by Jade Winters
Callie felt Astrid’s arm curl around her shoulder and she leant into her, feeling safe and secure for the first time since she was a little girl.
‘I’m sorry you had to find out this way,’ Astrid said, kissing the top of her head.
Callie snaked her arm across Astrid’s waist and nestled closer. ‘Why is she in prison?’
Astrid couldn’t meet her eyes. ‘There’s no easy way to say this so I’m just going to say it. Your mother killed—’
‘Killed!?’
Astrid nodded.
‘Who? Who did she kill?’
‘Your baby brother.’
‘I don’t understand.’ Her brother was a vague memory. He had only lived a few days. After seeing the heartache it brought to her dad Callie had never spoken about him. Never asked any questions. Not after he explained what had happened. ‘My dad said Josh died in his sleep.’ It was the first time she had spoken his name in thirteen years.
‘I suppose he did what was best for you. To protect you.’
Callie sat upright. ‘I can’t take all this in.’ Alive. In prison. A million questions battled for attention in her mind. There was only one way she was going to get answers. ‘I’ve got to see her.’
‘Do whatever you think is best.’
Her expression slowly changed from confusion to one of vulnerability. She hated asking for help from anyone, but she needed it now more than anything. ‘Will you find out what prison she’s in?’
Astrid drew her into her arms and kissed the top of her head. ‘Of course I will. I told you, I’ll always be there for you.’
Callie let her body relax in the security of Astrid’s arms. A single thought niggled at her mind. If it had taken Lexi to go missing to find her mother, what was it going to take to find Lexi?
Callie dreaded the thought.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Right at that moment Keri felt broken. Lying in bed she suddenly realized the sad truth. After what she had done the night before, she was no better than her father. In fact, she was worse. At least he could own up to his misgivings, even if it was only to Keri and her mother. But not her. Keri still lived in a world of delusion. Where she was the good guy, who was always being led astray by a dark evil force. She hadn’t felt that way last night, when the alcohol pumped through her veins installing in her a sense of invincibility. She had been defiant in her belief she was doing the right thing, but now the hard truth seemed to hit her. She had not only cheated professionally but she had been a fool to put a young boy’s name out in the shark infested media. Keri gave a deep sigh that came out with such force that even she was a little surprised.
Her phone rang on the table beside her.
‘Hey, beautiful,’ Helen whispered gently into her ear.
Keri opened her eyes and shielded them with her hand. It took her a few moments to get accustomed to the light in the room.
‘Did you have a good night’s sleep?’ Helen asked.
Keri shook her head, even though she knew Helen couldn’t see her.
After her interaction with Astrid the night before, Keri had attempted to call Helen, but had disconnected each time. She wanted to tell her the truth. To rid every last, rotten piece of it from her soul.
‘What’s the time?’ Keri asked.
‘Seven.’
‘You’re an early bird aren’t you?’
‘Not normally, but I can’t stop thinking about you. I needed to hear your voice.’
Did it really have to be this early? ‘That’s sweet.’
‘So what are you up to today?’
‘I haven’t decided yet.’
‘Fancy meeting up? Somewhere public. Where there’s not a bed in sight. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea and think I’m only after your body.’
‘I wouldn’t mind,’ Keri said managing a smile. She realised with a start that what Helen was proposing was a date. In daylight hours. Something Keri hadn’t done since secondary school. ‘Where were you thinking of going?’
‘One of my favourite authors is doing a book reading in Windermere library today, as part of a crime festival. I thought we could go there,’ Helen said with childlike enthusiasm.
Keri had never been much of a reader, but was happy to go along just to spend some time with Helen.
‘Sounds cool. What time?’
‘Starts at nine!’ Helen sounded excited.
‘That only gives me two hours to get ready,’ Keri said in jest.
‘You best get out of bed now then.’
Keri didn’t need further encouragement. She jumped out of bed and headed for the shower.
***
The local library was not very old. According to the plaque on the outside wall it had been around for only 40 years but its architectural style gave it a grand atmosphere. Keri and Helen had arrived a little earlier than the program was scheduled for. They found seats in the last row and sat down, automatically linking hands as if it was the most natural thing in the world for them to do. As they waited, Keri couldn’t help but wonder why the reading had been scheduled in the morning, as it meant that many working people wouldn’t be able to attend. She glanced around, most of the seating was still empty. But to her surprise, people soon trickled in and before Keri knew it, the place was full.
Keri was never a fan of crime fiction and she surprised herself when she had expressed her wish to go there. Once the reading began, for the first time in her life, she understood why people were so enthralled by it. It sent her into a contemplative mood about the world around her. She even joined the long queue to get the authors autograph.
Afterwards Helen dragged her around a massive indoor flea market looking for bargains. It was an enjoyable day, but by midday, Keri was exhausted.
‘Can we please go and sit down for some coffee?’ she asked Helen.
‘I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t we go back to my place? I’ll make you lunch and you can take a nap,’ Helen said, wiggling her brows.
The offer sounded too tempting to resist, but what about my dad? She had hardly been able to make any progress in finding out who the whistle-blower was. What the hell! I’m having such a great time; I can’t think about work now!
