The Woman in the Peacock Patterned Coat

by Jennifer Jones

  ‘When instead, she started planning to leave. Instead of settling down and playing happy families with you, she terminated the pregnancy …’

  ‘No … it was a miscarriage. I told you.’

  ‘Did you know when she fell pregnant?’

  ‘Of course I did! I knew her cycle better than she did. As soon as she was two days late, I made her take a pregnancy test. When it was positive I was over the moon.’

  ‘But Katie wasn’t, was she? Like you said, she was only twenty-three, she still wanted her freedom. So she made an appointment at the Sandyford Clinic, and she had an abortion.’

  ‘No …’

  Neil took out a notebook, flicked through the pages. ‘I got home from work,’ he read, ‘and she was in the toilet … there was blood … she was crying …’ He looked up. ‘I found some painkillers in her bag …’

  ‘Yes … but it was a miscarriage … she was having a miscarriage …’

  ‘Why did you look in her bag, I wonder? Why not a kitchen cupboard, the bathroom cabinet? Was it out of habit, you always checked in her bag after she got home, making sure she was behaving herself, checking her text messages, that sort of thing?’

  Gordon was frowning. ‘I don’t remember saying anything about her bag …’

  ‘But you just did. You just said yes. You agreed the painkillers were in her bag.’

  ‘You’re confusing me. Anyway, they were just painkillers, what does …?’

  ‘Ah, but I don’t think they were your bog-standard supermarket paracetamol, were they? No, they were some brand of super strength painkiller. So you put Katie to bed, sat up with her until she fell asleep, stroking her hair, whispering comforting words, but in your mind you were puzzling over the drugs. And in the morning you rang Catriona, the pharmaceutical sales rep. “Katie’s lost the baby,” you said. And when Catriona had offered her commiserations, you said, “She had codeine in her bag. Why would she have codeine? What would she need it for?” And Catriona said, “Oh my God, Gordon, Shona saw her going into the Sandyford Clinic the other day. She’s had an abortion.” That’s what happened, isn’t it?’

  Gordon was staring at Neil like he was some sort of mind reader or magician, but he managed to croak, ‘No.’

  ‘You went straight home, didn’t you? You confronted her …’

  ‘No …’

  ‘I mean – how dare she? How dare she ruin your happiness in this way, all your hopes and dreams. Everything you had worked so hard to bring about. The destruction of all your plans …’

  ‘The destruction of a life!’

  Neil’s eyes opened wide. He paused for a moment. Then, ‘She killed your baby,’ he said softly.

  ‘She killed my baby, and she didn’t care! She didn’t care! “How could you?” I asked her and she just said, “I didn’t want it, Gordon. It was my decision. It has nothing to do with you.” “Nothing to do with me,” I screamed, “it has everything to do with me! I’m the father!” She just looked at me. “Christ, you’re full of it, Gordon,” she said, and then she laughed. So I choked the life out of her. I choked her to death.’ He buried his face in his hands and began sobbing quietly.

  Neil leaned back in his chair, loosened his tie, took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow. He called for some water, and when it arrived in two plastic tumblers, he drank his slowly, taking long, steady breaths until he felt his heart rate returning to normal. When at last Gordon stopped crying, and raised his head, he indicated the second tumbler and said,

  ‘Are you ready to continue?’

  ‘What else is there to say?’

  ‘Whose idea was it for Catriona to impersonate Katie in London?’

  ‘Catriona’s of course. I sat beside Katie’s body for hours, hating her, hating what she’d done, crying for our lost baby. And then I began to realise what a mess I was in. I called Catriona, and she came over straight away. She took one look at Katie and said, “Oh my God, Gordon, what have you done?” She said, if she’d known that’s what I would do, she would never have told me. Well it was a bit late for all that now, I said. She paced around for a while and then she said, “You’re not going down for this, Gordon. I’m not going to let you go down for this.” I was crying again by then, I was in a real state. I said of course I was, it was always the boyfriend they went after first, wasn’t it? She grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me, told me to stop being hysterical. She said, “We’re clever, Gordon, better than other people, we’ll work something out.” We went through all Katie’s emails, text messages, checked her browsing history on the computer. When we found the email confirming her appointment with a letting agency in Wandsworth, Catriona started forming her plan, that she would be Katie for a while, going down to London as often as she could, making sure lots of people saw her down there. I knew Katie’s bank PIN, so she was able to take money from her account. She kept sending emails to Katie’s sister – she read a few of the earlier ones to make sure she got the tone right. She told me to send some too, asking Katie to come back, to let me know how she was, that sort of thing. She had it all worked out. It was supposed to be perfect, the perfect plan … I trusted her to get it right. But she screwed up, didn’t she?’

