Dead Guilty Page 19

  ‘I think that’s a good idea,’ said Maggie stiffly. She could feel tears clumping behind her eyes and she wanted to get out of there before George saw. Never before had anyone said she wasn’t a good FLO and she was upset that he of all people was the one who had.

  ‘I’ll walk you out,’ Declan offered.

  She nodded.

  ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ she addressed George. ‘I am sorry.’

  He said nothing and slammed the door shut as they left.

  50

  Once they were outside, Declan asked Maggie if she was hungry still.

  ‘I haven’t eaten and I know you haven’t. Let’s get something quick next door.’

  ‘I don’t think I should,’ she said, still struggling not to cry. The only thing that had persuaded her throughout the past six months that Mealing was wrong to question her competence was knowing what a good FLO she was and how many families she’d helped over the years. Now it felt like George had ripped the rug out from under her.

  ‘He didn’t mean what he said,’ said Declan shrewdly. ‘He’s lashing out because he’s upset and you’re an easy target. What you need to know about George,’ he went on, as Maggie trailed him down the stairs to the pathway, ‘is that he’s a textbook example of what happens when you’re raised to never say what you really mean. Katy was the same, completely repressed. So when he does let rip, it can be pretty harsh. That doesn’t mean he thinks you’re terrible at your job,’ he added hastily, catching the look on Maggie’s face, ‘it means he’s gone for the one thing he thinks will hurt you the most. Which, judging by your face, it has.’

  Maggie knew she should be more bullish about the criticism, knowing it was part and parcel of being a police officer, but it had upset her. She’d never had her actions called into question so stridently by a relative and part of the reason she was upset by it was that she feared George had a point. Thanks to Walker’s directive that they surreptitiously investigate Jade’s disappearance, she was less available to the Popes, mentally at least. That didn’t sit well with her either, because the last time she’d been forced to step away from being a FLO and assume more responsibility on a case, it had resulted in her colleague’s death. She couldn’t handle something else like that happening because she was being diverted from the job she had been brought out to Majorca to do.

  ‘He’ll be fine in the morning. It’ll all be forgotten about.’

  Maggie hoped he was right. As they left Orquídea through the guest gate, she realized that going to the restaurant with Declan would give her the chance to question his version of events on the day Katy went missing. As long as she was careful not to say Philip had cast doubt on his story, she might be able to get the truth out of him.

  ‘Thanks, I appreciate you saying that,’ she said. ‘You know what, you’re right – some food would be good now.’

  Annika had held her table. Maggie settled on the chorizo salad, but rejected Declan’s suggestion they order some wine.

  ‘I’m technically on duty,’ she said.

  ‘Really, this late?’

  To her surprise she saw it was nearly nine thirty.

  ‘One glass of wine won’t hurt, will it?’

  Maggie wavered, then caved.

  ‘Okay, but I’ll only have a small glass of dry white. Don’t go ordering a bottle.’

  A trio of guitarists had set up in the corner of the restaurant and were playing some lively acoustic tunes that jarred her nerves. But at least it created enough background noise that she and Declan could talk freely without fear of people at the other tables listening in.

  ‘Are you okay now?’ he asked.

  ‘I am, thanks. I do understand why George was being so being protective of his dad. He was, what, twenty-one when Katy died? He’s spent his entire adult life so far watching his parents grieve for his sister. It must be really hard.’

  ‘He was very protective of Katy too,’ said Declan. ‘He wasn’t happy when I asked her out and we had a big bust-up over it. He didn’t talk to me for weeks.’ He took a glug of the pint the waiter had brought over to him, while Maggie savoured a sip of her perfectly chilled wine. ‘I’m not sure anyone would’ve been good enough for her in his eyes.’

  He’d given her the perfect opening to ask him about Johnnie’s comments.

  ‘Johnnie Hickman-Ferguson didn’t rate you as her boyfriend either.’

  Declan rolled his eyes. ‘He was even more protective of her than George was. He was a pain in the backside throughout our relationship.’

