Yours sincerely,
David Partridge
Thirty-four
‘No.’
Louise pulled away from Derek, not trusting herself to be this close to him.
‘I’ve already told you,’ she said. ‘I can’t do this any more.’
‘I don’t get it,’ he said. ‘If you’re going to tell Martin anyway, what’s the problem?’
‘What’s the problem? The problem is that what we’ve been doing is wrong. What about Karen? Don’t you ever worry that she’ll find out you’ve been seeing someone else?’
‘Karen doesn’t give a damn,’ he said. ‘You know that.’
They were sitting in the bar of the Grand Hotel in Brighton. After Derek had picked her up, Louise had tried to end things with him. He’d got upset, and begged her to take the morning off so they could talk properly. Reluctantly, she’d agreed, thinking she owed him that at least. She’d called work and told them she had food poisoning.
‘I could kill Nigel for this,’ Derek said. ‘I don’t know why the police haven’t charged him yet. We’ve never got on, you know. We made a bit of an effort for the kids’ sake, but it was hard work. At least we won’t have to do that any more. I’ll be glad if I never have to spend another minute of my life in that man’s company.
‘He resents me. I’m self-made and he can’t stand that. I’m a threat. Because if someone like me can pull myself out of my working-class roots and make something of myself, then what’s to stop anyone else doing it? And the more of us that do it, the less power is left in the hands of people like him.’
‘His daughter’s just died,’ Louise said. ‘In the most unimaginable way possible. He’s grieving, that’s all. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.’
She shivered, remembering again that moment on the pier when she’d thought he was going to kill her. Now, she wondered if she’d got it wrong and the person most in danger from Nigel was Nigel himself.
‘I didn’t want to believe he could have killed her,’ Derek said. ‘Not at first. But after what you’ve told me today, I think he’s capable of anything. Promise me you’ll tell the police what he tried to do?’
‘Will it make any difference?’
He reached across the table and took her hand in his.
‘I know you feel sorry for him,’ he said. ‘But you’ve got to listen to me. Apart from what he did to you, which in my mind is reason enough to get him arrested, the man is trying to interfere in a police investigation. You have a responsibility to tell the police. You don’t have to mention me, or us. But you need to tell them he tried to blackmail you.’
Suddenly, she didn’t want to be here. She wanted to be at home, with Martin and the children. She wanted to feel safe again. Because ever since she’d started this affair with Derek, she’d been living in a state of anxiety. It had been fine for a while – the edge was what she’d been looking for – but now she’d had enough. She wished she could wind the clock back to three months earlier, before she’d started this affair. Before Lauren’s murder. Before any of this had happened.
‘I need to go.’ She pulled her hand away and stood up. Then, realising they hadn’t paid for the meal yet, she opened her bag, looking inside for her purse.
‘Can we pay up?’ she said, and looked around, caught the eye of one of the waitresses and gestured for the bill.
‘Stop, Louise.’ Derek stood up too, but she shook her head.
‘Please. Can’t you just let me go?’
Tears blurred her vision and she rubbed them away angrily. She’d done enough crying for one day.
‘I’ll sort the bill,’ Derek said. ‘Let me do that, at least. Afterwards, I’ll drive you back to Eastbourne and then, I swear to you, if you don’t want to see me again, that’s what we’ll do. We’ll finish it. Today.’
‘Okay.’ She nodded. She didn’t want to have to go back in the car with him. But it seemed churlish to get the train when he was being so good about everything. When he’d cancelled his work meeting and spent all this time making sure she was okay.
Outside, the rain had stopped and when he suggested a walk along the seafront before getting into the car, Louise agreed. The fresh air felt good after the artificial warmth of the hotel. And the anxiety that had been like a tight band across her chest started to ease.
Brighton seafront was bigger and bolder than Eastbourne. Louise remembered coming here as a child and teenager, wanting to live in this place that seemed so much more exciting and vibrant than her own home town. She experienced that same giddy feeling this afternoon. Even on a blustery day like today, Brighton was buzzing. People of all ages out and about, rollerblading and dog-walking and couples holding hands. Children too young to be at school running along the promenade, zigzagging around the adults.
‘My mum used to bring me and Pete here when we were kids,’ Derek said. ‘The first time we came, I was seven years old. Pete was three. I’d never seen the sea before. I remember it like it was yesterday. That sense of wonder that something like this could exist in the world and I’d never been close to it before. That’s why I decided I’d live by the coast when I grew up.’
‘That’s sweet,’ Louise said. She tried to picture him as a young boy but the image wouldn’t work. He was too streetwise, too much of a schmoozer and fixer.
‘That sense of purpose is what’s made me who I am today,’ he continued. ‘I always knew I didn’t want to live the sort of life my mother had. Two kids to look after with no money and no one to help her. Trying to hold down a job while keeping the two of us out of trouble. It’s a wonder only one of us went off the rails.’
‘You’ve done so well,’ Louise said. ‘I bet your mum would have been so proud of you.’
‘At least she had one son she could be proud of,’ Derek said.
‘Maybe Pete will sort himself out,’ Louise said. ‘There’s still time, you know.’
