by Jade Winters
Teal’s voice was strangled. Bile clawed its way up her throat. ‘But why? She was your friend.’
‘Friends don’t hurt one another. She was going to tell you that she loved you that night. I just couldn’t let it happen. I just couldn’t. You were, are the world to me, I couldn’t lose you, not to Alana, not to anyone.’
Teal’s skin prickled and she swallowed a sob. She did love me. She looked into Channing’s eyes, searching for the truth in them, but they were too dark to read and a little more than unhinged. ‘I don’t believe that you hurt her. You’re lying—’
‘No, I’m not. Why would I lie? That’s how much I love you. I want to protect you. Anyone who comes between us—’
The blood pounded between Teal’s ears. ‘You lay one hand on Carissa and I will fucking kill you! I don’t care what happens to me.’
Channing’s eyes narrowed. ‘Stop being so dramatic. Nothing’s going to happen to her as long as you play ball.’
Play ball? She’s a fucking lunatic. She killed Alana. Oh my God she killed her! A million thoughts raced through Teal’s mind so fast she wasn’t able to make sense of any of them. Was Carissa safe? Lara? Me?
Even if Teal went to the police, what would she say? The inquest had already recorded Alana’s death as being accidental. Added to that, Teal had absolutely no proof. Only the ramblings of a mad woman.
Despite her terror that Channing was telling the truth and the renewed grief for Alana, all Teal cared about was making sure Carissa was safe. She would pack their belongings tonight and leave. But what if Channing was watching the house? She would see them leaving. And then what? Would she try and run them off the road? If what she had told Teal was true, she was capable of anything.
Teal barged past Channing and broke into a sprint. She didn’t stop running until she reached home. Breathless, she burst through the front door. ‘Carissa, Carissa,’ she yelled at the top of her voice.
Footsteps pounded down the stairs. Then she saw her. Carissa was safe.
Carissa’s eyes widened when she took in Teal’s frazzled demeanour. ‘What’s happened?’
‘It’s Channing,’ she said between breaths.
‘What about her?’
‘She killed Alana.’
‘What?’ Carissa’s features immediately relaxed. ‘Don’t be silly. Channing a murderer? Jesus, you really had me going there for a minute.’
‘I’m not joking. She just confessed.’
‘And you really believe her?’ Carissa said, reaching out for Teal’s hand and leading her to the kitchen.
‘I don’t know.’ Teal opened the fridge and took out a can of beer. Her fingers fumbled as she opened it and took a long mouthful. Wiping her lips with the back of her hand she said, ‘Why would she say it if she didn’t mean it?’
‘To scare you. What exactly did she say?’
‘That Alana didn’t trip and fall in front of that car. That she pushed her.’
‘But why?’
Reluctantly, Teal repeated what Channing had told her.
Carissa’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘And you think she’s telling the truth?’
‘I wouldn’t put anything past her,’ Teal said thoughtfully as the alcohol started to kick in and calm her nerves. ‘I did think there was something odd about ….’ her voice trailed off as she recalled that night.
‘Go on,’ Carissa encouraged.
‘It’s probably nothing, it’s just … Channing never seemed that upset considering she witnessed it all.’
Carissa’s face suddenly paled and she leant against the worktop. ‘We need to go to the police!’
‘But we haven’t got any proof.’
Before Teal knew it, Carissa took off out of the room. Teal was on her feet in no time, following Carissa as she ran to the front door and bolted the locks before swiftly moving from room to room making sure all the windows were locked.
‘Lara, what about Lara?’ Carissa said, frantically patting down her jacket until she located her phone. ‘I’ve got to warn her.’
Teal needed to take control of the situation. The way she had barged in and given Carissa the news had been irresponsible. ‘Carissa, listen to me. Lara isn’t in any danger.’
She refrained from saying this was because Lara wasn’t a threat to Channing. If she did, it wouldn’t take Carissa long to figure out that she was.
‘We need to think this through calmly,’ Teal continued.
