‘It’s terrible,’ Guy said.
‘You said you wanted to tell me something,’ Emma said. ‘Is it about Stuart?’
Guy nodded, appearing to steel himself for the conversation to come.
‘The police think Stuart had something to do with your fiancé disappearing, don’t they?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ Emma said.
‘He didn’t,’ Guy replied. ‘I’m sure he didn’t have anything to do with it.’
‘What makes you so sure?’ Emma said.
Guy looked down towards his right, in thought.
‘Because I asked him,’ he replied, ‘and he swore to me that he had nothing to do with it.’
‘You asked him whether he had kidnapped Dan?’ Emma said, shocked at the revelation. ‘What made you even ask him? When did you ask him?’
‘I asked him a few weeks ago,’ Guy admitted. ‘I just wanted to be sure – to hear him say that he didn’t have anything to do with it.’
‘A few weeks ago?’ Emma said. ‘That would be about the time Dan disappeared.’
Guy nodded.
‘I don’t understand,’ Emma said. ‘Why would you even think of asking Stuart that question at that time?’
Guy blew out his cheeks and ran a hand through his hair.
‘I’m afraid I’ve not been straight with you, Emma. I’m sorry – but hopefully I can start to make amends now.’
‘What is it?’ she pressed.
‘I always knew that Stuart wanted you back,’ he said. ‘That day, when you asked who had recommended you for the part and I didn’t want to tell you, it was an act. Stuart wanted me to tell you. He was hoping you would ask.’
Emma shook her head.
‘So everything to do with the film role – the initial recommendation, the auditions, your compliments – was all just a way for Stuart to try and win me back?’
‘Initially,’ Guy admitted. ‘But I swear that once I saw you at the reading, then that wasn’t an act. I did want you for the movie – and I still do.’
‘But Stuart still planned this, with your help.’
‘Yes,’ he said.
Emma thought on that for a moment. ‘What I don’t understand is why you would help Stuart out. What made you do this?’
‘Because I felt I owed him something.’
‘Owed him something?’ Emma echoed. ‘How do you mean?’
‘This is difficult,’ he said, rubbing his chin. ‘Stuart and I have been through a lot together. You know we knew each other, but he never told you where we met, did he?’
‘No,’ Emma said. ‘I assumed it was through television contacts, or maybe he’d auditioned for a part in a movie you were casting.’
‘No,’ Guy said. ‘It wasn’t anything to do with the industry. We met at a support group. A mental health support group.’
***
‘A few years ago, I was going through a really bad time,’ Guy said, now clutching a drink. ‘I was depressed – not for any particular reason, which I guess makes it all the more depressing. I’d been seeing a shrink for a while. He helped a bit, but I was getting pretty lonely. Then one day I saw a leaflet for a local mental health support group, so I thought, what the hell, what had I got to lose?’
‘And Stuart was also in that group?’ Emma asked.
‘His psychiatrist recommended it to him,’ Guy said.
‘Psychiatrist?’ Emma said, ‘I know things weren’t right, that he was having a tough time mentally, but I never imagined he’d have sought professional help. He never mentioned anything to me. So that was how long ago?’ she said.
‘About three years’ ago,’ he replied.
‘It must have been right after he walked out on me,’ Emma said.
‘It was,’ he replied, surprising Emma at his certainly of that fact.
‘How do you know that?’ she asked.
‘Because he spoke about you at the group,’ he explained. ‘He told us all how much he regretted walking out on you – how much he loved you.’
‘Then why walk out?’ Emma said.
‘He’d been forced to leave you.’ Guy said.
‘Forced? By what?’
‘He never told us the full details,’ Guy replied. ‘As a group, it was always made clear that we should never push people. As far as the group were concerned, Stuart had a right to tell as little or as much as he wanted. And anyway, I expect most of the group were also keeping big secrets. I know I was.’
‘You said you owed him something,’ Emma said.
