Dark Spaces (20 page)

‘You don’t mind spice?’ she asked.

Harry pulled the cork from the wine bottle with a flourish. ‘The hotter, the better.’

‘Do you want a glass of vino, David?’ she called into the sitting room.

David let out a grunt Venus Williams would have been proud of. Sam was no doubt thrashing him at virtual tennis. Honestly, it was impossible to say which one of them was the more mature.

‘In a sec,’ he shouted back.

Lilly pulled out the coffee grinder and threw in ginger, shallots, coriander, cumin and half the chilli. Then she whizzed it all to a paste. When she removed the lid, the air filled with the smells of South East Asia.

Harry handed her a glass of wine and took a sip of his own. ‘Just what the doctor ordered.’ He grinned. ‘After a day like today I think we deserve it.’

‘Abso-bloody-lutely,’ said Lilly and took a huge glug.

She scraped the aromatic paste into a hot frying pan and began chopping the chicken. The knife needed sharpening and it took some effort to cut the whole way through the raw flesh. She banished all thoughts of Lydia’s injuries from her mind.

‘I’m going to say this now, while I’m still sober and you don’t think it’s the alcohol talking,’ said Harry. ‘You were fabulous today at the police station. The way you handled the interview was better than watching the telly.’

Lilly pushed the meat into the hot spice mixture and stirred. ‘It wasn’t entirely successful, was it?’

‘Not your fault,’ he said.

Lilly supposed he was right, but it didn’t make her feel any better about what had happened.

‘What about tomorrow?’ he asked.

‘The Magistrates’ Court has no jurisdiction over murder cases so it will be transferred to the Crown Court.’ The chicken had browned nicely so she opened a can of coconut milk and poured it in. The sweet, oily scent was heaven. ‘The most important thing for us tomorrow is the question of bail.’

‘Will Chloe get it?’

‘She’s got a pretty good chance.’ Remembering cardamom, Lilly tossed two pods onto the chopping board and reached for a potato masher. ‘If you can give me as many details as possible about security at the Grove, how few patients have managed to escape and what have you.’

She smacked the pods with the masher and Alice screamed. Harry leaned over and cupped his hands over her ears. Lilly gave another whack but this time Alice only whimpered.

‘She has your eyes,’ said Harry.

‘And her temper.’ David strolled in and poured himself a glass of wine. ‘Something smells good.’

‘Malay curry,’ Lilly told him.

David patted his stomach. ‘If I stay here any longer I’ll be the size of a house.’

‘You know where the door is,’ Lilly replied.

An hour later, everyone had had at least two platefuls of curry and rice and Sam and David sloped off for a round of virtual golf.

‘They shouldn’t leave you with the mess,’ said Harry, collecting up the plates and scraping the almost non-existent leftovers into the bin.

‘I’m just glad to see them getting on so well,’ said Lilly. ‘There was a time when his dad was so caught up in his new relationship Sam hardly got a look in. I think David’s learned his lesson.’

‘I’m impressed with how healthy things are between you and David,’ he said.

‘Healthy?’ Lilly began filling the dishwasher. ‘Bonkers more like.’

Harry slid a plate into the same rack as Lilly and their fingers brushed. ‘If you saw how I got on with my ex-wives, you’d know the real definition of bonkers.’

‘Not good?’

Harry laughed. ‘To put it mildly. Then again we didn’t have any kids to bind us together. Having Sam and Alice must be a huge driver for harmony to reign.’

Lilly was about to tell him that Alice wasn’t David’s, but stopped herself. He might ask who Alice’s dad was and then what would she say? Oh, you know that nice copper you met earlier … she settled for a smile and diversion.

‘Something that has occurred to me about Chloe is that even if I do get bail for her, she won’t want to go back to the Grove,’ she said. ‘Given what she’s told us, we couldn’t put her at risk, could we?’

Harry nodded. ‘I’ve been thinking about that too. I could put in place a closed facility.’