  ‘I can tell you that Catriona’s fingerprints have been matched to a set found on the bathroom cabinet in Katie’s flat.’

  ‘That stupid fucking bitch … she was supposed to be careful, make sure she cleaned up properly.’

  ‘Mmm. So Catriona kept this up until you could provide yourself with an unbreakable alibi. Meanwhile, she went online, into chat rooms, finding someone who would be the fall guy …’

  ‘What?’

  ‘She joined a chat room, got to know a young man, groomed him really, suggested the two of them go away together on that day, May the thirteenth, so that when Katie disappeared, all suspicion would fall on him …’

  ‘I knew nothing about that. She never told me that was part of the plan.’ Gordon whistled under his breath. ‘She’s impressive, isn’t she?’

  ‘Oh, undoubtedly. I’m sure she’ll be running her prison wing in no time at all. What did you do with Katie’s body?’

  ‘We … we put her in the car, and drove to this quiet place in the countryside that Catriona knew of, and we buried her properly, with dignity – which is more than she showed to my baby, flushing it down the toilet like she did. The judge has to take that into consideration, doesn’t he, that she murdered my baby, coldly and deliberately, without a second thought. Doesn’t he?’

  Neil looked at him with contempt. ‘Interview terminated at twelve fifteen p.m.’ He went to the door, called to the constable waiting outside. ‘Take him away,’ he said. ‘Charge him.’

  ***

  Finally he walked into the room where Catriona Henderson sat waiting.

  ‘You fucking cunt,’ she spat.

  ‘Well, that’s charming. And also not very original. You think you’re the first woman ever to swear at me?’

  He sat down opposite her.

  ‘I’m not saying a fucking word.’

  ‘That’s all right, Ms Henderson, you don’t need to. Gordon Renfrew has dropped you right in it.’

  ‘No he hasn’t. You’re just lying, calling my bluff …’

  ‘I’ll play the tape for you, if you like.’

  She exhaled sharply. ‘That stupid fucking prick.’

  ‘Mmm. Well he had a similar description for you. How such very close friends turn on each other when their little scheme has come undone.’

  ‘How? How did it come undone?’

  ‘Where shall I start? How about when you and Gordon both asked why I was still questioning the two of you, why I wasn’t looking for evidence in London? I don’t like to be told my job, Ms Henderson, it makes me suspicious. Or how about when you invited Patrick Wells to your hotel room to celebrate, telling him it had been a tiring time and you could let your hair down at last – meaning you could finally ditch that blonde wig? Or maybe you’re just not as clever as you think.
’ He smiled. ‘You shouldn’t be rude to people, Ms Henderson, it sharpens their memory of you. Andrew Bryson was shown the photo of you the Glasgow Police so kindly supplied, and he identified you immediately as the woman he knew as Katie Campbell.’ And for co-operating with the police like that, Bryson’s sentence would likely be reduced, but it was swings and roundabouts in this game. ‘Those days leading up to the thirteenth, you hoped to be in London, didn’t you, so you could be thorough about removing all evidence of your presence at the flat. But instead you were sent to Doncaster, instead of a few days you had only a few hours. I think, if you’d had more time, you would have gone to Shaun Taverner’s place and planted some evidence, so as to completely stitch him up. I’m right, aren’t I?’

  In answer, she raised her hands and clapped him silently.

  ‘I thought so. You made Shaun Taverner’s life a living hell, Ms Henderson. He is a decent, quiet-living man who found himself trapped in a nightmare of your creating, to the extent he tried to take his own life. He might have died …’

  Catriona shrugged. ‘That’s what you get for talking to strangers on the Internet.’

