Only the Brave (12 page)

Stella bustled them both inside. ‘What’s the matter?’ she asked once they were sitting down on the settee.

Sophie composed herself enough to speak. ‘That man – that man who was attacked last night.’ Her face crumpled again as she looked at Stella. ‘If it’s who I think it is, I was having an affair wi
th him.’

‘You mean Jordan Johnson?’

Stella saw Sophie freeze.

‘How do you know his name?’ Sophie asked.

Stella raised her eyebrows. ‘I make it my job to find out. How long have you been seeing him?’

‘Six months.’

Stella gasped. ‘But he’s seeing Kirstie Ryder!’

‘It’s not what you think. He isn’t one of those men who tells me he’s going to leave his wife and never will. I knew what I was
getting
into from the beginning.’

‘Did you meet him at Flynn’s?’

Sophie nodded. ‘He comes to see me when Flynn’s closes – always late at night. No one knows we’re seeing each other.’ She glanced at Stella. ‘You can’t tell anyone. Anyone. Do you hear?’

‘Oh, I won’t tell a soul.’ Stella mentally crossed her fingers behind her back. This information was too valuable to keep to
herself
.

1.30 P.M.

‘Where the hell have you been?’ Leah grabbed Stella and pulled her into the flat, shutting the door behind her quickly. ‘You’ve been gone for ages.’

‘I’ve been trying to find things out for you,’ Stella fibbed. ‘And we’ve been interviewed by the police. Have they been to see yo
u yet?’

‘Yes.’

‘Did they mention seeing a woman with dark hair coming in to Harrison House this morning?’

Leah nodded.

‘They did to us too. I can’t for a moment understand why they would think it might have been me.’

‘It could have been.’

‘I know that, but I also know that it wasn’t. It was you.’

‘You didn’t land me in it, did you?’ Leah’s shoulders drooped.

Stella put up a hand. ‘Don’t worry, I steered them well clear. You do still have the money, though?’

‘What do you think I’m going to do with it? Give it away to the Red Cross? Hide it up my jumper?’

‘There’s no need to be sarcastic.’

‘I don’t know what else to do with it but keep it here.’ Leah sat down with a thump. ‘I have to give it back, don’t I?’

‘No, you can’t! Not now. They’ll want to know why you didn’t do it straightaway. It will look more dishonest.’

‘But what if they come and search the flat?’

‘I told you, they can’t do that without a reason or a warrant.’

‘I bet they have ways and means.’

Stella moved over to the kitchen area. ‘Tea?’

‘No, I don’t want bloody tea!’ Leah exclaimed. ‘Did you find anything else out?’

‘Not much more than we already know.’

‘And it’s definitely him – one of the Johnson brothers?’

‘Yes, but you mustn’t tell Craig that I told you his name. You promised.’

‘I know.’

Stella paused. ‘He was with Jordan last night. He went to a party at Flynn’s.’

Leah wasn’t listening. ‘It could have been anyone.’

‘At that time in the morning?’

Leah stopped for a moment, wondering whether to say what was on her mind. She blurted it out anyway.

‘It could be your friend, Sophie.’

‘Why do you say that? She hardly ever goes out.’ Stella
stoppe
d short.

‘She’s the same build as me and she has long dark hair.’ Leah paused again. ‘We could make out that it was her.’

Stella recoiled. ‘To get the police off your back, you mean?’

‘No! But we could at least
talk
to her.’

‘I already have.’ Stella’s eyes darted around the room before landing on hers again. ‘I know it wasn’t her.’

‘When? And why couldn’t it have been her?’

Stella stared at her pointedly. ‘Promise you won’t tell anyone I’ve told you this.’

Leah looked at her blankly. ‘Who the hell would I tell?’

Stella relayed her conversation with Sophie.

Leah shook her head in incredulity. ‘I thought she was a right goody two-shoes. Never had it down for her being a home-wrecker.’

‘Well, ordinarily yes, but messing with Kirstie Ryder?’ Stella gave a shudder.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve seen him here a few times.’

‘I haven’t.’

