by Jay Gill
“You sound like you admire her.”
I ignored the remark and continued. “Lyle’s a collector. She takes a souvenir from each of her kills. Usually a piece of jewellery, but she’s also been known to take hair or a finger or toe or eye. Keeping a souvenir or trophy is very common. It’s been well documented.”
“So, you think Lyle did it because you saw something was missing from each of our victims?”
“Not this time. Etheridge let me see the personal effects from each victim. Martin Burke had a St. Christopher necklace, which his family said was not his. I suggested it came from the victim of a completely separate case. Dylan Durrant had a wedding ring, which, again, was not his. Both items could be linked indirectly to Lyle. I suggested he speak to an old colleague of mine at Scotland Yard to confirm my suspicions. Etheridge must have done so and been convinced enough to pursue that line of enquiry.”
“I was the only one he put on looking at Lyle. Nobody else,” said Cotton. “Etheridge said he didn’t want all his eggs in one basket. I told him Lyle was a dead end.” Cotton looked at me accusingly. “You’re the reason Etheridge had me spend months chasing my tail, getting nowhere. He must have known I’d find nothing.”
“Etheridge chose you for a reason,” I insisted. “I don’t think it was because he was side-lining you. From what I know of Etheridge, my guess is he was putting one of his best detectives on the toughest part of the case.” I could see Cotton wasn’t convinced. “With so many lines of enquiry to pursue, Etheridge had a lot of tough choices to make.”
“Why didn’t you offer to help? I just don’t get it. You could have consulted in a small way. If you had helped, Etheridge might still be alive.” Cotton sighed heavily. She rubbed her nose and choked back tears. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
“I’m sorry about Etheridge. I was in a very dark place for a long time. After my wife died, I was on full throttle for too long. Those who care about me helped me realise I needed to stop. Before it was too late. I came here for the sake of those I love and for my own health. For the record, my state of mind at that time is not something I hide, and at the same time it’s not something I talk about.”
“I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.” Cotton checked the time. “I’d better go.”
I showed her to the door. I was starting to see why Etheridge had held her in such high regard. She was fearless.
“Emma,” I called after her. “I’ve tried to be straight with you. As honest as I can. I’m going to sleep on it. No promises. I want to speak to my family too. This isn’t just about me. I have them to consider. In the meantime, you look into whether you can get clearance for me to put in a few hours. I’ll review the case files and make some calls. Maybe I can put in a morning a week. Like I say, I’m going to sleep on it.”
Emma’s face lit up, and she stood a little taller. “I’ll call the chief now. Thank you.”
“It’s getting late. Maybe call him in the morning?”
“Not a chance. If you decide to help, I don’t want to waste a minute. I’ll call you as soon as I know. What’s your mobile number?”
That got me smiling. She really was a go-getter. “I’ll call you, if… Give me a few days.”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”
I left Cotton sitting in her car at the end of my driveway speaking to her boss. I was feeling apprehensive and, I had to admit, secretly thrilled. I now needed a serious conversation with Monica.
Chapter Sixteen
Lyle woke with a start. She leaned across to the bedside table and checked the time on her watch. She’d overslept for the first time in a very long time.
She looked back across the bed at Sienna, who lay beside her, then leaned over and kissed her on the shoulder, neck and breasts. Sienna turned to face Lyle and smiled. She lifted her herself up onto her elbows and kissed Lyle firmly on the lips. Lyle gently pulled back.
“Yesterday and last night were wonderful. You’re a sweet young thing, but now is not a good time for me. You should leave today.”
Sienna sat up straight. “What? What do you mean? Are you kidding?”
“It means there can’t be anything more than last night.”
“That’s not what you said. It wasn’t what we felt last night, and you know it. Do you think this is the sort of thing I do all the time? You told me I was important, that we had something special, that you understood me. You were right. What has changed?”
“I’m sorry, but you must leave.”
