Before I Say I Do

by Vicki Bradley

  ‘Kayleigh Webb?’ Loxton asked.

  ‘Here,’ Carol held up the photograph of Julia as a little girl holding hands with the red-haired girl with green eyes. ‘That’s Kayleigh.’

  Lucy Webb had auburn hair and green eyes. How long had they known each other for? Loxton took the photograph and studied the little girl’s face. It looked like Webb. She took a photograph with her phone camera and handed the precious photograph back to Carol.

  ‘We’re sorry that you have to go through it all again,’ Loxton said.

  Kowalski stood up ready to leave, energy pouring off him. She could tell he was desperate to chase this lead. This discovery had changed everything.

  ‘Poor Jenny.’ Carol’s voice was shrill, and it startled Loxton for a moment. ‘Talbot’s a funny surname to pick. You’d have thought she’d have used my maiden name, or something that meant something to her.’ For a moment, there was stillness, and then Carol began to cry again – deep, croaking sobs that shook her whole body. Michael pressed his lips together. He looked at Loxton, his eyes pleading.

  ‘Here’s my card.’ Loxton held it out towards them. ‘Call me any time.’

  ‘Please – will you tell Jenny we love her?’ Carol managed through the tears.

  ‘Do you want her to know that we’ve been here?’ Loxton asked.

  Carol looked torn. ‘She must be devastated. I can’t believe her fiancé disappeared the day before her wedding. And then that monster being found dead. It’s awful.’

  Michael took the card from Loxton. ‘Thank you, officers.’ He walked them to the door, leaving Carol on the sofa muttering to herself.

  Michael lowered his voice. ‘My wife’s very fragile. I’m not sure she can take all of this. Please don’t mention us to Jenny. We’re easy to find if she wants to contact us. We haven’t changed our names.’ Michael glanced back towards the living room.

  Loxton closed the door behind her as they left. When she was in the car, she rubbed the back of her neck with both hands; it was knotted and it was going to take much more than that to relieve the tension.

  ‘That was awful.’ She felt drained by their loss, helpless to ease their pain.

  Kowalski shook his head in disbelief. ‘I can’t believe Jenny Hughes is Julia Talbot. Did you know?’

  ‘No, I suspected,’ she replied. ‘Jenny and Julia had the same date of birth. It just seemed like too much of a coincidence, what with Cane stalking Talbot.’ She knew something hadn’t been right in Talbot’s past and here it was. Julia Talbot had to change her entire identity to escape her history. To start again. Loxton could sympathize with that. What she couldn’t understand is why Talbot had kept the lie going, despite everything that had happened.

  ‘And I thought you were wasting your time chasing Cane’s historic murder,’ Kowalski said. ‘Talbot had me fooled.’

  ‘She had us all fooled,’ Loxton said. Talbot had lied to her about everything – her identity, her parents being dead and that she hadn’t known Jonny Cane. It took a certain type to lie that convincingly to the police and Talbot’s lies had seriously hindered the investigation. Loxton suppressed the anger and frustration.

  ‘Interesting that the day Rachel died is the first time Talbot ever babysat her,’ Kowalski said. ‘Do you think she was involved in her murder? Some sort of weird pact with Cane?’

  It sounded ridiculous. ‘From what I’ve read, Jonathan Cane was acting alone. Julia wasn’t involved. She helped to convict him. This could be simple revenge on his part. He killed one sister and got caught, perhaps he was determined to destroy the other. Killing Rowthorn before Talbot’s wedding day is particularly cruel.’ It seemed plausible but then anything could have happened. Loxton’s head span with all the possible scenarios.

  ‘So Talbot found out Cane killed Rowthorn and has taken matters into her own hands?’ Kowalski said. ‘We need to get her back in for interview.’

  Chapter 33

  Julia Talbot

  Friday

  The police station was crowded, like a doctor’s surgery, with people sat staring into space – their own troubles playing in their minds. Lucy and I headed to the receptionist but there was already an agitated man speaking to her.

  ‘I want to talk to a real police officer,’ the man said. ‘My rucksack was stolen and all you can do is take a report?’

  ‘Sir, there was a murder last night.’ The receptionist looked tired. ‘The police officers are dealing with that. I’ve reported your bag on the system and I’ve given you a crime reference number. Someone will be in contact soon. That’s all I can do for now.’