‘You’re not out as late as I am. It’s when I’ve been coming home.’ Leah sat with her head in her hands. ‘I should have just handed the money in.’

Stella sat down beside her and put an arm around her
shoulder
. ‘I think the best thing is to keep quiet and act normal for now.’

‘But you don’t have a bag of money! And –’

‘If we stay one step ahead of everyone, then we can sort thi
s out.’

‘We?’

‘You do want my help to keep it quiet, don’t you?’

Leah laughed inwardly so as not to annoy her friend. Stella had never kept quiet about anything in her life. But she did need to trust her with this.

‘If you say anything to the police, you know what people are like,’ Stella added. ‘They’ll point their fingers at you regardless, and then everyone will know you’re a thief. Mud sticks aroun
d here.’

‘Well, Sophie’s in the wrong, too.’ Leah knew she sounded like a spoilt child but she hated that Stella seemed excited.

‘That’s completely different from what you’ve done!’

‘You see!’ Leah stood up quickly. ‘I’m giving it back.’

‘No!’ Stella stood up too. ‘Just hide it and then we’ll see what happens later.’

‘Okay. I suppose I could take it to my mum’s.’

At the station, Allie was walking up the stairs with Perry to their office when her phone rang.

‘It’s Mark,’ she told him. ‘I’ll catch you in a moment.’ When he’d gone ahead, she answered the phone. ‘Hey.’

‘Hey.’

‘How is she?’

‘No change. They said the results of the tests should definitely be back tomorrow though.’

‘And how’s work?’ Allie didn’t want to hear anything about the tests yet. Oblivion was her best option at the moment.

‘It’s not as hectic as yours. No one has committed a murder – well, not yet, anyway.’

Allie smiled as she pushed on the door to her office. An open plan space was crammed with desks in twos and threes, officers at some of the computers. At the far end she could see Sam over at the whiteboard.

‘I have to go. I’ll catch you later.’

‘Okay, I’d better go too – they’re calling me to a meeting. Stay safe. You’re still with your bodyguard?’

Allie laughed and said goodbye to him. Then just as quickly, she sighed. She had disconnected the phone before she’d told him that she had been at Ryder’s house again. She knew he wasn’t going to be happy. If she mentioned his name at home, Mark’s shoulders always rose and his face darkened. But she had to tell him before the press conference that afternoon. After all that had happened last time with Ryder, he’d be angry if he thought she was holding it back from him.

Sam was writing in black marker pen on the board as she got to her. She handed her the disc.

‘Thanks.’ Sam turned to her. ‘How are you?’

‘Good.’ Allie smiled at her friend. ‘Everything’s good at the moment. Steady. Stable. Holding on.’

‘Good,’ Sam repeated and gave her arm a squeeze. ‘What have you got?’

‘CCTV from Flynn’s nightclub last night. Can you check it from nine p.m. onwards, please? Log who goes in and out of the private room for me?’

‘Will do. Coffee?’

‘Gagging for one.’

Allie sat down at her desk, keen to grab a bite to eat. Perry was already tucking into his sandwich.

Minutes later, Sam plonked a mug down next to her.

‘You’re an angel.’ Allie pointed to a small package. ‘Cheese and onion bap for you.’

‘Ooh, thanks. So how did your big reunion with Kirstie Ryd
er go?’

‘She was very welcoming. Said she didn’t want me in her
fucking
house.’

Sam smirked. ‘Was it weird being there again?’

Sam and Perry had worked with Allie on the investigation into the murder of Steph Ryder and knew a bit about her demons around Terry Ryder. They’d both been at the funeral when Ryder had been arrested and had seen how Kirstie had reacted to her afterwards, screeching in front of everyone that it was all Allie’s fault, that she had it in for her family. That she had been out to get her father for years and that it was common knowledge.

She’d blamed Allie for stitching up her boyfriend too, reassuring everyone who would listen that he was a loving, charming man and not the murderer he had been made out to be. All lies, of course – the said boyfriend, Lee Kennedy, had kidnapped Kirstie and tied her up for a short while.

‘Yes, it felt as if Ryder was about to come back through the door again,’ she said. ‘As if he was still there, you know?’

