18

‘Why did you lie to the police?’ I ask Teddy, closing my front door behind him. Teddy looks as confused as I feel.

‘Shit, did I lock the car? I can’t remember?’ He opens the door and points his key fob at his Ford Mondeo and the orange lights flash.

‘If they find out you’re lying,’ I warn, as he steps back inside, ‘you could get done.’ I shot Teddy a look when he told PC Jacobs he was with me all night. I’m sure she picked up on it because she gave me a long hard stare before returning to her notes.

‘They won’t find out,’ he says airily. ‘I was home all night.’

‘Alone?’ I retort, unable to control the accusing tone in my voice. I don’t know why but I’m not sure I believe him. He seems shifty, nervous. And why is he avoiding my question: why did he lie to the police?

‘Yes.’ Turning away, he drops his car keys onto the tall table in the corridor, then spins round and straightens his white polo top, face flushed, smile forced. ‘Most of the time. Mum came in at about tenish, but there’s no…’

‘For God’s sake, Teddy.’ Brushing past him, I open the living room door and am instantly greeted by a fug of stale air. My hand twitches on the doorknob. I want to close it immediately but Teddy is standing so close behind me I can hear him breathing. The lounge looks like it’s been ransacked. I’m glad I showed the constables through to the kitchen earlier. My eyes sweep around the room. There’s a mug of ring-marked cold tea on the coffee table next to a half-eaten curry with rice, the remnants congealed against the plastic container. A bottle of Bacardi is on its side by the armchair. A bottle of cola next to it. I quickly lift two scatter cushions off the floor and chuck them onto the sagged sofa, covertly giving the bottle of rum a kick before Teddy spots it.

‘I just wanted them to stop questioning you, that’s all.’ Teddy’s eyes swish over the mess but he says nothing. ‘You looked really uncomfortable.’ He goes to the window and twitches the net curtains. ‘Why are they still outside?’ Then his voice goes up an octave. ‘Did you see the way they were watching us just now?’ When the police left, I helped Teddy carry his gardening stuff to the car. He’s right. The police didn’t take their eyes off us. ‘They were looking at that bag of compost in my arms as if it were a dead body. I almost felt as if it was when I chucked it into the boot. Mum said thanks for letting me store the stuff in your garden, by the way.’

I pick up the half-eaten curry and mug, amble towards him and peer over his shoulder. The police car is still there, parked across Spiros and Xenia’s drive. Spiros would blow a gasket if he saw it. You’d think the police would know better, set an example, but most of them think they’re above the law. ‘You needn’t had stepped in. I wasn’t uncomfortable.’ I was. Very. I was thinking so much about Jasmine’s engagement ring and what pathetic excuse I was going to give them if they questioned me about it that I barely took in what PC Jacobs was saying. ‘I didn’t need an alibi,’ I insist.

Teddy whips his head round. Our faces are so close that I can smell an amalgamation of coffee and tobacco on his breath. ‘But I thought…’ he mumbles, his gaze drifting to his car parked outside my house.

‘You thought what?’ I look at him expectantly, but instead of explaining, he rubs his mouth, watching me worriedly. Come to think of it, he looks as if he hasn’t eaten or slept in days, and I’m sure I get the whiff of campfire on his clothes. ‘That they suspected me?’ I snort. Then I open my arms wide, curry in one hand, mug of tea in the other, and swagger like a yob ready for a fight. ‘Crazy ex-wife throws acid on new girlfriend’s brand-new Porsche in a jealous rage,’ I say in a newsreader’s voice. I laugh and look at him, waiting for him to join in, but his face is deadpan. Surely, he doesn’t think… ‘Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no.’

‘You don’t understand. And it was paint stripper not acid. At least that’s what the police said. It’s just that… Lucy, wait, where are you going?’

‘Jesus!’ I yell, voice echoing in the corridor. ‘What do you take me for?’

