dry laughed. ‘Yes you did.’

  ‘Did not.’

  ‘Did too.’

  ‘Did not.’

  ‘Did.’

  ‘Will the pair of you just snog and get it over with?’ shouted a voice from the crowd. Cheers of agreement went up from the bystanders.

  Ignoring them, I turned in embarrassment to the officer standing outside Janet’s door. ‘Can I get my things?’

  ‘We can’t have you in here. We’ll let you know when we’ve finished.’

  ‘Are you telling me I’m not even allowed my own handbag?’

  ‘There’s been a serious incident inside this property,’ the officer said in a tone which bade no arguments. ‘I can fetch your handbag.’

  I described it to him. ‘And my coat!’ I screeched. ‘It’s on the sofa.’

  ‘We’re leaving. I apologise.’ Mr Dry grabbed my handbag from the officer upon his return.

  ‘But…’ I stammered. ‘I need my coat.’

  Mr Dry tossed my bag at me. ‘I’ll buy you anything you need. Now let’s collect your daughter.’

  13:00

  A male police officer stood near the swings while Daughter and Sam played. Mrs Downs looked small beside him. She saw me approaching and wrapped Daughter’s coat around her shoulders. ‘Keep this on, dear,’ she said to her. ‘It’s far too nippy.’

  ‘Thank you.’ I smiled gratefully. ‘I appreciate your help.’ The older woman waved away my gratitude.

  ‘Sam can come with me to my sister’s now Janet’s house is off limits. The officer kindly explained some details.’ Mrs Downs beckoned to Sam. ‘Come along, we’ll ask Janet to drive us into town.’

  Sam tugged at my arm. ‘Where’s my dad?’

  ‘Yeah,’ interrupted Daughter. ‘Why aren’t we allowed inside? I’m bored.’

  ‘Where’s my dad?’ Sam repeated. ‘I want my dad!’

  I knelt down on the damp grass and reached for Sam’s hands. ‘He’s gone to the hospital for a check-up,’ I told her gently. ‘He’s okay but he has a tiny cut on his cheek.’

  ‘What?’ Sam screamed. ‘What happened to him?’

  Mrs Downs made soothing gestures.

  I noticed Daughter’s face paling.

  ‘Was it Dad?’ she asked shakily.

  ‘No!’ Sam’s cries began to border on hysteria. Her eyes blazed as she turned to Daughter. ‘Your dad tried to kill my dad!’

  ‘Your father is fine, Sam,’ Mr Dry interrupted.

  Sam shook her head. ‘He’s not.’ Her eyes burnt sparks at Daughter. ‘Your dad’s a murderer! He’s crazy, my dad said so! My dad said your dad should be put down!’

  ‘Shut up!’ shouted Daughter. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about!’

  Sam burst into tears. ‘My dad could die because of your dad.’

  ‘He’s not about to die.’ Exasperation overtook me.

  ‘You don’t know that!’ Sam howled.

  ‘Yes I do!’ I finally lost my temper. Emotion I had been suppressing, boiled over. ‘He probably won’t even need stitches. Whack a plaster on it and he’ll be as good as new.’

  Sam looked at me with her mother’s eyes. ‘It’s your fault anyway. My mum told me.’

  A sigh rose from my feet; I’d conveniently forgotten Sam was minus a mother and didn’t even know it. ‘Everyone’s emotional,’ I apologised. ‘Do you have your mobile phone so your dad can reach you? Would you like to come with us or stay with Mrs Downs?’

  Sam shrugged obstreperously.

  ‘I’ll take her for an ice-cream treat.’ Mrs Downs held out her hand to Sam. ‘Do you fancy a double scoop with a flake?’

  Daughter scuffed her feet anxiously. ‘Can I go?’

  ‘I don’t want you to come,’ Sam hissed. ‘You’re not my friend.’

  Daughter recoiled from Sam’s glare and slipped her hand into mine.

  ‘We’ll have no more of that kind of talk.’ Mrs Downs efficiently turned Sam away. ‘The pair of you are the best of friends.’

  Sam’s voice floated back and hit Daughter in the face. ‘I don’t want her as my best friend. I hate her.’

  We watched them walk away, Sam casting hateful glances over her shoulder to Daughter while the police officer informed me there was no longer any need for me to be watched over considering Andrew had been apprehended.

  ***

  Love Casualty.

  14:30

  ‘This isn’t the hospital,’ I stated blatantly as Mr Dry stopped his car on his driveway.

  ‘Can we discuss this inside?’

  Silently I opened the rear door and Daughter dragged herself out. ‘I’m gonna be well bored,’ she grumbled. ‘I haven’t even got my phone.’

  Mr Dry locked the car, rested his elbows on the roof and smiled. ‘I think you may find something you’ll like upstairs.’

  The front door open
ed before Mr Dry reached it and a slight woman with cropped, white-blonde hair, and dressed in skin-tight jeans, peered out. ‘You’re back!’ She tiptoed to kiss Mr Dry.