‘He practically thinks he still is. Lots of people seem to be working for him on the outside. Did you learn anything new?’

‘Yeah, there are too many bloody flats at Harrison House,’ Perry joined in. ‘Glad I’m not in uniform and having to collate all the actions afterwards.’

‘That’ll be me here until midnight then,’ Sam sighed.

‘We’ll get help if necessary,’ Allie soothed.

‘Speaking of which, uniform have found Jordan’s car,’ she added. ‘It was parked in Sparrow Street, a few minutes’ walk from the flats. Residents questioned there say that it was a regular sighting.’ Sam clicked her mouse a few times. ‘Oh, Jordan’s phone records are just back.’

‘Who was the last person to contact him?’ asked Allie, wiping crumbs from her mouth with a napkin.

‘Miss Sophie Nicklin, flat 210, Harrison House. A text
message
.’

‘Flat 210?’ Allie looked at Perry. ‘That’s where Rebecca Adams lives. We went to see her earlier.’

‘She was one of the women with dark hair who we spoke to,’ confirmed Perry.

‘There are tons of calls and text messages to that number, mostly in the early hours of the mornings,’ Sam continued, eyes flicking over the screen. ‘All late at night, and text messages
during
the day.’

‘Did she say she lived alone or did she have a flatmate?’

Perry looked through his notebook. ‘I thought she lived alone.’

‘Me too.’ Allie took a gulp of her drink. ‘We’ll go to see her next, find out why she gave us a false name. Sam, let Nick know, will you?’

2.00 P.M.

As Ryan turned his car into Malcolm Parade, Kirstie was reminded of where she used to live on the Marshall Estate.
Uniform
semi-detached houses lined up in a row, postage-stamp sized front
gardens
, drives for one car, hardly room for any garages.
Miserable-loo
king at this time of year with its dark nights and mornings, dreary grey days and winter weather.

She’d been a teenager when she’d left all her friends behind to live in The Gables. The property had wowed her, especially the size of her bedroom, but in some ways life had been much simpler before. For starters, Mum hadn’t been drinking as much and they had got on fairly well. Maybe if they had stayed on the estate, Mum might still be alive today.

She spotted a tabby cat sitting on a windowsill as they drove along to number 46, Ryan’s family home. Already she was dreading the game playing. So far, the brothers’ mum, Betty, had not cottoned on that she and Jordan hadn’t really been able to stand the sight of each other for the past year or so. Kirstie had been
rehearsing
what to say all morning: how she was going to miss
Jordan
, how much she loved him, how she would never get over losing him this way, blah, blah, blah. It was all about keeping up appearances; she hoped she could still convince Betty that she and Jordan had been very much in love. What would happen if she slipped up now that it came to it?

Ryan and Jordan were Betty’s only children. Ryan’s father, Clive, had died several years back now so Kirstie had never met him. She found his mother suffocating, to say the least, and she seemed so old. But even though she would never admit it to
anyone
, she did enjoy their family get-togethers, although it did make it awkward when Ryan and Nicole had separated. Ryan’s children had been annoyed at the separation too – both were
teenagers
who threw more tantrums than she did. Kirstie hoped they wouldn’t b
e there now.

Betty made the best Sunday roast dinners and always made a fuss of everyone, regardless of their ages. There was always a sit-down meal, presents on birthdays and a stocking filled with delightful goodies hanging from the back of everyone’s chair on Christmas day. Family and tradition were very important to her. She’d even taken Kirstie under her wing. They got on really well, often sharing memories over numerous mugs of tea. Kirstie hardly made time to call to see her but when she did she always wondered why she didn’t make more of an effort. It was usually fun.

Ryan had told her that Betty had been devastated when he’d separated from Nicole, too. Betty had thought they had staying power; she’d been certain they would last out. Not like Jordan. He’d married Leoni when he was twenty, despite his parents’ wishes for them to wait a while. He’d known her for only six months before marriage had been suggested. News came soon after that she was pregnant. Betty had shown Kirstie umpteen photographs of her grandson, Liam. She’d complained to her often that she never saw enough of him, not in a bitter way, but regretfully.

