Page 27

TWENTY-SIX

SUNDAY 2 FEbrUARY

Kate stares at Faye Held, hoping she’s only imagined Faye’s words.

I have a photo of the two of you together

‘What… what photo?’

‘Glad you’ve asked,’ Faye says, tapping on her phone. ‘This.’ She hands it to Kate, who slowly takes the phone.

And there it is. A photo of Kate with Jamie in his bedroom, taken from a camera that must have been high up in the corner of the bedroom. The satin sheets she remembers from that night wrapped around their naked bodies. An intense rush of heat surges through Kate’s body.

‘That’s you, isn’t it?’ Faye says, easing her phone out of Kate’s hand.

Kate nods. There’s no point in lying now. She needs to tell the truth to this woman and convince her that she’s innocent.

‘Where did you get this?’ Kate asks. ‘Was it Harper?’

‘I never give away my sources. Confidentiality means everything to me. Sorry.’ She gives Kate an apologetic smile. ‘Care to explain the photo?’

‘I was at Jamie’s flat for a few hours, but I left his house around two or three in the morning. And he was fine. We talked before I left.’

Faye studies Kate’s face, and her absence of words is excruciating. ‘D’you know what? I’m actually inclined to believe you, even though you’ve clearly just lied to me by telling me you didn’t know him. But I still think there are things you’re not telling me.’

Relief surges through Kate’s body. ‘I keep wondering if there’s a connection with Graham White. It just seems too much of a coincidence that I’m linked to two dead bodies.’ Especially when that note on her windscreen mentioned both men.

‘That thought crossed my mind too,’ Faye says. ‘So I looked into it, but I can’t find any hint of a link between the two men. I’ll continue digging, though.’ She pauses. ‘But there’s something about Harper Nolan I can’t trust. I can’t put my finger on it – call it instinct – but I’ll find out what it is. And in the meantime, I find it hard to believe you would have killed this man – Jamie. I’ve researched you. You live a quiet life with your son and you work as a vet, caring for animals. Now I know that doesn’t mean anything, but the vibe you give off doesn’t scream murderer to me. You met Jamie Archer that night – there’s no record anywhere of you having known him before. So I ask myself – why would you suddenly kill him after sleeping with him? What would your motive be? And there’s always motive. Harper, on the other hand, had plenty – a wronged wife. Or girlfriend. So let’s say they were still together. She finds out you’ve slept with Jamie, waits until you leave then confronts him. It gets messy. That’s a much more likely scenario. I’m keeping an open mind, though. Not saying I trust you yet. But, when it comes down to it, we all have to pick a side, don’t we? Run with it until we’re proved wrong.’

‘You won’t be proved wrong,’ Kate says. ‘And thank you for your trust.’

As she pulls up to her house, Kate cuts the engine and stays in the car. Her conversation with Faye has unsettled her; she wants to believe that the podcaster is on her side, but if Kate can’t even trust the people closest to her, then how can she trust this stranger? Especially one with a professional agenda.

Kate still hasn’t heard from the one person who might have some answers, so she tries calling again, but as always it goes straight to voicemail. Hanging up, Kate throws her phone on the passenger seat and starts the car. Ellis can stay with Thomas for a bit longer – there’s something Kate needs to do.

She knocks on Harper’s door and waits. It’s time to put an end to this campaign of Harper’s. And whatever happens will be caught on the cameras Ellis hid. Seconds pass and nothing happens. Harper’s car isn’t anywhere on the road, but there are lights on in the living room. ‘Where are you?’ she whispers.

She’s about to turn away, when the door eases open and Dex is standing there, a confused frown on his face.

‘I thought you were Mum,’ he says.

‘Hi Dex. Do you know where she is?’

He shrugs. ‘No. She just had to go out. A few hours ago.’

Kate peers into the house. ‘And who’s with you?’

‘No one.’

Kate frowns. ‘No one? But you can’t be on your own.’

Dex shrugs. ‘I wasn’t. The babysitter was here. But then she said she had to go. It was only a few minutes ago.’

‘In that case, I think I should come in and stay with you. Just until your mum gets home.’

He shrugs again. ‘Okay. Can Thomas come?’

‘He’s with his dad, but maybe another time.’ Kate steps into the house, fully aware that this could be a trap of some kind. She wants to question Dex more, but he’s a child and no matter what, she won’t involve him in this. It’s between her and Harper.

‘Does your mum know that the babysitter left?’

‘No. Phoebe just rushed off and said it was a family emergency. I told her I’m ten and I’ll be fine until Mum gets back.’

‘What were you up to?’ Kate asks, unzipping her coat.

‘Just watching TV.’

‘Well, how about you carry on and I’ll just get myself some water. That okay?’

‘Yeah,’ Dex says. ‘I really wish Thomas could come, though.’

‘I know,’ Kate says.

While Dexter goes back to his TV programme, Kate roots through the kitchen cupboards until she finds a glass – even though she has no intention of drinking anything. Then she searches through the drawers. She’s sure she won’t find anything, but she’ll never again get this opportunity to be alone in Harper’s house.

‘What the hell are you doing?’

