Conflicted Innocence (11 page)

“You’re anal. I’ve already told you that.”

“I’m what?”

“Anal.” I grinned, moving away from him fast.

“Come here and say that. I’ll put you over my knee and spank you.”

“Oooh! You’ll have to catch me first.” I ran from the room with James close on my heels, the upset of losing my job forgotten for the time being.

Chapter 19

Lee found his wife curled up on the sofa, a terrible daytime soap playing on the TV, and his heart melted. She’d always been the love of his life, although over the last few years he’d questioned his feelings, possibly because of the hardness she adopted from prison.

But watching her now, sleeping like a vulnerable baby, all his old feelings came flooding back. He loved her. Of course, he loved her. Why else would he have stood by her through everything?

She stirred and opened her eyes, gasping in surprise. “I didn’t hear you come in. Oh, my God! Look at the state of you.”

“I’m alright. Just a few bruises, that’s all.”

“Sit down. Tell me all about it.”

He relayed the whole, edited, version to her, and she gasped and groaned in all the right places. He couldn’t believe how good he had become at lying. He’d managed to convince himself his time with Susie never happened, and he even believed his own lie about Lucas. As he went over the whole thing now, for the third time, it felt real.

The situation couldn’t have panned out better. Lucas had taken the fall for Susie’s death. Then, add to that, the strangle marks on Lee’s throat, and
voila!
Proof Lee had no choice but to defend himself—full stop.

He kissed Lydia on the mouth with a passion that surprised even him. Then he went on to make love to her there and then. She was clearly nervous, and refused to undress completely, but he took his time, not forcing her to do anything she didn’t want.

Afterwards, he made cheese on toast and they lay in each other’s arms on the sofa until bedtime.

The next morning, he woke to the sound of Lydia chatting away to somebody. He leapt from the bed, quickly dressed and ran downstairs, worried it could be the police, but she was on the phone.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” she said, turning the handset in to her chest.

“Who’s that?” he whispered, trying to control his raging heartbeat.

“Candice. She’s coming to stay for a while, if that’s okay?”

He shrugged, relieved it wasn’t anything to do with the cottage. He needed to calm down, or he would give himself away at this rate. Jimmy had already been sticking his fucking big nose in, and he didn’t want to give him more reason to look any closer.

His business was beginning to cause him a problem. He’d cancelled most of his appointments for the week, once he found out Lydia was coming home, and left messages on the answerphone and email. The agency he usually worked with would sort out any complaints or enquiries, and it had worked for a while. But some of his tenants were pig-headed and insisted on dealing with him in person. He’d muddled on alone for much too long. Now James planned to base himself there too, they needed a receptionist. Someone who could take any calls or enquiries in-house, call the appropriate tradesman, chase up any rent owing, that type of thing. He had a sudden thought.

He left Lydia catching up with her sister and headed next door.

Geri answered the door.

“Oh, hi, Lee. Come on in. James isn’t here. He went into the office to do a couple of hours.”

“I wanted to speak to you, actually.”

“Okay.” Her forehead crinkled. She led him through to the kitchen. “Fancy a cuppa?”

“No, thanks. I’m thinking about taking Lydia out for a drive and getting a spot of breakfast. She must be tired of being cooped up indoors after everything.”

“Good idea. What can I do for you?”

“Well, I was thinking. Seeing as you lost your job because of us, I wondered if you’d like to work for me? And James of course.”

“You want James to work for you too?”

“I’m not explaining myself very well, am I? No, I want you to come and work in the office for me and James—answering the phones, a bit of paperwork and general office work.”

“Really? I’d love to.”

He smiled. “Great. What hours would suit you?”

“I can get Grace in the nursery as much as needed—between office hours of course.”

“Well, it would be good if you could do say, nine to four, Monday to Friday. Would that work for you?”

She flung herself into his arms, causing him to wince as she kissed his bruised cheek.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’ then, shall I?” He laughed.

“A massive ‘yes’. Thanks so much. I owe you one.”

“No, it’s me that owes you. I don’t know what you said to Lydia yesterday, but it worked a treat. She’s still got a long way to go, but I’m sure she’ll soon be back to her normal self.”

