“Wakey, wakey, rise and shine. Tea? ”
Sally pushed through the living room door with two mugs, making sure her voice was loud enough to carry. Richie stirred on the sofa, blinking up at her like a man who’d forgotten where he was.
“Here you go, boys. ”
“It’s all right, thank you,” Richie mumbled, struggling to sit up. “Is me dad not joining us? ” his young son asked from the doorway.
“No, he had to leave early for work,” Sally said, too brightly. “He had some medicine there. ”
Richie wasn’t her guest. He was Tim’s old mate, and he’d turned their couch into a bed-and-breakfast while his marriage fell apart.
Sally had told Tim straight: she’d taken the day off for some quality time, not to play host to a man who should have gone back to his wife and family days ago. Tim promised he’d have a word. Instead, he gave Richie tea and told him to make himself comfortable. It was only when Sally got a phone call from the police that the real trouble started.
They wanted her down at the station. —
Maria Connor stared at the detective across the interview table. She’d been here before, and she knew the questions were coming before they were asked. “Did you and Gary work together that night?
”
“I was with him,” Maria said. “I had quite a bit to drink and fell asleep. ”
“That’s convenient. You must really care about her, though.
Sarah. ”
Maria said nothing. “To risk everything for her like that. Or were you in love with her?
Does that not bother you? And not only that, but by getting you to give him a false alibi, he seems quite happy to let you get arrested for perverting the course of justice. ”
“I’m not sticking up for him. I’m telling you the truth.
”
She walked out of the station with her head held high, but her stomach was in knots. When Gary met her at home, full of relief that she hadn’t been charged, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. “The police called here. I had to lie to Liam and Jake about what was going on.
I’ve been questioned all morning, and she still doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. I could have been done for perverting the course of justice because of you. ”
“I’m sorry, babe. ”
“Sorry doesn’t really cut it right now, does it?
You fancy being the big hero all the time. Gary Windass, sweeping in to save the day. Never mind who else it affects. You didn’t even tell me to your face what you were planning.
I just got a text. ”
“Because I knew you’d try to talk me out of it. ”
“I would have done. But it wouldn’t have made any difference, would it?
Not when it comes to Sarah. ”
“Oh, come on. ”
“Even Lisa said it. For you to have done what you did, covering up for her, you must still have feelings for her.
”
“She’s wrong. I’ve told you time and time again, that’s not what this was about. ”
Maria looked at him, and for the first time in a long while, she wasn’t sure she believed him. —
Down at the café, Sarah Platt’s phone buzzed.
It was Bethany, and her voice was sharp. “I heard Gary handed himself in. I thought you said you weren’t going to make him do that. ”
“I didn’t.
He did it himself. If you’re asking if I’m sorry about it, I’m not. This will help you in the long run. ”
“What’s going to happen to him?
”
“Who cares, Bethany? ”
“I care. And so will my mum. ”
That stopped Sarah.
“She rang me before. She wants me to go and see her. ”
“What? Why?
”
“She wouldn’t say over the phone. ”
Bethany was quiet for a moment. “I don’t get it. Whatever Gary does—lies, breaks the law, covers up a murder—he still comes out smelling of roses.
You forgive him, Maria forgives him, even my mum forgives him. But me? I’m the bad guy. I’m done with this.
”
—
Sarah found Carla Connor in the back office of the bistro, looking at a ledger. “I need to talk to you about this place,” Sarah said. “I want to sell my share of the business. ”
Carla looked up, surprised.
“How come? I was just saying things have been picking up lately. ”
“It’s partly my fault. Ali has been running herself ragged working at the solicitors and trying to keep this place going at the same time.
It’s too much for her. ”
“He’s right,” Ali said, coming in behind Sarah. “I’ve spoken to my gran about it. She’s disappointed, but she’s put me in contact with an old friend who might be interested in making us an offer.
”
Carla nodded slowly. “It’s all a bit sudden, but if your mind’s made up. ”
“It is. But don’t worry.
I’m going to do my best for both of us. I’m not going to leave you hanging. ”
She left Carla standing in the empty restaurant, wondering what else her partner had been keeping from her. —
Tim came home with flowers.
Sally was hanging out the duvet that Richie had slept on, still sour over the smell of ale. “Oh, that’s what this is about, is it? ” she said, eyeing the bouquet. “You think that’s the way to win me over?
Bring me flowers and do a bit of groveling? ”
“You haven’t seen me grovel yet,” Tim said. “I’m really, really good at it. ”
Sally took the flowers, trying not to smile.
“I’ll find a vase. ”
“What happened to Richie? ” she asked later. “Thought him and his wife were splitting up.
”
“I persuaded him to have another go. Get some flowers, do a bit of groveling. ”
“And you think that’s going to work? ”
“It worked on you, didn’t it?
”
—
Katy was waiting for Sarah when she got back to the flat. “Listen,” Sarah said, before Katy could speak. “I know you wanted to talk to me about something, and I can tell you’re still angry. But I never forced Gary to go down to the station and confess, okay?
I wanted to tell him not to, but it was too late. ”
“You weren’t sorry he did though, were you? ”
“No. Because he lied to the police.
He covered up a murder. ”
“He did that to protect me. ”
“And why do you think I’m doing all this? I’m trying to get you out of this mess.
I’m risking my career for you and your kids. If the police know he was there that night, and it helps your case, I’m glad he talked. ”
“Even if it means he gets sent down? ”
Sarah’s jaw tightened.
“You seem more worried about him than you are about yourself. ”
“No, I’m worried sick about you. About what you’ve done trying to sort this out because of me. ”
Katy looked at her, hard.
“Do you know what I think? I think you’ve got some mad idea in your head that you became obsessed with. I think you’re still in love with him. ”
Sarah went cold.
“What? ”
“Simple question. Do you love Gary? ”
Sarah’s hand shook.
She opened her mouth, then closed it again. “No,” she said finally. “I do not love Gary. ”
Katy exhaled.
“I love you. ”
For a moment, the flat was silent. Then Sarah stepped forward, her voice barely above a whisper. “That’s why I asked to see you.
So I could tell you face-to-face. ”
“Tell me what? ”
Sarah’s eyes filled. “That this—that us—it’s over.
”
Katy stared at her, stunned. “You just said you loved me. ”
“I do. I love you so much.
But I can’t watch you jeopardize everything you’ve worked for. You never used to be jealous, ever. Now you don’t trust me, and I can see it in your eyes when you look at me. Anything I say, you’re never going to believe it.
I’m not having a go. I understand. It’s my fault. But I can’t do this anymore.
And if I get sent down for this, you’re not going to be able to stay on the police force. A copper with a convicted murderer as a partner? That’s not going to work. ”
“Then I’ll get another job.
”
“So you can spend the rest of your life secretly blaming me? ”
“No. ”
Sarah shook her head, tears now falling freely. “I’m sorry.
It’s over. Take care. ”
She turned and walked toward the door. She left her wallet on the table, and she didn’t look back.
Katy stood alone in the middle of the room, listening to the front door close. —
Across town, Tim was joking with Richie about second chances when his phone buzzed. He ignored it. Sally looked up from her vase of flowers.
“Where’d he go? ” Tim said. “Rich? ”
“She’s in the room, Rich,” a voice said, but it didn’t sound like Sally.
It sounded like Dave. Then Tim saw the red stain spreading across his own shirt. The phone buzzed again, and this time he answered. “He’s not in another row, is he?
” a voice said. “Is that blood on your shirt? ”
Tim looked down at his hands. “Where’d she go?
” he whispered. But there was no one left in the room to answer him.
