Page 41 of Perfect Wives

Jonny smirked. ‘So you broke into my house? Christ, Beth. Didn’t take you for the type.’

‘Turn your music off before you go out and next time I won’t have to.’ I moved towards the door, wanting out, wanting to be home with Henry, but Jonny was still in the hallway, and in one movement he was blocking my path.

‘By all means, feel free to let yourself in any time, Beth,’ he said, voice dripping with an innuendo that made my skin crawl. ‘Maybe I’ll use my spare key and pop over to yours next time.’

My gaze snapped to his. I was already shaking my head as I asked, ‘What spare key?’

Jonny smiled. ‘Didn’t Alistair tell you? We did a swap. You have mine, and I have yours. For emergencies, of course. And for whenever we feel like it too, it seems.’

My blood turned to ice. His tone was still friendly, but I didn’t miss the undercurrent of threat. ‘Don’t even think about it,’ I said.

‘But it’s OK for you?’ he asked.

‘When you leave your music on, yes.’ I shoved past him, my breath coming too fast as the anger consumed me. Fear too. I was in this man’s house. Alone. And I shouldn’t have been.

‘You’re ruining my life, you know.’ My voice was barely a whisper. ‘Maybe if I wasn’t so stressed with your music and your car engine revving day and night, I’d be pregnant by now.’

Jonny’s laughter followed me out the front door, but then DS Sató’s voice drags me back to the small, stuffy interview room. ‘Beth, why did you kill Jonny?’

I look up, blinking. My heart is still hammering from the memory of standing in Jonny’s house.

You’re too scared to do what needs to be done. You’ve come this far, and now you’re stalling.

I swallow hard, reach into my handbag and pull out the Ziploc bag. Whatever it takes, I remind myself. ‘You want proof,’ I say by way of reply. ‘Here it is.’

Sató’s gaze moves from me to the object in my hand. Inside the clear plastic, the metal of the knife glints under the harsh lights, except for the places where the blood has dried dark red and dull.

Something in Sató’s face changes. Her jaw tightens. ‘I assume you’re showing me the murder weapon?’

‘Yes. I’ve told you how I killed Jonny. I’m showing you the knife I used. His blood and DNA will still be on it.’

‘Will yours?’ The speed of her question nearly knocks me off balance.

I grit my teeth and don’t reply. We had to confess. It had to be this way.

8 DAYS EARLIER

Magnolia Close WhatsApp Group

Friday, 10 October, 7.05a.m.

Ryan (No. 9)

A hidden camera! This has to be a joke. Who was it? Time to own up.

Andrea (No. 7)

Yes, own up please. Any form of CCTV security violates the bylaws of Magnolia Close.

Bill (No. 5)

Forget the bylaws. This violates our bloody privacy. Someone’s been watching us.

Tasha (No. 12)

Can the police trace who installed it?

Bill (No. 5)