“I’m pleased to hear that. She’s been through so much.”

“You’re a diamond. James has hit the jackpot with you.”

“I think I did pretty well for myself, too,” she said, as she followed him to the door.

Lydia, now off the phone, knelt cleaning the kitchen floor.

“What are you doing down there?”

“What does it look like, idiot?” She laughed.

“Do you fancy a trip out? The fresh air will do you good, and we could grab a spot of breakfast.” He glanced at his watch. “Or should I say brunch?”

“Oh, I don’t know if I’m up to seeing anyone yet, Lee. What if...?”

“Nobody will recognise you. I promise. We’ll drive to Derby or even Skegness if you want to make a day of it.”

“I’ve not been to Skegness in years.”

“Skegness it is, then. Get wrapped up, though. It’ll be cold on the coast.

They headed off, stopping an hour into the two-hour journey to grab some food from the
Little Chef
.

He’d forgotten how much fun Lydia could be. With the same warped sense of humour, they could find something amusing in anything. Today’s focus was the waitress’s skirt.

The waitress was a big girl and her skirt, at least two sizes too small, kept riding up her legs. At one point, as she passed them, she dropped a fork and bent to pick it up, giving Lee an eyeful of her skimpy black undies.

He choked on his glass of water, spraying Lydia in the process. Then the giggles began.

Skegness hadn’t changed a bit in years. Although surprisingly busy, the summer season was still a few weeks away. They paid for a full day pass into the Pleasure Beach, but after half an hour and several bumpy rides, they opted instead to spend the rest of the afternoon feeding two-pence pieces into the slot machines.

Afterwards, they strolled hand in hand along the pier, stopping to eat fish and chips out of newspaper. Then they topped it off with a couple of humungous ice creams.

Apart from the obvious shadow that loomed in the back of his mind waiting to pounce at any idle moment, Lee couldn’t have asked for a better day. He smiled as Lydia dozed contentedly in the car on their way home.

They pulled up outside the house, and Lee was startled to see DI Cassidy and another younger detective knocking on his door. His first instinct was to keep driving, put his foot down and speed away, but the detective turned to face him at that moment and instead, Lee killed the engine. He shook Lydia awake and stepped from the car.

“Ah, Mister Barnes. I was about to send out a search party.” The detective strode to the pavement, shaking Lee’s hand.

“Why? What’s happened?”

“This is the third time we’ve been here today. I thought you’d done a runner.” He laughed.

“Why would I do that?” Lee spat. “And why didn’t you just call?”

“I tried but your phone is going straight to voicemail.”

Lee remembered turning his phone off that morning, after dealing with the last of his irate tenants.

Lydia seemed agitated by the appearance of the strangers on her doorstep.

“Detective, this is my wife, Lydia.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs Barnes. Do you mind if we come in? We have a few more questions we’d like to ask your husband.”

Lee felt as sick as he had after stepping off the Waltzers earlier today. But he took a deep breath and led them all through to the lounge.

Lydia offered to make tea and, clearly relieved at having an excuse to escape, took herself off to the kitchen.

Once seated, the younger detective took a pad from his pocket.

DI Cassidy also produced something from his pocket, but Lee couldn’t see what it was. “Do you know a Susan Finlay?” he asked.

Lee shook his head. “No, sorry. Should I?”

“Here, take a look at this.” He handed over a photograph and it took all of Lee’s self-control not to run from the room like a raving lunatic. A young Susie dressed in her school uniform stared back at him.

“Is it the girl from the cellar?”

The detective nodded. “Have you ever seen her before?”

“Never. Why? Should I have?”

“She’s reportedly been seen hanging around the shops for a few weeks, begging for money. Apparently Lucas would send her out to prey on older men and swindle them out of money. She was a fifteen-year old runaway.”

“That’s awful. But no, I don’t really go out once I’m there. I grab something from the takeaway for dinner.”

“We know. A few of your neighbours miss very little.”

Lee’s stomach did a triple somersault. What the hell was he getting at?

Lydia appeared with a tray of refreshments, giving him a temporary reprieve.

“Good. Then they’ll be able to tell you my every move, won’t they?”

Lee wasn’t certain, but he thought he saw the detective smirk. He definitely seemed to be acting as though he’d worked out the whole story but just needed proof.

