The Witness

by Jane Bidder

  “You’re jealous! I can tell from your voice.”

  Daniel gave her a sad look. “Jealous? No. Envious, maybe. A man has needs, Alice. For nearly twenty years, you and I haven’t slept together. And I’m not counting lying next to each other in bed. Do you honestly think that’s normal?”

  The light was too honest. Turning it off, she slid down under the covers, putting them over her head. “If it wasn’t for Phil, I would have been normal,” she whispered.

  “What did you say?”

  Her husband’s voice was hard.

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  But it did. She would take him to court, vowed Alice. It didn’t matter how old Phil was. He had to pay.

  Daniel’s slow steady breathing showed he’d managed to fall asleep soon after the argument. If only she could do the same. But something was beginning to niggle away at her inside. A force which was – how odd! – encouraging her to explore herself. To rhythmically move up and down; silently, so as not to wake Daniel. To find, to her surprise, that her body had taken on a life of her own. A rhythmical pulsing down below. Short, sharp breathing that surely didn’t belong to her. A wave which took her with it, filling her with … with pleasure? Really?

  Kayleigh had been right, Alice, thought sleepily as she fell into a lovely peaceful space. Sex – even with yourself – did make you feel powerful. If she could enjoy what she’d just experienced, maybe she was getting stronger.

  Meanwhile Phil Wright still had to pay.

  Because it had taken so long to fall asleep, Alice woke much later than she normally did. Nearly ten o’clock! Mungo would be desperate.

  Then all the events of last night came flooding back with a low horrible thud. Looking across the bed for Daniel, she saw with relief that his side was empty and his shoes (always a well-polished brogue) were gone from their usual place beside the bed.

  Good. So she’d escaped a sullen husband at breakfast. He must have gone to the college or maybe to Monica. Strangely, the prospect of the latter didn’t hurt as much as it should.

  Then she remembered something else. Garth sneaking into Kayleigh’s room. Kayleigh, the thief; something she would have tackled her about last night if it hadn’t been for the row over Phil.

  Quickly slipping on her jogging bottoms, she hovered outside her son’s room. She needed to talk to him. Tell him what he was letting himself in for with that girl. Nervously, she opened the door.

  Empty.

  So Kayleigh was still with Garth in the guest room.

  If it was anyone else, she would have told herself that Garth was old enough to have a girlfriend sleeping over. But Kayleigh wasn’t their type. It wasn’t the correct thing to say yet it was true. She might be surprisingly well-read but she had a record. She’d been in care. She stole things. Alice had only taken her in out of pity and because she’d wanted to give her the second chance that she, Alice, had been denied.

  Now this was the consequence.

  “You’ve only got yourself to blame,” Alice told herself as she put on Mungo’s lead and walked out across the lawn towards the sea. “You’ve tried to make things right but really, maybe that’s impossible.”

  Perhaps that applied to her as well as Kayleigh. Despite her fierce words last night, she actually felt sick with apprehension at the prospect of taking the stand in court against an old man.

  As if on cue, her mobile rang with her mother’s name on the screen. Maybe if she ignored it, it would go away. No. It was ringing a second time.

  “Alice? I just can’t believe you’re actually going ahead with this case against poor Phil. Daniel’s just called me. He’s worried too. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Holding the phone away from her ear, Alice made her way down the slope towards the beach. Mungo was already racing ahead. It must be nice to be a dog, she suddenly thought. No real worries apart from when you were going to be fed and walked.

  “I didn’t tell you because I knew you wouldn’t approve.”

  “He’s an old man, Alice. How can you put him through it? Besides, it’s not really his fault …”

  Her voice tailed away.

  “Then whose fault is it, Mum?” demanded Alice. “He might be old but he’s ruined my life.”

  “You’re so hard! Did you know that your own son …”

  She cut her off; too late, wondering what Mum had been going to say about Garth. No doubt she’d find out soon enough but at the moment it wasn’t important. Turning the phone to Off, she tried to concentrate on the thoughts whirling round her head.