Lilly shrugged to show she had no idea what that was.

‘Nice word for keeping her locked up,’ he said. ‘She would be moved to a secure room, accessed only by a code. I would ensure that only an extremely small and select group had the code. Staff who I would trust with my life.’

‘Sounds like it could work,’ said Lilly.

‘We tend only to use it for dangerous patients, but there’s no reason I can’t implement it for Chloe if she agrees.’

‘Twenty-four bang up,’ said Lilly. ‘Not much different from prison.’

‘Oh, I won’t keep her a prisoner,’ he said. ‘If she wants to attend therapy sessions or eat in the dining room or just hang out with her friends, I’ll personally supervise her.’

‘Isn’t that a huge commitment?’

Harry nodded gravely. ‘Frankly, Lilly, I’ve already let Lydia and Chloe down so badly that right now nothing is too much trouble.’

I watch Jack slurp a bowl of tomato soup, blowing on each spoonful before gulping it down with undisguised relish. He loves the stuff.

Funny, but I’ve never been interested in food. Even as a child I just ate enough fuel to keep me going. Crisps and sweeties held no allure. I remember one Easter I received five chocolate eggs. I worked out the cost of those foil-wrapped eggs and what I could have bought with the money. I was furious.

My parents never made that mistake again.

‘Bread?’ I offer a roll to Jack.

He smiles but shakes his head. A few months ago he read that eating carbohydrates after six o’clock is a sure-fire way to get fat and since then he’s stuck to soup and salad.

‘How did it go today?’ I ask.

‘Could have been worse, I suppose.’

‘The forensics are pretty damning, aren’t they?’ I ask. ‘I thought the girl’s fingerprints were all over the knife?’

Jack finishes his soup and puts down his spoon. ‘You always want a confession if you can get one,’ he says. ‘It seals the deal.’

‘What did she say in the interview?’ I ask.

‘Not a single thing.’ Jack leans back in his chair. ‘No comment, no comment, no fecking comment.’

I open my eyes wide. ‘I thought a girl like that wouldn’t have been able to help herself.’

‘Me too,’ he says. ‘She got good advice and followed it to the letter.’

I cock my head to one side. ‘You’ve got enough evidence for a conviction,’ I say. ‘Confession or no confession.’

He nods. ‘Her prints are on the knife and the knife was in her room. Then there’s the so-called defence which she didn’t mention until after the shit hit the fan.’

‘A jury are going to find that very suspicious,’ I say.

‘You can’t count your chickens with juries, Kate,’ he says. ‘And Lilly can be very persuasive.’

‘Oh Jack.’ I slide round the table and sit on his knee. ‘I’ve seen you in court. You have the whole place eating out of the palm of your hand.’

‘Really?’

I put my arms around his neck and kiss him. He smells sweet and salty at the same time.

‘You don’t know how good you are at your job, Jack.’

He gives me a shy smile so I kiss him harder.

‘Now take me to bed,’ I say. ‘And show me just how persuasive you can be.’

The next morning Lilly came downstairs in her smartest black suit and high heels.

David let out a wolf whistle. ‘Very nice, Ms Valentine.’

‘Shut up and pour me some coffee,’ she said.

He poured boiling water into a cup and slipped a slice of bread into the toaster. ‘Shall I take you to court?’

‘No thanks.’ She took the steaming mug from him. ‘Harry’s picking me up.’

‘Mr Keen Bean,’ he said.

She took butter and marmalade from the fridge. She’d been both surprised and pleased when Harry offered to collect her as he left the previous evening. ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ she said.

‘He’s very attentive,’ said David. ‘Clearing up, offering lifts.’

Lilly shook her head and busied herself with buttering her toast.

‘All that smiling and touching you is just business is it?’ asked David.

‘It’s just his way.’ Lilly took a bite. ‘He’s like that with everyone.’

‘You mean he’s a dreadful flirt?’

‘That’s exactly what I mean.’

