by Tara Lyons
Joan slid her hands between her thighs and squeezed tightly. ‘Thank you.’
A stream of tears ran from the woman’s eyes, and Fraser knew it best she left now, before she lost all professionalism and disclosed every piece of evidence they’d uncovered so far.
‘That’s all I can tell you right now … it’s all I know. But I promise the moment information can be shared, you’ll be informed. I’ll leave you my card, in case you think of anything, or if Donna does get in touch.’
The woman’s head sprung up. ‘You think my baby is still alive?’
Fraser’s stomach lurched. Regardless of age, her mother would also refer to her as “my baby.” Her chest tightened as she attempted to answer Joan’s question. Luckily, there was no need; the woman had resumed to her own thoughts.
‘We must have faith, Detective. I know, deep in my soul, something awful has happened to Donna. There is no explanation for why she wouldn’t get in contact with me. But I have to hope God is watching over her, and that he’ll guide her back to me.’
With that, the woman picked up her bible and disappeared into a trance. Fraser lightly squeezed Joan’s shoulder as she left the room, and the deathly quiet house.
Rocky walked into the kitchen and gasped at the scene greeting him. Fraser sat shivering, despite the unnecessary heat pumping from the radiators, at the round dining table. Wrapped in a star motif dressing gown, Fraser’s blonde locks were scraped away from her face with a clip. Her glare remained fixed on the large box in front of her, even as he stepped further inside the room. Although Rocky felt the urge to rush to her side and console her, he lingered back, waiting for an explanation. Fraser usually exuded such control and confidence at work, yet now, she appeared more like a victim than his colleague.
‘The door was left ajar,’ he said, while looking around the small room for any sign of foul play.
‘I heard your car pull up. I opened it as I came downstairs,’ Fraser replied, her voice barely a whisper.
He pulled out the only other available chair and perched next to her. ‘I was just on my way to the office when you called this morning.’
She nodded, but her attention remained on the box. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t really know what to do. Stupid really, considering what I do for a living. I contemplated phoning Clarke, but I thought he’d just laugh at me.’
‘Kerry, it’s okay, I won’t laugh. You can tell me whatever you need to.’ He followed her eyes to the unidentified object. ‘Can I open the box?’
Fraser nodded, covered her face with her hand and turned away. Rocky rubbed his palms along his thighs, wiping the sweat onto his starched, black trousers. He slowly lifted the rectangular, white box and froze. A bouquet of lilies, the petals and stems brown and lifeless, riddled with worms and insects. Rocky yelped, flipping the lid back on the box after a beetle scurried along the edge of the decaying wreath.
‘Fuck sake,’ he yelled, forgetting all professionalism. ‘What’s all this about?’
She turned her body to him, but continued staring at the white tiled floor. ‘I found them on my front step this morning. They have to be from Johnny … he knows lilies are my favourite.’
Before Rocky could enquire who Johnny was, he stopped himself. Still a stranger, having only worked together for a few weeks, he wondered if Fraser would truly feel comfortable opening up to him. He studied her every move; the way she fidgeted with the wisps of hair around her face, then clasping her hands together and rolling one thumb around the other. He heard the deep sigh, before her watery eyes met his.
‘Johnny is … was … my best friend. And, no, nothing more than that, before you ask. Sometimes a man and woman can just be friends,’ Fraser blurted. ‘One of the last cases I worked on, a young girl lost her friend to drugs, and I could totally empathise with her. Except my friend didn’t die … nevertheless, I still lost him. Over the years of his addiction, he hurt me in ways I don’t think anyone else could. Lied to and stole from me, used the secrets we shared to manipulate me and get what he wanted. I couldn’t watch it anymore. I couldn’t be a part of what he was doing to himself. So, I moved to Central London … no, not a million miles away from my home town in Kent, but it’s very easy to get lost in London, and that’s what I wanted. I started a new life for myself.’
‘What makes you think these are from Johnny then?’ Rocky asked, after she’d remained silent for a few moments.
