The Woman Who Lied(76)
‘I think it was her misguided attempt to tell the world who she thought killed her mother.’
‘So her mother’s murderer is called Donald?’ Confusion flits across Elliot’s face.
‘No. I think that’s a made-up name. And so is Ash.’ She tells him about her conversation with Frances at pick-up. ‘She targeted me for a reason and now I’m wondering why. Is it because you’re Ash? And could your dad be the Doodle Man?’
He stares at her, his mouth falling open. ‘You – you think my dad is this serial killer?’
‘I don’t know what to think.’ She stands up and begins pacing the room. It still smells faintly of Lloyd. ‘We’ve never talked much about our university days, but I know you went to Exeter.’
‘Yep. English.’
‘Did you date Louise? Or should I say Daisy, as she would have been known back then?’
‘I …’ He frowns. ‘I don’t know. I mean, I had quite a few girlfriends at uni. Nothing serious. But I don’t remember dating anyone called Daisy. I don’t … I didn’t recognize myself in your story, if that’s what you mean. Now you’ve said it there are some similarities, I suppose – I did grow up by the sea and I did go through a bit of a Goth stage, but I never had any girlfriends come back and stay while I was at uni. In fact, I’d left by Christmas 2005. I graduated that summer. I don’t think I’m Ash and I’m a hundred per cent sure my dad isn’t the fucking praying-mantis murderer. Jesus, Emilia, I can’t believe this.’
Emilia takes the phone out of her bag and pulls up the news story about Louise. There is a photograph of her, although it’s a few years old. Despite everything it still tugs at her heart that her friend is dead. She thrusts it in Elliot’s face. ‘Do you recognize her? It strikes me that I’ve never introduced the two of you. She always seemed against coming here, meeting you – any of you. Is this why? Because she knew you’d recognize her?’
He takes the phone from her and studies the photo. Then he looks up at her, his dark eyes huge in his face. ‘I can honestly say I don’t recognize her.’
She has always found it hard to read Elliot. Would he lie to her?
‘It says here that she was thirty-five. I’m nearly thirty-nine, three years older than her,’ he says.
She snatches back the phone. ‘Yes, Elliot, I’m aware of how old you are. Not everyone goes to university at eighteen.’
He stands up. ‘But I did! This is ridiculous. I wouldn’t lie to you, despite all the lies you’ve told me. If I thought I was this Ash I’d say so. Why would I lie about it?’
‘To protect your dad.’
He gives a mirthless laugh. ‘Sure, yes, why not? I’d protect my dad, the serial killer.’ He shakes his head in disbelief. ‘If I really thought my dad was behind all those murders I wouldn’t let him anywhere near you and the kids. I hope you know that.’ He comes towards her and holds out a hand, like she’s a dangerous animal and he’s not sure if she’ll bite. ‘Seriously? I know you’re looking for answers, but please … my dad is a gentle giant. He wouldn’t hurt a soul.’
52
Emilia tosses and turns all night thinking about Trevor and Louise. She doesn’t know whether to believe her husband. Maybe Louise had looked different at university. It was nearly twenty years ago after all. She believes him when he says he wouldn’t protect his father if he thought he was a killer – but the fact is, he might not know. Who wants to believe the person they love is capable of such heinous crimes?
Not for the first time she wishes she could ask Louise.
She needs to speak to DI Murray. She feels like she’s betraying her husband, but she needs to voice her suspicions to someone in authority. Maybe they could run checks on Trevor. Find out if Louise had ever made a complaint against him. Surely there would be records about that kind of thing. Louise had told Frances she knew Trevor. How?
‘Penny for them,’ says Trevor, jolting her out of her thoughts. She looks up from her muesli. All her family are seated at the dining table, staring at her: they must have been talking and she’s been in a world of her own. She notices Elliot flashing her a warning look from across the table.
‘Just plot points for the new book,’ she lies.
Trevor raises an eyebrow. ‘Interesting. Can you reveal what it’s about yet? I was sad to read about Miranda Moody’s demise in Her Last Chapter.’
She glances at him: his expression is unreadable. Why did he mention Miranda’s death? Is it some kind of veiled threat? Does he suspect she knows about him?
The muesli turns to sawdust in her mouth. ‘Um, not quite yet.’ She gets up and takes her bowl to the sink.
Jasmine looks up from her phone. She’s still in her pyjamas, her hair unbrushed. ‘I’ve just had a message from Dad,’ she announces. ‘He says he’s coming over this morning.’
Elliot’s face darkens but he doesn’t say anything. Damn, she’d forgotten she’d told Jonas he could come. ‘You shouldn’t have your phone at the table,’ he mutters instead.
Jasmine ignores him. ‘Why is he coming here?’ she asks Emilia. ‘He never does. Why aren’t I going there this weekend?’