The One You Love (34 page)

‘Richard, what’s the matter?’ She glanced up at Will who looked concerned.

‘He called me,’ Richard said. ‘The man who took Dan called me.’

Emma listened as Richard relayed the details. ‘Have you told the staff?’

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘The police are coming.’

‘Good. We’ll be right over.’

‘What’s up?’ said Will, the second the call had ended.

‘Richard said a man called him today, saying that he had taken Dan,’ Emma explained.

‘Hell,’ Will said, taking in the news. ‘Looks like Guy Roberts was right, and Stuart didn’t do it after all.’

‘Maybe Guy Roberts did it himself,’ Emma suggested.

‘You really think he could have done?’

‘Who knows,’ Emma said. ‘Maybe he engineered this whole situation just to get the publicity he wanted.’

62

Emma and Will watched through the glass as Gasnier and Davies questioned Richard. They’d been waiting there for five minutes now, having been told by the nurse not to disturb them. It was frustrating, not knowing what was going on.

‘You really think that the person who called Richard is responsible for all this?’ Will asked.

‘I don’t know,’ Emma admitted. ‘I’ll tell you after we speak with Richard.’

As if on cue, there was movement in the room, and Gasnier swept out of the door, followed by Davies.

‘Emma,’ Gasnier said, flashing a smile, ‘good to see you.’

‘I’ve been waiting for you to call,’ Emma said, the words slipping out, sounding more accusing than she had intended.

‘I know,’ Gasnier acknowledged, his voice hinting at regret. ‘I was waiting until we knew something for definite, but I’m afraid, so far, we have no clue as to your fiancé’s whereabouts. There was nothing at Stuart’s flat, or on his computer, apart from what we had found already, of course.’

‘Don’t you think that’s strange?’ Emma asked.

‘Strange?’

‘That you haven’t found anything else linking Stuart with Dan, especially when the original evidence was just waiting there for someone to see.’

‘I wouldn’t be too quick to believe that someone else is responsible,’ Gasnier said, reading her mind. ‘Richard is still very confused at the moment, and he’s got more drugs running around his body than a junkie – the phone call might have been a dream.’

‘Or it could have been a prank,’ Davies chipped in.

‘That’s what you said about the other letter,’ Emma countered.

‘Yes, and it was from Stuart,’ Gasnier said. ‘I still believe that Stuart Harris was responsible. Look Emma, I know you want to believe that someone else has Dan – it increases the likelihood that he’s still alive, after all. But I doubt it’s the case. Talk to Richard, and make your own mind up as to whether he really knows what he is talking about.’

‘I have an idea of who might be responsible,’ Emma said.

Gasnier looked only vaguely interested. ‘Go on.’

Emma explained to them about Guy Roberts, how he had paid the photographer to follow her, and also how his relationship with Stuart had gone back several years.

‘We’ll talk with him,’ Gasnier promised. ‘But I very much doubt he has anything to do with it.’

Emma nodded – it was the best she could have got from this stubborn man.

‘Before you talk with Richard,’ Gasnier said, ‘have a look at these.’

Emma examined the photographs that Gasnier presented, one by one. Each one showed Stuart and the same girl – kissing, holding hands across a table, his arm around her.

‘Where did you find these?’ Emma asked.

‘Hidden in Stuart’s flat,’ Gasnier replied. ‘Do you recognise the girl?’

‘No,’ Emma said, unable to take her eyes off the images. ‘Why did you show me these? Do you think they’re relevant?’

‘Not really,’ Gasnier said. ‘We just wanted to be sure.’

‘Someone took these without them knowing, didn’t they?’ Emma asked, looking up at Gasnier.

‘Looks like it. Do you think they’re recent?’

‘No,’ Emma said with certainty. ‘He’s wearing the gold watch I gave him as a present. When he left me, he left the watch too.’

‘So what you’re saying is, these photos were taken when you two were still together?’

‘Definitely.’

Now it all made sense. He had left her for another woman.

‘But you don’t know who might have taken these photographs?’ Gasnier enquired.

‘No,’ Emma replied. ‘Unless…’

‘Go on,’ Gasnier encouraged.

‘Unless it was Stephen Myers.’

***

‘The police don’t believe me,’ Richard said, lolling his head off and onto the pillow. ‘They looked at me like I was delusional. You know, they even suggested I dreamt the telephone conversation. Can you believe that?’

He laughed bitterly.

‘Gasnier doesn’t seem to give away much,’ Emma said. ‘He might believe you more than he’s letting on.’

‘He thought I was crazy. Maybe I am. Just before the police arrived I fell asleep, and dreamt about the attack. But Dan was the one attacking me – he just kept screaming something, bawling right into my face. I can’t remember what. I didn’t tell the police about it. I would have just confirmed what they were already thinking.’

‘It was just a dream,’ said Emma soothingly.

‘I wish this was all a dream,’ Richard replied. ‘I wish I would just wake up and it would all have been one bad dream.’

‘So do I.’

‘Don’t take any notice of me,’ Richard said, noticing her pained expression. ‘Things will be okay.’

Emma reached out and held his hand. ‘We’ve all got to stick together. Right, Will?’

‘Oh, yeah, of course,’ Will said, seeming somewhat distracted. ‘Stick together.’

‘I didn’t imagine it, Emma,’ Richard said. ‘The guy did call me. He said he had done it. I think he’s out there – you should be careful.’

***

‘You okay?’ Emma asked Will as he walked back over. She had been waiting at the entrance to the hospital while Will spoke to someone on his mobile, just out of hearing distance.

‘Yeah, fine,’ Will replied, slipping the phone back into his jeans pocket.

