Can You See Her?: An absolutely compelling psychological thriller

by S. E. Lynes

  HS: (Pause) Mr Edwards, a cigarette end matching those found in your garage was discovered near the pond in the town-hall gardens. Another two matching cigarette ends were found in the car park of Brookvale Leisure Centre. We have taken DNA samples from all of these cigarette ends, the ones found in your home and those found at the crime scenes. In light of that information, do you have anything you wish to add?

  48

  Ingrid

  Transcript of recorded interview with Ingrid Taylor (excerpt)

  Also present: DI Heather Scott, PC Marilyn Button

  HS: Let’s look at last Thursday, the twenty-sixth of September. Can you remember where you were that night? It’s more recent, I suppose, so that might help.

  IT: At home. Where else? Not like I can afford to go out, is it?

  HS: Ms Taylor, we spoke to Pamela Bain, personnel manager of the records and accounts department of ICI.

  IT: I see.

  HS: She told us that after your trial period, she offered you a short-term contract, which you turned down. For the benefit of the tape, Ms Taylor is shrugging her shoulders.

  IT: As I said, it paid a pittance.

  HS: Can you explain why you accepted a lift each day from Mark Edwards, why you chose to give him the impression you were going into work in the same building as him?

  IT: Look, he was lonely, all right? Poor guy needed somebody to talk to. He’d been kind enough to get me an interview; it would have been rude to tell him I hadn’t taken the job. I’m a nice person. Unlike some, I actually care about people’s feelings.

  HS: Ms Taylor, can you explain how you meet your living expenses?

  IT: Why are you asking me this when you clearly already know? I rent out my house in Helsby, so what? I don’t see what this has got to do with anything.

  HS: Is there any reason you would choose to move opposite Mrs Edwards?

  IT: I didn’t even know her then! Why on earth would I try and move near to her?

  HS: Ms Taylor, going back to the evening of Thursday the twenty-sixth, the night Anne-Marie Golightly was murdered, Rachel Edwards says she asked you to come to an exercise class. Is that right?

  IT: She asked me, but – and I mean this in a nice way – it’s fine for people who are overweight or stressed or whatever, and Rachel was definitely… Suffice to say, it’s not for me. Like I say, it’s fine if you like getting sweaty in unflattering Lycra trousers for no good reason, but honestly? I prefer to emulate the French. Eat less, smoke in moderation and leave the jumping about to people who… you know, people who join things.

  HS: Ms Tay—

  IT: She looks a lot better now, by the way. Rachel. Murder obviously agrees with her. Sorry, that was… I’m a bit nervous. I mean, I came here of my own free will and it’s Rachel who’s confessed, and before I knew what she was capable of, obviously, I suppose I’d become a little resentful of her and her whole poor-me thing. I mean, you have to take responsibility for yourself at some point, don’t you? I suppose I wanted to shake her by those slumped shoulders of hers and say, wake up! Do you have any idea what you’ve got there? A kind, decent man who isn’t pissing all your money up the wall like mine did. A man who can actually father a child and provide, OK, nothing to set you flicking through yacht catalogues, but a steady income. A man who actually comes home after work. A man who doesn’t set light to your life savings and your annual all-inclusive holiday in the Seychelles, who doesn’t arrive home stinking of alcohol having sold the Discovery to pay for his stupid, selfish habit. Mark would never do that. And I know I’d have to adjust, but I would appreciate him. He’s going to need someone now that Rachel’s not going to be around. I’m still young enough to have a child. I mean, it breaks my heart to see him work so hard, and he’s so sweet, and when he comes home expecting a little comfort, some company in front of the television, where’s she? Out walking the dog! Or not, as we now know.

  HS: Ms Taylor—

  IT: When I think of all the times I was alone with her, in her house. I mean, it could have been me next.

