by Agatha Frost
“But you did it.”
“And you’ll find someone.” Julia tapped him on the knee. “The right woman is out there for you. You’ll find her when you least expect it.”
Johnny scoffed before blowing on the surface of his tea. Julia felt for him. He had always been unlucky in love—surprising because he was one of the nicest men she knew. When they were teenagers, he had once confessed his love to her, but she had never looked at him like that. She’d felt guilty about it for years, and had even gone on a date with him when she returned to the village after her marriage ended, but they didn’t have that kind of chemistry. She had hoped he had let go of her, but the look in his eyes as he stared at her over the surface of his tea told her something different.
“What happened on Tuesday night, Johnny?” Julia asked him. “And I want the truth this time. No more lies. Heidi said you turned up at her house in a state. Is that true?”
He nodded.
“So, what happened?”
“I didn’t want to lie to you,” he started. “I almost told you the truth when you confronted me about the article I posted through your door, but the timing didn’t feel right. I knew how it would look. I didn’t want you to jump to conclusions.”
“About what?”
“About what happened with Leah.” He paused and sipped his hot tea. “I went to see her on Tuesday night, and something happened.”
“What did you do?”
“I didn’t kill her.”
“You’ve said that.”
“But you have got to believe me.” His voice rose. “I didn’t kill her.”
“I’m not saying you did, but what did you do?”
“Something stupid.” He looked up at the ceiling as he exhaled. “Do you remember Roxy’s seventeenth birthday party?”
Julia nodded. She almost told him it was not the first time someone had asked her that question recently, but she stopped herself when she realised Johnny didn’t know about what had happened between Roxy and Leah.
“That was the first time I’d ever tried alcohol,” he continued. “Everyone else was drinking, so I joined in. We’d just left school, and it felt like the perfect time to reinvent myself. I’d lost some weight, and my skin had cleared up during the summer. I wanted to be cool.”
“You were always cool to me, Johnny.”
“Well, I wasn’t to the rest of them.” He laughed. “I was terminally uncool, so I drank. I didn’t like the taste of it in the slightest, but I liked how it made me feel. All my worries floated away, and I felt cool. It was as fun as everyone had said it was. People told me I was funny for the first time in my life, so I drank some more. I had the tolerance of a small bird, so I was drunk in no time.” He paused and sipped more of his tea. “About halfway through the night, I went to the bathroom. I should have knocked, but being drunk removed my manners. Leah was in there reapplying her lipstick in the mirror. It was bright red and smeared all over her chin. I didn’t realise it at the time, but she’d probably been kissing someone.”
Julia knew exactly who Leah had kissed, but this was not the time to reveal that information; she could already sense what was coming next.
“I lost my virginity to Leah that night.” Johnny stared down into his tea as his cheeks flushed with colour. “I’m not proud of it. I didn’t plan it, it just happened. One minute I was apologising, and the next minute we were all over each other. It was just like that instant chemistry that you see in the films. I couldn’t believe it was happening until it was over. I woke up the next morning in Roxy’s bath with a banging headache. I nearly forgot what happened, but I had lipstick all over my face. I was so embarrassed and ashamed of myself. I found Leah downstairs making tea in the kitchen. She didn’t even seem slightly phased by what had happened. When I asked her if we could talk about it, she just shrugged and said it wasn’t important.”
“Oh, Johnny.”
“I felt like a mug!” he cried. “I’d thrown it away. I thought we were friends, but she treated me like a stranger. I tried to talk to her on more than one occasion, but she never answered the phone, so I gave up. It was a kick in the guts when she ran off with Craig. I never saw her again until—”
“Until I paraded her in front of you at my café,” Julia interrupted. “I’m so sorry.”
“You weren’t to know. I’ve never told a soul until today.” He sipped more tea. “All these emotions stirred up in me when I saw her. I was angry because of what she did to my sister, angry at what she did to me, shocked that she had the nerve to come back and act like nothing had happened. I went to see her to get an explanation.”