Keri felt as if something in her had been set free. As if the shackles had finally been broken.
Back at Helen’s, Keri lazed in the open plan living room on a sofa and watched Helen cook. She felt a certain warmth, like she did when on the rare occasions she saw her mother making lunch on Sunday afternoons. Keri realised she hadn’t felt this way in a long time and certainly not with another woman. What does it mean? she pondered. Is Helen a mother figure to me? Is that why I feel so close to her?
‘Keri?’ she heard Helen’s voice.
‘Yeah?’
‘What are you thinking about? Lexi Palmer?’
‘It’s hard not to,’ she lied.
‘I know it’s your job but you can’t let it consume you.’
‘I know. It takes time to switch off, I guess.’ She was thinking about her father when she said this.
‘That’s one mode I don’t want you in. I want you switched on all the time,’ Helen said running a finger along Keri’s jawline.
Keri laughed, there was a warmth that was palpable when they were together. Would Astrid and I have ever had anything like this?
‘You’re like a different person when you haven’t got the world on your shoulders.’
‘Am I?’ Keri asked, surprised by her observation. She thought she only showed one face to the outside world. Although if anyone could see behind her exterior it would be Helen. For some strange reason it didn’t bother her.
‘Yep. So have you sorted out your feelings about your dad?’
‘Not really,’ Keri said truthfully. That was one road she didn’t want to go down. Not now when she was actually happy. Well, as happy as a conniving liar could be.
‘You know you can talk to me. I won’t judge.’
Keri dropped her head into her h
ands. ‘I know, but it’s not that simple. It’s not just about me. There are serious implications.’
‘That makes it even more important to share it.’
Taking the plunge, Keri said, ‘You’d better sit down. But be warned. You’re not going to like me after I tell you this. Not one little bit.’
***
Keri had a healthy appetite and she never found it necessary to restrict her natural inclination to eat just because she was in front of a ‘stranger’. But that wasn’t the reason her plate of pasta remained on the table, untouched. It was because Helen hadn’t uttered a word since she told her about her father and her true purpose of being there. Keri had spoken for over an hour leaving nothing out. From her childhood to the present day. When she finally finished she felt as if she had given a confession to a priest. That somehow, by telling Helen she would be redeemed for her sins. The room remained silent.
Unnerved Keri said, ‘Are you going to say anything? Or would you prefer it if I left?’
Helen turned away from the window. Keri couldn’t tell if the expression on her face was one of sadness or disgust. ‘I’m sorry, but what you’ve told me is such a head fuck.’
Disgust. Keri stood. ‘And that’s why I didn’t want to tell you.’ She shrugged her arms into her jacket. ‘Sorry about the wasted food.’
Keri had to get out of there, before the tears welling in her eyes spilt. She had taken a gamble and had lost. Big time. It hurt her to think Helen thought the worst of her. Not that she could blame her. All she had wanted though was a little understanding. For someone to have her back, unconditionally. But by the looks of things even the compassionate Helen had her limits.
Keri was near the door when Helen called out after her.
‘Hey, no wait.’ Helen was at her side in seconds, ushering her back to the dining room table. ‘It’s not you that’s shocked me. It’s your … your dad, if you can call him that. Shit. How could a father ask something like that from his daughter?’
Keri dropped her gaze to the floor. She couldn’t bear to look into Helen’s eyes. The shame was too great. ‘Aren’t I just as bad?’
‘No, no you’re not, come here.’ Helen pulled her into a hug, and gently kissed away the tears that were flowing freely now. ‘The only person to blame for this is your father. You must have heard of Stockholm syndrome. You poor, poor woman. What has he done to you?’
Keri wrapped her arms tightly around Helen’s waist. Her anchor.
‘Don’t worry about anything, Keri. I’m here. Your dad’s never going to take advantage of you again. I’m going to make sure of it.’
Chapter Thirty-Three
It had been a relief that Keri hadn’t answered the door when Astrid had knocked minutes earlier. It was obviously Keri leaving when she heard the front door slam an hour ago. In truth she didn’t want to come face to face with her. Not for a long time. Astrid was the last person who would be down on someone for writing an exposé, but she drew the line when the person targeted had no value to the story whatsoever. What was the point in dragging up a tragic incident from years ago? Unless there’s something more to this than Keri’s letting on. Astrid’s mind began to tick. What could Keri’s hidden agenda be?
Her phone bleeped with an incoming message. Surprisingly, Mike had replied straight away. Astrid thought he’d still be pissed off with her over the incident in the bar but he seemed strangely helpful. She read his message. He had managed to get all the information she needed in the space of an hour. Which meant she wouldn’t have to try and prise it out of Keri.
He signed off with, ‘Looking forward to meeting up with you both soon ;)’, which was even odder but Astrid brushed it aside. She would speak to him when she got home.
Astrid spread lashings of butter on the toast in front of her, before adding a thin layer of strawberry jam and cutting them in half.