He barrels after me, feet clambering in the hallway. ‘You’ve got it all wrong. I’m not blaming you.’ He could’ve fooled me. I see him in my peripheral vision as I bin the curry and turn on the taps. ‘Come on, don’t be like that.’ And now he’s telling me how I should feel. How dare he. How bloody dare he. I give him the silent treatment as I stare stonily into the sink, hair falling in my face, taking out my anger on the coffee cups. ‘You’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lied to the police. It was a dumb thing to do. I thought I was helping. Epic fail, obviously.’ He points two fingers at his temple and makes a whooshing sound as I fold a tea towel angrily and toss it over the watermarked tap.

‘That’s not even funny, Teddy.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Oh, stop apologising.’

‘Okay. Sorry. I mean… I’ll go outside now, they might still be parked up. I’ll tell them I got it wrong, got the dates mixed up, or something. That I had an all-nighter – was confused.’

He goes to move but I stop him. ‘Leave it.’ I don’t want them to start on him now too. ‘It’ll only make matters worse.’ I throw him a weak smile. ‘I know you were only trying to help.’

‘You sure?’

I nod, rubbing my forehead, and he lets out a sigh of relief. ‘I can’t believe you actually thought I had anything to do with last night though.’ A cold chill ran through me when the police told us that someone had poured paint stripper on Jasmine’s new Porsche.

Teddy looks at his loafers. ‘You should’ve told them about Alison and the texts,’ he says. ‘About being blackmailed.’

‘Why?’ I shrug. ‘It isn’t relevant. There’s no connection.’

‘Still, they might’ve looked into it. Tracked down the assailant. God,’ he says to the kitchen tiles, shaking his head, ‘I wonder who vandalised Jasmine’s car? What a shit thing to do.’

‘Yes,’ I nod, filling my lungs. He’s right but to be honest, I was just relieved that they didn’t come here to question me about the stolen engagement ring. ‘It was cruel. I’m no fan of Jasmine’s but no one deserves that. She loves that car. Hopefully, they’ll catch whoever did it.’

Teddy curves his lips downwards, inclining his head. ‘Very unlikely,’ he says, pulling out a chair at the table. ‘Police said there were no witnesses and if her CCTV isn’t working then there’s no chance.’

The hairs on my skin prickle. ‘What makes you think their CCTV isn’t working?’

He looks at me, bewildered. ‘Isn’t that what you said?’ He’s lying. I didn’t. Why would I? ‘Last night when you phoned me?’ I shake my head and his eyebrows rise and fall. ‘You said that you thought she’d seen you loitering outside the house on their CCTV, but then denied it when you questioned her, said something about it not working properly.’ I twist my lips to the side. Did I? I might’ve when I was relaying the story to him in a fit of fury.

‘I’m sorry, Teddy. Yes. Yes, I did tell you. I’m not thinking straight at the moment. Sorry.’

Teddy smiles, nods, and we lapse into silence, and then, ‘Someone keyed Lydia’s car outside our house once. We never did find the culprit. Lydia was sure it was Jordan Harris’s mother – revenge for getting her thug of a son excluded for beating up one of the other boys. Poor lad needed medical attention. Blood everywhere.’

‘Oh, God, how awful. So, what did you do?’

‘Got it repainted at the garage. The police were bloody useless.’ Teddy picks up an empty glass of water, tilts it to the side, sniffs it, then puts it down. Shit. He must’ve seen the bottle of Bacardi. ‘Lydia left it a few weeks and then went round there one night and did the same to Mrs Harris’s new Ford Fiesta.’

‘Are you kidding me?’ I drop into a chair next to him. ‘That’s horrible.’

‘Lydia was no pushover.’ He pulls a fork out from the utensils holder and turns it around in his hand. ‘An eye for an eye doesn’t even scratch the surface. She’s a very vindictive woman.’ I’m disliking her more and more, even though I’ve never met her.