  ‘He seems to think Katy was going to dump you, but was killed before she could.’

  ‘If she was, it was only because he kept filling her head with poison about me. He couldn’t stand that we were happy.’

  ‘So it’s jealousy making him say those comments?’

  Declan shifted in his seat. ‘I guess.’

  ‘Had anything ever happened between him and Katy to your knowledge?’

  ‘What, you mean were they ever boyfriend and girlfriend when they were kids? No, I don’t think so. She would’ve said, or George would’ve.’

  Maggie regarded him for a moment. ‘You’re in a relationship with her best friend now, aren’t you?’

  He nodded.

  ‘Sorry, what’s her name again?’

  ‘Tamara.’

  ‘How long have you been together now?’

  Declan flushed beet red. ‘Nearly ten years.’

  ‘Oh.’ Maggie’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Quite soon after Katy—’

  ‘Nine months, and before you say anything, I’m well aware of how it looks. But we weren’t serious at first; it was just a physical thing. Comfort, even,’ he said earnestly. ‘It was another six months before we realized we really liked each other and started properly dating.’

  George might not think much of her FLO skills, but Maggie was a good detective and knew when someone was lying to her. So she came right out with it.

  ‘Were you sleeping with Tamara behind Katy’s back?’

  Declan made a big show of denying any impropriety, but the more he blustered, the more Maggie was convinced.

  ‘Lying to a police officer about something that could have a bearing on an ongoing investigation is a serious offence,’ she said.

  Declan had another swig of beer, buying himself some time.

  ‘Well?’ Maggie prompted.

  ‘Look, it only happened twice before Katy died, both times when we were far too pissed to think about the consequences. It wasn’t some full-blown affair that involved us sneaking off for the night behind her back.’ He looked sheepish. ‘The first time we had sex was in a pub car park and the second time was on Tamara’s parents’ sofa while Katy was asleep upstairs. Both times I felt really guilty afterwards. I told Tam that it was wrong and we shouldn’t do it again and she agreed.’

  ‘But you liked her enough to start seeing her after Katy was murdered.’

  ‘I wouldn’t have slept with Tam if I hadn’t fancied her. So yes, the attraction was always there. But I never planned to do anything about it. I wasn’t going to end things with Katy and Tam knew that. But after Katy died, it felt right for us to be together. But if she hadn’t . . .’ He stared into space. ‘I know that must sound awful and I love Tam, I really do.’ His eyes refocused and he smiled. ‘Did I mention she’s pregnant?’

  ‘You didn’t. Congratulations, when’s the baby due?’

  ‘End of December. I’m excited, we both are, but I’m also terrified I’m going to be a rubbish dad.’

  ‘I think lots of men think like that. I have a friend, Belmar, who said the same. His little boy, Stanley, is a month old now and not only does he love being a dad, but he’s good at it too.’

  ‘Tamara’s going to be an amazing mum.’

  ‘But she’s not Katy,’ said Maggie sagely.

  He shook his head forlornly.

  ‘Katy was something else. I wish you could’ve met her. She was –’ he searched for the right word – ‘luminous, l
ike she had this glow around her that drew everyone to her. We were all moths to her flame.’

  The waiter came over with their food then, salad for her and a stacked burger and fries for Declan. The smell of freshly griddled chorizo made her stomach gurgle appreciatively, her appetite revived, but Maggie ignored her plate, keen to continue her questioning.

  ‘Do you think anyone else knew that you’d slept with Tamara and had told Katy? It could explain why Johnnie believed she was going to leave you.’

  Declan’s expression darkened and he stabbed the chip he was holding into the small pot of ketchup balanced on the side of his plate.

  ‘Anything Johnnie says is pure spite. There’s no way he or anyone else knew about me and Tam.’

  ‘So you definitely weren’t planning to leave Katy for Tamara and she got wind of it?’

  ‘Christ, no. I told you, Katy never knew. It’s the one thing I’m grateful for – that she died not knowing how I’d betrayed her.’ His skin mottled and he looked down quickly to hide the tears forming. ‘I really did love her. We went through a lot together.’

