Dangerous Promises (9 page)

Sadie gave a nod. ‘Why not?’ There was something cheap, something low, about blackmailing him over an unwanted child, but she couldn’t see any other way of getting him to cooperate. If she had to play dirty, she would. She stared meaningfully towards the divorce papers. ‘I mean, it’s not as though you’re doing anything to help me.’

And finally Eddie gave up the fight. Snatching up the papers he signed on the dotted line and thrust the document gracelessly into her hand. ‘Since when did you become so hard, Sadie Wise? You used to be a nice sweet girl.’

‘No, I used to be a nice sweet
gullible
girl.’ She stashed the papers in her bag and smiled. ‘Thanks. I appreciate it.’

As she rose to her feet, Eddie said, ‘You’re not going, are you? Stay a while. Finish your coffee at least.’

Sadie shook her head. ‘Sorry. Like I said, I’ve got a train to catch.’

He followed her into the hallway and leaned against the wall as she opened the door. ‘Don’t I even get a proper goodbye?’

Sadie paused, gazed at his face for a moment – one last memory – and then put her fingers to her lips and blew him a kiss. ‘Bye, Eddie. Take care.’

‘I’ll see you around.’

But Sadie knew that was never going to happen. This was the last goodbye. She was moving on. She was finally closing the door on the past.

10

Mona Farrell turned the Beretta around in her fingers, feeling the smooth coolness of the metal. It was a small, neat, lightweight gun that could easily be carried around in a handbag. Point and shoot. That’s all you had to do. What could be easier? She aimed the gun at the pottery dog sitting on the mantelpiece.

‘Bang bang,’ she said. ‘You’re dead.’

Mona smiled. She’d had the gun for three years now, ever since the burglary. She kept it under the floorboards in her bedroom, safely hidden, only taking it out when she knew she wouldn’t be disturbed. Some people might view it as chance that she had found the weapon lying in the hall, dropped by the thieves who had swept through the house (relieving her mother of her jewellery and her father of his extensive gun collection), but she saw it as fate. God had wanted her to have it. So she had picked it up, put it in her pocket and no one had been any the wiser.

Mona wandered over to the window and gazed out at the snow that had been falling for hours. A white blanket covered the garden. Usually Sundays were boring, long and slow, tainted by the knowledge that Monday was to follow. And Mondays, historically, had always meant school or college or work. She had not got on well with any of these things. They simply didn’t suit her. She’d been expelled from more schools than she cared to remember, dropped out of numerous courses and been sacked from every job she’d ever been hired for.

It was no big deal, though. She was only twenty-three. Why should she be shackled to a desk for the rest of her life? Her father banged on about responsibility, but she couldn’t see what was responsible about blowing another human being limb from limb. No, she would find her own way in her own time. Maybe she’d start her own business. Maybe she’d go into business with Sadie. That would be fun, just the two of them.

Mona pressed her nose against the glass. Thinking of Sadie reminded her of what she’d done that day, of what had made this Sunday different to all the others. It was a good thing she’d got to Kellston early or she might have missed the boat. She’d only been there ten minutes when Sadie had come out of Oaklands and headed for the high street. Following her hadn’t been so easy this time. The road had been quiet, almost deserted, and she’d had to keep her distance.

Still, it had worked out well in the end. And in a way it had added to the thrill. Every step she’d taken, she’d been worried that Sadie would glance over her shoulder and spot her. But her friend must have had other things on her mind. Unlike at the market when Sadie had definitely felt her presence, this time she’d been completely oblivious.

Sadie had hesitated when she’d reached the Mansfield. Mona had been able to tell that she didn’t want to go in there, and who could blame her? It was clearly a sink estate with nothing to recommend it other than cheap accommodation and a constant supply of marijuana. It wasn’t the kind of place that any self-respecting girl would want to venture into.

And then… and then… Sadie had turned around and started walking straight back towards her. That had been a moment! She could still recall how her heart had almost leapt out of her chest. There was nowhere to go. Sadie was going to see her. She had to. And when she did, how the hell was she going to explain what she was doing there?

But then Sadie had stopped and thought, before retracing her steps. It had been like a miracle, like victory snatched from the jaws of defeat. And that was when Mona had known that it was meant to be. Of course it was. It was a sign that she was doing the right thing, that God was on her side.