She wiped the mix of tears and snot that had silently mingled together. ‘After I left, I kept in touch with a mutual friend. Occasionally, I’d get in touch with her, for an update on Johnny. Last year, she told me he’d finally gone into rehab and was doing really well. About six months ago, she asked if I’d meet with him, said he needed my forgiveness to move on. I thought about it, but I couldn’t go back to that. I gave him chance after chance before and always ended up getting hurt. I’m happy here with my job. I couldn’t jeopardise that.’
‘So, you didn’t meet up with him.’
‘No,’ she said and gazed back at the floor. ‘I wrote our friend a letter, asking her to pass it onto Johnny. I asked him never to get in touch with me again, hoping it would give us both some closure.’
Rocky nodded towards the flower box. ‘I’m assuming he took it the wrong way.’
‘Exactly. Full of destruction and spitefulness … that’s the Johnny I remember. Unfortunately.’
‘Look, Kerry, I think we should tell the boss about this.’
She leapt up from the chair. ‘No, we can’t. I’ll look weak and vulnerable.’
‘Of course you won’t. But you said it was on your front step, and there’s no delivery notice with them, which means they were hand delivered. Johnny knows where you live.’
A darkness descended over Fraser’s face, but she quickly shook it away and walked around the table. ‘I’m sure this is just an answer to my letter, and nothing more will come of it.’
Rocky followed suit, standing to face Fraser. ‘I understand your reservations, but I don’t think it’ll harm us to tell him –’
‘Please, Rocky, there’s no need,’ she interrupted him, her professional persona restored. ‘I’m sorry, I never should have called you. What I should have done was thrown that awful box in the bin, had a shower, and got myself into work.’
‘Hey, it’s okay. Despite everything, it would have been a shock.’ Rocky smiled and stepped forward with his arms outstretched.
Fraser backed away. ‘Please don’t be nice to me, Rocky. I don’t want to fall apart. I shouldn’t have got all emotional and dragged you into this. It’s my mess.’
He lowered his hands, but stepped closer again. ‘Would you bloody stop saying sorry,’ he replied jovially. ‘We’ve all got baggage we’d prefer not to have.’
She busied herself, swiping a glass from the cupboard and filling it with water. Rocky couldn’t help but notice how her hand shook while she held it under the tap.
‘Rocky, I just need you to give the boss an update from me, about Mrs Moran. If that’s okay?’
‘No problem, whatever you need me to do.’ He wanted to be sterner, not care about what she’d just divulged with him, which was obviously what she wanted too. But the pain etched on Fraser’s face was too much to ignore. ‘You don’t have to come into work today. I can cover for you.’
‘Don’t be daft. Of course I’ll be at work,’ she quickly replied. ‘I have a lead to chase up first, about the Botox, but I should be in by lunchtime. Actually, I don’t think I told Hamilton and the team. Could you?’
‘Like I said, no problem.’ Rocky grabbed the box from the middle of the table and walked out of the kitchen. After opening the front door, he stopped, peered over his shoulder, and heard the faint sound of sobs. He wanted to be a trustworthy friend and colleague, but his inner self screamed this was something Hamilton should be told about. He’d battle with himself the entire journey into the office.
‘See you in a few hours,’ he yelled and pulled the door shut after no
reply came.
14
Felicity waited in the doorway as her friends walked through to her kitchen. A whistle echoed from Todd’s lips, while Holly’s eyes widened and she stood, stunned and silent, for a few moments. Their questions and theories soon attacked Felicity in quick succession, and the pain coursed from the top of her skull to the base of her neck like a blaze of fire. Drained, she walked into the living room and slumped into the armchair, knowing the pair would soon follow suit.
‘Have you called the police?’ Holly asked, and took a seat on the sofa.
Todd perched next to the redhead and leaned forward, his arms resting on his thighs and his hands clasped together. Felicity could feel both sets of watchful eyes drilling into her, and she lowered her chin to her chest and studied the floor.
‘No, what’s the point?’
‘There’s every point,’ Holly exclaimed. ‘Warren’s just been murdered, and someone’s broken into your home telling you you’re next. Why haven’t you called them already?’