“What happened?”
“I got to her cottage full of all that anger, and I expected her to brush me off, but she apologised. She apologised about what happened between us, and what she did to my sister. She sounded like she meant it. I didn’t know what to do. We talked, and she explained that a lot had happened since then. She’d grown up and seemed remorseful about the things she did back then. I was about to leave, but I made another terrible mistake.”
“Just tell me, Johnny!”
“The same mistake I made when I was seventeen,” he groaned. “I looked into her eyes for too long, and that spark happened again. All these years later, and I was suddenly in that bathroom at Roxy’s party. It just exploded. We went upstairs to her bedroom, and we—please, don’t make me say it.”
“I can fill in the blanks.”
“I went there to confront her, and I ended up in her bed.” He paused and inhaled deeply. “I fell asleep, and I didn’t wake up until I heard a bang. She wasn’t next to me. I got dressed and went downstairs, but she wasn’t there. I saw a lamp and broken ornaments on the floor. I was so confused. I didn’t know what to do. I promise I didn’t see the blood, or I would have called the police. I ran, and I didn’t stop running until I was at Heidi’s cottage. I don’t know why I went there. I think I thought she was the only person who would understand, but how could I tell her that I’d just slept with the woman who ruined her life all those years ago? I know how it looks, and you don’t have to believe me, but I didn’t hurt a hair on her head.”
“I believe you.”
“You do?”
“I don’t think you have any reason to lie to me at this point.” Julia rested her hand on his. “I thought you were trying to protect Heidi, but you were just trying to protect yourself.”
“You thought Heidi had something to do with it?”
“I considered her, but if she was at her cottage when you arrived, her involvement is virtually impossible.” Julia sipped her tea. “It doesn’t bring me any closer to figuring this out though. The only person who doesn’t have an alibi right now is Craig, and he seemed surprised when I told him about Leah. Maybe he’s a good actor.”
“Craig?” Johnny laughed. “From what I remember, he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the box. I don’t think he’d be able to lie about something so big. What about Gary Williams? I thought I had it all figured out when I sent you that article. I wasn’t trying to mess with you. I genuinely thought it would point you in the right direction. You didn’t need to know what I did to figure it out.”
“Gary’s dead.”
“Oh.”
“Suicide.”
“Poor guy.” Johnny pinched between his brows. “I probably should have looked that up before passing it onto you, being a journalist and all. This is what I don’t understand about Leah. Why did she ruin so many lives? It doesn’t make any sense. Was she a sociopath?”
“I wish I knew, Johnny. I really do.”
“And we might never get an explanation. Do you think there’s any chance she’s still alive?”
“I did,” Julia admitted. “And then I didn’t, and then I really didn’t when I was asked to view a body that the police were convinced was her. But, it wasn’t, and now I honestly don’t know. I hope she is.”
“Me too.” Johnny blushed. “I don’t want to leave it how we did. No matter what els
e she did, she was our friend once upon a time. Do you really have nothing else to work with?”
Julia stood and motioned for Johnny to follow her into the dining room. She flicked on the light to reveal the investigation wall Barker had put together the night before. Pieces of paper with all the information they knew filtered down from a copy of Leah’s missing poster. Julia tugged ‘Johnny’, ‘Heidi’, and ‘Roxy’ off the list of suspects, leaving behind ‘Craig’ and ‘Brooke.’
“If Gary weren’t dead, I’d have said he had the best motive to want Leah out of the way. Did you say Brooke had an alibi?”
“She said she was at her shop with her son all night. Apparently, the police have the footage to prove it.”
“Hmmm.” Johnny tapped his finger against his chest. “Then we must be missing something.”
Before they could theorise, Julia’s phone sung from the sitting room. She left Johnny staring at the wall and grabbed it from her handbag. Barker’s picture flashed on the screen.
“Any news?”