  HS: Ms Taylor. Ms Taylor? If we can stick to the evening in question. For the benefit of the tape, Ms Taylor is taking a drink of water. (Pause) All right. Ms Taylor, we have two witnesses who say they saw a woman matching your description near the entrance to Brookvale Leisure Centre at around eight forty-five on the evening of the twenty-sixth. How do you respond to that? (Pause) For the benefit of the tape, Ms Taylor is shrugging.

  IT: I can’t imagine you have a precise description of me, Detective. I wasn’t there.

  HS: You’re sure about that?

  IT: Of course I’m sure. No offence, but it’s not me who’s lost their marbles and gone off knifing innocent people. I was at home.

  HS: You’ve told us that you knew where Rachel was going that night. Mr Edwards… Mark… has told us he dropped you off to see a friend in Juniper Way before going on to the Norton Arms. I don’t know if you know, but Juniper Way is a cul-de-sac off Barnfield Avenue. Which is where the Brookvale Leisure Centre is located. So it would appear you were in that part of town even though you’ve said you were at home. And for whatever reason, you didn’t want to use your car. For the benefit of the tape, Ms Taylor has closed her eyes and is shaking her head. Ms Taylor?

  IT: I forgot, OK? I thought that was the Wednesday. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry for being flippant earlier – it’s just nerves and I’m still so upset by what’s happened. I went to see my friend on the Thursday, that’s right. But I had no idea it was anywhere near the leisure centre.

  HS: Could you clarify what you mean by ‘friend’?

  IT: My ex-husband has a flat there. Not quite a friend, I suppose.

  HS: So it’s fair to say you were in the immediate vicinity of Brookvale Leisure Centre and that the witnesses who saw someone matching your description that evening could conceivably have seen you?

  IT: It’s conceivable. But I had no idea where Rachel was that night other than at some class. I needed to see my ex about something.

  HS: Conceivable. You had, as you say, no idea where she was going for her class. However, after a cursory check of leisure facilities in Halton borough, I discovered that there are three places where she could – conceivably – have gone. One, Runcorn Baths, but that has only a gym and pool, no hall or dance studio. Two, Widnes Leisure Centre—

  IT: I know what you’re getting at. Widnes was closed for refurbishment. I could have researched it easily. Just a matter of finding out where the spinning class was. But I didn’t. It wasn’t like that. I was chatting to Mark and—

  HS: Would it be fair to say you called at the Edwards home immediately Rachel had left for the class you knew she was going to?

  IT: The way you say it makes it sound wrong, but he’s my friend! He said he was heading out, so on the off-chance I ended up having something to drink, I grabbed a lift. I don’t drink and drive. I would never do that.

  HS: You appear to be clearer now on which class Rachel Edwards attended, Ms Taylor.

  IT: I’m sorry?

  HS: Earlier you said ‘some class’. Just now you said ‘the spinning class’, which is indeed accurate. You seem to have recovered your memory.

  IT: I know what you’re trying to do. But I hadn’t forgotten – I was being flippant, for which I’ve apologised. I didn’t realise I was under suspicion. I came here voluntarily to help with your enquiries. I mean, she confessed, didn’t she? She turned herself in? You’ve recovered the knife, I presume, from her house? The file?

  HS: Ms Taylor, can you tell us where you were on the night of Saturday the twenty-eighth of September?

  IT: At the risk of repeating myself, I was at home. I really was. I live alone. It’s very difficult to provide an alibi when you live alone, but that’s hardly my fault.

  HS: For the benefit of the tape, PC Button is showing Ms Taylor four images. Ms Taylor, if you’d like to look at these images. The first two are taken from the CCTV camera at Brookvale Leisure Centre. The second two… I’
m not sure if you’re aware, but shortly after the attack on Joanna Weatherall, the CCTV cameras operating on Boston Avenue, which had been out of order, were serviced. If you’d like to take a look and tell me who you think that is near the town-hall gardens?

  IT: This is outrageous. I know what you’re trying to do. Well, let me tell you something, I did see Rachel with that girl. Joanna. I did. I saw her go into the gardens!

  HS: And why didn’t you tell us that earlier?