‘Because she knows who it is.’ Todd’s deep voice cut through the air, and Felicity lifted her head. ‘It’s Donna, isn’t it?’
The tears welled beneath her lashes, threatening to erupt. Despite having experiencing every emotion possible with the two friends sitting in front of her, she didn’t feel comfortable to openly weep. The past two years had changed their relationship dramatically, and she was afraid they’d get up and leave her; the last thing Felicity wanted was to be alone.
‘We need to get Calvin here,’ Todd continued.
‘I asked you all to come around in the group message. He read it, but didn’t reply.’
‘Probably because you didn’t give us the heads up about this. He has a right to know.’
Holly threw her arms in the air. ‘Know what?’
‘Are you stupid, woman?’ Todd said. ‘Don’t you see what’s going on here? Donna’s back, and she wants revenge for what happened at Lake Windermere. First Warren, now Felicity … any one of us could be next.’
Felicity watched the argument between her two friends like a tennis volley. Although surprised by Todd’s quick conclusion, she couldn’t help but agree with him; Warren’s body had been found at the exact spot they’d last seen Donna, and the police re-opening the missing person’s file caused the panic, which had simmered silently for years, to boil to the surface. Now, Todd voiced what she’d been too afraid to say.
‘You’re having a fucking laugh,’ Holly exclaimed, and stood up. ‘Donna wouldn’t do this … she couldn’t kill Warren. One of her best friends, and he was more than just a friend to her.’ She folded her arms and looked at Felicity briefly. ‘Sorry … but you know what I mean. You’re both overreacting. I can’t believe Donna would do this.’
‘Tell the truth, or you’re next. That’s what it says on the wall.’ Todd pointed in the direction of the kitchen. ‘What else could that mean? It’s a bloody warning for all of us to come clean about Lake Windermere.’
‘Why would Donna wait two years?’ Holly fired back. ‘Our friend, who studied creative writing, suddenly turned into Jason Bourne and has been hiding out all this time, planning her revenge. Really, that’s what you believe?’
Todd rose from the sofa and pointed at Holly. ‘Yes, that’s what I fucking think,’ he said through gritted teeth. ‘And if you don’t get your head out of la-la land soon, we’ll all be in trouble.’
Felicity frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
He stood back. ‘We’re going to need to work together, to find Donna. There’s no way we’re going to the police, not now, after all this time. Once you change your story, they never believe a word you say. We have to stop her from hurting any of us.’
‘This is ridiculous,’ Holly moaned, but sat back on the sofa. ‘It just all seems … implausible.’
‘Look at the facts, Hols, at everything that’s happened in the past few weeks. Donna’s anniversary … I mean, she couldn’t be giving us a bigger clue.’
Felicity nodded. ‘Perhaps you’re right. But what should we do? I’ve always looked for Donna and found nothing.’
Holly stared at her. ‘Seriously? You continued looking?’
She shrugged, looking down and fumbling with her fingers. ‘Not actively on the streets, or anything, but I always ask around and sometimes show her photograph. I needed to make things right. I needed to stop hating myself.’
‘I don’t know what we’ll do, exactly,’ Todd interrupted her thoughts. ‘But we need Calvin here too; it’s not right to do this without him.’
‘I’ve got the car out front. I’ll drive to his work and see if he’s there,’ Holly said and snatched her bag from the floor.
After the front door slammed shut, an unbearable silence filled the house. It drilled into Felicity’s ears, a static buzzing noise overtook her thoughts, and she clamped her hands over the side of her head.
‘Hey, hey, hey, it’s okay,’ Todd said and knelt down in front of her. He wrapped his large hands around her shoulders, his hot breath invading her personal space. ‘We’ll sort all of this out together, just like we used to.’
Felicity sniffed deeply. ‘But it’s nothing like it used to be. There were six of us then. We had the strongest friendship I’d ever known. We were dragged apart by fear, and we’ve been thrown back together by murder.’