As they drew level with the house, she pointed to a Toyota Arius parked in the driveway. ‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, that’s Nicole’s car! What the hell is she doing here?’

‘She knew Jordan for far longer than you.’ Ryan parked next to it. ‘She’s entitled to be here as much as you are. And besides, it means you won’t have to comfort Mum. I’m sure you’d find that hard to do, you being the grieving girlfriend.’

‘Well, she’d better not open her mouth and say something she shouldn’t. If she says one more bitchy thing about me, I’ll close the bloody thing for her with one punch.’

‘Just keep a civil tongue in your mouth for a few hours,’ Ryan warned. ‘This is about my mum. She doesn’t need anything else to worry about.’

‘Don’t tell me what to do!’ Kirstie snapped indignantly as she got out of the car.

A woman she didn’t recognise opened the door. She wore a blouse tied at the neck, a pencil skirt and court shoes. Kirstie thought she looked like a secretary, wondered if she was with the funeral director, although she hadn’t seen a car outside.

‘Mr Jordan,’ she addressed Ryan first. ‘I’m PC Maria Temple. I’m a police family liaison officer.’

Kirstie tutted her annoyance as Ryan shook her hand. Maria held it out to her afterwards but she ignored it and went into the house.

‘I hope you can look after my mum,’ she heard Ryan say, his tone one of politeness rather than contempt. She rolled her eyes.

‘Of course.’ Maria touched his arm. ‘I’m really sorry for your loss. I’ll make this as comfortable as I can for you all.’

All of a sudden Kirstie felt an almost irresistible urge to shout out that he was a hypocrite. Let everyone know how much of a
doting
brother he really was. How would his mum feel if she found out the truth? Instead she took a deep breath and held her tongue. Shoulders back, she went into the living room. It was a room she loved and hated in equal measures. According to
Jordan
, its decor had been the same for over twenty years until their father died. Clive had painted over the same wallpaper every twelve months with magnolia paint to freshen it up. Now that the walls were plastered with large flowers and the settee covered in chintzy fabric, it was much brighter but still it seemed claustrophobic to her.

Nicole was sitting on the settee next to Betty, all teary eyes and streaked makeup. Her nails had been manicured, her long blonde hair freshly washed and straightened. Her clothes were black but stylish, high heels finishing the outfit. Kirstie had to admit tha
t s
he always tried to keep herself smart and trendy but all she could se
e w
as mutton trying to dress as lamb.

As soon as Ryan came into the room, Nicole ran into his arms and burst into tears.

‘You know he was like my little brother,’ she sobbed, burying her face in his chest. ‘I can’t believe he’s gone. Have the police said anything else yet?’

‘It’s too early,’ said Ryan, comforting her.

Kirstie watched the scene unfolding with disbelief. Her eyes on Ryan made him turn his head for a moment and she glared at him. She folded her arms.

‘Surely they should know something by now?’ Nicole wiped her eyes with a tissue. ‘Don’t you have any ideas at all?’ she asked Maria, who had come in behind Ryan.

Maria shook her head. ‘I’ll tell you as soon as I know anything.’

‘At least it’s stopped raining,’ Kirstie said for want of something to add. ‘It means evidence might not get washed away
easily
.’

‘What are you –
CSI Miami
?’ Ryan barked. ‘Horatio Cain
would be proud of you.’

‘Ryan,’ Betty cried. ‘There’s no need to attack poor Kirstie like that. She’s grieving as much as you.’

‘Sorry, Mum.’ Ryan bent down to kiss his mother’s cheek.

‘It’s unbearable. How could someone just take him away from us like that? Leave him to die on a pathway. Why would anyone want to do that? He never did anyone any harm. Why, why . . .’

As she burst into tears, too, Kirstie couldn’t take any more.

‘I’ll make a drink,’ she said.

In the kitchen, she sighed. She’d hoped that she could visit in peace and disappear as quickly as possible. She needed to get geared up for a call from the police, rehearse what she had been repeating to herself over the past few days.