  IT: Because I didn’t want anything to do with it! But I saw her. I was out walking and I saw her talking to that girl and I saw her take her over the fence and away into the dark. I’m telling you, it’s Rachel Edwards you want, not me. I want a lawyer. Get me a lawyer now. I’m not saying another word until I have a lawyer.

  49

  Rachel

  ‘Rachel, are you familiar with the term somnambulism?’

  ‘I’m not, no, sorry.’

  ‘Sleepwalking.’

  ‘OK… but I don’t sleepwalk.’

  ‘Not in the sense of going for walks while you’re asleep. But you’ve described waking up in strange places with no memory of falling asleep, hot flashes, night sweats et cetera.’

  ‘Yes, but most women my age have to put up with all that.’

  ‘Agreed. And many other symptoms besides. You’ve described falling into deep sleeps during the day, sleeps that you described as being pulled into the underworld by Hades himself.’

  ‘Oh God, aye. Like being sucked into the sofa by a big Hoover attachment – I suppose that’s less poetic.’

  ‘Another common symptom of menopause is the occurrence of these… attacks, almost, of tiredness. This is obviously exacerbated by difficulty sleeping at night, night terrors or nightmares. You’ve told me about dreams concerning invisibility, yourself wielding a knife, and these nightmares are all part of the storytelling I mentioned, the stories our mind tells us, the processing of things we find difficult or stressful, and in your case, traumatic. I think it might be possible that you’ve been experiencing catatonic episodes, where you simply fall asleep and wake up later wondering how long you’ve been there.’

  ‘That might’ve happened in the graveyard, mightn’t it? Well, it could’ve done. I was never sure whether I’d strangled him or not, though you’re saying I didn’t.’

  ‘There were no marks on his neck, Rachel. In your story, you describe yourself waking up still behind the gravestone. Which leads us to your encounter with Anne-Marie Golightly and her subsequent murder.’

  My throat thickens. ‘Anne-Marie.’ Her name sets me off again. ‘She was a nice, nice woman.’

  ‘You’ve told me a lot about your friend Lisa. You love her. She’s a huge point of reference for you. Your best friend.’

  ‘She was until I realised she was shagging my husband. That sort of thing’ll come between you. Sorry for saying shagging. It’s vulgar. Sorry.’

  ‘That’s all right. Do you know for certain she was… involved with your husband?’

  ‘Why else would she not mention where she was, only for me to see her heading away from our house in her car? Why else would Mark make no mention of her having been there? And the two cigarette stubs in a saucer in the kitchen. You could say that was perfectly innocent, and it would be if either of them had said something. But they didn’t, did they? She’s always had a soft spot for him, and now her husband’s gone, she wants mine.’

  ‘Can you think of any other reason why Lisa might have been seeing Mark and not telling you?’

  ‘No.’ I fold my arms. ‘What’s this got to do with me killing people?’

  ‘Nothing. It has to do with how we read events. In their statements, both Mark and Lisa have expressed concern for your well-being.’

  ‘Oh yes, I know all about that. Power of suggestion, isn’t it? That’s all it is. Tell someone they look green around the gills enough times and they’ll be down the doctor’s wanting a prescription. I know what her game was. Trying to make me think I was losing it, get me shipped off to the nuthouse so she could move in with Mark. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was her that put the knife in my bag, trying to send me round the…’

  ‘What is it? What is it, Rachel?’

  I shake my head. I have no memories of putting that knife in my bag.

  ‘Nothing,’ I say. ‘Did they match the knife to the… to the killings?’

  ‘They never found the knife.’

  ‘Right, well there you go.’