David laughed and peeled a banana. ‘Shall I look after the kids?’

‘Are you sure you don’t mind?’

‘Not at all.’ He looked out of the window. The snow was still deep and unyielding. ‘They’re better off at home, don’t you think?’

‘That’s really good of you, David.’

He looked at her, suddenly serious. ‘Just trying to help out. I do realize how good it is of you to have me here, Lil.’

Actually, she thought, after the initial shock, it wasn’t working out badly. David was showing willing in a way he had never done when they were married. And Sam obviously loved having his dad under the same roof.

‘Just don’t get too comfy,’ she said, nudging him with her elbow.

Lilly hopped through the snow like a robin and bounced into Harry’s car.

‘Good morning,’ he said.

‘Hi.’

‘Sleep well?’

‘Not bad.’ She laughed. ‘You?’

‘Like a baby.’ He pulled off. ‘I really must thank you for last night. Terrific curry.’

‘You’re welcome.’

‘How about I reciprocate this evening?’ he asked. ‘Cook for you?’

Lilly considered. Alice was going to Jack’s and Sam would be more than fine with his dad. ‘I’d love to,’ she said.

Harry beamed at her. ‘I can’t promise you that my food will be a patch on yours. In fact I can promise you that it won’t be a patch on yours, but I can say hand on heart that none of my ex-wives will be present.’

Lilly threw her head back and laughed. ‘I’m sure I’d get along with them just fine.’

‘No doubt about that. In fact I’m sure they’d all love you to bits,’ he said. ‘It’s me they can’t stand.’

Gem gets up late ’cos she don’t feel right. It ain’t that she’s been sick or nothing, it’s more that she’s in a bad place in her head.

It’s that punter who’s done it. Bill. He made her feel proper uneasy with the way he looked at her. Like she weren’t a person. Not a somebody but a something. Gem ain’t a big fan of Misty or nothing, but she ain’t surprised she lost the plot. Who wouldn’t with him coming at you with his balls swinging around?

Mum’s watching telly with Tyler on her lap. He’s laughing at some cartoon.

‘All right, love?’ she asks Gem.

‘I might go into school today,’ says Gem.

Mum’s face drops and she pushes Tyler onto the sofa beside her so she can get some fags from the table.

‘I thought you said it was closed.’ Mum lights up.

Gem shrugs.

‘Anyway,’ says Mum. ‘I don’t want you here when the Slaughter boys come round.’

‘They’re coming round today?’ Gem asks. ‘You never said.’

‘They don’t exactly make appointments.’

Gem puts a hand to her stomach. There’s a fluttery feeling inside. Like a bird trying to escape. She thinks about the money in her jeans pocket. If she gives a tenner to Mum to pay off the Slaughters and buy food and fags and nappies, there ain’t going to be nothing left tomorrow. Then this whole shitty circle will start all over again.

‘It ain’t for you to sort out this family,’ says Mum. ‘That’s my job.’

Gem goes to get dressed. School can wait another day.

The entrance to the courthouse was cold and dark.

‘Power’s gone off,’ said the security guard, blowing on his hands.

‘What about the hearings?’ Lilly asked him.

‘We’ve been told to tell anybody who arrives that they’re bailed for a week, but to be honest most of ’em haven’t turned up,’ he said. ‘I mean they don’t turn up at the best of times, do they?’

‘What about defendants being brought over from the nick?’ she asked.

The guard shrugged. ‘Probably being sent somewhere else. You’d have to check in the cells.’

‘Thanks,’ said Lilly and headed to the stairs, past the silent X-ray machine, Harry close behind.

They strode down the concrete steps and pressed the buzzer to the custody area. There was no answer.

‘Do you think it’s electric?’ Harry asked.

‘Could be,’ Lilly replied and hammered on the metal door with her fist. ‘Hello,’ she called out, without any idea whether her voice could carry through five solid inches. ‘Anyone inside?’