He rubbed his hands slowly up and down her arms, and her stomach clenched. Like trying to start a camp fire, Todd continued rubbing, and Felicity felt the spark of emotion ignite from deep within her body. She didn’t want him to touch her, but she couldn’t stop it.
‘Listen, Flick, everything happens for a reason. You know I’ve always been a big believer in that … I’ve had to be, what with all the shit balls life’s thrown at me. After we’d returned from Lake Windermere, things weren’t how I wanted them to be, but I had to go with it. We’ve all just got to ride this rollercoaster of life. But, you need to know, I never stopped thinking about you and the amazing woman you are. You’ll always be my best friend.’
Todd ceased his stroking motion and pulled Felicity closer. Heat emerged from her T-shirt, and slid up her neck until her face burned. His warm hands glided onto her back, drawing her into him until she felt dizzy. Their lips touched, softly at first, but passion soon took over, and she could feel Todd’s hunger for her. As she allowed his tongue to slip into her mouth, Warren’s face filled her mind. Felicity pushed Todd away and jumped up, marching across the room, away from him.
‘You have to leave,’ she demanded.
He walked towards her. ‘Babe, please.’
‘I am not your babe! How dare you? You say I’m your best friend, that Warren was too, and then you pull something like this, when you know I’m vulnerable.’ She stepped to the side and pointed towards the door. ‘I said get out.’
Todd chuckled. ‘Now who’s overreacting. Come on, let’s just forget this happened and move on with –’
‘I was wrong to call you here. I don’t need you. I haven’t needed any of you for two years. I’ll sure as hell manage without you now. Leave.’
His smile slipped, and he shook his head as he left the room. Felicity looked away when he stopped in the doorway. She wanted him to understand her message loud and clear: she needed no one.
15
Hamilton stormed into the incident room and slung his jacket over the desk at the back of the office. After updating DCI Allen on the current position of their case, he’d received a bollocking for the lack of progress made. His superior made it quite clear favours had been called upon to have Warren Speed’s murder case seamlessly passed from the Cumbria Constabulary to London’s MIT, due to Hamilton’s imploring.
He sighed as he slumped into the swivel chair nearest the white board and stared at the evidence attached. While he hated being reprimanded, he understood why Allen had been forthcoming with the threats of taking this case from his team. They had nothing of substance to pull them in a viable direction to uncover the clues they nee
ded. Hamilton punched his thigh.
‘What’s up with you, gov?’ Clarke interrupted from behind him.
He turned to face him. ‘Well, let’s see,’ Hamilton replied and counted his fingers as he spoke. ‘I hardly got any sleep last night. DCI Allen is on the warpath. We have no flipping suspects. Need I go on?’
Clarke raised his eyebrows. ‘I get the picture. But you’re really giving us way too much information about the bedroom antics, gov.’
Hamilton’s partner returned to his desk with a wink and a cheeky grin. He ignored it, his thoughts drifting to the events of last night. Massaging his crocked neck, Hamilton still needed to discover why the security lights surrounding his home hadn’t worked. Instead, he quickly sent Elizabeth a text message, suggesting she stay the night at her mother’s, blaming the workload of his current case. Dropping his mobile back into his trouser pocket, he looked up to find Fraser entering the office.
‘Ah, nice of you to join us,’ he announced, and stood up.
Fraser stopped short and fumbled with the strap of her bag. ‘I thought Rocky would have informed you …’
He folded his arms but smiled. ‘He did, Fraser, relax. I have an appointment with a witness in an hour. Could you update us quickly?’
She nodded, moving swiftly around the office and grabbing notes from her bag. The rest of the team stopped what they were doing to listen.
‘Right, I spoke to a friend of mine who works on Harley Street, and he made it clear that the general public shouldn’t be able to readily buy Botox.’
‘I feel a “but” coming,’ Dixon said.
Fraser cocked her head. ‘Well, you’d be right. So, if you search Botox on the internet, you’ll find outlets that sell it. However, they will only deliver the product to doctors, dentists, and pharmacies working within licenced establishments. My source backed this up, but she also explained there are some dodgy websites, mainly in the US, that will ship Botox here for people to inject themselves.’