  By the time she came back to the house, with a wet but happy Mungo alongside her, Alice felt more in charge of herself. Despite that argument with Daniel last night, she would definitely go ahead with the case against Phil. She would kindly but firmly tell Kayleigh that she knew she’d stolen the silver frame and that this was her chance to confess about any involvement with the burglary before she told the police. And she would tell Daniel that she wanted to start again. Somehow, for the sake of the family, they had to put Monica behind them.

  Maybe she’d have some counselling to help.

  The phone rang as she came through the back door. “Wait,” she instructed Mungo whose paws needed wiping. She picked up the handset noticing that the house was still quiet. So Kayleigh and her son were still in bed … Some rules needed to be set round here. They both needed summer jobs for a start.

  “Yes?”

  “It’s Brian. We have a problem, I’m afraid.”

  “But they’ve released him! They can’t go back on their word.”

  Brian’s serious voice cut in. “It’s not South America this time. It’s to do with a Phil Wright.”

  Alice went cold. Paul Black had said the Crown Prosecution would handle her case. How did Brian know about it? Of course. Janice. She had spilt the beans even though she’d said it was confidential.

  “Janice had no right,” she began.

  “Janice?” Brian sounded genuinely surprised. “Janice hasn’t got anything to do with it. Listen, Alice. I need you to prepare yourself. I’ve had a phone call from Garth. He couldn’t get hold of you and he didn’t want to ring his father. Kayleigh’s been arrested. For murder.”

  This couldn’t be happening. Dazed, Alice listened to the story – as far as Brian knew it – while he drove her to the police station.

  “Garth is trying to take the blame. He says it was him. But Kayleigh says it’s her.”

  His lips tightened. “I know who my money would be on. Janice has told me a bit about this girl and I have to say that it sounds like you’ve taken on more than you can chew.”

  He reached out and patted her knee. It seemed a peculiarly intimate gesture, given that he was talking in the role of her lawyer. Briefly, Alice thought of Janice’s admission that they’d gone through a difficult patch. Stiffly, she moved out of reach.

  “What were they doing at Phil’s nursing home, anyway?”

  But instinctively, Alice knew. The girl had either murdered – or got involved with the murder – for her.

  “When I like someone, I’ll do anything for them. Anything at all.” Wasn’t that what she’d said on the beach, on the day Alice had given evidence against Frankie? The girl’s strength of feeling had startled her. Scared her, to be honest.

  “Garth wanted to fight your battle.” Brian shook his head. “He told me about it. I’m sorry, Alice. It sounds as though you went through a lot as a teenager.”

  Victoria. Victoria …

  “So has Kayleigh,” she found herself saying.

  “I’m afraid,” replied Brian pulling up outside the police station, “the law may not be so ready to see that as an excuse for murder. However, we do have one thing in our favour. Turns out that your son had the presence of mind to record Phil’s confession on his mobile. We’ve got it safe.” His face turned to hers with compassion. “He admitted to raping you, Alice.”

  But at what price? Shivering, she got out, and allowed Brian to steady he
r elbow as they made their way in. Paul! He was there. Uncomfortably, she watched his eyes take in Brian’s hand on her elbow.

  She moved away.

  “Mum.”

  She hadn’t seen Garth, sitting on a chair. Springing up, he flung his arms around her. She breathed him in. Her boy. Her man. The one good thing to have come out of her marriage.

  “I did it but they won’t believe me,”

  “Don’t say any more,” snapped Brian.

  “Where is Kayleigh? Can we see her?”

  Paul’s eyes were on hers. The same hypnotic blue gaze. Warm this time with a look that said “I’m here for you.” Unless she was imagining it.

  “She’s waiting for the duty solicitor.”

  Alice looked at Brian. “I’d like you to take on her case.”

  He nodded. “Do you want to clear that with Daniel first?”

  “No.” If necessary, she’d pay for it out of her own money.