Kate spins around to find Harper standing in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest.

‘Dex was alone. I came in to stay with him until you got back. The babysitter walked out and just left him here.’

Harper rushes to the living room, calling for Dex, and from the kitchen Kate listens.

‘Dexter? Did Phoebe just leave?’

‘She said she had an emergency and I told her I’d be okay. I said you’d be back soon.’

‘Weren’t you scared?’

‘Mum, I’m ten! Nearly in Year 6.’

‘Come here.’ There’s panic in Harper’s voice that Kate’s never heard before – she almost sounds like a different person. ‘Promise me you’ll get someone to call me if anything like this happens again. Not that I’m leaving you again. I’m never leaving you again.’

‘Mum, I’m fine,’ Dexter insists.

Harper walks back into the kitchen, shutting the door. ‘Looking for these?’ she says, reaching into her pocket. She crosses to Kate and slips something into her hand. Two miniature cameras.

Kate stares at them. How is this possible? She grabs them from Harper and shoves them in her pocket. ‘I…I wanted to make sure Thomas is safe when he comes here. I’ll do what I have to, to protect my son. But you need to stop all of this, Harper. Before someone gets hurt.’

‘Like Jamie, you mean? I’ll take my chances. You know, Kate, there are consequences of our actions, and sooner or later we all have to face them.’

‘Is that why Jamie’s dead? Was it a consequence of his actions?’

‘Why don’t you tell me, Kate?’

‘Jamie’s death was nothing to do with me.’

‘But you slept with him.’

Harper knows, there’s no point denying it. ‘So it was you who gave that photo to that podcaster. I had nothing to do with Jamie’s murder. And you weren’t even married. You’ve been lying to everyone.’

‘You’re talking about a little piece of paper that doesn’t mean anything,’ Harper says. ‘Jamie and I were bound by something much more important than a pointless marriage certificate. We have our son.’

‘Jamie was telling me the truth, wasn’t he? When he said you were separated. What about that wedding photo in your living room?’

‘Easy to fake online. Can’t believe anything you see these days.’

Kate is rooted to the spot, unable to find any words in response to Harper’s admission, which confirms what Kate already suspected.

Harper smiles. ‘You really fell for every word, didn’t you? I can assure you that Jamie and I were very much together. What else did he say to get you into his bed?’

‘I’ll find a way to prove that you killed him,’ Kate hisses. ‘Don’t fuck with me.’

‘You do know I’ll never let that happen?’ Harper moves closer to Kate, forcing her to shrink back. ‘Don’t you ever get sick of all the lies you tell?’

Kate pulls herself straighter. ‘Don’t you ? You need help, Harper.’

‘Just doing what it takes to protect my son.’

‘And so am I,’ Kate snarls. ‘You’ll never win this, Harper. I’ve got truth on my side, that’s all that matters.’

Dex barges into the room. ‘Need some water,’ he says.

‘Bye, Kate,’ Harper says. ‘Thanks for stopping by. So thoughtful of you to check up on us.’

‘Can Thomas come over, Mum?’ Dex begs.

Harper raises her chin and glances at Kate. ‘Yes, of course. Any time. I’m sure Kate will ask him when she gets home. We’re free tomorrow after school.’ She doesn’t give Kate a chance to respond. ‘I’ll see you out.’

At the front door, Harper shakes her head. ‘Pull a stunt like this again and I’ll make sure Thomas knows just what kind of mother he’s got. Does he know about your past? Maybe it’s about time he did.’

Driving home, Kate sees Aleena and Theo walking their dog. Screeching to a halt as they turn into their road, she jumps out of the car and rushes over to them. ‘Can we talk?’

Aleena glances at her son then instructs him to go to the house. ‘Dad’s there,’ she says. As soon as he’s out of earshot, Aleena turns on her. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I was just driving past and saw you. I hate us not speaking. I’m so sorry, Aleena. Please can we put things right?’

Aleena sighs and stares at Kate. ‘I’m scared of you, Kate.’

Of all the things she could say, Kate hasn’t expected this. ‘Please don’t say that. I’m still the same person and this doesn’t have to change our friendship.’

‘I’ve done a lot of thinking about it,’ Aleena says. ‘And maybe I’ve never noticed before, but you’ve always had…anger issues. But there was no reason for me pay it much attention before because…I thought I knew exactly who you were. But the way you were with Ellis sometimes. Losing it with him when he’d hardly done anything. I just dismissed it. Especially as you were never like that with Thomas. But then when I heard about Graham White, it all made sense.’

‘Don’t say that. I told you – I was being attacked. What would you do if it was you?’

‘It was me, Kate. Remember? And I didn’t end up killing him.’

‘That’s not fair.’

Aleena stares at her. ‘I know it’s not. But I don’t believe it was as black and white as that. There’s more to this – I know it. So what is it?’

‘It was self-defence,’ she says quietly.

‘I want to believe that, but how can I? You’ve been lying for too long. Please, just leave me alone.’ Aleena turns away but then changes her mind and spins around to face Kate. ‘You need to watch out. You’re in a lot of trouble, and I don’t think you can run from it this time.’