  ‘You mean with the termination?’

  He nodded, his head still bent low, and Maggie suddenly remembered the row that Katy and Patricia supposedly had the day before her disappearance and Annika’s comment that it might’ve been about a boy Katy met during the holiday.

  ‘How were things between you on the holiday?’

  He raised his head and shrugged. ‘Pretty good.’

  ‘Is there a chance Katy could’ve met someone else while you were in Saros?’

  Declan’s eyes widened with surprise.

  ‘Another bloke? No, absolutely not. We were together the entire time, apart from that one night she went to the bar with Patricia and met that waiter – and he swore to me nothing happened between them. Why would you ask me that?’

  She shrugged. ‘I’m just throwing theories out there,’ she said.

  Declan looked shaken, so Maggie gave him time to compose himself, forking up mouthfuls of salad in the interim. She was inclined to believe him when he said his affair with Tamara hadn’t meant anything prior to Katy being murdered, but there was still the matter of him being dry on the beach.

  She waited until he was calm again before steering the conversation on to it.

  ‘The day Katy disappeared, when you were on the beach with her and her parents, how far out did you swim?’

  His surprise at the question registered on his face but he did not ask why she wanted to know, instead giving a cautiously worded reply.

  ‘I’m a strong swimmer and the sea here is really calm, so you can venture quite far out. You just have to keep an eye out for jet skis and pedalos.’

  ‘How far is quite far? Enough that you couldn’t see your sun lounger clearly from that distance?’

  ‘Yeah, it looked pretty far away.’

  ‘I’m guessing you didn’t notice Katy leave the beach then?’

  He shook his head morosely. ‘No.’

  His honesty in telling her about Tamara meant Maggie knew for certain he was now lying about this.

  ‘It’s lucky for you that you were swimming. The police in Saros seemed convinced you had something to do with Katy’s murder but being in the water was a good alibi.’

  Declan went still.

  ‘But if you hadn’t been swimming and were in fact bone dry when the search for Katy began, that’s a different story,’ said Maggie, watching him carefully.

  Declan’s features twisted. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘I think you do. Where were you really when you told Patricia, Philip and Katy that you’d gone swimming?’

  She sat back, waiting for him to do one of two things: bluster an answer that would be a lie, or tell the truth. Because, judging by his reaction again, Philip’s recollection of him being dry was indeed correct.

  The seconds ticked by. Maggie forked in another mouthful of salad, savouring the smoky spiciness of the chorizo sausage, all the while keeping her eyes trained on Declan’s face. When she finished chewing and swallowing, she raised her eyebrows.

  ‘Well?’

  He exhaled. ‘I’d gone to phone someone.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’

  ‘Oh, I think it does. For ten years you’ve lied about being in the sea when Katy went missing. Do you realize how serious that is?’

  Another deep breath sucked in and released.

  ‘Okay, I went to call Tamara.’

  Maggie slowly put her fork down.

  ‘You interrupted your holiday to call the girl you’d cheated with?’

  ‘She was threatening to tell Katy we’d slept together. She’d texted me the night before, but the villa where we were staying had rubbish phone coverage, so I didn’t receive the message until we’d driven down to the beach. I panicked, because I knew she’d be upset I hadn’t responded. So I pretended I was going for a swim, then I went to call her.’

  ‘I find it very surprising that Katy and her parents didn’t see you sneak past.’

  ‘I went down to the shore, waited a bit, then came up a different side of the beach from them. I doubt they would’ve spotted me, the beach was busy that day.’

  ‘Why did you keep up the lie? All you had to do was tell the police you called Tamara and they’d have checked with her and you’d have had an alibi that way.’

  ‘We both felt so guilty afterwards. We couldn’t bear for Katy’s parents to know what we’d been getting up to. I know it sounds crazy, but it was more preferable to lie to the police than to Patricia.’

  ‘Patricia was a serving police officer back then,’ Maggie pointed out.