DI Cassidy pulled a zip lock bag from his pocket and placed it on the coffee table. “Have you ever seen this before?”

Once again, Lee’s stomach dropped. He leaned forward and picked up the bag containing Susie’s lighter.

“Yes, Lucas had it at the cottage that night.”

“Lucas had it?”

“Yes.”
Fingerprints!
A voice suddenly screamed in his head. “When we were chatting at first, we had a cigarette together.”

“Lee!” Lydia scolded.

“I’m sorry, Lyddie. It had been a crazy day, and was getting crazier by the second. I needed a cigarette.”

“Funny. You didn’t mention that in your statement,” DI Cassidy said.

Lee shrugged. “It slipped my mind.”

“Did Lucas light your cigarette?”

“I can’t remember. Oh, sorry, I do. No, he handed the lighter to me. Why? Is this relevant?”

The detective paused briefly, then plucked the bag off the table and stuffed it back in his pocket. “It’s not. There is one other thing. Did you have any cash lying around the cottage?”

“No. Why?”

“Miss Findlay had three hundred pounds in her coat pocket. Seems a lot of money for a young down-and-out.”

“Sorry, I can’t help you, detective.”

DI Cassidy got to his feet, and his sidekick followed suit.

“That’ll be all for now, sir. Thanks for the tea, Mrs Barnes.”

He and Lydia showed the detectives out, and watched from the doorway until they drove away.

“He gave me the creeps,” Lydia said.

“Me too, my love. Me too.”

Chapter 20

“They’ve gone,” James said, peeking through the curtains. He’d been back and forwards from the window since returning from the office.

The detectives had knocked at our door the second time they came, the older one a little star struck when he realised James was also Aaron Clark—the true-crime author.

James had tried to use his expertise to get the detective to give details of their findings, but the detective was wary. He knew of James’ close relationship with Lee and held his cards tight to his chest.

When they arrived the last time, James tried to call Lee once again, but it was going straight to voice mail. Then, moments later, Lee and Lydia pulled up outside.

“Well they couldn’t have had much to say. They weren’t in there very long,” I said.

“No, but it’s only a matter of time, I swear. Lee’s hiding something—I know he is.”

“Aren’t you being a little melodramatic?” I chuckled. “This is Lee—your best mate we’re talking about. Do you really think he would be lying about anything?”

“I know. You’re right. It’s just...I can’t seem to shake this feeling.”

Grace, who was lying on a blanket by the fireplace, finished her bottle and threw it at me, gurgling contentedly.

“You ready for bed now, Missy-moo?” I said, dropping to her side and pretending to eat her tummy.

She laughed hysterically.

“It’s no good,” James said. “I’m going to have to go next door and find out what’s happened.”

“I knew it. You can’t help yourself.” I laughed. “Papa’s a nosy crow, isn’t he, Gracie?”

He also dropped to the carpet and began tickling us both. After a crazy few minutes, James popped next door while I put Grace to bed.

When he returned, he was even more agitated.

“What happened?” I asked, handing him a glass of wine.

“Apparently they just wanted to know if he knew the dead girl. She was called Susan Finlay.”

“And? Does he?”

“He says not, but I dunno. I’m not convinced. And Lydia was going on about a lighter they found that belonged to the girl, and Lee cut her off mid-sentence. Why would he do that?”

“You think it was the lighter you saw him with?”

“I do. Don’t you?”

“Maybe you need to ask him. He is your friend.”

“He’s not open to a discussion at the moment. He’s hiding something, Geri. Believe me, he is.”

*

“You’ll never guess what?” James said, throwing the local newspaper down on the table.

I took a baby wipe from the packet and began cleaning Weetabix from my messy daughter’s fine blonde hair. “I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“Some lousy bastard has only gone and spray painted
murderer
on Lee’s front door.”

“You’re joking?” I lifted Grace from her highchair and followed James from the house.

Peering over the fence, I saw Lee on his knees, painting the blue paint over large black letters.

“Oh, Lee. Who’d do such a thing?” I asked.

He glanced up and wiped his forehead on the sleeve of his grey sweater. “I haven’t a clue, but I want to cover it up before Lydia sees it. I told her to have a bath and pamper herself. She’d be so upset by this.”