  ‘That’s right. Keep up that lack of remorse. The prosecution is going to have a field day with you. Perverting the course of justice, identity theft, theft, deception … add in what you did to Shaun Taverner and I don’t think the judge will be showing you much leniency.’

  For the first time she looked scared. ‘How … how long am I going to get?’

  He stood up. ‘Let’s put it this way. I don’t think anyone will be having your babies when you get out.’

  She went for him, fingers outstretched, but he caught hold of her hands and pushed her back into her seat. ‘How boring,’ he said. ‘How predictable. And not once, not once have you asked how Shona is.’ He turned away in disgust and walked out.

  ***

  He went round to Sheila’s to find her packing.

  ‘You’ve heard, then?’

  ‘I’ve heard that they’re shelving the case against Shaun Taverner. That they don’t have enough to charge him and they never will. So I might as well give up too, and go home, and find a way to live with the fact that he’s got away with it.’

  ‘He didn’t do it, Sheila. I’ve just come from Glasgow, where Gordon Renfrew has confessed to murdering your sister.’

  ‘Her … her ex-boyfriend?’

  ‘Yes. Sheila, sit down, please.’ He sat with her on the bed and took hold of her hands. ‘Sheila … Katie didn’t have a miscarriage, she had an abortion, and when Renfrew found out … he killed her.’

  ‘He … he followed her? To London?’

  ‘I’m very sorry, Sheila, but Katie never left Glasgow.’ He told her the story of Catriona’s deception.

  She put her hand to her head. ‘I … I can’t take this in. This Catriona Henderson was sending me those emails?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And she put Katie’s things in the flat, to make it look like she was living there?’

  He nodded. ‘Including a few of her blonde hairs, for the Forensics team to find.’

  ‘But that’s … that’s evil.’

  ‘Yes … it is.’

  ‘It didn’t work though, did it? You worked it out?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You’re amazing.’

  He smiled. ‘A couple of months ago, I didn’t have a clue.’

  ‘Oh, God … please don’t throw my words back at me …’ Her eyes filled with tears. ‘Oh, Neil … Neil …’

  He hugged her. ‘Ssh … ssh … it’s all over. Gordon Renfrew is taking the police to where they buried Katie’s body. You’ll be able to give her a proper funeral.’

  ‘Yes. I’ll bury her with Mum and Dad. My little sister … And then what, Neil? Then what will I do?’

  ‘You’ll find a way to carry on, to live with the pain. Because that’s what the living must do. You’ll go home, back to your boyfriend, and make your life happy again.’

  ‘Live with the pain …’ She looked into his eyes. ‘That evening … in the hotel courtyard … the woman who was raped there …’

  ‘Is my wife to be.’

  She nodded. ‘I felt … the pain you were in. I’m so sorry, Neil. Is she … is she all right?’

  ‘She’s getting there. We’re both getting there. But it’s hard, Sheila. It’s bloody hard. And Sheila, you must … you say your boyfriend is very supportive, so you must talk to him, tell him how you’re feeling, what’s going on with you. And he to you, because this affects him too, your life together. Janey and I … we nearly came adrift … because we weren’t talking to each other, because I was keeping things bottled up. So really, that’s the best advice I can give you – simply to talk.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  He kissed her on the cheek. ‘Goodbye, Sheila. Take care now.’

  ‘You too, Neil. You too.’

  From Sheila’s he went to South Acton, arriving at Shaun’s house just as the sun was setting. It was a mild evening, and he stopped for a moment to contemplate the pink-tinged clouds, the dahlias and chrysanthemums blooming in the front garden. The curtains in the next door window twitched – Mrs Morrissey, checking on this visitor to her neighbour.

  Tamsin opened the door, dressed in overalls, a scarf tied around her hair, a streak of dust on her cheek.

  ‘Hello. Is Shaun here?’

  ‘Yes.’ She went to move aside, then frowned. ‘You were at the hospital that day. Shaun said you’re a policeman …’

  ‘Please, there’s nothing to be alarmed about. May I speak to him?’