  ‘Rachel, is it possible that you might have underestimated how much your friend and your husband care about you? A huge loss of self-worth, often accompanied by paranoid thoughts, is common in moments of anxiety and trauma. Both of them have said that they met up without your knowledge to discuss how worried they were about your state of mind. They kept this secret because they didn’t want to frighten you. The time you saw Lisa driving away, she and Mark had made the decision to call a doctor and both felt conflicted by that. They didn’t know how to handle the situation. Lisa has said that she hasn’t known how to stay close to you. Mark has expressed this too. They wanted to alert a medical professional not so they could continue an affair but because they love you. They love you, Rachel, and they know your history. They’re both devastated that you’ve turned yourself in.’

  ‘So you’re telling me there’s nothing between them?’

  ‘Nothing. Other than decades of love for you.’ Amanda stands, goes to the door, opens it. I hear her murmuring to someone in the corridor. She comes back and picks up her pad, sits and writes something down. Outside, traffic passes, the sky darkens shade by shade, inching towards another night. I can hear what she’s told me as if she’s still saying it; the words are still falling in the air. Like blossom. Like snow. I don’t know how long I’ve been in this place. Blue Eyes Frost is not a policewoman, she’s a forensic psychiatrist. Her kindness is a tool of her trade, that’s all.

  The door handle rattles. A woman comes in with two cups of what smells like coffee and puts them on the table.

  ‘There you go,’ she says and leaves. She closes the door with painstaking care, like a burglar in reverse.

  ‘You met Anne-Marie,’ Blue Eyes says, ‘at a time when you were troubled about your relationship with Lisa. You were drifting apart. You were fearful of having committed acts of violence, couldn’t talk about your fears, and this secrecy was coming between the two of you. You felt that you no longer had a close friend, someone you felt safe with. And then you met Anne-Marie and saw in her someone you felt you could become friends with, is that right?’

  ‘She was so nice. She was a good egg.’

  ‘Good.’ Amanda reaches for her coffee, takes a sip.

  ‘I was missing Lisa, wasn’t I?’

  ‘Possibly.’ She slides a sheet of paper from the bottom of her notes and hands it to me. ‘Rachel, I want to return again to the clip file. This is the first entry you put in there, as I’m sure you know. I want you to read it aloud to me, if you can.’

  I recognise the clipping straight away. I knew what it said, every word, before she placed it into my trembling hands.

  I shake my head, my belly heating with anxiety. ‘I can’t.’

  ‘Do you recognise it?’

  ‘I can’t.’

  And despite telling her I can’t, I do. I read it.

  50

  Rachel

  Third knife attack in capital this year

  Police have released details about a stabbing that took place last night in Hoxton. Officers were called to Bar Go at about 11.45 p.m. after a report of a knife attack outside the popular nightspot.

  ‘When officers arrived on scene, they located a 20-year-old male who had been stabbed on the pavement immediately outside the bar,’ police spokesperson Rania Hanif said. ‘The man was transported to the Royal London Hospital and is said to be in a critical condition.’

  After an anonymous tip-off from a customer, the police traced a 28-year-old man to a flat in Blackhorse Lane and have tak
en him into custody.

  This story will be updated as more information is released.

  Another sheet of paper shushes across the table.

  ‘I know this is difficult.’ Amanda’s voice comes to me as if through water. ‘I want you to read this article too if you can.’

  I pick up the sheet of paper. I know it off by heart. But I read it.

  Stabbing victim loses fight for life

  The man attacked late on Thursday evening outside Bar Go, Hoxton, has died of his injuries. He has been named as Kieron Edwards, an art student at Goldsmiths, University of London.

  A 28-year-old man, who has not been named, was held for questioning but has been released. Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

  ‘We offer our deepest sympathy to the victim’s family,’ police spokesperson Rania Hanif told reporters in today’s press conference. ‘And we will stop at nothing until the perpetrators are arrested and charged.’

  ‘In the six years I’ve been here,’ said landlord Sid Black, ‘I’ve seen fights break out but I’ve never witnessed anything like this. We welcome anyone into this pub and anyone who objects to the lifestyles of others should find somewhere else to drink. This was an unprovoked hate crime as far as I’m concerned. The police need to step up their efforts to protect the public and stop the scourge of hate and prejudice in our cities.’