“I’m sure she would, mate,” James said. “Tell you what, you go inside and keep her occupied. I’ll finish that for you.”

“Would you? I’d appreciate it.”

“Of course.” James scooted down our path and up theirs. He took the paint and brush off his friend. “Go on. Get back inside. I’ll call you when I’m done.”

I sat Grace on the grass while I pulled out a few weeds that we’d missed last week. I started off at one end of the garden and ended up at the other.

“Is that the phone?” James called.

I stopped, cocking my head in the direction of the house. Sure enough, the phone was ringing.

“Keep an eye on Gracie for a sec,” I said, running inside.

“Hello,” I cried into the phone.

“About time, I was just going to hang up.”

I smiled at the familiar sound of Simon’s voice. “It’s this bloody phone. I never hear it half the time,” I said, walking back outside.

“Get that skinflint to buy you a new one. I need to be able to get hold of you in an instant. How’s that daughter of mine?”

“She’s in the garden, bumming and rolling around the grass.” I laughed. “You should see her now. She’s got dried leaves stuck all over the drool on her chin.”

“Classy bird,” he said.

“She’s a definite tomboy. Gracie, don’t chew on that dirty stick,” I said, bending to pull the soggy twig from her mouth.

James came down the path. “I’ve finished the painting. I’m just going to call Lee,” he whispered.

I nodded. “So how’s Kevin?”

“He’s driving me batty. That bloody idiot next door has got a new car, a top-of-the-range BMW. Kevin only changed his car last year and there’s—”

“Aaarrrrggghhh!! Gerroff me you crazy pillock!” came a cry from the street.

“James!” I yelled, dropping the phone and running in the direction of the cries.

Mad Thomas was swinging his shopping bag repeatedly at a young girl cowering by the hedge.

“Hey!” I yelled, running towards them. “Get off her, you nutter.” I got in between them, catching the next smack on my shoulder as James appeared.

Leaving James to deal with the nut-case, I turned to the girl.

“Are you okay? I saw what he did if you need a witness.” I helped her to her feet.

“I’m fine, but I lost my earring. He just launched himself at me, out of nowhere.”

I clocked the earring in the opposite ear, a small silver sleeper. “Here, let me help you search.”

“Found it,” she said with a smile.

“Oh, good. Are you a local?”

“Used to be. I moved away a few years ago. Should’ve stayed away, considering the warm welcome.”

James had whisked Thomas away, but I could still hear him shouting the same word over and over. “Guildy—guildy.”

“What’s guildy?” I asked.

“How do I know? The man’s lost his marbles.”

I laughed and held my hand out. “I’m Geraldine. Pleased to meet you.”

“Candy. Are you new around here?”

“Does it show?”

“Not really. I just don’t recognise you, that’s all.”

“Fancy a cuppa?” I said, hearing Grace moaning over the hedge.

“Yeah, why not.”

Grace had climbed into the soiled border and was covered from head to toe in mud. She even had it on her six little teeth.

“She’s adorable,” Candy said, watching Grace excitedly bumming over to me.

“She is, when she’s asleep. I was just telling her dad—” I gasped and ran to the phone in the middle of the lawn. “Hello?”

“Geraldine! What the hell happened? I was just organising Kevin—we were about to head over there.”

“I’m so sorry, Simon. I witnessed somebody getting attacked by that crazy old man next door, and I completely forgot about you on the phone.”

“Oh, that’s nice, isn’t it? You forgot me.”

“Don’t be so touchy. Listen, I’ve got a visitor so I’m going to have to call you back.”

Candy winced with me and then laughed as I hung up.

“The ex?” she asked.

“Yes, but it’s complicated.”

“Isn’t it always when an ex is involved?”

“Normally, yes. But my ex is slightly different. We’re actually best friends.” I picked Grace up and headed indoors.

“Whoa, I wasn’t expecting that.” She laughed.

“Expecting what?” James said, suddenly behind us.

“I was telling Candy about Simon. How’s Thomas?”

“He calmed down, eventually. What about Simon? That he’s gay?”

“No...” Candy said, looking at me.