“I get it. You told me what I wanted to hear to get me into bed. You were lonely, and you wanted sex. The thing is, I don’t believe that. Not for one second. If you can look me in the eye and tell me that’s true, I will leave. You’ll never need to see me again.”
“That’s not it. Believe me when I say the reason I’m asking you to leave is because you are important to me.” Lyle looked at Sienna’s slim neck and thought about how easily she could choke the life out her. She wouldn’t do that. Not today. There was something about Sienna that made her feel different. Alive and warm. Seeing Sienna’s indignation as she put her point across, her anger, her passion and the fire in her eyes, made her feel something again. Something long buried. She wanted to explore it. It scared her.
Sienna was kneeling on the bed now. Lyle allowed her to dominate the space between them.
“That’s rubbish, and you know it. That just doesn’t make any sense. If this is because of the small age difference between us, then I don’t have a problem with it. If this is because you’ve been hurt before, then I’m not that person who hurt you. I’m me. You cannot deny there’s something between us we can build on.”
Lyle rose to the same height as Sienna. Her fingers tidied Sienna’s hair and soothed her. Lyle looked deep into Sienna’s eyes. She kissed her with tenderness and memorised the sensations that reached every part of her body. She closed her eyes and traced her fingers over Sienna’s body one last time, then got out of the bed and went to the door. She turned and looked at Sienna.
“Take your time. I’ll be out all day. Just make sure you’re gone by the time I get back.”
Chapter Seventeen
“She left you another envelope a few days ago. I put it on your desk. Did you see it?” said Monica as I entered the kitchen.
I nodded and gave her a face that said ‘thank you.’
Monica pointed to a large pile of post, bills mainly, that I’d done my best to ignore.
I filled Sandy’s bowl with fresh water and put a few biscuits down for her. I sat on the floor beside her as she lapped at the water a couple of times then came over for a stroke.
Monica waved a tea bag, and I nodded. “Yes please.”
“She’s not going to leave you in peace, is she?” asked Monica.
“Who?” I said trying to sound innocent. “Detective Inspector Cotton?”
“Not her. The other one.” Monica looked at me seriously. “Should we be concerned?”
I got up and stood behind her. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her hair. “I made a promise.”
“I know you did. And I know you meant it. But what if Lyle comes after you or Alice or Faith or your parents?”
“She won’t do that.” I knew I was on shaky ground making a statement like that.
Monica brushed me off and looked angry. “Can you look me in the eye, your daughters in the eye, and tell us that this . . . this Lyle who has killed God knows how many people will not come near you or your family?”
“Why are you getting angry with me?”
Monica crossed her arms. “Because I don’t know what I want. I don’t want you in danger. I never want to go through feeling I might lose you ever again. But all the time she is out there, I don’t feel safe. And…”
“And what?”
“I hate to say it, but you need it. I can see it now. You’re not the same when you’re not all . . . I don’t know. All high-octane, Mr Sherriff of Dodge City.”
“Mr Sherriff of Dodge
City?” We both laughed. “Where do you get this stuff from?”
“You know what I mean, though, don’t you? I don’t want you in danger, and I need you to promise you’ll listen to me and not go all mean and moody. I won’t stand for it.”
I pulled Monica close to me and kissed her. “I thought you liked me ‘mean and moody.’”
“I’m being serious, James. I think it will do you good to take a look at the investigation. Speak to Emma Cotton. Help her out. It will also make me feel safer to know that you’re involved in trying to stop this crazy bitch before she turns on us. Just don’t get completely sucked in by it all. Learn to moderate.”
Monica was right. A part of me had hoped by staying out of the investigation I’d be left alone. I’d be keeping my family safe from Lyle. In truth, the more it went on, the more personal the investigation had become. It was time to stop hiding and push back instead.
“I’ll offer advice and maybe make some calls. I’ll get involved,” I said.
“Maybe you’ll stop moping around,” said Monica with a grin.
“Moping around? What do you mean? I’ve never moped in my life.”