‘Calmly! You’ve got an obsessed nutter after you who’s actually admitted to killing someone and you want me to be calm! Jesus, Teal, this isn’t a movie where the actress comes back to life after the director yells cut—’
‘I know. I’m not stupid, but running around like headless chickens isn’t going to get us anywhere.’
‘So what do you suggest?’ Carissa crossed her arms over her chest. ‘I’m scared.’
Teal looked at her. ‘I think I need another drink.’
‘Me too.’
They moved in to the kitchen and Teal poured a drink each from the bottle of Brandy on the table. Teal knocked hers back in one gulp and Carissa followed suit.
‘I have to call the police,’ Carissa said after her fourth drink.
‘If you think it will do any good, go ahead.’
‘As opposed to getting legless and rendering ourselves unconscious. If Channing comes here, I want to at least be able to put up a fight.’
‘Okay, call them.’
Carissa scrunched her face up. ‘What should I say?’
‘I’ve got no idea. It’s not every day you call the police to report a murder.’
‘They’re going to think we’re nuts aren’t they?’
‘Probably, but you’re right. I think it’s the most sensible thing to do. Give me your phone.’
With a steady hand, Teal punched in the number for the police. Her call was answered immediately.
‘I don’t quite know how to say this,’ Teal said to the operator. ‘But someone I know has just confessed to murder.’
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The logical part of Carissa’s mind seemed to have switched off, all that remained was fear. She had seen enough Lifetime movies to know things like this didn’t end well. Teal had tried to numb her nerves by plying her with alcohol but it was to no avail, she still nearly jumped out of her skin when the doorbell rang. A pale looking Teal peered through the blinds before she opened the door.
Carissa remained immobilised on the sofa and stared straight ahead, hypnotised by the reassuring voices that drifted in from the hallway. Two tall men in dark blue suits followed Teal into the room. They acknowledged Carissa with a nod before taking a seat opposite.
‘So, do you want to tell me what happened?’ The dark-haired detective with sharp grey eyes asked.
Carissa and Teal looked at each other, and Carissa indicated for Teal to talk with a shift of her eyes.
‘My best friend died in a traffic accident six months ago,’ Teal said, clearly still in shock. ‘At the time, it was thought to be a tragic accident. That she tripped on her lace and fell in front of an oncoming car.’
‘And you don’t think that’s what happened?’
‘No, well yes I did at the time. My best friend and a colleague of hers, Channing, were renting a room each in my house.’
Teal hesitated.
‘Yes,’ the detective pressed.
Carissa could tell Teal was reliving that night again, the way her eyes were rapidly blinking, as if by doing so she could wash the memory away.
‘And … the night Alana died, Channing was with her. She … she pushed her in front of a car.’
‘And she told you this because?’ The detective didn’t look like he believed a word Teal had said.
‘Because she’s crazy. Obsessed.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘With?’
‘With me.’
The two detectives exchanged looks. ‘I’m sorry to have to tell you this but we haven’t exactly got much to go on.
Have you spoken to the detectives who were originally on the case?’
‘We need protection here, now.’ Carissa stood, speaking for the first time. ‘If she’s killed once, she’ll do it again.’
Carissa knew she was bordering on near hysteria but she couldn’t help herself. What sort of person could cause someone’s death and carry on as normal? Teal was right though, calling the police was a complete waste of time. They were only there to pay lip service.
A few more useless tips—keep the doors and windows locked. Call them if Channing got physical, blah blah blah. By the time Teal walked the detectives to the door, Carissa had stopped listening. They weren’t going to help which meant one thing. They were going to have to find a solution themselves.
‘Can’t say we didn’t try,’ Teal said. ‘Look, I think it’s best if we pack up and leave.’
‘But what about this place?’
‘Your safety is the most important thing to me at the moment. You need to go back to London.’
‘But what about—’ Us?
‘Don’t worry. I’ll transfer your fee to your account later on.’