‘But what if it wasn’t even the school mum?’ My eyes flick to three days’ post piled on the table. Teddy shrugs. ‘Lydia might’ve vandalised an innocent woman’s car. She could’ve lost her job if someone saw her. Ruined her career.’

Teddy scoffs. ‘There’s no way Lyd would’ve got caught,’ he says, as if Lydia is invincible. A flicker of pride sweeps across his face and an unexpected, unwanted, shot of jealousy powers through me. ‘My ex-wife is many things but stupid isn’t one of them.’ No, but I can think of a few other choice adjectives to describe her.

‘Yes, but they do catch them sometimes though,’ I insist, sifting through the post – bills, junk mail and more bills. My heart sinks. ‘And once they speak to Jasmine they’ll get a clearer picture, I’m sure.’

‘Yeah, that. Bloody hell. Why can’t they find her? I thought the police could track down anyone these days with GPS.’ The police told us that Jasmine wasn’t answering her door this morning, after one of the neighbours called them out because her car alarm was going off all night, and, according to PC Michaels, she wasn’t answering her landline and her mobile phone appears to be switched off.

‘Yes, that is quite weird, isn’t it?’ I frown at the gas bill as I tap it against the table. I must remember to go online and go paperless. ‘What did PC Michaels say, the number isn’t recognised?’

‘Unavailable,’ Teddy corrects.

‘Perhaps she forgot it at home, or it’s out of juice.’

‘Hmm…’ Teddy groans, and I can tell that he thinks there’s more to it. But there isn’t. He doesn’t know Jasmine. It wouldn’t be the first time she took herself off without telling anyone. She’s probably booked herself into a lux spa for a few days to unwind. Alison and I went on one of those mid-week breaks with her once in Oxford. Probably the most relaxing three days I’ve ever had, although I didn’t have any of the treatments because they were too expensive.

‘She’s only been gone one night.’ I stretch my back. ‘She’s hardly on the missing persons’ list,’ I point out, rubbing the side of my neck. I’m getting too old for passing out drunk on the sofa. ‘Want another coffee?’ Teddy shakes his head. I get to my feet and flick on the kettle. ‘Like I told the police, she’s probably in some swanky hotel having saunas and facials.’ I spoon coffee into a mug. ‘Bit weird that she didn’t take her car though, she usually does.’

‘Well, if you say so.’ Teddy sighs, looking into the hallway as if he can see the police car a mile away and hear everything they’re saying. ‘I didn’t like the way they were questioning you though, especially that woman officer with the implants and trout lips. She had that accusing tone. I thought she was a strip-o-gram when I first saw her on your doorstep.’

I laugh lightly, grinning at Teddy as I pull out a carton of milk from the fridge. ‘Relax,’ I say, unscrewing the top and giving it a quick sniff. It’s a day past its use-by, thanks to Teddy not checking the date when he picked one up from the petrol station the other day. I hope the police officers don’t get sick. ‘They’re only doing their jobs.’

I won’t lie, I was a bit miffed when PC Jacobs started questioning me about my whereabouts yesterday evening and my connection to Jasmine. But I was upfront about it all, told her we were good friends, until she had an affair with my husband, that there’d been some bad blood between us but it was water under the bridge now. I was there yesterday morning to discuss the sale of this flat, which I jointly own with my ex-husband. The PCs nodded and I thought that was the end of that. But when PC Jacobs pulled out my Travelicious ID card and said they’d found it by Jasmine’s Porsche everything darkened. I didn’t even realise it was missing. Did they think I had anything to do with the damage to Jasmine’s car?

It was only when she smiled and handed it back to me, saying that they were returning my property, that I could breathe again. They believed me when I explained how I must’ve dropped it when I leant against her car to shake a stone out of my shoe yesterday morning. Maybe because it was partly true. PC Jacobs even laughed about the stone in the shoe thing, said how annoying it is.