  Lucy gave me a furtive look. They were talking about Jonny. My gut twisted in fear. The lady on the phone had told me they wanted me to come to the police station to give me an update about the case. But was Jonny’s murder why they’d really called me here? Had they found my DNA on his body already? I clasped my hands together and tried to breathe steadily.

  ‘Don’t look so worried,’ Lucy whispered to me. ‘It’s all right. We’ll just tell them everything we know. They’ll be able to work out the crypto account; I’m sorry I couldn’t.’ She didn’t know what I’d done to Jonny, though. She just thought I’d spoken to him at the nightclub.

  The receptionist looked relieved when the man with the rucksack stomped away. She turned to me. ‘Can I help you?’

  ‘I’ve been asked to come in for an update. DC Alana Loxton’s been dealing with my case.’

  ‘I’ll call her for you now.’ The receptionist picked up her phone.

  I looked at Lucy and she gave me an encouraging smile.

  ‘I can’t get hold of DC Loxton,’ the receptionist said. ‘Are you okay to wait for a bit while I track her down?’

  ‘I . . . I can wait, I suppose.’ I turned away and dug my nails into the palms of my hands to keep me from screaming. I felt the walls of the police station closing in on me. This didn’t feel right. I couldn’t speak to the police now. I’d called Jonny with my mobile; they would link him to me. And my DNA was bound to be on his body. How had I been so stupid? I had to get out of here. I headed towards the door.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Lucy followed me, putting her hand on my shoulder. ‘We agreed. This is the time to tell the police everything.’

  I looked at her puzzled face, but my throat felt dry and I couldn’t speak. I’d lied to her about Jonny. I hadn’t told her that I’d pushed him. That I’d killed him. Would she ever look at me the same, once she knew I was a killer, that I’d kept it from her? It was too late now.

  I heard the entrance door open and Loxton and Kowalski strode in, their eyes searching the room until they found me.

  ‘I was . . . I was told to come in.’ I swallowed, seeing the hardness in Loxton’s face. ‘But they said you weren’t here.’ I motioned towards reception.

  ‘You don’t mind if I sit in for the update too?’ Lucy asked. ‘For moral support.’ Her voice faltered as she looked at Loxton and Kowalski’s strained faces.

  ‘Julia Talbot,’ Loxton said. ‘You’re under arrest for kidnap and murder.’

  My legs felt like they were going to give out from underneath me and I put my hand out to Lucy, who steadied me. All I could do was stare at them.

  ‘You’re arresting her for murder?’ Lucy’s voice was raised. ‘You can’t do that.’

  ‘I’m afraid we can,’ Kowalski said. ‘We need to interview her. And I’m sorry, but you can’t be there.’

  ‘I’m staying with her,’ Lucy’s voice rose in anger.‘You’ve got this all wrong.’ Her hand grabbed mine and tightened around it.

  ‘Lucy, it’s all right.’ I gave her a quick hug. ‘I’ll meet you afterwards. It won’t take long. This will all get cleared up. There’s been some sort of mistake.’ I doubted I’d be leaving the station, but I couldn’t bear to see her so upset.

  Loxton and Kowalski ushered me inside and Lucy was left standing in the reception staring after me. She looked so lost without me. I hated that I’d dragged her in
to all of this.

  Chapter 34

  Alana Loxton

  Friday

  Talbot had declined a solicitor. So far, she was sticking rigidly to her story that she’d been with Lucy the day before the wedding. Kowalski leaned back in his chair, relaxed, as if they were all just having a chat despite the cramped surroundings of the interview room.

  Talbot was sitting opposite them. The bench was an inch lower than the blue plastic chairs, making her appear smaller. She’d gone downhill since Loxton had last seen her. Her usually shiny blonde hair was scraped back into a greasy ponytail. She was fidgeting with her engagement ring, twisting it agitatedly round and round her finger.

  It was time for Loxton to start taking Talbot’s story apart. ‘You said Lucy was with you Saturday afternoon?’

  ‘Yes. Why do we have to go over this again?’ Talbot closed her eyes and rubbed her temples.

  ‘We’ve checked the CCTV from the hotel. Lucy didn’t turn up until 8pm.’