  “Then I would like to see my new client,” said Brian heavily.

  “This way,” said Paul. “Alice, could you stay here for a bit? There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

  He sat her down in an armchair with a wooden frame. It was more comfortable than the steel-rimmed ones in the waiting room. Then he gave her a cup of tea in a proper china cup and saucer.

  “The thing is,” he said steadily, “that I genuinely don’t think Kayleigh did it.”

  That lump of fear which had formed in her chest when Brian had first phoned came back.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, the nurse swears that the pillow was in Kayleigh’s hands. But I’ve seen enough of people over the years to know when they’re guilty. And I don’t think she is.”

  She could hardly get the words out. “You think it was Garth?”

  “She’s protecting him,” he said, ignoring her question. “She adores him. Anyone can see that. And I suspect he has a thing for her too.”

  Slowly, she nodded. “I know.”

  Paul put down his mug. “When people have low esteem, they will do things for others – extraordinary things sometimes – to win approval. I think that’s what Kayleigh’s doing.”

  “But if you’re right and it’s Garth, he’ll go to prison for murder?”

  His eyes were on hers. “Maybe manslaughter. It will be argued that he did it out of love for you.”

  “So it’s my fault again?”

  He put a hand on hers. A hand that surely shouldn’t be there. “I can’t bear to see you beating yourself up like this, Alice.”

  Was this an act? And if so, why did her body tingle like this?

  “What can I do?”

  “Talk to her. Wait until your lawyer friend has finished and then talk to her.”

  He said the ‘lawyer friend’ bit with a touch of sharpness. Was he jealous? No. That was ridiculous.

  “My husband has been having an affair with someone from my book club.” She blurted out the words before knowing it.

  An expression of surprise flitted across his face.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m going to try to make a go of my marriage.”

  Why was she telling him this? Was it a warning? As if there was any need for one.

  He nodded. Briefly. Disappointedly?

  “You’ve got a lot going on in your life at the moment, Alice. When that was happening to me, someone told me to do the next thing first.” He smiled. A lovely comforting warm smile. “It’s another way of saying ‘One step at a time’ but it helped.”

  “Thanks.” She drained the tea. It felt sweet. Comforting. Someone had put sugar in it even though she didn’t normally take it. There was a knock on the door and a voice. “The lawyer’s finished now.”

  Paul looked at Alice meaningfully. “Are you ready?”

  “There’s something else.” She could hear Victoria’s voice in her head. Tell him, Mum. Tell him.

  “After … after what Phil did to me, I got pregnant.” She closed her eyes, finally allowing herself to meet the past. The bit that really mattered.

  Two months after her eighteenth birthday, Alice had had to face the truth. Her period was late. Which meant …

  “Positive.” The nurse at the student medical centre, had taken her into a side room to give her the news and hand her a box of tissues. “No doubt about it, love. You’re pregnant.” She put a motherly arm around her. “Now, now. Don’t panic. I know it seems the end of the world in your first year but there are things that can be done.” Her eyes were milky with sympathy. “Is your boyfriend likely to stand by you?”

  Alice had shaken her head vigorously. “He’s not my boyfriend.” Pausing, she tried to tell the nice nurse what had happened but failed. Maybe she’d blame her. Think that Alice had been responsible.

  “Ah, it’s over, is it?” The nurse sucked in her breath. “Well, you have other options. There’s lots of help here for single mothers and …”

  ”I don’t know what to do.” Alice heard her voice ringing out. “I can’t have this … this man’s baby. ” She shook with sobs. “But I don’t want to get rid of a life.”

  Someone was holding her hand. Not the nurse. That had been years ago. Not Daniel because she’d been too ashamed to tell him. But Paul. Paul Black who had nothing to gain this time from her confession. Paul whose eyes were wet with understanding.

  “What did you do?” he asked quietly.