“Come on, James. That big brain of yours needs a proper challenge. Preferably before you drive us all crazy.” She pinched my waist. “Getting out of the house a bit more will help in other ways too.”
“Hey! That’s not fair. I’m the same weight I was when I was twenty-one.”
I started tickling her.
“Yeah, right.” Monica tried to escape. “Why do I think you and Emma Cotton are ganging up on me?”
Sandy started barking and jumping up as I tickled and chased Monica. She slid to the floor and Sandy licked her face. The barking and laughing brought Alice and Faith into the kitchen. They cheered and helped me tickle Monica, who was now crawling on her hands and knees across the kitchen floor trying to get away.
“Get her,” called Faith eagerly.
“I’ve got her leg,” shouted Alice. “Daddy, you stop her.”
“I’ve got a better idea. How about I get you two? Rooagh!”
The girls squealed and ran upstairs into Alice’s bedroom. The door slammed. Monica and I smiled at their giggles.
“I’m coming to get you,” I called. “Wherever you are. You can’t hide from me. I’m coming to get you.”
Chapter Eighteen
Kelly Lyle had spent the day preparing the farmhouse. She’d gone over every scenario in her mind and felt confident that, whatever happened, she’d come out on top. Sustained success doesn’t happen by chance.
Having driven around for a while, she was satisfied she hadn’t been followed and headed home. Close to home, she once again circled around several times before finally pulling into the driveway and parking the car.
She opened the front door and immediately sensed movement in the house. She gently shut the door behind her and looked around for something she could use as a weapon. If the police were in the house, she wouldn’t go quietly.
Lyle pushed off her shoes. She moved silently.
From the other room, she heard singing. Lyle relaxed, a curious smile spreading across her face. Stocking-toed, Lyle crept to the kitchen.
Lyle had told Sienna to leave, but apparently this young woman had a mind of her own. It was time to see what she was made of. Lyle crept up behind her as she added sauce to a tray of pasta.
Absorbed in the music playing and her own singing, Sienna had no idea Lyle was behind her. Lyle slipped an arm around Sienna’s neck and pulled tight. Sienna gasped, dropped the tray and tried to release herself from Lyle’s grip. The arm was too strong.
Lyle released the hold a little. Thinking of Lyle’s embrace as playfulness, Sienna turned to face her.
“Please don’t be angry,” she said. “Let me say something.”
Lyle let Sienna continue. She’d better make this good.
“I know what you said, and I don’t believe you. We had fun, and I find you incredibly sexy and interesting. I thought perhaps you are scared of getting hurt. I wanted to let you know that I am too, and perhaps that means we made a connection. Maybe that’s why we’re both feeling apprehensive.” She got up on tiptoes and kissed Lyle, then unfastened several buttons on Lyle’s blouse and softly kissed each breast.
Lyle watched Sienna and said nothing. She enjoyed the soothing pleasure of her touch while listening to her point of view. Lyle felt conflicted. There was something about Sienna that, for the time being at least, was intriguing.
Sienna looked up into Lyle’s eyes and waited for her response. Instead, Lyle ran upstairs, leaving her alone and confused.
Chapter Nineteen
Lyle slammed the bedroom door behind her. She paced the room, her mind racing. How could she complete her game with her mind drifting to thoughts of Sienna? Lyle knew what she should do.
The voice in her head was back, and it was stronger, more insistent.
SHE’S NOTHING. KILL HER. DO IT NOW.
I can have both. She’s no threat. Not anymore. I’ve grown. You showed me how.
I MAKE YOU STRONG. LISTEN TO ME. SHE’S DANGEROUS. SHE MUST DIE.
She knows nothing. I can trust her. She doesn’t need to be harmed.
I FOUND YOU WEAK AND PATHETIC. I MAKE YOU STRONG.
The voice was getting louder and angrier.
Lyle squatted beside the bed.
A little more time. She cannot harm Us.
YOU STILL PAY FOR YOUR WEAKNESS. YOU DIDN’T LISTEN THEN. KILL HER.