‘But—’
‘We don’t have time, Carissa. Please, just get your stuff together.’
‘Okay, but I still have to warn Lara.’
Speaking to Lara was the last thing Carissa wanted to do, but she had no choice. Even if Teal was right and Channing posed no danger to Lara, she didn’t think anyone was safe around Channing.
‘This is a surprise,’ Lara said, answering the call moments later.
‘Are you alone?’
Lara’s tone hardened. ‘That’s none of your business.’
‘I need to know, Lara. Please tell me if you’re alone?’
Something in Carissa’s tone must have told Lara that she was being more than just nosey.
‘Yes, I’m alone.’
‘Good. Now listen to me carefully. You need to stay away from Channing—’
‘I—’
Carissa’s voice rose sharply. ‘Will you just fucking listen to me. She’s dangerous—’
‘Then it’s you that needs to be careful. I’m on my way back to London.’
‘You are? But I thought ….’
‘It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?’
The fight went out of Carissa. ‘Yes, but—’
‘There’s nothing more to say, Cass. You’re with Teal now. I get it. It’s my own fault. If I hadn’t of screwed up, none of this would have happened.’
‘Maybe, maybe not,’ Carissa said truthfully. In her heart, Carissa knew their relationship had been over a lot longer than six months. They should have parted ways long before but they had both been wrapped up in the idea of love and not the actual emotion.
Carissa now knew that Lara would never be happy with a woman like her. Someone who wasn’t ashamed to say she craved stability in a relationship. To not have the need to keep chasing an unattainable dream.
Lara, she knew, would never find the peace she was looking for until she found the courage to stop and look deep inside her heart. To realise what she wanted was there all along. In so many ways she was like Carissa’s mother, and for that reason she pitied her.
‘Anyway, what were you going to say about Channing? Why is she dangerous?’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Carissa said wearily. ‘Just take care of yourself.’
She hung up before Lara could reply. Pack. I need to pack.
Carissa sprung to action and hurried to her room. Thankfully, most of her belongings were already in her suitcase.
‘Ready?’ Teal asked. ‘The next train leaves in forty minutes.’
Carissa dragged her case behind her. ‘Is there any chance you could drop me off at a hotel in town tonight. I don’t feel safe going home in the dark knowing Channing might be lurking around out there.’
Carissa refrained from saying she thought Channing might follow her to the train station and push her under the train.
‘Of course not,’ Teal said. ‘If I’m honest, I don’t fancy the long drive home myself. I’ll stay as well.’
They walked down the path side by side, both keeping an eye out for Channing. When they were safely in the car they let out a collective sigh.
‘I never thought I’d be glad to see the back of this place,’ Teal said as she started the engine and took off in the direction of Swindon.
The minutes ticked by in silence and Carissa looked out of the window, staring into the darkness of the night. It was so much more than just leaving a house behind. It was the happy memories from the past few weeks. A time when she had felt whole. Complete. And now? She was running on empty. Mentally exhausted.
And … completely and utterly heartbroken at the thought of a life without Teal.
***
Once they had checked into the White Hart Hotel, Carissa decided to have a hot bath and relax for a while. Teal went down to the bar for a much-needed drink. Carissa agreed to meet her for dinner in an hour. Like the last supper—and look how that ended. As she lay in the bath with the lights switched off, her mind was a whirl of activity. So much had happened these past few weeks. They had grown so close and their relationship had become so much more than just sex. Carissa refused to believe that this was the end.
Dressing fifty minutes later, Carissa wasn’t sure why she was making such an effort with the way she looked. Maybe subconsciously she was trying to show Teal what she would be missing out on. Opting for a short black dress and black heels, Carissa wore her hair down and kept her makeup smoky but simple.
The moment she entered the elegant restaurant, she caught sight of Teal sitting alone at their table. As if sensing her, Teal looked up and her eyes widened.
‘Wow,’ Teal said when Carissa reached the table and sat down. ‘You look stunning.’
