***
Will returned from the bathroom, his eyes red and puffy.
‘Sorry,’ he said, taking a seat next to Emma. ‘It’s just a shock,’ he said, pressing into the top of his nose. ‘I thought he was going to be all right.’
‘Will, why were you at Stuart’s flat?’ Emma asked.
‘I wanted to warn him not to hurt you again,’ he said. ‘I was going to tell him to stay away from you.’
‘Okay,’ she said, waiting for more explanation.
‘I wasn’t going to hurt him,’ he pleaded. ‘Just warn him.’
‘What I don’t understand is, how did you know Stuart was back in contact with me?’
‘Dad called me,’ he said.
‘Right,’ Emma said, thinking about that. It made sense. The way her dad had flown off the handle when he found out she’d met Stuart again. He must have called Will shortly after that conversation.
‘I did it because I love you, Em,’ he said, ‘I didn’t want to see you hurt again.’
‘What time did you arrive back in London?’ Emma said.
‘Pardon?’ Will said.
‘When did your flight land?’
‘Later in the afternoon,’ he said.
‘You went straight to Stuart’s from the airport,’ she said.
‘No…yes,’ he said. ‘I wanted to get it over with. The sooner we spoke to Stuart, the sooner we could forget about it.’
‘We?’
Will reddened.
‘How did you get from the airport to Stuart’s?’
‘Taxi,’ Will said.
‘You’re lying,’ Emma responded. ‘I know you, Will. I can tell. Please, don’t lie to me now. You went to Stuart’s flat with Dad.’
Will nodded.
‘But the police didn’t say anything about dad being there,’ Emma pressed. ‘They just mentioned you.’
‘He left me,’ Will said. ‘He did what he’s always done – he could have stayed, but he chose to leave, because the only person who he cares about is himself.’
‘Unfortunately, I can believe that,’ Emma said.
Will lowered his head and gripped his hair.
‘This is all such a mess,’ he said, starting to sob. ‘I’m sorry, Em.’
***
Richard could hear voices. First they were distant, spiralling around in the darkness like spectres. Then the volume increased, the clarity sharpened, and he could make out two voices – his own, and Dan’s.
You ready for tonight?
Ready as I’ll ever be.
It’s your last night of freedom – better make the most of it, Danny Boy.
The images came next – a strobe-effect sequence of flashes. He was in Dan’s apartment – kitchen, lounge, bathroom, lounge, kitchen, bathroom.
Then a doorbell rang.
Can I help you?
A figure loomed up in front of him.
Richard’s eyes snapped open, his breathing heavy, his sheets wet with sweat. Standing on the outside of the hospital room, looking in with his face pressed up against the glass, was a man. The man’s eyes burned into him, and the sight chilled him to the bone. He blinked and the figure was gone. At first he thought the guy had been really standing there, but it must have been just a hangover from the dream. Things were still hazy; reality blurring with imagination.
But one thing was clear; that was the man.
He was starting to remember.
55
‘Am I glad to see you,’ Richard said, as Emma walked into the hospital room.
‘Nice to hear it,’ Emma smiled, sitting down in the chair next to the bed. She looked at Richard. He looked better than last night, which wasn’t difficult, but he still appeared drugged-up and groggy.
‘Have the police been in touch,’ Richard asked, closing his eyes briefly as if he had just suffered a blast of pain.
‘No,’ Emma said, ‘no news, I’m afraid.’
‘Right,’ Richard grimaced.
‘Are you okay?’ Emma said, rising from the chair. ‘I can get a nurse.’
‘It’s fine,’ he said. ‘The doc said I would get some twinges from time to time. My body’s way of telling me that it’s still functioning.’
‘I guess that’s good news then,’ Emma said.
‘We could do with some good news,’ Richard noted sadly. ‘Em, I don’t know how you’ve coped with these last couple of weeks.’
‘I had no choice,’ Emma replied.
Richard broke out into a series of gasping coughs.
‘Are you sure you’re alright?’ Emma said, the panic rising. She couldn’t face losing someone else close to her.
Richard nodded.
‘I’m starting to remember,’ he announced, in between the trailing coughs. ‘About that night.’
‘Really?’ Emma said, trying desperately not to get her hopes up.
‘It’s all pretty vague,’ he said. ‘But there was another person in your flat.’
‘Stuart?’ Emma said.
Richard looked vague.
‘Sorry,’ she said, realising her error, ‘you don’t even know who Stuart is. He’s an ex-boyfriend of mine, who the police think might have taken Dan and attacked you.’
‘The police told me about him,’ he said.
‘What else can you remember about that night?’ Emma broached.
‘I keep dreaming about it,’ Richard said. ‘It’s like a nightmare. There are shapes and voices – I’m pretty sure there was a fight. But I don’t know what it was about.’
‘It’s okay,’ Emma soothed, noting Richard’s anguished expression. ‘You’ll probably remember more things, given time.’
‘But we haven’t got time,’ Richard said.
Emma couldn’t argue with that.
‘This morning,’ Richard said, ‘when I woke up, I saw the man. He was staring at me through the window. I blinked and he was gone.’