“Where are you, Julia?”
“At home.”
“Are you alone?”
“Johnny’s here.” She peered into the dining room to make sure he was not eavesdropping. “He had a somewhat innocent explanation. I’ll tell you when I see you.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he said in a rushed voice as what sounded like a car door slammed in the background. “I’m coming back now. Just stay there, and I’ll tell you everything when I get back.”
“What’s happened?”
There was a long pause as Barker started the engine.
“I asked Christie about Brooke’s footage,” he called, the echo in his voice letting her know he had switched to his car’s Bluetooth handsfree function. “He had no idea what I was talking about. He called the station, but they had no idea either. If there is any footage, the police don’t have it. Brooke wasn’t even a person of interest. She lied to you.”
“She was calling my bluff,” Julia whispered. “Barker, I need to go.”
“Julia, don’t do anyth—”
She hung up and put her phone on silent. She hated to block Barker out, but the hospital was a half an hour’s drive away, even if he put his foot down. She tossed her phone back into her bag and slung it over her shoulder.
“Johnny, I need to go out,” she called into the dining room. “Brooke was lying about her alibi. I think you might have been onto something when you sent me that article.”
“Then I’m coming with you,” he said as he hurried into the hallway. “I’m not letting you wade into this one alone.”
Chapter Fifteen
It was past nine when Julia pulled up outside Brooke’s Bridal Boutique on Mulberry Lane, so it was no surprise that the shop, along with all the others, was closed for the day. She stared at the white dresses in the dark window, but they looked ghostly and macabre in the dim glow of the streetlamp.
“Well, she’s not here.” Julia sighed as she looked down the dark street. “And I have no idea where she lives.”
“I could check online?” Johnny pulled his phone from his pocket. “I once found my address on an online directory just by searching my name.”
“You searched for yourself online?”
“I was curious.” His fingers tapped on the screen. “Do you know if she ever married?”
“Oh.” She thought about it for a second. “I have no idea. Try ‘Brooke Williams’ and see what comes up.”
Johnny nodded and began his search. Car headlights dazzled them from behind. A black cab pulled up in front of them. Julia held her breath as she waited for the passenger to climb out. Had fate somehow delivered Brooke to her? The door opened, but it was Roxy. She passed money through the driver’s window before slapping the roof with her free hand. Her other hand held a plastic box. Julia pressed her horn, making Johnny and Roxy jump. Roxy walked over, and Julia wound down her window.
“Katie insisted on sending me home with leftovers,” Roxy said, indicating the plastic box. “I overheard that DI telling Barker about the body. Was it her?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Roxy inhaled deeply and nodded. “I’m glad.”
“You are?”
“I spent too many years resenting Leah, and it didn’t get me anywhere. She made a lot of mistakes, but she didn’t deserve to die for them. I had a lot of time to reflect in that interview room. I know there’s only a slim chance that she’s out there somewhere, but that’s better than nothing.” Roxy looked over the car at her flat. “Violet is going to be doing back flips in there. What are you doing here?”
“We’re looking for Brooke. She lied to me about her alibi.”
“Brooke from the bridal shop?” Roxy arched a brow. “Do you think she’s behind all this?”
“I need to talk to her first. I don’t suppose you know where she lives?”
“Not a clue.” Roxy shook her head. “Never spoken to the woman. She never came across as the friendliest. Neither did that lanky son of hers.”
“I can’t find anything online,” Johnny announced. “Looks like we’re back to square one. We might have to wait until morning. At least we know she’ll be here.”
“Or, we just break in.” Roxy shrugged as she scrutinised the shop. “She probably has some record of her home address in there.”
“And we could check the cameras to see if she really was here on Tuesday night.”
“We’re not breaking in!” Julia cried. “There must be another way to find her.”
“Like what?”
“Well, I don’t know.” Julia gripped the steering wheel and looked at the shop. “Someone must know where she lives.”