She had hung back as Sadie walked up the path to Carlton House and went through the front door. That had been another tricky moment. She’d had no idea whether Sadie would take the stairs or the lift or which floor she was visiting. All she could do was watch the tower, hoping that Sadie would appear behind the railings at some point.

Mona had passed an anxious couple of minutes, concerned that she wasn’t watching the right side of the building. What if Sadie came out round the back? In the event, she needn’t have worried. Her friend had suddenly surfaced on the ninth floor, stood for a while gazing out at the estate and then continued walking to the left.

The door had been answered by a blonde girl. Mona could see the brightness of her hair but couldn’t make out her features clearly. There had been a brief conversation before a man appeared and that man, she had known, was Eddie Wise. She wondered what had made her so sure. Well, it had to be, didn’t it? Why else would Sadie be visiting this crummy estate? Mona had counted off the doors from right to left so she would know how to find the flat again.

Fifteen minutes later, Sadie had come out and walked straight back to Oaklands. She hadn’t been there long before she’d reappeared with her holdall and crossed the street to the station. She’d looked happy, relaxed, as if she’d got what she’d wanted. Mona had watched her leave with a mingling of sadness and regret. It was a shame that she was going, but it wouldn’t be for ever.

Mona moved away from the window and sat down on the bed, placing the Beretta beside her. She ran her finger along the cool metal barrel. It would be easy for Sadie, she thought. It would be quick. To kill with a gun was a straightforward way of disposing of someone. One tiny pull on the trigger and it was all over. Nothing prolonged, nothing messy. You didn’t even have to look into your victim’s eyes.

‘Bang bang,’ she murmured again.

For her, it had not been so straightforward. Worried that the police might be able to link the two murders through forensics or ballistics or whatever it was called, she hadn’t dared use the Beretta. Anyway, it was too risky to fire a gun in a tower block – the sound would echo through the thin walls and floors – so she’d gone instead for something more discreet. Eddie Wise, who hadn’t thought twice about inviting a stranger into his flat, had looked more surprised than afraid as she’d slid the blade between his ribs.

Mona glanced down at the gun, a smile creeping back on to her lips. There was a certain irony to the fact that in a month or two her father would be murdered by his own weapon. And that, she thought, was a shining example of divine justice.

11

Sadie woke, rolled over and stretched out her arm but the other side of the double bed was empty. She gave a sigh, wishing that Joel was there. The smell of him was still on her, the feel of his touch imprinted on her skin. The memory of last night, of every kiss, of every gentle caress, lingered in her flesh. He must have left for work. Yes, she had a vague recollection of him leaning over to kiss her goodbye. Even though he wasn’t with her, there was something comforting about knowing he wasn’t far away. His workroom was only downstairs. Two flights of stairs and she could see his face again.

A thin whitish light slipped through a gap in the curtains, telling her that the snow was still lying. She snuggled into the warmth of the blankets. Soon she would get up, but there wasn’t any hurry. Anticipating that it would take longer than it had to track down Eddie, she’d taken the whole week off work and now had seven free days to do with as she wished.

Sadie yawned and smiled, luxuriating in the pleasure of being back in her own bed. It was odd how journeys made her feel so tired, as if they sucked out all her energy. She had spent most of yesterday on trains and tubes and buses. She thought back to her visit to the Mansfield estate and the satisfying outcome. She still found it hard to believe that Eddie had finally signed the papers. The first thing she was going to do today was to pop them in the post to her solicitor.

Sadie’s only regret was that she hadn’t had the chance to say goodbye to Velma. She had knocked gently but got no response. Aware that her neighbour had come in late, she hadn’t persisted. Instead she’d slipped a note under the door thanking her for all her help.

Mrs Cuthbert’s response on hearing that she was leaving Oaklands had been quick and sharp. Her rheumy eyes had flashed defiantly. ‘There’s no refunds, dear.’

‘That’s okay.’

‘We let the rooms by the week so —’

‘It’s fine. I understand.’ Sadie had been in too good a mood to quibble over a few wasted quid. It was a price worth paying to get away from Kellston.