‘It was part of your dream?’
‘I think so,’ Richard said. ‘I think it was just my imagination. But it seemed real.’
‘Maybe it was one of the hospital staff?’
‘No,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘It was him – I was really scared, Em.’
‘What did he look like?’ Emma asked.
‘Quite old, middle-aged maybe,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to say. Dark hair, I think. I don’t know, Em. I’m sorry.’
‘It’s okay,’ she said, wondering whether Richard was actually capable of remembering anything accurately - if the person in the flat had been middle-aged, then it would rule out Stuart.
‘Do you think Dan is still alive?’ he asked, tears welling up in his eyes. ‘I don’t know what I’d do if anything bad has happened to him. He’s not just my brother; he’s my best friend. I really love him, Em. I was looking forward to being his best man.’
‘I know,’ Emma said, bending forward and embracing him, whilst trying to hold back the tears. ‘We’ve just got to pray that he is okay.’
***
Edward waited until Miranda had left the house. He watched her from the window, before heading for the study. And even though there was no one else in the house he closed the door behind him before taking the gun out of the desk drawer. He just stared at it as it lay there in the palm of his hand.
When the phone rang he nearly dropped it in his panic.
He placed the gun back in the drawer and reached for the phone. His hands were shaking.
‘Hi, Dad,’ Will said, his voice solemn. ‘Have you heard the news?’
‘No,’ Edward said, closing the drawer, ‘I haven’t heard anything.’
‘Stuart’s dead,’ Will announced.
Edward had to stop himself from saying “good”. He satisfied himself with a smile.
‘Maybe it’s for the best,’ he said.
‘They still haven’t found Dan,’ Will said, ignoring the remark. ‘They don’t even know if he is alive.’
‘Right,’ Edward said. ‘Let’s hope things turn out okay.�
��
‘Things aren’t okay,’ Will said.
The line went dead.
Edward held on to the receiver. Maybe it was better if Dan was dead. He was a witness after all. And who knows what Stuart might have told him. Sure, it would be hard for Emma at first, but he would help her get over it. This time he wouldn’t desert her, or Will.
He had a second chance to be a good, loving father.
***
Lizzy was halfway through the matinee performance when she noticed the man in the audience. He was sat in an end seat, towards the middle of the stalls. It was really difficult to get a clear view of him – the audience was mostly in darkness and she had to concentrate on performing – but from the stolen glances he looked familiar. She just couldn’t place where she had seen him before.
The freaky thing was that whenever she did look over, he seemed to be focussing solely on her. It made her feel uncomfortable, and when she saw the man rise from the seat and head down the aisle she hoped he wouldn’t come back.
He didn’t return, but Lizzy was still unnerved as she returned to the dressing room after the performance. She was also annoyed that she couldn’t remember who the man had reminded her of.
Lizzy spent most of the hurried journey back to the flat looking over her shoulder, trying to pick out the man in the crowds. But she didn’t see him. She was nearing the flat when she suddenly remembered who the man had resembled.
It couldn’t be, could it?
She picked up the pace - there was something she needed to check out. Then she would call Emma with the news.
56
Edward had just knocked back his second whiskey when the doorbell rang. At first he let it go, but remembering Miranda was out he made his way to answer it.
‘Hi, you must be Edward,’ the man at the door said, holding out his hand and smiling. ‘Is Miranda there?’ he asked, bringing his hand down when Edward’s hands remained clasped around the doorframe.
‘She’s out,’ Edward replied, trying to think who this guy could be. He didn’t look familiar.
‘It’s just that we arranged to meet,’ he said.
‘Who are you?’ Edward said. He checked himself. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude. You’re a friend of Miranda?’
‘Uncle,’ he smiled. ‘She forgot to tell you I was coming?’
‘She hasn’t mentioned anything,’ he replied.
‘Same old Miranda,’ he said, ‘never was the best at remembering things. I imagine the pregnancy is playing havoc with her memory too.’
‘It is,’ Edward said, relaxing a little. ‘So you’re her…’
‘Dad’s brother,’ he finished.
‘Right,’ Edward said.
Miranda had never spoken much of her family. It wasn’t surprising, seeing as though her parents had as good as disowned her for moving in with him.
‘I’ll give Miranda a call sometime,’ he said, backing away from the door. ‘Let her know that I was here, will you?’
‘Hang on,’ Edward said. ‘She’ll be back in a minute – she’s only gone to the shops. You can wait in here if you like.’
***
‘It’s good to finally meet you,’ the man said, stretching back on the sofa. ‘Miranda has told me a lot about you.’
‘She has?’ Edward said, sitting in the opposite chair.
‘You seem surprised,’ the man noted.
‘I am,’ Edward admitted. ‘I didn’t realise she spoke to her family about me.’
‘Oh, I know more about you than you’d imagine,’ the man said, who was now glancing around the room in a way that set Edward’s suspicions on alert.
‘You sure you don’t want a drink?’ Edward asked. ‘I can do alcohol – beer, wine, spirits?’
‘Better not,’ the man replied, still looking around the room. ‘I’m driving.’