I toyed with the idea of telling them what happened with the ring after that. I mean, if PC Jacobs resonated with me about the shoe incident then perhaps she might understand how I reacted when I discovered that my ex had stolen my engagement ring and given it to his new fiancée. But as I braced myself, they stood, thanked me for my time and the moment was gone.

‘I hope they don’t come sniffing around here again.’ Teddy’s voice breaks into my thoughts. ‘Once they speak to Jasmine, I mean. No doubt she’ll be pointing the finger at you after yesterday’s impromptu visit, especially as it didn’t go to plan.’ I swallow hard, not meeting his eye. I must’ve told him everything last night, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t mention the ring incident. ‘That’s if they ever find her.’

‘Stop being so melodramatic, of course they will.’ I take a sip of coffee, grimace, then splash more milk into it. ‘It’s not the first time something like this has happened. The police are always being called out to the Anands’ house. Jasmine’s had eggs thrown at her windows, scratches on her car, threatening tweets, not to mention death threats. She’s got enemies. She’s ruthless. It comes with the job, I guess. But she’s a tough cookie – she can take it.’ I take a glug of warm coffee. ‘It’s probably some hoodie that she sent down for stealing.’

‘Or someone with a vendetta against her,’ he suggests, an accusing tone slinking into his voice.

I frown at him over my mug. ‘You don’t still think that I had anything to do with it, do you?’ He opens his mouth to speak when there’s a clatter at the front door and our eyes slide towards the hallway. ‘Probably a flyer,’ I offer, returning my attention to him.

‘Jasmine betrayed you to the highest degree.’ Teddy hesitates, swallows. ‘Taking revenge would be a natural response for anyone.’

‘Yes, maybe. Not my style though.’

‘No, not in your normal state. Alcohol, on the other hand, can make us do things we wouldn’t normally do. It’s a fact and…’

‘And what?’ I snap. ‘I took leave of my senses? I only had a couple,’ I lie. ‘I can handle my drink, you know.’

His sigh is long and hard. ‘You can’t remember, can you?’ I look at him as if to say, What the fuck? ‘You said you hated her, that she’s ruined your life.’

‘I do. She has. But I’d never deliberately hurt her, damage her property. Jesusssss!!’

‘I’m not suggesting that for a second but… you did say something else.’

I exhale in exasperation. ‘Go on.’

Teddy rubs his lips and hisses through his nose. ‘You said that someone needed to teach her a lesson and that you wished she was…’ He pauses, rubs his lips some more. ‘Dead.’ My eyes widen. I’ve no recollection of saying this but then I was quite pissed – passed-out-on-the-sofa pissed.

‘It was a figure of speech,’ I say through clenched teeth, not admitting that I was too drunk to remember saying it. ‘I haven’t killed her and buried her in Highgate Wood if that’s what you’re suggesting.’ I know he doesn’t really know me well, but what does he take me for, a fucking psychopath?

Teddy tuts loudly. ‘Of course you haven’t bloody killed her. It’s just the car…’ he falters. ‘Look, I’m sure you’re right. It’s probably some kid with a chip on his shoulder and Jasmine’s having a mud bath in a spa somewhere. I’m not judging you, Lucy. We all have bad days. I’m only looking out for you.’ His eyes slide to the empty glass that he sniffed out. ‘Do you know that alcohol can stay in your system for hours?’

That’s it. I’ve had enough of his accusations. I slam my mug down and brown liquid sloshes onto the table. ‘Get out!’ I shoot to my feet.

Teddy looks at me, horrified. ‘What? Why? What’ve I done?’

‘You obviously think I’m still drunk and don’t know what I’m doing or saying,’ I yell. ‘And just for the record, I didn’t go anywhere near Jasmine’s car last night. I was here drowning my sorrows like a pathetic, lonely saddo, because my life is so fucking shit right now. Satisfied?’ I glare at him but he just looks at me, clearly mortified by my outburst. ‘Why don’t you ring the bloody police, hmm? Tell them you suspect that I did it. That I’ve killed Jasmine.’ I go to move but he grabs my arm to still me.