  I shifted uncomfortably on the doorstep. Daughter, oblivious to my hesitance, skulked straight in.

  ‘Hi!’ The petite woman grinned with perfect teeth. ‘Come in, I’m in the middle of icing buns. Come through to the kitchen.’

  Mr Dry dropped his arm across the shoulders of the blonde pixie and I reluctantly followed them into an annoyingly aromatic kitchen. He selected an iced bun and popped it into his mouth.

  The elfin-woman swiped him prettily across the head. ‘He always does this,’ she told me. ‘He says he doesn’t like sweet stuff but he does really!’ Her green eyes twinkled. ‘I’m sorry, where are my manners?’ She held out her hand. ‘I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Sally.’

  Relief flooded over me, so she wasn’t Mr Dry’s lover. ‘Sally from the phone.’ I shook her small, soft hand. ‘Saze.’

  ‘I would’ve recognised you anywhere. My brother described you exceptionally well.’

  ‘Hmmm,’ I said thoughtfully. ‘I bet that’s not all he’s said.’

  Mr Dry, head bent over the tray where the iced buns were half-way to completion, coughed slightly. ‘Sis, would you mind keeping an eye on Saze’s offspring while we run to the hospital to check up on a friend?’

  Sally shook her head, her hair wiggling with enthusiasm. ‘Of course not. Tom’s upstairs playing on the computer so they can entertain themselves. He’s twelve,’ she told me.

  ‘Mum!’ Daughter cannon-balled into the room. ‘There’s a massive telly and a computer upstairs! Tom’s gonna show me some games on the internet! Can I have a drink?’

  ‘Please,’ I added, embarrassed by her lack of manners. ‘Do you mind staying here while I pop out? I shan’t be long.’

  Daughter shook her head.

  ‘There’s cola in the fridge.’ Sally opened the door to show Daughter. ‘Do you like iced buns?’

  Daughter picked one from the tray and Sally pushed a plate towards her. ‘Have as many as you like,’ she told her.

  ‘But be sensible,’ I said hastily. ‘And don’t guzzle that cola too fast or you’ll make yourself sick.’

  ‘Muuum, I’m not a baby.’ Daughter scooped another couple of buns onto her plate, grabbed a bottle of cola, and disappeared back upstairs.

  Sally dusted her hands off on her jeans. ‘I think I’ll join them.’

  Mr Dry groaned. ‘I wouldn’t, you know what a sore loser you are.’

  Sally poked her head back into the kitchen momentarily. ‘Nope, darling brother, that’s you!’

  Mr Dry hooked his fingers through the belt loops on my jeans and pulled me to him. ‘I am quite a sore loser, especially where you’re concerned. Are you in love with the headteacher tosser?’ He stared intently into my eyes.

  ‘I thought we were going to the hospital?’

  ‘Are you?’ His dark eyes bore into mine. ‘Is he your boyfriend?’ His lips curled at the word.

  ‘I wouldn’t exactly call him that.’

  ‘Your lover, then, if you prefer.’

  I hesitated. Standing with Mr Dry in his kitchen with Daughter upstairs making a new friend, I was happy. Secure in the knowledge Mr Him was safely in the hands of the police.

  ‘You’re sleeping with him,’ Mr Dry continued. ‘Correct me if I’m wrong.’

  I stared at his fingers hooked over the belt loops.

  ‘Would you stop if I asked you to?’

  ‘I’m not sleeping with him but I can’t just ignore him, he’s been stabbed!’

  ‘You didn’t answer my question,’ Mr Dry pointed out.

  ‘Did I mention he’s been stabbed? No, wait a minute, you were there so you know.’

  ‘Tell him it’s over.’

  ‘Yes,’ I replied sarcastically. ‘I’ll just pop in and say, “Hey, sorry but I don’t think we should see each other again. Thanks being so kind and all, oh, and by the way terribly sorry about the stabbing.” Don’t be ridiculous.’

  Mr Dry removed his fingers from my belt loops and I swayed backwards.

  ‘Right,’ he said roughly, an unreadable look on his face. ‘I’ll drive you to the sodding hospital if you are intent on having to go.’

  ‘Don’t be long.’ Mr Dry reached across me and pushed the passenger door open. ‘I don’t want a bloody ticket and we’ve shopping to do.’

  ‘You don’t have to wait.’

  Mr Dry’s eyes struck me dumb. ‘Ten minutes,’ he instructed.

  I opened my mouth to respond.

  ‘You’ll have to collect your child.’ He tapped his watch. ‘Tick Tock.’

  16:10

  Phoned beeped reminding me, and telling the whole hospital, I hadn’t switched it off. Mr Dry, The Bastard, must’ve changed the tone for text messages.

  “Time’s up.”

  “If I get a ticket, that tosser’s paying for it.”