  Talbot faltered. Suddenly she didn’t look tired anymore. ‘There . . . there must be a mistake.’

  ‘There’s no mistake. Lucy arrived at 8pm. The CCTV shows you checking in at 2.10pm. It doesn’t show you leaving, but there’s a back exit not covered by CCTV.’

  The CCTV showed Rowthorn leaving Emily Hart’s block at 6pm, but if Talbot had found him there, anything could have happened.

  ‘I didn’t leave. I was there all afternoon.’

  ‘Did you meet up with Mark before Lucy came to the hotel?’ Loxton asked. ‘Was he angry? Did you have a row?’

  ‘I didn’t see him. He went off with David to collect the suits. That was the last . . . the last time I saw him.’ Talbot eyes were shining and her breathing was coming in shorter gasps. ‘He told me he loved me and that he’d next see me walking down the aisle.’

  ‘Why did you and Lucy pretend she was with you in the afternoon?’

  Talbot wiped her eyes. ‘When you first came to the flat and asked me where I was the afternoon Mark went missing Lucy panicked. She was meant to be with me that afternoon, so when you asked, she just lied and said she was with me. She was trying to protect me from you. She was worried you’d waste your time on me if I didn’t have a proper alibi and she was right.’ Talbot waved her hand angrily at the interview room as if it proved her point. Loxton didn’t believe her.

  ‘Where was Lucy?’ Loxton asked.

  ‘She called me that afternoon as she had to go into work. Someone had messed up on an account. She said she’d be as quick as she could. She works at Bailey’s Accountants.’

  ‘They were open on a Saturday?’ Loxton asked.

  ‘Yes, they often pull her in at weekends. Especially when there’s been a mistake. She supervises accounts.’ Talbot shook her head frustrated. ‘She should have been with me. She felt bad and that’s why she pretended she was with me. It was silly but once it was done it was too late.’

  ‘Let’s talk about your parents, shall we?’ Loxton said and waited.

  A startled look spread across Talbot’s face, but it soon became neutral again. She fidgeted with her long blonde hair, tugging at the end of her ponytail.

  ‘You’ve gone quiet?’ Loxton said.

  ‘My . . . my parents are dead.’ Talbot pulled at the wedding ring on her necklace and for a moment Loxton thought the chain would snap.

  ‘They’re very talkative for dead people.’ Loxton sighed. She was starting to tire of this game.

  Talbot lowered her head, dropping her eyes to the tabletop.

  ‘Why did you lie about your parents?’ Kowalski asked.

  ‘We’re estranged. They might as well be dead. For all I knew, they were.’ Talbot looked pleadingly at Kowalski.

  ‘Everything you’ve told us is a lie,’ Loxton said.

  ‘I’m sorry, but it has nothing to do with Mark going missing. I fell out with my parents years ago and I got into the habit of telling people they were dead. It was easier than telling them that—’ She paused.‘It was stupid,’ she continued, ‘but I got stuck with it. Even Mark thinks they’re dead.’

  ‘You changed your name to Julia Talbot,’ Loxton said. ‘An interesting choice. Talbot’s an old surname, it means messenger of destruction. Why did you pick that name?’

  Talbot looked at Loxton, then sighed. ‘Because I always feel like bad things follow me, no matter what I do. That’s all. And I wanted to escape my parents.’

  ‘It’s also one of the commonest surnames for Oxbridge graduates. You had high ambitions when you picked that name.’

  ‘I just wanted a fresh start. That was all.’

  ‘Let’s begin again, but this time we want the truth.’ Loxton tilted her head at Talbot, unsure if she knew how to tell the truth.

  Talbot crossed her arms across her chest. ‘I’ve told you the truth.’

  ‘You told us everything was fine between you and Mark.’

  ‘It is – I mean, it was until he went missing.’

  ‘Did you kill Mark because you found out about the affair?’

  ‘Affair?’ Talbot was frowning.

  Loxton waited, letting a few beats pass.

  ‘There was no affair.’ Talbot’s body was quivering with anger. ‘You can’t make up rubbish to upset me.’

  ‘Mark was having an affair.’ Loxton turned the pressure up.

  ‘With who?’ She threw her hands wide, glaring at them both in turn.

  ‘We’re not going to disclose that to you.’ Loxton’s eyes bored into Talbot’s.