‘Lucy, will you please just let me finish?’ he says quietly, hand still curled around my forearm. ‘I was going to say that if Jasmine had a drink yesterday, she might not have taken the car, didn’t want to risk losing her licence. Alcohol stays in your system for a few hours but a breathalyser can detect it for up to twenty-four. I’m guessing Jasmine knows this, being a lawyer.’

‘Oh. Right. Okay. I didn’t know that,’ I mutter, chest heaving. I look at him from beneath furrowed brows. I can see his heart beating through his white polo shirt. ‘Yes, you might be right. Jasmine is quite sensible. But I think you should go. I need some space.’

Teddy runs a hand over his face, exhaling loudly. ‘If this is because I questioned you about Jasmine’s car, I’m sorry. My bad. It’s just that…’ I give him a sharp look, eyes filling with tears. ‘Okay, okay, I’m going.’ I watch as he walks towards the door and then suddenly he stops and spins round. ‘Just for the record, I do really like you,’ he says, one hand on the door frame. ‘A lot.’ He goes to leave again and then, ‘Actually, fuck it. It’s more than that. I think I’m falling for you.’

An unwanted burst of delight swells in my chest and my face tints, even though I don’t believe in love at first sight, even though I know it’s mad, that he can’t mean it. Can he…?

Teddy walks towards me, takes my face in his hands, and brushes away my tears with his thumbs. ‘I really mean it,’ he says softly, as if he read my mind. Leaning forward, he presses his forehead against mine, our noses brush. I can smell his gorgeous cologne through my teary phlegmy nose. ‘I wish I could…’ But before he can finish I kiss him. He hesitates at first, goes to pull away, but I haul him back and then I feel his hot tongue in my mouth. We kiss hungrily, wildly. Then he suddenly stops and holds me at arm’s-length, chest heaving, breath ragged.

‘What’s wrong?’ I pant.

‘Are you sure you want this?’ he asks, eyes hungry with lust.

‘Oh, come here.’ I take a handful of his polo top and pull it out of his black chinos.

Eyes not leaving mine, he yanks off his top and chucks it onto the worktop. The sight of his smooth skin and strong muscles makes me stir. I untie my dressing gown quickly and let it drop to the floor. God, what am I doing? He takes in the length of my naked body as I move forward and fumble with the buckle of his trousers. My skin tingles as I unzip his flies, feeling his arousal against my wrist.

Parting my lips with his tongue, he lifts me off the ground and I wrap my legs around his back as he carries me clumsily across the kitchen. I hear the crash of objects hitting the floor as he clears the table with one fell swoop of his arm – metal utensils, yesterday’s post. A glass breaks, but I don’t care.

Drunk on lust, I tug at his boxers and he pulls them off and kicks them across the room with his foot, planting hot kisses along my neck and collarbone. My lips find his again, our teeth clatter in our urgency, hungry for each other, tongues entwined. I arch my back, aching for him, and as he pushes himself inside me, I close my eyes and really hope that I’m not going to regret this.

Teddy throws a glance at the worktop as he zips his trousers and pushes a hand through his messy hair, face red and glossy with sweat. ‘What’s this?’

‘What? Oh, the flowers,’ I say breathlessly, tying the belt of my dressing gown and feeling a bit awkward. Did I really just have a quickie on my kitchen table with Teddy Fallon? A man I’ve known for only a week? It’s insane. Wait until I tell Nessa at work on Monday. She’ll be thrilled – want all the details. Sex is her favourite topic of conversation. ‘Aren’t they from you?’

‘God, no. I’d never send you white lilies.’ Teddy says, catching his breath. ‘They’re funeral flowers.’ He pulls on his polo top then plucks the card from the box and slides it out of the tiny envelope.

‘What does it say?’

Teddy swallows hard then looks at me and the colour drains from his face.