‘Thank you,’ Carissa replied, the heat rising to her face. It was as if they were on their first date. She was relieved when the waiter brought over a bottle of wine Teal had ordered and poured them both a glass.
‘How’re you feeling now?’
Carissa took a mouthful of wine and swallowed it in one gulp. ‘Safer being here.’
‘Good.’ Teal shifted her seat closer to Carissa’s. ‘I can’t apologise enough for how things have turned out.’
Carissa could smell brandy on Teal’s breath, and when she looked into her eyes, she noted they were glazed and sad. This tugged at her heart. She placed her hand over Teal’s and squeezed it. ‘Don’t be silly. None of this is your fault.’
‘But if—’
Carissa pressed her finger against Teal’s lips. ‘There are no buts. How were you to know?’
‘I’ve known Channing for over a year—’
‘We never really know anyone, do we? Not really.’ She took a deep breath and decided to take a chance. ‘People change their minds. Things they might have meant at one stage in their lives aren’t necessarily the same at a later date.’
‘Do they?’ Teal’s eyes closed briefly.
‘Uh huh. I mean take us for instance ….’
Teal’s phone rang and she gave Carissa a lopsided grin. ‘I’d better answer this in case she’s tracked us down here.’
Carissa shivered at the mere thought of Channing being anywhere near them.
‘Hello,’ Teal said, a slight slur in her voice. She looked at Carissa and mouthed. ‘It’s the police.’
Carissa leant forward. She could only imagine why they were calling. She tried to get Teal’s attention, and Teal held up her hand signalling for her to wait. Whatever the detective was telling her must have been bad, if Teal’s shocked expression was anything to go by.
‘Okay, thank you for letting me know.’ Teal slowly put her phone down on the table and looked at Carissa with a strange expression.
‘Please don’t keep me in suspense. What did they want?’
‘The police picked Channing up.’
‘Really? They believed you?’
Teal shook her head slowl
y. ‘No, there’s no way to prove Channing had anything to do with Alana’s death.’
‘So why have they arrested her?’
‘There was a warrant out for her arrest.’
‘A warrant! What for?’
‘Attempted murder. She broke into some woman’s flat after the woman ended things. Channing actually tied a stocking around the woman’s neck and tried to strangle her. If it wasn’t for the woman’s German shepherd attacking Channing, she might have actually done it.’
‘Oh my God. When did this happen?’
‘The same day she came to Bibury.’
Carissa went cold at thinking how close Teal could have come to being Channing’s next victim.
‘So what’s going to happen now?’
‘They’re taking her back to Devon in the morning.’
Carissa raised her glass to her mouth. ‘So we’re safe?’
‘Looks that way.’
Carissa took a sip of wine this time. Giddiness had soon replaced the nerves she’d felt earlier. ‘So we can go back and finish your house?’
‘Are you sure you want to?’ Teal asked in surprise.
‘Why wouldn’t I?’
Teal shrugged. ‘I thought you might be slightly put off by what’s happened.’
‘No way. I feel safe as long as she’s as far away from here as possible.’
‘Okay, if you’re sure, we can go back after dinner.’
Carissa thought of the super king-size bed in their hotel room. The champagne in the fridge. The jacuzzi bath. ‘Seems a shame to waste an evening of indulgence, don’t you think?’
‘You want to stay the night?’
‘Don’t you?’ She leant in close to Teal and said in a low voice, ‘I’ve always had this fantasy of being picked up by this really hot horny woman in a hotel bar.’
Teal jerked her head to the bar behind them. ‘Does that bar happen to resemble the one in your fantasy?’
Carissa bit her bottom lip. ‘Looks like the exact one.’
‘So what happens in this fantasy of yours?’
‘I meet this woman on a night like tonight ….’ Carissa took hold of Teal’s hand and slid it under the table and along her thighs. She pressed her breasts against Teal’s arm as she whispered in her ear. ‘When I’m not wearing any underwear ....’