‘We became friends,’ Guy continued. ‘He really helped me through a pretty bad time - a time when I considered suicide. If it hadn’t been for Stuart, I really believe that I would be dead by now.’
‘So he called in the favour, to try and get me back?’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘When I told him about the casting for the upcoming film, he begged me to contact you. He saw it as his chance of trying to win you back, of getting back into your life. I didn’t think there was any harm in it, at least at first.’
‘Did Stuart know I was getting married to someone else?’ Emma asked.
‘He told me he didn’t know initially,’ he replied.
‘But when you found out Dan had gone missing, you thought Stuart might have something to do with it?’
‘I had suspicions, yes,’ Guy said. ‘I knew how much Stuart loved you. I did wonder what lengths he might go to get you back.’
‘So you asked him outright if he had anything to do with it?’
‘Yes,’ he said.
‘And what did he say?’
‘He swore to me that he didn’t do anything,’ Guy said.
‘He must have been lying,’ Emma said. ‘The police found evidence at his flat – a photo of Dan.’
‘I can’t explain that,’ Guy said. ‘I can only say what I believe. And I believe that Stuart didn’t have anything to do with your fiancé’s disappearance.’
‘Then why did he kill himself?’ Emma said.
‘Because he had given up hope of getting you back,’ he replied. ‘You told him that there was no chance, and it pushed him over the edge.’
‘You’re blaming me?’ Emma said.
‘No,’ he said, ‘I’m not. I’m just saying that the hope Stuart had - that you two would get back together - was the only thing keeping him going. I’m just trying to explain.’
‘I still don’t understand how you can be so sure that Stuart wasn’t involved,’ Emma said. ‘Just because he told you he didn’t do it – he might have been afraid that you’d go to the police if he told you the truth.’
‘He called me just before he died,’ Guy revealed. ‘And even then he still denied it – he had no reason to lie to me then.’
‘He wrote a letter to me, pretending to be Dan,’ Emma said. ‘The police found it on his computer.’
‘He did admit to that,’ Guy said. ‘He wanted you to think Dan didn’t want you anymore. But at that time, he still believed Dan had just run away.’
‘But why say that Lizzy was involved? He said they had an affair.’
‘To push you two apart,’ he answered. ‘He wanted to be the shoulder to cry on – he saw Lizzy as competition for your attention.’
‘Okay, just say you’re right and Stuart had nothing to do with what’s happened to Dan,’ Emma said, humouring him. ‘Have you got any idea of who did?’
‘I have a theory,’ he said. ‘But you’re not going to like it.’
58
Edward spent time sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, trying desperately to think of who the man was. But it was no good – he couldn’t remember ever meeting the man before, despite his insistence that he had somehow ruined his life. Half an hour later, he moved to the lounge, and that’s when he saw the brown envelope on top of the coffee table. It hadn’t been there before, which meant only one thing.
Even though Miranda was still out, he still retreated to the study to open it. Carrying it through to the study, he felt a strang
e sense of foreboding. Carefully opening the envelope, he peered inside and pulled out a photocopied newspaper cutting. He only needed to read the headline to understand who the man was. He took a deep breath. There was something else in the envelope – a small piece of paper on which was written five words.
I know what really happened.
Edward closed his eyes.
Suddenly everything was making sense.
Soon you’ll know what it’s like to really hurt…to lose the one you love.
He had to do something, and quickly. He picked up the phone and dialled Will’s number.
‘Hello?’
‘Will,’ he said, trying to calm down, ‘thank God you’re okay. Where are you?’
‘In my flat, why?’
‘You’re not with Emma?’
‘No. She was here a couple of hours ago, but then she went to the hospital to see Richard.’
‘So you don’t know where she is now then?’
‘No, I don’t,’ he said. ‘I guess she might be at her flat, or maybe at Lizzy’s. Hey, are you okay, you sound out of breath?’