  ‘All right.’ As she led him through to the lounge she said, ‘We’ve been cleaning the house. It was in a right state. Like he was. I hope you’re not going to start hounding him again.’

  ‘I’m not. I promise you I’m not.’

  Shaun was sitting on the sofa, reading a newspaper. He leapt to his feet. ‘Chief Inspector Hammond!’

  ‘Shaun, I’ve come to tell you that it’s all over.’ Once again he told the story that would be front page headlines in every national paper the following day.

  Shaun gasped. ‘So it was all a set up? Right from the start?’

  ‘Yes. And I am so very sorry, Shaun, that you were put through all of this. And I will see to it that you receive a formal apology.’

  Shaun nodded. ‘God, how gullible you must think I am.’

  ‘Not at all. But you did have a very lucky escape. Still … you seem to have your life sorted now.’

  ‘Yes.’ He put his arm around Tamsin, drew her close. ‘Tamsin’s got all sorts of ideas for re-decorating the house. And we’ve drawn up a design for a new garden … would you like to see it?’

  He was very tired, all he really wanted to do was get back home, but he said, ‘All right.’

  He found himself impressed. ‘This is very good, Shaun. Perhaps, when Janey and I buy a house next year, you can help us design our own garden. For a fee of course.’

  Tamsin’s eyes lit up. ‘That’s what you should do, Shaun. You’ve got the accounting know-how, the talent, you should set up your own garden design business.’

  ‘You think so?’

  ‘I know so. And I …’

  With a smile, Neil left them eagerly discussing their future together.

  Chapter 22

  Neil knocked on the door of Janey’s room.

  ‘So are you ready to show me this amazing, top secret outfit of yours?’

  She opened the door. ‘What do you think?’ She had teamed the dress with a matching shawl, and stiletto-heeled cream satin shoes. Her hair was piled into a bun, glinting with diamantes.

  Neil caught his breath. ‘Janey …’ Tears sprang to his eyes. ‘Janey …’

  ‘Please don’t start crying, or I’ll start crying too, and then I’ll have to re-do my make-up. The only thing is, I don’t have a matching coat. I hope it’s not too cold outside.’

  His eyes lit up. ‘Wait right there.’ He went to the wardrobe in the main bedr
oom and pulled out a large rectangular box. ‘I was keeping this for your birthday, but, well, it’s only a little early I guess.’

  Inside the box was a pale orange coat, with a pattern around the lower edge of vivid swirls – lemon, lilac, crimson, pink.

  Janey gasped. ‘Neil, it’s beautiful.’ Then she recognised the design. ‘It’s my painting! Oh, Neil …’

  ‘Careful,’ he grinned. ‘Your mascara’s starting to smudge.’

  At the entrance to the reception room, Janey hesitated, took a tighter grip on Neil’s arm.

  ‘Ready?’ he asked.

  She took a deep breath. ‘Yes,’ she said, and stepped forward.

  At first she could see only a bewildering mass of people, but after a moment she was able to focus on Garry, standing just inside the door. Beside him stood a young, dark haired woman wearing a red floor-length gown, with a plunging neckline, and the side seam slashed to her thigh. The woman stared at her in blank astonishment, then grabbed the young man next to her and practically dragged him to the back of the room, picking up a glass of champagne on the way. Janey watched after them in bemusement. What was that all about?

  ‘Hello, Garry,’ she said. ‘Felicity isn’t here?’

  ‘No. I’m afraid she’s not feeling very well. She’s …’

  ‘When is she due?’

  Garry laughed. ‘You’ve guessed! Well, the same week as you actually. We’re both very excited.’

  ‘Congratulations, Garry.’ Neil shook his hand, just as Graeme and Adele Gillespie came up.

  ‘Here he is,’ said Graeme to Neil. ‘The man of the hour.’

  They made small talk for a few minutes, then Adele said,

  ‘Come with me, Janey. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.’

  Neil watched with a worried look on his face as Adele led Janey away.

  ‘She’ll be fine,’ Graeme said. ‘Adele will take good care of her. Anyway, you can come with me. The mayor would like to be introduced.’