  ‘But it wasn’t her case.’

  ‘I’m surprised the police didn’t pick up on the call in your phone records.’

  ‘Maybe they did and ignored it. I think it suited them to have me as a suspect and that call would’ve ruled me out completely.’

  Maggie shook her head. ‘That’s what I don’t get: you could’ve cleared yourself in a heartbeat but you chose not to.’

  ‘When Tamara and I decided to cover up the phone call it was because we both assumed Katy would be found, and neither of us could bear what her reaction would be to finding out about us. It would’ve been awful for her.’

  ‘Hang on, a minute ago you were telling me Tamara wanted to tell her.’

  ‘She did at first, mostly because she was sick of lying to her. She was her best friend and she couldn’t cope with seeing her knowing what she’d done and because she had feelings for me. But after Katy went missing, she agreed with me that it would be awful for her to come back to the news that her boyfriend and best friend had been having sex behind her back, so we agreed to keep the call a secret between us and I stuck to the line that I’d been swimming. Once Katy’s body was found it was too late to go back on it, because I’d been lying for a week by then, plus I still didn’t want Patricia and Philip to know I’d cheated on their daughter.’ He paused, his face a picture of utter misery. ‘Are you going to tell everyone I lied?’

  ‘I’ll have to inform my senior officer, yes. But if your phone records do prove you were on the phone to Tamara when you say you were, then it’s another alibi.’

  Declan looked wretched. ‘I know I’ve fucked up – I was just trying to protect the woman I loved.’

  Maggie levelled her stare at him. ‘Yes, but which one?’

  51

  Jade Reynolds prided herself on having a good memory. She could recite lyrics having only heard a song a couple of times, knew the first and last names of every child who attended the nursery, even the ones she didn’t look after, and what she didn’t know about Kim Kardashian West could be written on the back of a stamp.

  But right now she couldn’t recall a single thing about the man who’d abducted her.

  It must’ve been the stuff he’d injected into her neck that was muddling her mind – ever since she’d regained consciousness she’d had a bang
ing headache and could barely see straight. But she knew she was far from Saros now, because wherever she was there was no noise. All that surrounded her was deathly quiet and she was alone.

  She tried to focus on what her abductor looked like and was wearing so she could tell the police, but nothing was coming back to her – not his hair colour, how old he was, whether he was wearing shorts or not . . . it was as though he’d become this featureless, generic non-entity in her mind and it was driving her mad that she couldn’t remember.

  She tried to flip herself over in the bed but the binds were making it difficult. Her wrists were tied behind her back with some kind of plastic fastening and the skin beneath them was already raw and bleeding from repeated attempts to pull her hands free. Her feet appeared similarly tied, but she couldn’t see because of the blindfold. She began to cry again, hot, angry rivers of frustration that coursed down her cheeks and over the piece of tape gagging her mouth.

  But being tied up wasn’t what had bothered her most when she came round: it was the fact that he’d removed her bikini and dressed her. She could sense she was now wearing a T-shirt and loose leggings and the sensation of them against her skin made it crawl, while the thought of him seeing her naked made her want to throw up.

  After a minute or so of crying, Jade forced herself to stop and gave herself a good talking to. Crying wasn’t going to get her out of there: she needed a clear head, and a plan. The man who’d abducted her had taken a massive risk doing it in broad daylight, so she knew she had to be really careful. If he was brazen enough to do that, God knows what else he might do. Her best chance of escaping was to be cleverer than him and she could be pretty smart when she wanted to be.

  She had her dad to thank for that. Clive Reynolds had been a bit of a local name when he was younger, known for fencing goods that fell off the backs of lorries and on occasion being the driver of said lorries. It was a sideline to his day job on the bins and it gave the family extras they might otherwise have had to do without, like holidays. Clive liked to describe himself as being on the ‘nice side of shady’ and never knowingly got involved in anything nasty or violent. That said, he knew how to handle himself – and he’d raised Jade to do the same. If anyone tried to bully her at school, she stood up for herself.