‘It’s just that you seemed a little subdued in the hospital.’

‘I’m fine,’ he reiterated. ‘I just can’t help thinking about what Richard said. If someone is still out there, then maybe we are all in danger.’

Emma’s phone rang. ‘Hello?’ she said.

‘Emma, it’s Sarah here. Sarah Forester – I’m performing with Lizzy in the musical. We met a few weeks ago.’

‘What’s wrong?’ Emma asked, automatically thinking the worst.

‘It’s probably nothing,’ Sarah replied. ‘But the show is due to start in less than half an hour and Lizzy hasn’t turned up yet. We’ve called her mobile and home number but there’s no answer. I just wondered whether she was with you.’

63

‘You’re really worried aren’t you?’ Will said, catching his breath as they ran along the pavement towards Lizzy’s apartment.

‘Something’s happened,’ Emma replied, dodging an elderly couple and picking up the pace. ‘Lizzy wouldn’t just disappear like that.’

They reached the apartments, sprinted up the stairs and got to Lizzy’s door. As Emma banged on the door and struggled for the keys it all seemed horribly familiar.

‘Lizzy?’ she shouted as they burst into the flat. ‘Are you okay?’

They moved around the flat together, room by room.

The place was deserted.

‘Something’s happened,’ Emma said, pacing around the living room. ‘I know it.’

‘What are we going to do?’ Will said, looking at his feet.

‘I don’t know.’

Then Emma spotted the open book on top of the television. She moved over and picked it up.

‘What is it?’ Will said.

‘Stephen Myers’ journal,’ Emma replied, looking in morbid fascination at Stephen's black scrawl. ‘Lizzy told me she was going to throw it away.’

‘Looks like she’s been reading it,’ Will said, moving up to her shoulder.

‘It does,’ Emma agreed.

She read the open page, in which Stephen was rambling in his usual style, talking about how much he loved Emma, how much he looked forward to being with her. It was terrifying and sad at the same time.

‘I don’t think it’s a good idea to read that,’ Will advised.

‘You’re right,’ she said.

She went to close the book, and that’s when the photograph fell out – the photograph she had picked off Stephen’s bedroom wall, proving that Stephen had been to London. She bent down and picked it up, looking at her standing in the street outside Lizzy’s apartment, with the rows of shops in the background.

Suddenly realisation dawned.

‘You okay?’ Will said, as Emma moved quickly towards the front door.

‘Follow me.’ She headed for the stairs.

They emerged onto the street.

‘What’s the matter?’ asked Will, as he followed her down the road.

‘Look,’ she said, stopping and pointing across the road. ‘That shop there – the coffee shop – it only opened a year ago. It used to be an electrical store. We went there once when our fuse box blew out.’

‘So,’ Will said, ‘is that important?’

‘Look at the photograph,’ Emma instructed, thrusting the photo into his face and pointing. ‘Look at the background. I’m standing in front of the row of shops, just across the road from here.’

‘I don’t understand,’ said Will, staring intently at the photo. ‘What am I looking for?’

‘The store in the background. Look at what it is.’

‘Yeah, it’s the coffee shop. The one across the road.’

‘Stephen died years ago,’ Emma said. ‘But that coffee shop only opened last year – it means that this photograph must have been taken after Stephen Myers died.’

***

‘Where are you going?’ Miranda asked, as she stood at the doorway, watching Edward loading up the car.

‘I just need to do something,’ Edward said.

‘But it’s getting late,’ Miranda replied, pulling her dressing gown tighter around her body as a passer-by sneaked a surprised glance. ‘Can’t it wait until the morning?’

‘It can’t wait.’ Edward reached across the driver’s side and fiddled with something in the car.

‘What’s the matter? You’re worrying me, Edward.’

‘It’s nothing. There’s no need to worry.’

‘But if it’s nothing, why can’t it wait until morning?’

‘It just can’t,’ he stated.

‘Don’t go,’ Miranda said, moving out onto the driveway in her bare feet. Small, sharp stones dug into her skin, but she ignored the pain. ‘Please don’t go like this, without any explanation. I worry about you.’

Edward turned and moved towards her, placing a hand around each shoulder. ‘You know I love you?’ He looked deep into her eyes. ‘I’d never want to do anything to hurt you.’

‘You’re not leaving me, are you?’ Miranda asked. ‘If you are, I’d rather you just admit it now.’

‘I’m not leaving you,’ he replied. ‘I’ve let people down in the past, but I’m trying to change.’

‘You’ve never let me down,’ she said, embracing him.

Edward held her for a few seconds, taking in her perfume, but this was only wasting time and making things harder.

‘I’d better go.’ He kissed her on the cheek before pulling away. ‘I’ll be back in the morning.’

‘You’re staying overnight? But where are you going to stay?’

Edward got into the car and closed the door. He started up the engine, not answering her.

‘Edward!’ she shouted, knocking on the car window. ‘Have you got your angina spray?’

Edward nodded, glancing in the rear view mirror. ‘Don’t worry about me,’ he said through the glass, as the car began to reverse out of the drive.

He backed out onto the main road, and then moved forward, slipping the car into second gear. He deliberately didn’t look back to see if Miranda was there watching him. Instead he glanced across at the glove box that contained the loaded gun.

He was going to finish this, once and for all.

***

Emma sat on the sofa in Lizzy’s apartment and stared at the photograph, searching for answers. She looked across at Will, who was kneading the sides of his head.

‘I know it sounds crazy,’ she began, ‘but I’ve been thinking – maybe Stephen Myers isn’t really dead.’

Will shook his head.

‘But what if the person they found in the canal wasn’t him?’ Emma tried. ‘His dad said that they couldn’t identify him visually.’