‘Miranda should be back any minute,’ Edward said, looking at his watch. Or at least he hoped she would be back soon – he didn’t think he could take much more of being in this guy’s company.
‘Sorry to hear about your recent troubles,’ the man said, his attention suddenly switching back to Edward.
‘Troubles?’
‘It must be very hard for Emma,’ he said.
‘What are you talking about?’ Edward replied, feeling more uncomfortable by the second.
‘Emma,’ he said, ‘it must be difficult dealing with all those troubles – her fiancé disappearing like that, just before they were due to get married.’
‘Miranda told you about that, did she?’
‘And now her ex-boyfriend has committed suicide hasn’t he – Stuart,’ he said, evading the question. ‘Must be really hard for her to deal with.’
‘How do you know about Stuart?’ he asked.
‘Haven’t you seen today’s newspapers?’ he said incredulously. ‘The story is in a few of them.’
‘Emma will be okay,’ Edward said, wondering what exactly the newspapers had said and whether Emma had seen them herself. ‘We’ll look after her.’
‘It’s lucky she’s got her family around her for support,’ the man smiled.
‘What is it?’ Edward asked, his anger and volume growing, ‘I fail to see what’s so funny about all this. My daughter has been to hell and back these past few weeks, and those scumbags in the media treat it like some form of cheap entertainment.’
‘I know,’ the man said. ‘I’m sorry; I wasn’t smiling at what Emma has been through. I was smiling at what you are going through, Edward.’
‘What? I don’t understand,’ Edward said, facing the man out.
‘You will,’ he replied.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Edward said. ‘Who the hell are you?’
‘How’s Will?’ the man asked. ‘I hear that he’s not been very well recently.’
‘Who are you?’ Edward repeated.
‘Think about it,’ the man replied, tapping a finger to the side of his head. ‘Think carefully, Edward.’
Edward stood up. ‘You’d better go.’
‘I thought you might want to hear the rest of what I’ve got to say,’ the man replied.
‘I don’t want to hear anything,’ Edward responded. ‘Get out,’ he shouted, pointing towards the door.
‘Do you know how I felt when I heard that Stuart Harris was dead?’ the man asked, getting up from the chair.
‘Go,’ he demanded.
‘I felt as though all this had been worth it,’ he continued, moving close to Edward’s face until there was barely air between them. ‘It felt good, really good. I couldn’t believe my luck when I broke into the flat and found him dying on the floor. I was tempted to finish him off myself, just to make sure, but I wasn’t there for that - I had a present to leave him on his computer. A photo gift. It’s amazing how much you can learn from a photo, Edward. I learnt so much from what I found last month. They’d been waiting for me to find them, for all these years. It set me on the road to the truth.’
He smiled and Edward flinched.
‘You know, it seemed fitting that Stuart Harris ended his own pitiful life. That’s what you’ve turned me into, Edward, - someone who delights in another person’s death.’
‘I don’t know who you are,’ Edward said, ‘please leave me and my family alone.’
‘Soon,’ the man said, heading for the exit.
Edward followed him to the door, longing to strike down hard on the back of his neck. But he simply opened the door and watched the man step out onto the driveway, where he then paused.
‘Do you know what it’s like to really hurt?’ the man said, turning around and walking back towards Edward. ‘To hurt so much that it takes all your energy just to get out of bed in the morning.’
‘Leave,’ Edward said.
‘This is your fault.’
‘I don’t even know you,’ Edward insisted. ‘I think you need to get help.’
The man laughed to himself, as if remembering a private joke. ‘Soon you’
ll know what it’s like to really hurt, to lose the one you love.’
Edward was chilled by the threat. ‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’
But the man didn’t reply; he just turned and walked away.
PART THREE
57
Emma stayed for another hour, watching Richard sleep. The answers to what had happened that night were locked up there in his head, but would he ever be able to retrieve them? She had just left the hospital when her mobile rang.
‘Emma, it’s Guy Roberts here.’
‘Hi,’ Emma said, caught by surprise. All the business with the film now seemed a world away, dropping right off the list of her priorities.
‘Can we meet up?’ he asked. ‘I need to speak with you.’
‘It’s not really a good time,’ Emma said, ‘there’s a lot going on. I can’t really deal with anything at the moment.’
‘I heard about Stuart,’ he said. ‘It’s terrible news.’
‘Yes,’ Emma said, ‘I’m sorry; I should have remembered that you were friends.’
‘It’s fine,’ he said. ‘Well, you know what I mean.’
‘I think so,’ she replied.
‘I’d really like to talk,’ he said. ‘It’s about what has happened. There’s something that you need to know.’
***
‘Thanks for coming over,’ Guy said, as he ushered Emma inside. ‘Come in, take a seat.’
Emma followed him through into the lounge and sat down.
‘Drink?’ he asked.
‘I’m okay,’ Emma said.
‘How are you doing?’ Guy asked, sitting down opposite. ‘I know it’s a terrible time for you.’
‘I’m dealing with it,’ Emma said.
‘Still no news on your fiancé?’
‘No,’ Emma replied. ‘The police are looking, but I haven’t heard anything yet.’
The One You Love (suspense mystery) Page 23