Behind her, the door opened and Ryan came in. As he stood looking out of the window on to the garden, she reached for his shoulder, turned him towards her and pressed herself int
o h
is chest. For a moment she felt him give in as he hugged her tightly.

‘I’m sorry about earlier,’ he said. ‘I was upset.’

‘It’s understandable,’ she soothed. ‘But we can get through this. No one really knows what happened.’

Ryan gave her hand a squeeze. ‘Once this is sorted, then we can come out in the open about things. Okay?’

Kirstie nodded. ‘We just need to keep our cool, get our stories straight at the end of every day and we’ll be in the clear before you know.’

‘I hope so. I don’t need the police sniffing around at every opportunity. They’ll want to know everything – the less they find out the better.’

‘Let’s just forget for now and look after each other.’ She smiled up at him.

The door opened and they moved apart. When Ryan saw it was Nicole, he left the room.

As she filled the kettle with water, Kirstie turned her back to Nicole, hoping that the woman would take a hint. They hadn’t liked each other since they’d met, when Jordan had first introduced her to the family as his girlfriend. She reckoned Nicole was jealous of her age and her power. Her father’s reputation preceded her.

Nicole marched across the room, her heels clicking on the tiled floor. ‘Need a hand?’ her tone was snide. ‘I’m sure the other one has spent far too long down my husband’s trousers.’

Kirstie turned sharply. ‘I beg your pardon?’

‘Oh, come off it.’ Nicole folded her arms as she stood in front of her. ‘You might fool Betty but it’s clear to me that you’re
sleeping
with Ryan.’ She laughed harshly. ‘Never had him down for the guy who’d want a youngster though. Still, I suppose even he would make an exception for Terry Ryder’s daughter.’

Kirstie snarled at her. ‘Keep your mouth shut and your
opinions
to yourself or I’ll make sure you regret it.’

‘Don’t threaten me.’ Nicole wasn’t afraid to look her in the eye. ‘I know how much Ryan wanted to get in with you. This is just a business proposition to him. He’s using you like he used Jordan.’

Kirstie took hold of Nicole’s forearm and squeezed it tightly, relishing the look on her face when she could see the pain she w
as causing.

‘You seem to have a smart head on your shoulders,’ she told her. ‘Just make sure it stays that way or else I’ll ensure that you’re cut off and you won’t have a penny.’ She sneered. ‘Now go back and comfort the old dear, there’s a love.’

‘Don’t patronise me,’ Nicole seethed. ‘I know too much abou
t you.’

‘I might be younger than you but please don’t make the mistake of taking me for a fool,’ Kirstie countered. ‘I’ll do too much to seek my revenge, starting with the bloke who’s sharing
your
bed with you at the moment.’

Nicole paled.

‘You think I don’t know what you’re getting up to?’ Kirstie shook her head slowly. ‘Just remember, I have people everywhere. There’s nothing about you that I don’t know. So like I said,’ she touched her lips with an index finger, ‘keep your mouth shut.
Otherwise
, I’ll make sure he’s forced to take everything from you.’ Her smile was cruel. ‘You know I’d do that, don’t you?’

‘I’d be very careful, if I were you,’ Nicole hit back. ‘You might think you’re okay because Ryan is under your roof, perhaps in your bed, but you are nothing but expendable. I know him far
better
than you. Once he’s had what it is he’s after, he won’t give you another thought. So don’t come threatening me, little miss. I’m too old and too experienced to suffer fools gladly.’

‘You’re too old to keep your husband happy. From what I heard, it was hard for him to get it up once a month with you. Whereas me, I –’

‘You cheeky bitch.’ Nicole raised a hand.

Kirstie grabbed it before it reached its target. ‘Don’t even think about it. I’ll have –’

‘What the hell’s going on in here?’ Ryan whispered loudly as he came into the room. ‘We can hear you in the living room. Pipe down and show some respect.’

Kirstie glared at Nicole, making sure she looked away first.

‘She started it.’ Nicole’s words seemed childish.

Ryan shook his head and went back into the other room.

Kirstie smirked. That was one thing she’d learned from her mother. She’d never let any woman get the upper hand.