‘Not a chance.’ Derek snorted. ‘You know he called me last night? Drunk out of his head, of course. Going on about some bloody business idea he has. Just another excuse to pump me for money. I tried putting him off but he wouldn’t have it. So like a bloody fool I’ve agreed to meet him tomorrow and listen to this latest hare-brained idea of his. As if I haven’t got enough problems of my own, I have to deal with all his shit as well. The only good thing is if I meet him tomorrow that’s me done for another six months.’
The wind kept blowing Louise’s hair across her eyes, which made it difficult to see his face. She brushed her hair back, holding it in place.
‘You only see him every six months?’ she asked.
‘Never more than that,’ Derek said. ‘I’m not able for it. It’s over six months this time so I suppose he’s due a visit from his big brother. You know, if you wanted to, you could give me the perfect excuse for standing him up tomorrow?’
Her hand dropped down, hair whipping across her face again as soon as she let go.
‘I’d love to,’ she said, dipping her head down so he couldn’t see her face. ‘But you know I can’t.’
He didn’t say anything, but she could feel his eyes on her, boring into her. She forced herself to smile and looked up at him.
‘It’s freezing,’ she said. ‘Would you mind if we headed back?’
‘Good idea,’ Derek said. ‘Car’s parked just up here.’
He took her elbow, steering her across the road. As soon as they’d crossed, she pulled her arm free, grateful they were in a public place and he wouldn’t be able to force her to go with him.
‘I’ve just remembered some shopping I need to do,’ she said. ‘I promised Daisy I’d pick something up for her the next time I was here. I may as well go and get it now.’
‘That’s okay,’ Derek said. ‘I’m not in any rush.’
‘No.’ Louise shook her head. ‘I’d rather go by myself. Being with you like this is too painful. I need some time by myself. I’ll get what I need for Daisy and I’ll take the train.’
She leane
d forward and kissed his cheek, the smell of his aftershave clogging her nose and coating the inside of her mouth.
‘I’ll see you around,’ she said. ‘Bye.’
She turned and walked away before he could stop her. She walked fast, but not too fast, knowing she couldn’t make it look like that was what she was doing. She walked all the way to the end of the street, and when she turned the corner and knew he couldn’t see her any longer, she started running.
Thirty-five
By mid-afternoon, Dee had written the first draft of her story on Joana Helinski’s disappearance. There were still gaps – gaps that couldn’t be filled in until the police had found Derek French – but what she had was a good start. It was also a grimly depressing read. The story of a young girl coming to this country to make life better for herself and her young child. But the dream of a better life never materialises. Instead, the girl ends up working a series of low-paid, dead-end jobs and is forced to find another way to earn money. Then, one night, she meets a man for sex and something bad happens. The girl disappears without a trace.
He’d killed her. Dee couldn’t prove it yet, but she knew. Derek French had killed Joana Helinski that night and, somehow, he’d managed to get her body out of the hotel without being seen and he’d dumped it somewhere. Worse, the man was so arrogant he thought he could get away with it.
Several times during the day, she’d taken her phone out to call Eliza before changing her mind. It was better to wait until she had as much information as she could get. Which shouldn’t be taking this long. She’d called Ed earlier and told him what she’d found out about Joana working for the Frenches. He told Dee he’d pass the information on to Brian Douglas, and promised to call her as soon as he had any news. So far, he hadn’t called her back. Sick of waiting, Dee decided to take matters into her own hands and called him instead.
‘I was about to call you,’ he said. ‘Brian’s spent the afternoon trying to track down Derek – no luck so far, but he’s spoken with Karen. She claims she didn’t lie to you about Joana. She acknowledges that you showed her Joana’s photo, but said you never asked if she recognised her.’
‘What utter bullshit.’
‘I know,’ Ed said. ‘But that’s her story, and she’s sticking to it. She confirmed Joana was her cleaner, and said the girl simply didn’t show up for work one day and Karen hasn’t seen her since.’
‘Did Brian tell her that Joana was with her husband the night she disappeared?’
‘She says that’s not possible. Claims Derek was at home that night. Unfortunately for Karen, Brian’s also spoken with Charlie, who’s agreed to give a statement saying he definitely saw Derek with Joana the same night.’
‘What about Kyle?’ Dee said. ‘When I asked him about Joana, he never said a word about her working as their cleaner.’
‘I’ll make sure Brian speaks to him as well,’ Ed said. ‘Our priority now is finding Derek. He has to come home sooner or later. As soon as that happens, we’ll arrest him. If he’s got anything to do with Joana’s disappearance, we’ll find out, Dee. I promise.’
‘Thanks, Ed.’
‘Anything I can do,’ he said. ‘You know that, right? I’ve missed you, Dee. I’d really like to see you.’
‘Me too,’ she said.
‘You would? Good. That’s really good. I should be finished here by six thirty at the latest. How about I come straight over after that?’
‘I’d like that,’ Dee said.
As she hung up, she realised she was smiling. She was glad they were speaking again. For the first time since their falling-out, she felt hopeful they would find a way through this difficult patch.