Was there something in Keri’s past that she should know about? Astrid hadn’t given her much thought after their ‘night’ together. Why would she? It wasn’t as if they’d made a commitment to each other.
She smiled to herself as she put the two teas on a tray and carried it upstairs. She could get used to this. Domestication.
‘Did you get it?’ Callie pushed herself into a sitting position on the bed and took the tray from Astrid.
‘Yep. I told you, if anyone can find anything Mike can.’ Speaking of which, she made a mental note to ask Mike to look a little deeper into Keri for her. To find out her background. She wasn’t buying her innocent act of just following a good story. Keri wanted to destroy Callie, but for what reason Astrid wanted to know.
Astrid smiled as Callie took a bite of toast. It looked like a cosy scene from a rom-com movie. Breakfast in bed. Callie wearing her t-shirt. In a strange way, the simple act made her feel closer to her. Especially after last night. Astrid had never shared a bed with a woman and not had sex with her. And she had never had breakfast with one either. Ever! Normally, either she left or her willing partner did.
‘Can I tell you something?’ Callie asked.
Astrid lay down beside her and took Callie’s offering of her toast. ‘Off the record?’
‘For now.’
She took a bite, chewing slowly, she said, ‘Okay. Whatever you say stays between these four walls.’
‘I think your hunch was right.’
Astrid gave her a questioning look. ‘About?’
‘Robert and Roxy.’
‘Are you kidding me?’ Astrid sat up alert. Her reporters hat on. ‘What did you find out?’
‘Only that the day Lexi went missing, she had a fight with Robert. And he hit her. Before he could say anymore, Roxy shut him down and basically asked me to leave.’
‘Really! He hit her? Do you think it was serious enough for her to leave home or for him to have …’
Callie it seemed, read her mind. ‘Killed her?’ She shrugged. ‘If you’d have asked me this a week ago I’d have sworn on my life, he wouldn’t hurt her. But after his confession nothing would surprise me.’
‘So you think Roxy’s covering for him?’
‘What else can I think? He’s obviously not the kind, gentle man I thought he was.’
‘Most murderers start out that way. One day they’re decent law abiding citizens and then bam, something happens to tip them over the edge.’
‘Sounds like my mum.’ Callie’s eyes clouded over with sadness. ‘I wanted to thank you.’
Astrid squeezed her hand. ‘For what?’
‘For being there for me last night. I don’t know what I would have done without you.’
‘You would have been fine. You’re a strong person. The problem is that you don’t give yourself enough credit.’
Callie brushed the comment off with a wave of her hand. ‘I’m going to write to my …’ She hesitated, unable to finish the sentence.
‘I know it must be hard for you to call her mum, especially now. Just don’t be so down on yourself. Take it easy.’
‘I will. I just want to hear her side of the story before I cut her out of my life for good.’
‘Sounds reasonable enough.’
‘So.’ Callie grinned and ran a finger down Astrid’s nose. ‘How about you come over to my place tonight? I’ll make dinner.’
Astrid raised her eyebrows. ‘You cook?’
‘Very well even if I say so myself.’
‘Better than Elaine?’
‘I wouldn’t go that far, but not far off.’
Hmm, first breakfast, then dinner. Was this how relationships started? ‘In that case yes, I’d love to.’
‘Great. I’d better get to work,’ Callie said.
‘Me too.’
‘I’ll pick you up at six?’
‘It’s a date.’ Astrid automatically leant forward and kissed her. ‘Can’t wait.’
***
Astrid was on a new mission. When she’d told Callie she wouldn’t share her feelings about Robert and Roxy with anyone, it was the truth. Bu
t that didn’t mean she couldn’t go and follow it up herself.
When Astrid arrived at Roxy’s house, she wasn’t surprised to see reporters packed outside. After the discovery of Lexi’s pregnancy, media interest had shifted up a few gears. Reporters were now desperate to talk to Roxy and Robert. To everyone’s dismay, they were remaining tight-lipped. As if that would stop me from finding out the truth. She squinted, trying to see if she could see Keri anywhere. I wonder where she is? Digging for more information on Callie or actually doing what she was supposed to be there for—gathering information on Lexi.
Like I should be doing. There was no way Astrid was going to get an exclusive with that pack of hounds. Only one thing for it. She slipped down an alley, pulled herself up on the nearest fence and peeked over. Her main concern was being confronted by a vicious dog protecting its territory. She needn’t have worried. All she saw was an overweight black and white cat lying motionless on the decking. Heaving herself up onto the ledge, she swung her leg over and limped to the next fence, repeating the same sequence of events each time until she reached Roxy’s back garden. Roxy and Robert were sitting in patio chairs, heads huddled together in deep discussion. They didn’t seem to notice Astrid climb over the wall. It was when she was a few feet away Roxy looked up at her startled.
Roxy leapt to her feet. ‘You’re trespassing on our property. Call the police, Robert.’
Robert started to stand. An uncomfortable expression on his face.
Yeah, he knew why she was there. He didn’t need telling.
‘Yes. Calling the police is a very good idea. I’m sure they’ll be interested to know about Lexi’s last few hours.’