Mrs Cuthbert had given her a hard stare as if the combination of an early departure and no argument over a refund was virtually unknown and therefore highly suspicious. ‘Not in any kind of trouble, are you?’

‘No, no trouble at all. I just had something to sort out and I’ve done it faster than I thought.’

Sadie had left for the station immediately after this brief conversation. Travelling on a Sunday was a pain – there had been long tedious waits between connections – but she was still glad that she had done it. Being back in Haverlea, back with Joel, was the best feeling in the world.

Sadie stayed in bed for another five minutes before forcing herself to get up. She took a hot shower and got dressed in her old faded jeans and a cream sweater. In the kitchen she wrapped her hands around a mug of coffee and gazed out of the window at the snowy landscape.

She was still standing there, basking in happiness, when she heard the sound of the key in the lock. It had to be Joel. She put the mug down and rushed through to the living room, smiling widely, but then stopped dead in her tracks when she realised he wasn’t alone. There were two uniformed officers with him. The smile froze on her lips. Joel had an odd expression on his face, his eyes anxious, his mouth twisted into a grimace.

‘Sadie,’ he said. ‘It’s the police. They want to talk to you.’

‘What?’

The older of the two men took out his ID and held it up. ‘Inspector Gerald Frayne.’ He gestured to his left. ‘And this is my colleague, PC John Turner.’

Sadie felt a wave of panic wash over her. ‘What’s happened? Is it Mum? Has something —’

‘No, it’s not your mum.’ Joel rushed forward and put his arm around her shoulder. ‘It’s not your mum. She’s okay. She’s fine.’

Relief flooded through her. She might not always see eye to eye with her mother, but the thought of… ‘Then what? What is it?’

‘It’s about Eddie,’ Joel said.

Sadie looked at him and then at the two officers. ‘Eddie?’

Inspector Frayne gave a nod. ‘We’ve got bad news, I’m afraid. Perhaps you’d like to sit down.’

‘Just tell me,’ she said. ‘Please.’

The inspector looked her straight in the eye. ‘I’m afraid Mr Wise was found dead in his flat in London.’

Sadie felt her knees go weak. ‘Dead?’ she murmured. He couldn’t be. It was impossible. The blood rushed from her face as the shock of it sank in. ‘But how… what… I don’t understand.’

Joel led her over to the sofa. ‘Come on, sit down. Sit here.’

Sadie sank on to the cushions, her head swimming. This was unreal, a bad dream. It couldn’t be happening. Joel sat down beside her and she automatically reached for his hand. Dead? How could Eddie be dead? She’d only seen him yesterday. The image of him sprang into her mind, him leaning against the wall, smiling at her.
Don’t I even get a proper goodbye?

Inspector Frayne settled into the only armchair while the constable took a chair from the dining table and positioned it on the other side of the sofa. Sadie, as she gradually recovered her senses, was aware of the two men watching her carefully.

‘Perhaps some tea?’ the inspector suggested.

Joel glanced at Sadie and squeezed her hand. ‘I’ll do that, shall I? Will you be all right?’

She gave a nod.

There was a short silence while Joel left the room. Then Frayne said, ‘I’m sorry. It must be a dreadful shock for you.’

Sadie leaned forward, placing her hands on her thighs. Her hands curled into two fight fists. ‘I don’t understand,’ she said again. ‘What happened to him? Was it an accident?’

‘Mr Wise was murdered,’ Frayne replied softly.

Sadie felt the response like a blow to her chest. Her heart missed a beat and then began to race. ‘No,’ she said hoarsely, her mouth suddenly dry. ‘When? How? Jesus, why would anyone…’ Her voice trailed off into nothing. She swallowed hard. A lump the size of a marble had lodged in her throat.

‘We can go down to the station if you’d rather.’

‘No,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘Why would I…?’ She saw the inspector’s eyes dart towards the kitchen and instantly understood. ‘Oh, no, you can ask whatever you want in front of Joel.’ She stared at Frayne and a shudder ran through her. She had been in London. She had been with Eddie. Did they consider her a suspect? They couldn’t. It was mad, crazy. ‘When was he killed?’

The inspector didn’t reply directly. ‘We’ve been told that you went to see Mr Wise yesterday.’

‘Yes.’

‘Perhaps, if it’s not too hard for you, we could talk about that.’