I will make sure she doesn’t get in the way. I can protect her. I can also do what needs to be done.
DO NOT DISOBEY ME. I WANT HER DEAD. KILL HER.
I’m stronger now. I’ve learned.
I MAKE YOU STRONG. WITHOUT ME YOU ARE NOTHING.
That’s not true. It can’t be right. Not anymore.
KELLY, LET ME SHOW YOU. IT WILL BE EASY. WE’LL KILL HER TOGETHER.
Lyle opened her eyes. She was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed.
She lifted her head. Listened.
Silence.
Then the sound of a cupboard door slamming. Sienna.
Lyle smiled. She rested her head on the bed.
Sienna fascinated her. She liked her spirit. She needed to prove Sienna was not a mistake.
Did she need this complication in her life right now? Lyle could run through the pros and cons, but ultimately there was no escaping the fact that for the first time in a very long time someone had touched her heart. The trouble was, she knew very little about Sienna. Would Sienna be willing to accept Lyle for who she was and understand her the way Leanne Dupres had? Lyle had not said that name out loud in a long time. What she was doing was for her. Yet, before now, she had been unable to speak her name. She was changing. She could feel it.
If Sienna became a threat to her, could she move fast to dispose of her? It would be safer to have no involvement at all.
Lyle went back downstairs to the kitchen.
Sienna was slicing salad, loudly. She picked up the chopped leaves and dumped them in the salad bowl. Lyle walked up behind her and took the knife from her hand.
“I’m a very private person, and I cannot afford to allow just anyone into my life.”
Sienna lowered her head. Lyle put the tip of the knife under Sienna’s chin and lifted her face. Lyle looked her straight in the eyes.
Lyle said, “I never want another living soul to know about me. There are things about me that I don’t expect you to understand, things I must deal with.”
“If that’s how you feel,” said Sienna, “if that’s how you truly feel, then I’ll leave. I was wrong about us.”
“You haven’t let me finish. I’d like you to stay for a while, but there need to be certain conditions. There must be rules.
“First, you will never disobey me again. If I tell you to do something, you do it. Second, you must never discuss me, what we do together, or what I do. I never want another living soul to know about me or us. First thin
g tomorrow you will go and collect your passport and bring it here to me. It might be necessary for us to leave the country at very short notice.
“I need you to think long and hard before you agree to these rules because if you break any of them, there will be consequences, the sort of consequences that you won’t enjoy and could be very final for you.” Lyle stroked Sienna’s throat with the blade of the knife to emphasise her words.
“My life is mundane,” said Sienna. “If I don’t make changes, there’ll be more of the same. You thrill me. With you, I see a future of excitement and risk. I can’t go back to the mundane, not now. I won’t. I want to be with you. I want to be with you for as long as possible.”
“In that case,” said Lyle, smiling triumphantly, “we’ll have to see how exciting we can make the future for us. I can promise you it won’t be mundane.”
Kelly took the knife and cut the straps on Sienna’s dress and let it fall to the floor. She pulled her to her and kissed her shoulders, then put the knife down on the worktop and ran her fingers tenderly down Sienna’s soft back.
Kelly said, “I must work tonight. But I have a few hours before I need to leave.” She gently lowered Sienna to the kitchen floor, where she kissed every inch of her body.
Chapter Twenty
“There’s a good spot just up ahead. Why don’t we pull in there?”
“Just here?” His hand trembled.
“That’s it, sweetheart. You seem a little nervous. Don’t be. I’ll look after you. We’re going to have a lovely time. It’ll be something you’ll remember for the rest of your life, I promise. What’s your name, darling?” She ran her hand up the inside of his thigh.
“Lee. Lee Nunn.” His voice trembled, and his heart was drumming out of his chest. The anticipation sent adrenaline coursing through his body, making him feel lightheaded. He felt like he might overheat. His skin was moist with sweat. He opened the window a little.