My Best Friend's Murder
Page 28
I’ve had to watch her life soar while mine idled. Izzy the partner. Izzy the gym bunny. Izzy the super mum. She had everything. It’s no wonder I was forced to visit tiny little acts of retribution on her in return: spilling my wine; buying Tilly the American girl doll; sticking my foot in front of hers on Clapham Common. Even kissing Rich. She deserved each and every one.
I think of the way she smacked herself in the face before Sydney arrived; how purposefully she arranged the pillow at the bottom. She could have been planning to throw herself down the stairs anyway. It’s just the kind of overdramatic thing Izzy would do – provided she had a safety net. But if this video comes to light, Sydney will be crucified. First in the media, then in court. I think about how convenient their sudden move out of the country was. Did Rob know what Sydney had done? He could be charged as an accessory. Izzy’s only just stopped ruining my life; I can’t let her ruin Rob’s.
I pick up the memory card and hold it up to the light. Have I damaged it enough? Just in case I haven’t I reach over and lob it into the coffee cup. I hold my breath so I don’t breathe in the stench and imagine my stomach acid biting into the chip, corroding the evidence. I want to believe that I’m doing this for the greater good; that I’m protecting Rob and preventing yet another child from losing a parent. Just like I want to believe Izzy did this to herself. But deep down I know it’s not about that. It’s about Rich.
It’s always been about Rich.
Right now I’m all he’s got and that suits me perfectly. We’re making a life together and building our own family. This poppy seed inside me is a chance for both of us to have a fresh start. But I’ve seen how quickly his feelings have been swept away in the past. I love him too much to let that happen again. I take the coffee mug over to the tiny window at the back of the room. The frame sticks a little where it’s been painted over so I put the mug down to force the window. Then I snatch it up again and flick the contents into the bushes outside. I lob the mug after them for good measure. Then I pat my hands down on the top of my jeans and rearrange my face into the kind of smile befitting a woman who has just found out she’s having a baby with the love of her life. I know we promised to be honest with each other at the start of this but I’ll just have to learn to live with it. I’ve been hiding things ever since I met Rich. What’s one more secret?
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank all of the people who have given their time and encouragement to this novel. Firstly my early readers: Robyn Stromsoe, Piero Politeo, Celina St George, Katherine Saunt, Hannah Talbot, Helen Cleary, Susannah Okret and Fleur Moss – your insights and the mistakes you spotted, particularly about Northcote Road bus routes, have been invaluable.
Secondly, thanks to the generous writers that shared their thoughts and craft with me: Sophie Hannah, Jess Jarvli, Karen Osman, Annabel Kantaria, Phillippa East and Victoria Selman.
This book would not have been possible without the Emirates Literature Foundation. Thank you to Isobel Abulhoul, Yvette Judge, Luigi Bonomi and Charles Nahhas, for giving this novel a chance to shine at the Emirates Literature Festival.
Many others also gave me the benefit of their expertise in all things medical, magazine-based and police procedural. I’d like to thank Dan Holyoake, Tabitha Barda and Dan and Emma Mason for the amazing insights into their chosen fields. All mistakes, of course, are my own.
I owe a debt of gratitude to my amazing agent, Sarah Hornsley, who came at this book all guns blazing with a host of wonderful ideas, and my equally amazing editor, Bethan Jones, for her faith in this story, and her attention to detail.
Then, of course, there’s my family. Effusive thanks to Henry Buchanan, Simon Buchanan, David Buchanan, Penny Buchanan, Lalage Buchanan and Lalage Phillips; each of you inspired various characters in different ways. Please don’t sue!
Lastly, to Alaric Phillips: thank you for never wavering. Your relentless conviction that this book would be published can now be taken as evidence that you’re always right. And you can quote me on that.
About the Author
Polly Phillips currently lives in Australia, although she is originally from the UK. My Best Friend’s Murder won the Montegrappa Writing Prize at the Emirates Literature Festival in 2019. Polly has worked as a journalist in Australia, Dubai, Denmark and the UK. This is her debut novel.
www.SimonandSchuster.com.au/Authors/Polly-Phillips
We hope you enjoyed reading this Simon & Schuster ebook.
Join our mailing list to get updates on new releases, deals, recommended reads, and more from Simon & Schuster.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Already a subscriber? Provide your email again so we can register this ebook and send you more of what you like to read. You will continue to receive exclusive offers in your inbox.
First published in Great Britain by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2021
Copyright © Polly Phillips 2021
The right of Polly Phillips to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
Simon & Schuster UK Ltd
1st Floor
222 Gray’s Inn Road
London WC1X 8HB
Simon & Schuster Australia, Sydney
Simon & Schuster India, New Delhi
www.simonandschuster.co.uk
www.simonandschuster.com.au
www.simonandschuster.co.in
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4711-9539-6
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4711-9540-2
Audio ISBN: 978-1-3985-0064-8
Export Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-3985-0130-0
Export eBook ISBN: 978-1-3985-0144-7
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.