‘There really was no need.’ I hooked my bag over my shoulder.
‘Promise me we can do this again.’ He pushed his wallet into his pocket.
‘I think it would be nice.’
‘And hopefully I won’t be as tired looking next time you see me, my neighbour might have finished behaving like a schoolboy and moved on to something less noisy and disruptive.’
That smile again.
‘I think you might be right,’ I said.
43
I checked the news site when I arrived home. I was surprised when I found the headline of another murder.
Lilly’s Coffee and Cream Murder.
This was one I had nearly forgotten about. With what had happened in the car park. The thrill and exhilaration of the kill. The way she had gone down like a deer in the woods. All thoughts of the fact I had been waiting for the tox screen to show that I had murdered previously had been forgotten, and yet here it was in black and white.
A couple of weeks ago Christine Rice collapsed and died suddenly in Lilly’s Coffee and Cream. Witnesses at the time said she appeared to be working, both on her phone and her tablet. As an apparently healthy young woman, the incident was treated as suspicious. Now police have released results of a toxicology test and state cause of death was a substance delivered to Ms Rice. They have re-interviewed staff and witnesses from that day and have identified another potential witness to the event. A woman who was working at the side of Ms Rice who may be able to offer the police further information. She is described as five feet, five inches tall, slim build, shoulder length brunette hair and was working on a laptop for much of her time there. If you recognise yourself please contact Suffolk police on the number below. Or if you know this woman please also make contact on the number. It is imperative that police talk with her.
I closed my laptop lid, a little shocked at what I had read. They had identified me as someone they wanted to talk to. The description they had provided could have been any female walking down the street. I was not unique in any way. The problem was if I ran into anyone who recognised me. Though that wasn’t likely. It was one of the reasons I had travelled out of Beccles to do it. But I needed to be alert. For what though? It wasn’t as though I was going to recognise any of the people in the coffee shop. I might remember a couple of people I paid particular attention to but not everyone. Not the staff, they were a little like background noise and yet they could potentially recognise me. I’d keep my head down.
I laughed out loud. How could I be twitchy about a murder miles away when I had committed one right on my doorstep? I was being ridiculous. I had wanted it to be identified as murder and I’d got my wish. I just never realised they would pick me out as someone who was there. The police were definitely good at their jobs.
I sat at the table and allowed my mind to wander through its thoughts. There were now two murders that the police were looking into that I was responsible for. I was confident I wouldn’t be identified. I’d been careful with both of them. There was no evidence to forensically to link me to either of them. It felt good to have succeeded this far. Yes the police had knocked on my door but that was because I was on the doorstep of the latest murder, not because I was a person of interest or any such thing. Who knew that I would be good at this? And that it would give me such a thrill and make me feel so alive?
As I was sitting here so buzzed I decided I should get some writing done as it might mean the words or storyline I came out with would be better for the way I was feeling.
I lifted the lid of the laptop again and opened the document I needed. DI Chloe King was about to do something dangerous and thoughtless. I laughed to myself at this. You would never catch me being quite so reckless. I was managing to write a novel that bore no resemblance to the person I was. Sometimes novelists couldn’t help but allow parts of their own personalities to seep into their manuscript.
Chloe took one of the pool cars out and went to the crematorium where Max was buried. There was a small square concrete placement in the ground where he was laid to rest. Fresh flowers had been laid recently as the flowers were still in full bloom. Chloe knew it would be his mum and his wife. They tended the site and brought him flowers. She had arrived one day as they had been placing them and she had left not wanting to intrude. But today there was no one else here.
‘Hey, Max,’ she said. ‘The wanker has been in touch. I know you’d tell me to not engage with him, to turn the other cheek, to not get pulled into his games. Especially after…’ She waved a hand over his grave. ‘Well, you know.’
Her throat clogged up and her eyes filled with tears. She was determined she wouldn’t cry though. That’s not why she had come here. She had shed enough tears over recent weeks and today was not about more. Today she needed to tell Max she would get the bastard who did this to him.
‘I’ll fetch him in or he’ll die trying to get away, Max. I don’t care which way it goes. If we have to fight to the death it’s going to be him who goes down.’
She wiped her cheek where a stray tear had escaped.
‘I didn’t want to do this. Today is about the fight, Max. It’s for you. He won’t be walking about for much longer. He doesn’t deserve to be free and terrorising people this way, not after what he did to us. I’ll do this for us. No matter what it takes. Even if it takes my career, Max. I will do this.’
And with that she blew him a kiss and turned and walked away, a breeze blowing through her hair. She thought she could feel Max behind her. She knew he would be berating her for what she’d said.
44
I’d not long finished writing that scene when there was a knock at the door. I dreaded it every time I heard that sound. No one good ever knocked at the door. I didn’t have friends and unless it was a parcel delivery, which I knew I hadn’t ordered, then it was likely to be something I wasn’t interested in.