“And how are you going to find them?” Roxy pursed her lips. “C’mon. We sneak in, find what we need, and we leave. I’m not suggesting we trash the place or steal any dresses.”
“It’s against the law,” Julia protested.
“And what if she killed Leah and we find something that pins her to it?” Roxy said. “The police aren’t going to care that we broke in if it means we can end this. And if they do care, it’s not like Barker doesn’t have connections to sort it out.”
“And if we find nothing?”
“Then nothing is lost.” Roxy opened Julia’s car door. “Don’t be a killjoy. You know you want to.”
Julia decided it was better not to argue. She climbed out of the car and let Roxy store her leftovers on the backseat. She locked the car after Johnny exited, and they gathered on the pavement outside the bridal shop. Like a bad omen, the lights above the sign flickered. Roxy rattled the front doorknob, but it was locked.
“Well, it was worth a shot,” Roxy said as she stepped back, her hands on her hips.
“Do we smash the window?” Johnny asked, his cheeks burning bright. “Maybe Julia was right about this being a bad idea.”
“Life is a long series of bad decisions,” Roxy exclaimed before setting off up the street. “Let’s try the back. All the shops have yards.”
They walked to the top of the street and turned the corner into the narrow, cobbled alley that ran between Mulberry Lane and the back of the library. Apart from the light spilling from the flats above the shops, the alley was completely dark. The rear of the shops looked the same in the night, so Julia was glad that the boutique had a sign on the back of the building. Roxy rattled the wooden gate, but it was locked like the front.
“It’s almost like she doesn’t want anyone breaking in,” Roxy muttered before stepping back and looking up. “We need to scale the wall. I’ll help Julia up, then Johnny can help me up, and then he can climb over.”
“Why do I have to climb?” Johnny twitched his glasses.
“Because you’re the man.”
“I don’t have any upper body strength,” he shot back. “Don’t you remember P.E. at school? I couldn’t get up those ropes to save my life. And besides, isn’t that sexist?”
“Fine!” Roxy squatted and cupped her hands. “You go o
ver first, Julia can go second, and I’ll go last.”
Johnny pouted but reluctantly put his foot in Roxy’s hands. She grunted and pushed him up enough for him to grab the top of the wall. He panted and flailed, shoes skidding on the crumbly wall. Julia grabbed his other foot and gave him the boost he needed to hoist himself onto the top. Instead of dropping down, which seemed like the logical approach, he jumped like a frog. He landed with a bang that echoed around the stone yard.
“Are you okay?” Julia hissed through the gate.
To her surprise, the gate opened from the inside. Johnny ushered them in as he brushed dust and dirt from his trousers.
“I’m fine.” He straightened his jacket. “It was only locked with a latch bolt.”
Julia and Roxy walked into the yard. Like the yard behind Julia’s café, it was small, with just enough room for the bins and somewhere to get some fresh air in the middle of a busy workday. Also, like Julia’s café, double doors were set into the ground, and she guessed they led into a basement similar to the café’s.
Roxy peeped through a crack in the wood of the basement doors. “Looks like it’s chained from the inside,” she said. “We only have one option left.”
Roxy walked over to the wall and pulled a piece of stone from the century’s old construction. She inspected it as she tossed it up and down in her hand. Seemingly satisfied that it was good enough to break the back window, she walked over to the door and took in a deep lungful of air.
“Wait!” Johnny cried when Roxy pulled her arm back to launch. “What if there’s a spare key somewhere?”
“Who leaves a spare key in their yard?” Roxy repositioned her feet, her eyes trained on the glass. “Do you, Julia?”
Julia blushed. She thought she had been clever leaving a spare key in her yard, but now that she was about to break into someone’s shop, it suddenly felt like an obvious thing to do.
“There’s one at the bottom of my hanging basket,” she admitted. “Jessie kept losing her keys, so I put it there for emergencies. Johnny’s right. It might be worth a look around.”