  ‘You’re making this up.’ Talbot shook her head.

  ‘Was it for his life insurance? Did he try to call the relationship off? You were set to receive four hundred thousand pounds in a lump sum. Not bad. People have killed for a lot less.’

  ‘I didn’t know about the life insurance.’ Talbot was pale.

  ‘We know all about your past,’ Loxton said. ‘You were arrested for murdering your little sister and now we’re investigating you for possibly murdering your fiancé.’

  ‘Have you found Mark?’ Talbot’s face had gone a sickly grey.

  ‘We’re asking the questions. Let’s talk about your sister, shall we?’ Loxton said.

  ‘That’s got nothing to do with this.’ Talbot slammed her fists on the table. ‘You have no right bringing her into this. Tell me what’s happened to Mark.’

  ‘I think it has everything to do with this.’ Loxton put both of her hands on the table. ‘It shows your propensity to kill when things aren’t going your way.’

  ‘I wasn’t found guilty of anything.’ Talbot glared at Loxton.

  ‘But you were arrested.’

  ‘Jonny Cane was convicted, not me.’ A flicker of fear danced across her face, but then it was gone.

  ‘I’m glad you’ve brought up Jonny Cane,’ Loxton said. ‘What were you doing in the Night Jar?’

  Talbot stood up, as if desperate to get out. ‘I want a lawyer, right now.’

  ‘I bet you do. The time is five forty-five in the evening. This interview is terminated while we get Miss Hughes – apologies, Miss Talbot, a solicitor.’ Loxton turned off the recorder. She hated being stopped mid-flow. Talbot would have plenty of time to compose herself now and she’d be coached by a solicitor.

  ‘Sit down or we’ll have to take you to your cell,’ Loxton warned.

  Talbot was wild, her eyes wide.

  ‘I didn’t kill my sister. I haven’t done anything to Mark. You have to believe me. You’re wasting time.’ Talbot reached her hand across the desk towards Kowalski.

  ‘Miss Talbot, you’d better wait for your solicitor.’ He pulled his hand away from her.

  ‘Please, has something happened to Mark? This is torture.’ She started sobbing, tears trickling down her face. Loxton had a sudden pang of guilt.

  ‘We can’t discuss the case off the record, Miss Talbot,’ Kowalski said. ‘We’ll have to wait for your solicitor.’

  ‘You’re disgusting.’ Talbot burst into tears again, covering her face
with her hands.

  The wedding band hanging from Talbot’s neck caught the light.

  *

  ‘Where’s this bloody solicitor?’ Loxton folded her arms. ‘It’s giving Talbot time to think.’

  ‘He’s probably got five other prisoners to get through before he even comes here.’ Kowalski massaged the back of his neck with his fingertips.

  ‘When did it get this bad?’

  ‘About five years ago. You were shielded away in the murder squad so you wouldn’t know, but things are getting third world down here. We spend most of our time waiting. Government cuts in the criminal justice system.’ He rolled his eyes.

  She and Kowalski were huddled in a corner of the custody suite as the bustle of normal police work went on around them. Two tired uniformed officers were booking in an obese drink driver, who was booming out the national anthem and waving his arms about. He was going to be blowing well over the legal limit.

  ‘I think Talbot’s cracking,’ Loxton said.

  ‘But has she got anything to do with Rowthorn’s disappearance?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Loxton rubbed her eyes as a headache threatened. No one had told her that joining the police would leave her questioning every decision she made, that everything would ride on her opinion. She looked at Kowalski and sighed. ‘This is the second time she’s been arrested for murder. She either has really bad luck, or . . .’

  ‘I don’t believe in coincidences either,’ Kowalski said.

  A man in his fifties, with short, white hair, strolled into custody. He was wearing a cheap black suit, which strained against his massive bulk.

  ‘Solicitor’s arrived,’ Kowalski said.

  *

  Loxton settled herself, picking up her pen and preparing her notes. They’d had a one-hour break and she had lost her stride. She straightened out her notes, but it was more to distract herself from the solicitor sitting opposite her.

  William Fitzpatrick was one of the best in the business. Loxton had worked with him before. To Fitzpatrick it was all a game and a great money-maker. The pawns were the deprived and the vulnerable; their pain wasn’t real to him.