* * *
Louise pulled up outside her house. She switched the engine off, but didn’t get out of the car. She’d got the train back from Brighton and walked from the station. She had a tonne of work to get through but she couldn’t face it. Instead, she’d found her car on the seafront and driven straight home. It was later than she’d imagined. She should have called Martin and told him she was running late. But her mind had been so caught up with Derek, she hadn’t given a thought to anything else.
Inside the house, the curtains were drawn and the lights were on. In the sitting room, she could just make out the blue glare of the TV screen. She pictured Daisy and Ben in there, cuddled up together on the sofa watching something on CBeebies. All she wanted to do was go in there and cuddle up beside them both, holding them close. But she couldn’t go in yet. First, she had to decide what she was going to do.
At Brighton station, there’d been an Eastbourne train ready to depart. She’d jumped into the last carriage, just as the doors were about to close. It was only as the train pulled away from the platform, and she realised there was no way Derek could catch her now, that her body caught up with the thoughts churning inside her head. She started shaking, so badly she could hear her teeth rattling inside her mouth. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply – in and out, in and out – waiting for the worst of it to pass. She’d suffered panic attacks in her early twenties, and knew the best thing to do was to breathe slowly until her mind realised there was no danger and she could relax.
Except this time, she couldn’t relax. The danger was real and present. Or was it? She tried to tell herself there was some mistake. That she’d misheard him, or he’d simply forgotten. But she knew Derek, and she knew he wasn’t the sort of person to forget meeting his own brother. Especially a meeting that was meant to have taken place the night Lauren was killed.
Louise’s face burned when she remembered her angry defence of Derek the night Dee had asked her about him. It had never occurred to her – not for a second – that he might have lied. But that was what he’d done. He’d told her, the police and everyone else that the night Lauren was murdered he was in London visiting his brother, Pete.
A shadow moved behind the curtains. Martin. A wave of sadness washed over her. Martin was the opposite of men like Derek. Louise knew some people – Dee, for example – thought Martin was boring. But boring wasn’t the worst thing a person could be. Boring also meant predictable, dependable, reliable. And Martin loved her. Really, properly loved her. She didn’t deserve him.
She knew what she had to do. She was going to go inside, feed her children and get them ready for bed. And then she was going to call Rachel Lewis and tell her Derek had lied about his alibi the night Lauren was murdered. She opened the door and got out of the car.
A wave of cold air hit her. To her left, a sudden movement as something ran towards her. A dark shadow. Instinctively she turned away, trying to block it, but she wasn’t fast enough. Something smashed into the side of her head. Pain and a burst of white light. She was falling, the ground rising to meet her and her own voice screaming as she fell. And then there was nothing, except darkness and pain.
Thirty-six
Dee was in the shower when she heard her phone ringing. She ran to get it, but it had stopped by the time she got to it. When she checked her call history, she saw the call was from Ed. She tried to call him back, but got his voicemail. Hanging up, she saw he’d sent her a text as well.
Running late – something’s come up last minute. I’ll call when I’m done x
She was about to send a text back, telling him not to worry, when her phone started ringing again. Expecting it to be Ed, she answered without checking the caller ID.
‘Are you okay?’ she asked.
‘Dee?’ Not Ed. Martin. His voice sounded strained and immediately Dee knew something was wrong.
‘What is it?’ she said. ‘What’s happened?’
Because something had happened. In the whole time she’d known him, Martin had never once phoned her. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for whatever she was about to hear. Images she didn’t want to see raced through her head – Louise’s car, crashing head-on with another car down the quiet road where they lived; Ben or Daisy running out of the house into the road, their little faces caught in the glare of headligh
ts from a car driving too fast to stop.
‘I need to see you,’ Martin said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m at the house. Can you come over? The kids are in bed. I can’t leave them alone.’
He sounded empty. As if someone had hollowed out the little bit of personality he had and there was nothing left.
‘What’s happened, Martin?’
But he’d already hung up. And the only person who could hear Dee speaking was herself.
Traffic was light and Dee made it across town in ten minutes. She pulled up outside Louise’s house and ran to the front door. Martin must have heard her, because he’d already opened the door and was standing waiting for her. She’d been running, but she stopped when she saw his face.
‘It’s Louise.’ His voice cracked and Dee put a hand over her mouth to stop the sob she could feel at the back of her throat. ‘What’s going on?’
‘How would I know?’ Dee asked. And then she realised. He hadn’t called because Louise had been in an accident. He’d called because he knew about the affair.
‘I can’t stand it,’ he said. ‘The lies and the knowing, but not knowing. How stupid does she think I am? You can’t hide something like that. Well, maybe other people can, but not Louise. She’s a terrible liar. I thought it would pass. I told myself the worst thing I could do was to confront her without any proof. I know I haven’t always been the best husband. It’s not easy for her. I’m away so often and she gets lonely. It’s why I’ve been home so much lately. I’ve cut my hours right back. I thought if I was around more the affair would stop. Only it hasn’t made any difference. Now she’s gone and I don’t think she’s coming back.’
Dee took a tentative step forward. Then another. Close enough now to smell the booze on his breath and see the fear in his eyes.
‘Martin,’ she said. ‘Can we go inside? I’m freezing out here.’
When the Dead Speak Page 23