  ‘I was wondering where you were.’ Mr Cool smiled up from the hospital bed he occupied on the private ward. ‘I thought you’d forgotten me.’

  I leant down and kissed him; he smelt different. ‘Where’s Darrelle?’ I surveyed the other three, empty beds in the room.

  ‘She’s popped out to buy coffee. The hospital stuff is hideous.’ He pointed at the plastic cup, three-quarters full, on the bedside cabinet.

  ‘Does it hurt very much?’ I perched on the edge of his bed.

  ‘It did, until they gave me pain killers.’ Mr Cool reached for my hand. ‘It was only a few stitches; missed all the vital organs and isn’t very deep. I’ll take the next week off work to see how I feel. I may have to stay overnight in here.’

  ‘Sorry,’ I whispered. ‘It’s all my fault.’

  ‘Andrew’s the only one to blame. You weren’t holding the knife.’

  ‘But you wouldn’t have even been there if it wasn’t for me,’ I cried. ‘You could’ve died!’

  Mr Cool winced as he leant forwards. ‘I love you. Kiss me again. It feels better when you kiss me. In fact, the pain disappears. It’s just a flesh wound, Andrew didn’t exactly plunge the knife in. I don’t know what happened. The police assume Andrew waved the knife around before they restrained him. I’m thankful it wasn’t lower, I’d have missed weeks of potential action!’

  I laughed and kissed him, momentarily forgetting about Mr Dry waiting in his car. Mr Cool, although injured, was still a fantastic kisser.

  ‘How about slipping under this blanket and making me feel even better?’ Mr Cool murmured against my lips. ‘I’m pretty randy right now.’

  I giggled. ‘We’re in a hospital.’

  ‘Sex talk again? Stop pestering the woman, it’ll happen when it happens.’ Darrelle appeared at the foot of the bed, a tray in her hands. ‘I bought coffee and cakes.’

  ‘I must go.’ I stood up awkwardly. ‘My daughter needs me.’

  Mr Cool adopted a woeful expression. ‘I was rather hoping you’d stay.’

  ‘Really, I can’t.’ I shook my head. ‘We’re going shopping as we weren’t able to take anything from home. Then I need to talk to her about what happened today.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Darrelle purposefully. ‘You need to speak to her about her father, we understand. Go, I’ll stay. We just have to wait for the all clear from the doctor. It shouldn’t be more than a few hours if he is able to leave. You can take my key, the house is all alone and you’re more than welcome to stay there.’

  ‘No, no,’ I replied rapidly. ‘I’ll be fine, honestly. I’ll be over tomorrow morning as soon as I can,’ I promised. I kissed Mr Cool goodbye and hugged Darrelle. ‘Would you like me to bring anything?’

  Mr Cool shook his head. ‘Not unless you want to stop by that little shop on the seafront. “Night Delight” I think it’s called. It sells underwear and you know… uniforms.’ He grinned.

  I cast him a stern look. ‘I am not dressing up as a naughty nurse for you.’

 
16:30

  ‘Get in the flaming car!’ Mr Dry ordered as soon as I neared him.

  I flung myself into the passenger seat. ‘You could’ve easily bought a parking ticket then you wouldn’t have had to stress out.’

  Mr Dry forced the car into life. ‘I wasn’t concerned about the ticket.’ He thumped the steering wheel. ‘I wasn’t sure if you were coming back out. I’m still waiting for an answer.’

  ‘To what?’

  ‘Do you love him?’ Mr Dry turned the car onto the coast road leading towards his house.

  ‘I don’t know,’ I replied honestly.

  ‘Do you love me?’

  ‘I don’t know. I have too much to think about. Can’t I just enjoy getting to know you both first before I have to decide?’

  ‘You’re the most infuriatingly selfish woman I have ever met!’ Mr Dry slammed on the brakes and drew to an abrupt stop on the sea front. Behind us, an angry motorist leant on his horn, flicking us the finger as he swerved past. ‘Yeah, yeah,’ Mr Dry yelled out of the window. ‘Fuck off, tosser!’

  ‘Me?’ I snapped. ‘Pot, kettle.’

  ‘You know how I feel about you.’ He slowed the car.

  ‘It seemed like you didn’t give a shit before when you were in and out of my bed but now I have the chance of being happy with someone who is nice, and normal, you decide to mess it all up.’ I shoved the car door open, grabbed my handbag and jumped out while the car was still moving. ‘Go to hell!’

  ‘Are you buying that for me?’ A voice said over my shoulder as I rifled angrily through the rail of items. I selected a pink hanger and stalked over to the counter.

  ‘Forty-four ninety-nine, please. Cash or card?’ the bemused cashier asked.

  ‘Cash.’ I rifled in my handbag. ‘No, make it card. I’m out of cash.’

  ‘Here.’ Mr Dry handed across some notes. ‘It’ll be my pleasure.’

  The cashier handed me a paper bag containing my purchase. I scrunched it up and shoved it into my handbag.