I was right this time. When I opened the door I was met by the sight of one of my neighbours, Sofie Green. Sofie was about the same age as me but she behaved as though she were a pensioner. She dressed like a pensioner in little cardigans and painted pink lips and brooches. I didn’t interact with her often but that was something that always stood out about her when I did. And today was no different. Because it was too warm for a cardigan she was wearing a lemon t-shirt with ruffled sleeves, a butterfly brooch on the side and bright pink lips. It made her smile seem almost clownish.
‘Hi, Sofie,’ I said when I opened the door. ‘What’s up?’
‘Hi, Alice.’
She wasn’t smiling today. In fact she looked the most serious I had ever seen her.
‘It’s about the murder. You know the murder down the road?’
‘Yeah, I know it. What about it?’
‘I’m worried about you.’
My stomach plummeted.
‘Why would you be worried about me, Sofie?’
‘Well, I was awake that night, I couldn’t sleep very well, you know how warm it’s been. I suffer in the heat, especially at night, and anyway, I heard your door go, and thought it strange, it being so late, so worried something might have happened. I looked out the window and saw you go out. When the police came around to the house and told me about the murder I was horrified. I didn’t click at first, but I’ve just realised. You were out at the same time as the killer. He may have seen you. You might be at risk if he thinks you can identify him.’
She did look pale and scared.
‘I’m sure it’s fine,’ I said. ‘I didn’t see anyone so I doubt he saw me. Though thank you for your concern.’
I tried to appease her.
‘Well, to be sure, I’ve contacted the police officer who came to the house and I warned them. I don’t want anything bad happening to you, Alice. I would never forgive myself. The police were grateful and said they would follow up with you. They didn’t want you to be at risk any longer than necessary.’
She put a hand up to her chest.
‘Do you think they’ll of
fer you protection?’
I was still stuck on the words that she had informed the police. I couldn’t move past that. My face must have been frozen into place.
‘Alice, are you okay?’ She reached out her hand that had been gripping her chest and touched my arm.
‘Oh gosh, I didn’t mean to scare you, that’s why I came to tell you. Because you might not have been aware and I didn’t want you wandering about, at risk from a killer. But you’ll be safe now the police know and you’re in your own home. Honestly. You’ll be fine in there.’
She was gripping my arm tightly, her pink lips spread in a thin line across her face.
She’d told the police. The police knew I had been out and about at the time of the murder. Maybe Seth wasn’t the one I should have been worried about.
‘Anyway…’ She started to back away a nervous look on her face. ‘I wanted to let you know. I didn’t mean to scare you. The police will be here soon. Please don’t be scared. Oh I feel so awful for frightening you.’
Her words were turning into a whisper as she continued to talk.
‘I think it’s better I know. Thank you for telling me, Sofie.’ I forced a smile. More of a grimace. Probably doing little to reassure Sofie that all was well here.
And then she was gone and I was alone in the doorway with the memory of my neighbour clutching her chest telling me how afraid she was that I was going to be attacked by the killer who had struck in our neighbourhood because she had seen me go out at the same time. I closed the door quietly, turned my back and leaned on it.
Lilac approached, sniffed the air around me, decided she didn’t want to get too close and walked away with her tail high behind her.
I walked to the fridge, poured myself a large glass of wine and sat with it at the table. Hands wrapped around it as I drank it down. It was good for soothing my nerves.
Lilac didn’t know it but she was going to be my alibi for the police. She couldn’t contradict me but she went missing that night. Who cared that cats often went out on the prowl at night, Lilac didn’t and I was worried. After all, I’m a silly old cat woman. I was searching for my cat. You wouldn’t look at me and think, killer.
45
It didn’t take long for DI Thomas and DC Wade to knock on my door. I was grateful to Sofie, if not for being nosey and seeing me leave the house that night, and not for informing the police of my actions, but for letting me know in advance that she had done so. It had given me time to prepare for their visit. To look less anxious when they asked me about it.
I opened the door and they both stood there looking pristine in their suits, though they did look a little on the warm side, both a little hot under the collar. The sun was beating down and they were wrapped in a full suit, though Thomas was the cooler, dressed with a t-shirt underneath while Wade had a shirt and a tie on that looked as though it was cutting off his circulation.
‘Ms Friend, do you mind if we come in again?’ asked Thomas. ‘We’ve had some information that we need to discuss with you.’
I opened the door and allowed them entry. There was no point pretending I didn’t know what this was about. Who knew how much contact they’d had with Sofie and if she had told them she’d been around to see me? By the time I’d closed the door they were both seated at the table. They liked to make themselves at home, I’d noticed.
I did my best not to roll my eyes at them, and joined them at the table.
‘Can I offer either of you a drink?’ I asked. Trying to put off the impending conversation.
‘I’d love some water,’ said Wade.
Thomas looked at him. He shrugged.
‘I’ll have one as well then, please,’ she said.
I poured three glasses of water, carried them to the table and handed them out. I’d made one for myself as I thought having something to do with my hands might be helpful. It would stop me looking quite so fidgety.