  She nodded, swallowing back the tears in an attempt to sound lucid. “I made the mistake of asking Mum’s advice. She had to accept Phil had … had sex with me then, although she still said it was my fault; that I must have led him on. She told me that I had no choice. A baby would ruin my life and Dad’s too. He was beginning to have chest pains then … I couldn’t add to that. I wanted to consider adoption but Mum persuaded me it would be difficult to hide a pregnancy.

  “ ‘Far better to get rid of it and wait until you’re married to someone,’ ” she said. At the time, it seemed to make sense. I was so young … I didn’t know what I was doing.”

  Alice closed her eyes. “Afterwards, I tried not to think about it. But then I started seeing prams in the street, when I’d never noticed them before. Someone in my year got pregnant and I began to wonder what would have happened if I’d kept my own baby.”

  She opened her eyes and smiled wistfully. “In my head, I knew it had been a girl. Victoria, I would have called her. Finally, I couldn’t cope with all the stuff going round my head. So I dropped out of my course and started work.”

  “That’s how you met your husband.”

  Paul said the word stiffly.

  “Yes. You remember.”

  “Alice, I remember everything you say.”

  “Because you’re a policeman?”

  “Yes. And because …”

  He stopped.

  She waited but to her relief or disappointment – Alice couldn’t decide which – he said nothing. So she went on. “I’ve never told anyone else before.”

  “Then I’m flattered.” His hands dropped hers. “You have to decide something now, Alice.”

  Her heart fluttered.

  “Do you want to include this in your statement?”

  Yes. No. Yes. But not before she’d done something she should have done a long time ago. Daniel wasn’t the only one who had hidden things. Now was the time to make amends.

  Or try to.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  “I told you. I did it. I put the pillow over his face.”

  Kayleigh tried to make herself sound like a woman in a film she’d seen once with Marlene. Her grandmother had taken them and had chewed toffees all the way through.

  The rustle of the sweet papers had made it difficult to hear and even now Kayleigh didn’t know why the character in the film had said she’d killed the man in question. It had been with a knife, rather than a pillow. But she could remember the hard way the actress had sounded and her unrepentant facial expression.

  So Kayleig
h tried to copy that too even though she still felt shaky after the lawyer’s probing questions and patronising manner.

  “Why?” asked Alice, who was sitting next to her. But she said it in a nice way. One that almost made Kayleigh want to tell the truth.

  “It was like I just said to your posh lawyer friend. I did it for you. I remembered the name from when we talked on the beach. Uncle Phil, you’d said. Then I heard you arguing with your husband about him. I could see he was still upsetting you so I decided to do something about it because you’ve been good to me. Garth found out where he lived from your mum – he pretended he wanted to send a get well card – so I made him drive me there.”

  It sounded real, even to her.

  Alice leaned forward and took her hands. Was this what it would be like to have a real mum who loved you? “Kayleigh, sometimes when we care for someone, we try to protect them. I think … I think you have learned to care for Garth and that you are protecting him now.”

  “Why?” Kayleigh heard her words ring out sharply. “Why do you think that?”

  “Because my son told me what really happened.”

  Kayleigh felt cold even though Alice’s hot hands were still there. “Then he’s lying.”

  Alice leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. Her mascara was smudged, Kayleigh noticed. Marlene had taught her a good trick to deal with that. “You can’t buy someone’s love, Kayleigh,” added Alice softly.

  Standing up, Kayleigh kicked the table. Shocked, she looked down at her foot as though someone else had done it. “I’m not. How dare you say that?”

  “Because I understand.” Alice looked away. “I tried to buy my husband’s love by flattering him when we met. I told him that I liked the same kind of books he read and the same kind of music. I also made him want me even though …”

  Her voice tailed away but Kayleigh knew what she meant. “Even though you didn’t fancy him?”

  Alice gave a half-smile. “Something like that. The thing is, Kayleigh, that you have to be honest. Otherwise, the lies will eat you away.”

  Kayleigh thought about Mr Brown in the classroom with the woman who wasn’t his wife. Were his fibs eating him away? It hadn’t looked like it.