‘Call her,’ Edward said. ‘Find out where she is. Then stay with her; make sure she’s all right. Don’t let her out of your sight.’
‘What’s the matter?’ Will asked. ‘You think she’s in trouble?’
‘Just go and make sure your sister is all right,’ he said.
‘But I don’t understand,’ Will said. ‘Stuart’s dead. I thought you said this was all over now.’
‘Just do what I say,’ Edward demanded. ‘And hurry.’
***
‘You think this all has something to do with Will?’ Emma said.
‘Yes,’ Guy said. ‘I know it’s a shock, but I really do believe that your brother is involved. How, I don’t know.’
‘You’re just saying that to protect Stuart’s memory,’ Emma accused. ‘Why would Will be involved?’
‘I’m not sure,’ he said. ‘And no, I’m not just saying that to protect Stuart. I wouldn’t do that, Emma.’
‘What proof have you got?’ Emma said.
‘I haven’t got any proof, as such,’ Guy admitted. ‘But it’s just something Stuart told me once.’
‘What?’
‘That Will had something to do with you and him splitting up,’ he said.
‘Stuart told you that?’ Emma said.
‘In so many words,’ he said. ‘And if he split you two up, then maybe he did the same with you and Dan.’
‘This is crazy,’ Emma said, ‘and I don’t believe it for a second. Will wouldn’t do that. Why would he want to split me and Dan up, or me and Stuart?’
Guy shrugged.
‘I trust my brother, totally,’ Emma added.
‘You shouldn’t ever trust anyone totally,’ Guy countered. ‘We all have secrets, Emma.’
‘Will has nothing to do with this,’ Emma said.
‘Will was the first to find Stuart,’ Guy said. ‘Why was he at Stuart’s flat?’
‘How did you know about that?’ Emma said.
‘From the newspaper,’ he replied.
‘Newspaper?’ Emma said. ‘There was a story?’
‘In here,’ he said, bringing out a newspaper from by the side of the chair and handing it to her. ‘Page 10.’
Emma flicked to the page.
‘He’s somehow involved in all this,’ Guy reiterated. ‘Otherwise why would he have been hanging around Stuart’s flat?’
‘How the hell did they get these photos?’ she said, examining the photograph showing Stuart being carried into the ambulance. Another one showed Will sitting outside Stuart’s flat, with his head in his hands.
‘Someone must have been following Stuart, or Will,’ Guy suggested. ‘They were waiting for the right photo, and they got it.’
‘And I think I know who,’ Emma said.
‘I wouldn’t let it worry you,’ Guy dismissed. ‘I know it sounds a cliché,’ Guy said, ‘but whoever he is, he’s just doing his job. It might be unpleasant, but you’re better off forgetting him and focussing on the more pressing issue – finding your fiancé. And I know you still don’t want to hear it, but I truly believe that your brother holds the key to all this.’
***
Richard stirred from his drug-assisted sleep, and it took him a few moments to realise that the phone was ringing. Using all his energy he reached over towards his left and wedged the receiver between the pillow and his ear. His arm was aching, as if he had just lifted a ton weight.
‘Hello?’ Richard said, trying to sit up as much as the equipment would allow, his voice coming out croaky, like an old man.
His question was met with silence.
‘Hello?’ he said. ‘Emma, is that you?’
‘Richard,’ a male voice said.
‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘Is that you Will?’
‘You still can’t remember, can you?’ the voice said.
‘I’m sorry,’ Richard said, ‘who is this?’
‘I spared your life, Richard,’ the man replied. ‘I came to visit you, stood by your bed and could have ended it then – but I didn’t. You should be thankful.’
‘It’s you, isn’t it,’ Richard said, glancing towards the window in the fear that the man would be stood there, talking to him through the glass. ‘Where’s Dan? What have you done with him?’
Silence.
‘Give yourself up now,’ Richard said. ‘I’m starting to remember what happened,’ he revealed. ‘I can nearly see your face – soon I’ll remember everything. And it will be better for you to give yourself up to the police now, before they come looking for you.’
