Page 136 of The Dead Ex

‘Mum. What did you do?’

‘I … well, I had one of those key chains from the prison. I nicked one. Just to defend myself in case one of the other women went for me.’

‘How did you get it out when you were released?’

‘I did one of the prison officersa favour.’ She winks at me. ‘Nice bloke he was.’

My mouth is dry. ‘Please tell me you didn’t take the chain with you when we followed Vicki.’

‘Only as protection.’ Mum isn’t looking at me. ‘I didn’t know what the guv might do if she saw us.’

‘But she didn’t see us … did she?’

‘No.’ She lifts her face again. Defiant this time. ‘Vicki ran past me and I was going to follow her when she stormedoff, but then Tanya saw me. By then I’d sneaked in through the patio doors which were open. I was scared so I … well, I got my chain out.’

The baby kicks inside me as though it too is scared.

‘Only to frighten her, mind. But then she began yelling and I knew I had to shut her up.’

‘You didn’t …’

‘I just told you, love. I did it for you. I thought, well, if she’s dead and David’s gone missing– maybe dead too – you’d get all the money once you’d proved it was his child.’

‘And you thought all of that on the spur of the moment? You’ve just helped to send down an innocent woman for a crime which she didn’t commit.’

‘What about justice? It’s only what she did to me.’ Mum’s voice rises like a spoilt child’s. ‘I knew David’s wife would have Vicki’s DNA on her from the fight they’d justhad. You pick up a thing or two in prison. Then I stopped at that phone box to dial 999 and leave an anonymous tip-off in a funny voice claiming to be an old neighbour who heard a commotion and recognized David’s first wife running from the house. Told them that I thought she now lived in Penzance. Then I knew the police would watch the station and the bitch would get blamed for the murder.’

‘You lied to me. I thought you said we were a team. How could you be so stupid?’ Tears are running down my face.

‘Shut up.’

‘No. You shut up. All I ever wanted was for you to get out of prison, and now you’ve done it again …’

‘Zelda, isn’t it? Zelda Darling. Thought I recognized your voice.’

I take in the broad-shouldered man in a suit who has stepped round the side of the booth. ‘Who are you?’

‘My name’s Patrick Miles. I knew your mother from prison.’

No. Mum’s face has gone white.

The man steps closer. ‘ “The bitch would get blamed for the murder”, would she? Would the bitch you’re referring to be Vicki Goudman by any chance?’

Oh my God.

‘I think we need to speak to the police, don’t you?’

‘Fuck off.’ There’s a glint. Mum has a knife in her hand.

‘Don’t!’

‘Police,’ the man yells,grabbing her wrist. The knife falls to the ground.

‘Scarlet,’ shouts Mum. ‘Help me.’

But this time, there’s nothing I can do.

59