I laughed. “I told you it was complicated.”

“Did you say your name’s Candy?” James asked.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Not little Candice?”

“Yes! I didn’t know if you would recognise me.”

“Oh, you know each other?” I asked.

“Candice is Lydia’s little sister.” James began filling the kitchen sink with warm bubbly water.

“Ah.” I nodded. “Is she expecting you?”

“Yes. Well, kind of. She knows I’m coming, but just not when.”

“She’ll be happy to see you. And you her, no doubt. You get off. I’ll bet you’re dying to see her.”

“A bit apprehensive, if I’m honest. I haven’t seen her in years.”

“Oh, you’ll be fine. She’s your sister when all’s said and done.” I said.

James lifted Grace from my arms and undressed her before sitting her in the sink.

Grace squealed with delight, and began splashing bubbles everywhere.

“You’re right. I must go.” Candice quickly bade her goodbyes and hurried down the path.

“What are you going to do about Thomas?” I called after her.

“Probably nothing. He’s a loony,” she said, as she came back towards me on the other side of the fence.

I opened my mouth to warn her about the wet paint, but too late. She knocked and cursed, looking down at her blue knuckles as the door opened.

Going by the screams and whoops coming from the sisters, I could see Candy’s fears were not warranted.

I closed my door quietly to give them some privacy and went back through to the kitchen.

“Candy knocked on the wet door,” I said.

“Oh, no! Why didn’t you stop her?”

“I tried to but not fast enough,” I laughed.

“I could’ve kicked myself when I put Gracie in the sink right in front of her.”

“I don’t get you?”

“Candice found Joseph in the bath.”

I gasped.

“Poor girl was traumatised,” he said.

“I didn’t realise. No wonder she couldn’t get out of here fast enough. Why do you think the wacko attacked her like that?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t make any sense, whatsoever.”

“He’s unhinged, and is becoming a danger. I told you how much he terrified me when I first arrived, didn’t I?”

“He’s usually harmless. I must admit, that’s the first time I’ve seen him violent like that.” He lifted Grace from the sink, and she began screaming the house down.

“Hey, my darling. Shall Papa take you to the swing?”

“I’ll go and grab her some clean clothes,” I said. “We need to start making the most of the weekends with Gracie, now I’ll be working full time.”

“I know, but, if it’s too much for you, Lee will understand and reduce the hours. I was going to suggest you start part-time at first.”

“You’ll do nothing of the kind.”

“Alright, keep your hair on. Thought you were going for clothes.”

I ran upstairs and grabbed a clean outfit, then called Simon back while James dressed our daughter.

“I wondered if you’d bother calling me back.”

“I said I would, didn’t I?”

“So what’s been happening in your world?” he asked.

“Gosh, where do I begin? Okay. First off, you know that guy you met last week—the neighbour?”

“The nutter?”

“No, the other one.”

“The sexy one?”

“Well, he’s not really my type but yes, I guess you’d find him sexy.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he huffed.

“Well, you think Kevin is sexy, but he’s not my type. Nothing wrong with him. It just means we have different taste.”

“I think James is sexy, too. So we must have similar taste,” he said.

I laughed. “You think anyone is sexy. So long as they’re male.”

“Oi! Stop being cheeky.”

“I’m not. But I’ll be sure to tell James what you said.”

“Don’t you dare! I’ll never be able to look him in the eye again. Anyway, what were you telling me?”

“Well, his wife was released from prison this week, for killing her baby. She had post-natal depression.”

“Oh, no. That’s awful.”

“I know, and she’s lovely too. Well, Lee has been doing a place up for them in another area, but he went over there the other night and, bugger me, didn’t he disturb an intruder, who attacked him.”

“No...”

“Yes. He had to fight for his life. But that’s not all. There was already another body at the property. Turned out to be the man’s girlfriend.”

“Which man? Lee?”

“No, not Lee. Jesus, you’re as bad as James. The intruder’s girlfriend.”

“Wow! And here I was thinking you would be bored out of your mind.”

“No. Quite the opposite. Oh, and I got a job, and was sacked after two hours.”

Raucous laughter almost deafened me.

“It’s not funny. I did nothing wrong. It was because I was friends with Lydia.”