‘How can I help?’ I sat down opposite them.
Thomas took a sip of her water then placed her glass back on the table.
‘It’s come to our attention that you were out the evening of the murder and around the time of the actual killing. Can you tell us about that please?’
‘Well, as I didn’t know what time she was killed until it was in the news, I didn’t know this,’ I said, clearing up why I might not have mentioned it first.
Thomas inclined her head.
‘But I was looking for my cat, Lilac. She’s in every night. She’s not a nocturnal hunter. She’s a homebody. I’ve never known her go out of the house at night and I was worried about her so I went out to look.’
Thomas pulled her notebook and pen out of her bag.
‘I’ve seen your cat. She doesn’t ever go out at night?’ She showed surprise.
‘No. She sleeps on my bed with me every night. I didn’t think I was going to be able to sleep if she wasn’t there, which was another reason it was so urgent for me to go out and look for her.’
Wade cut in then.
‘You said you were having trouble sleeping which was why you went for a drive. Is this why you had trouble?’ He was looking at his own notebook which had materialised.
Shit, I had.
‘Yes. She stressed me out and my body clock was all messed up. I found her and threw her in the house and decided to unwind with a drive.’
‘You found her? That was lucky. Cats are very good at hiding. Where did you find her?’ Thomas asked.
I looked at Lilac who was padding past us. Damn cat.
‘She was down by the river. I didn’t go as far as the car park. I imagine I’m very lucky,’ I said.
‘You are very lucky, who knows what would have happened if he had been disturbed,’ said Thomas as she scribbled in her notepad.
She looked up at me. ‘Did you see anything while you were out?’
I shook my head. ‘I didn’t see anyone.’
‘And can I ask—’ I wriggled on the spot as she looked me in the eye. ‘What were you wearing when you were out?’
46
Sofie had told them what I was wearing?! Why the hell had she told them what I was wearing? I thought she was concerned for my safety, not putting me in the frame for this.
‘Is everything okay?’ asked Wade. ‘Do you remember what you had on? The thing is, we might be able to identify you from other witness statements taken that night. As we identify and eliminate witnesses it makes it easier to find the missing pieces in the picture and see what it is we need.’
He looked and sounded so sincere and yet I had a feeling they already knew what it was I was wearing and they needed for me to admit it so they could ask me why I was dressed like that on such a hot night and to look for my cat.
We sat looking at each other in a standoff. I was silent. How would I get out of this? Sofie had obviously dropped me in it. I couldn’t claim I was in shorts and t-shirt. I had to own up. This was awful. But they couldn’t make an arrest based on what I was wearing. What they could do was grow ever more suspicious though.
‘Alice?’ Thomas prompted.
‘I was in some jogging bottoms, a t-shirt and a cap as my hair was a mess from the bed,’ I clarified.
Wade nodded as he wrote all this down. ‘And the colour of each item?’ he was still writing. His head was down. The question seemingly innocuous.
‘Black,’ I said.
He finished writing and looked up.
‘Which item was black?’ His pen was poised.
I stared at him. This was definitely on purpose.
‘All of it.’
‘All of it?’ he asked.
‘Yes.’ I scratched the top of my arm.
‘Any particular reason you were dressed head to toe in black?’ he asked.
I looked to Thomas. She was watching me, giving nothing away.
‘They were the first things I grabbed,’ I said.
‘The black items?’ he said.
‘Yes.’
‘And on your feet?’
>
Did he really know what was on my feet? Had Sofie gone as far as describing what I was wearing on my feet?
‘I can’t remember,’ I said. ‘I imagine I grabbed a pair of trainers or soft pumps and put them on.’
I would leave it to them to tell me if they knew otherwise.
Wade was scribbling in his notebook.
‘We believe your trainers were black as well. Do you happen to have them with you so we can have a quick look at them?’
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
I stood up from the table. I imagined they thought I was going to get the trainers when in fact the trainers in question were in the bottom of a restaurant industrial bin. I grabbed my glass from the table and glugged the water down. It was noisy and messy. I then walked to the kitchen and refilled the glass and walked back to the table. I needed the time to think. I didn’t have the trainers and even if I had they weren’t something I was going to show them. They were bloody and would have evidence of my crime on them.
I slammed the refilled glass down with a clatter.
‘Can I refill either of your glasses for you?’ I asked.
They shook their heads.
‘No thanks,’ said Wade. ‘But I’d love to see your trainers.’
‘Why?’ I said.
‘Elimination,’ he said. He didn’t clarify this.
‘I would show you but I don’t have them anymore.’
He nodded. Calm.
‘Okay, where are they?’
Fucking coppers. Just stop. What the fuck was I going to say now? I couldn’t have given them to someone, they would want to check with that person. If I gave them to a charity shop they could go and check with that shop. Had bin day happened since the murder? I thought back. Had I put the bin out? Had I heard the rattle of the large bin lorry? Had Lilac hidden under the bed when it passed as she heard it growl? I think it had!
Perfect Murder Page 17