‘Not until it’s over,’ the man replied cryptically.
‘Please, just stop this,’ Richard pleaded. ‘I don’t know why you’re doing this, but just stop it, now. Let Dan go.’
‘It’s too late for your brother,’ the man replied.
‘No,’ Richard said, shaking his head, starting to sob. ‘No, please say he’s okay. Tell me you’ve not hurt him, please, tell me.’
‘I’m sorry,’ the man said.
‘Why?’ Richard screamed. ‘Why?’
‘Because I want you all to understand,’ the man said, his voice suddenly cracking with emotion. ‘I want you to understand how much it hurts. I think you are starting to understand, aren’t you, Richard?’
59
‘Still no breakthrough?’ Gasnier asked, as DS Davies sat down on the other side of the desk.
‘They’ve been through Stuart Harris’s house top to bottom,’ Davies replied, ‘and we’ve had his computer searched thoroughly. Apart from that image, and the letter he sent to Emma Holden pretending to be Dan, there’s nothing else to indicate where Dan is, or what happened to him.’
Gasnier unfurled his bottom lip, tapping on the desk.
‘They have found something which is interesting,’ Davies said, ‘although I can’t see how it’s relevant to the case.’
‘Go on,’ Gasnier said.
Davies brought an envelope out from under the desk and handed it to Gasnier.
‘They found these photographs in his bedroom,’ Davies explained, ‘hidden inside the mattress. He’d slit a hole in the base and slid them inside.’
Gasnier shuffled through the set of twenty prints.
‘Any idea who the girl is?’ he asked.
Davies shook his head.
‘These aren’t holiday snaps,’ Gasnier noted, ‘it’s obvious that they were taken without either one or both parties knowing.’
‘It does look like a covert surveillance operation,’ Davies agreed. ‘That’s why I thought it would be worth showing them to you. I still can’t see though how they could be relevant to this case.’
‘Who knows,’ Gasnier said. ‘But I think we should at least show these to Emma Holden.’
***
‘Emma?’ Will said, ‘where are you?’
‘Just about to get the tube back to the flat,’ Emma said.
�
��You’re not with Lizzy?’ he asked.
‘No, I’m on my own,’ Emma replied, ‘Lizzy had a matinee this morning and has got the evening performance tonight. I’ve just been to see Guy Roberts. He gave me an idea of how we might find out some more information about Dan – although it’s probably a long shot.’
‘Don’t do anything until I get there,’ Will insisted. ‘Go back to the flat and stay there until I arrive. I might even get there before you.’
‘What’s up?’ Emma said.
‘Nothing,’ he said, ‘I just don’t think you should be on your own at the moment. Especially with the press following you around – I just saw the story in the newspaper.’
‘That’s where I got my idea,’ Emma said. ‘Okay, Will, I’ll wait until you come over. It will be nice having you around.’
***
‘You sure you want to do this?’ Will said, as Emma headed for the telephone. ‘I mean, by contacting the press you might just encourage them to run more stories about you. They might try and dig even deeper into your private life.’
‘They might,’ Emma said, picking up the receiver, ‘but then again, this guy might be the best witness we have. If he has been following us all around – Stuart included – then he might have seen something, or someone that can help us find Dan.’
‘Wouldn’t he have said so though?’ Will suggested. ‘If he’d seen anything he would already have gone to the police.’
‘Probably,’ Emma agreed. ‘Although he might have seen something that to him doesn’t seem important, but actually could be really important.’
‘Are you sure you’re not just looking for someone to take your anger out on?’ Will said. ‘I mean, you said yourself that the guy really scared you the other night when he called on the intercom. You chased him for about half a mile.’
‘If he can give us any clues that help us find Dan, then I don’t mind what else he did,’ Emma replied, punching in the buttons for the newspaper.
The One You Love (suspense mystery) Page 24