Page 147 of Worse Than Murder

‘Surprisingly, I’m doing okay. I think. My answer to that question changes depending on which day I’m asked,’ she says with a weak smile. ‘I’ve unlocked thirty years of pain and it’s a relief.’ She looks brighter, lighter, for the first time since I met her. Today is clearly a good day. ‘How are you?’

‘I’m getting there.’ It’s the most honest answer I can give. ‘It hurts when I cough and sneeze still. And laugh. And breathe,’ I smile. ‘Tania tells me you’re staying with the police.’

‘Yes. For now. I’m going to see how it goes. We’re looking at properties around Lancaster, maybe Preston. I’ve got so many friends here. I don’t want to be too far away, but I think I want something more than High Chapel can offer. I’m going to take things slowly.’

‘Good for you.’

‘Inspector Forsyth was telling me there won’t be any charges laid against you for what happened with Iain.’

‘No. I’ve dodged a bullet there. Has Gill said anything about…?’ I leave the question hanging.

‘It’s a slow process, obviously. It’s taken him a while to recover from being stabbed five times, but he’s admitted more or less everything,’ Alison said, clearing her throat. ‘He’s got a solicitor and he’s trying to blame diminished responsibility. I’m going to fight him all the way. Mum and Claire, too.’

‘It’s made you stronger, all this, hasn’t it?’

‘Tania told me that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I didn’t always believe it. I think I do now.’ She takes a sip of her tea. ‘Matilda, about that night… when Gill and I came to the house and you…’

‘Lost it,’ I finish her sentence for her. ‘I know exactly what happened. Gill practically broke her neck to give me all the details. I’m going to sort things out before I make any big life changes. I’ve learned that it’s fine to run away, make a clean break of things, but you need to sort out your problems before you do so. I know a good therapist. He’ll see me right.’ I’m smiling so wide it hurts, and it has nothing to do with my bruises.

We sip our tea in silence.

From Alison’s cottage, I go to End Lane where Lionel Bell is sitting in his armchair with his daughter, Gill, on the sofa next to him and Tania on the opposing armchair. I’m the last to arrive. I’ve no idea why I’m there, but something tells me I’m going to want to hear what Lionel has to say.

‘I did steal that money,’ he says, not looking at anyone, his gaze fixed firmly on the carpet.

Gill slaps a hand to her mouth, though I think she already knew about the money. Tania looks shocked, disappointed.

‘I have no excuse. I could say it was a moment of weakness, but the fact is I needed it. It’s as simple as that.’

I clear my throat. ‘Iain knew, didn’t he? He said he’d keep your secret if you removed Travis’s statement about the missing car, which you did, yet he still leaked your secret. He discredited your reputation.’

Lionel nods. ‘I couldn’t prove Iain killed the twins, but I had my suspicions. If I’d told anyone, nobody would have believed me.’

‘You could have told me, Dad,’ Gill says. ‘I would have helped you in any way I could.’

‘No, you couldn’t. I was protecting you, too.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Jason Marley.’

‘Oh, God.’ Gill visibly baulked at the mention of the name.

‘Who’s Jason Marley?’ I ask.

Lionel looks at her daughter. Eventually, she nods, gives him the go-ahead to continue.

‘Jason Marley was a bad lad. Always in trouble,’ Lionel says. ‘Gill here was going through her teenage rebellious stage and was following him around like a lap-dog. I tried to get her to see sense, but it seemed that, the more I objected, the more she carried on seeing him. He broke into a warehouse in Kendal one night, battered a security guard, put him in hospital. Gill was his alibi, saying he was with her all night. It was a lie, but there was nothing I could do to stop her. The charges against Jason were dropped. He got away with it.’

‘So, what’s that got to do with Iain?’

Gill looks at me. ‘Iain saw me the night of the robbery. Jason had stood me up. I was angry. He was always standing me up. I went to sit by the lake with a bottle of WKD Blue to drown my sorrows. I didn’t see Iain, but he clearly saw me.’

‘Iain waited until the charges were dropped,’ Lionel says. ‘Then he walked into the station and told me Gill had lied for Marley.’

‘I split up with Jason for good after that. I realised I was wasting my time. That’s when I joined the police.’

‘But Iain has constantly been dropping snide remarks ever since,’ Lionel says. ‘I couldn’t say anything about it, or he would ruin her, too. I didn’t mind him ruining me, but not Gill. She didn’t deserve that.’