I still didn’t know how to tell you the truth. I kept telling myself it was just Jody being Jody, but deep down I knew this wasn’t one of her usual stunts. The police had found blood in my flat, and now they were asking about a brooch I’d never seen in my life. “Have you seen this brooch before?
” the detective asked, sliding a photo across the table. “No, I’ve never seen it before. ”
“So, you have never seen it before? ”
“Given that I’ve never clapped eyes on it in me life, not a clue.
”
My hands were shaking. I knew what this looked like. Jody had been missing for three days, and her blood was in my home. But I swear, I never touched her.
Not like that. Not ever. “Look, if we do this, we’ve at least got to tell them about the evidence,” I said to Todd, who was sitting beside me. “I just don’t want to do anything that’s going to put Lily in danger.
”
“Nor do I, but what other choice do we have? Whatever’s on here is enough to prove that she’s vulnerable, right? ”
Todd nodded. “This, along with the blood sample, is enough to make the police ramp up the investigation.
”
“Try not to worry, all right? ” I said, but my voice cracked. “Right, if George is innocent, which we all know he is, then he’s got nothing to worry about,” Todd said. I wanted to believe that.
I wanted to believe that George was innocent. But then the detective looked at me with those cold eyes and said, “Todd, you telling me there’s not one part of you that’s starting to wonder? ”
“Not really,” Todd replied, but I caught the hesitation. “And I know why you keep asking me the same thing over and over again,” I snapped.
“You’re trying to trick me up. ”
“Well, it took you a while yesterday to remember you’d been for that walk, didn’t it? ”
“It’s because I panicked. ”
“All we need from you, Mr.
Grimshaw, is the truth. ”
“I’ve explained all that. ”
But the questions kept coming. They asked about the brooch again, and I told them I’d never seen it.
Then they asked about the bits of dialogue that didn’t make sense. I was exhausted. My head was spinning. “Right, do you have any more questions?
” I asked, trying to steady my voice. “Maybe a little one for the small of me back,” I joked, but nobody laughed. The detective leaned in. “I should nearly cark it more often,” he said, and I knew he was mocking me.
“As if by magic. ”
I wanted to punch him. But I held my tongue. When I got out of the station, I felt sick.
Jody’s sister-in-law, Hazel, had been there, glaring at me. She had some weird fixation on me, and somehow I was getting it in the neck. “Well, darling, that woman only looks after number one,” someone said. I knew that was true.
Hazel was always about herself. But that didn’t mean I could ignore her. I went to see George. He was still in the police station, and they’d kept him in all night.
I told him I’d never doubted him, not for a nano second. But I saw the fear in his eyes. He was scared, too. “Tell him that I haven’t doubted him for a nano second,” I said to Todd later.
Then Todd said, “Look, I told her about the bedroom thing after you’d gone. And it was her who told me that I should come clean to Sean. ”
“I’m not interested in that. I never have been,” I said.
“Look, I’ve told you about the whole tricking me into bed thing. ”
“She’s all hazel nuts,” I muttered. “Right, all that notwithstanding, her blood’s been found at your home, and we’ve not heard a peep from her for three days,” Todd said. “But three days too late and a dollar short,” I replied.
“I’ll be ready in about 20,” I said, trying to change the subject. “Yeah, come with me if you like,” I said to Todd. “Is he even safe to stay in Weatherfield? ” Todd asked.
I didn’t answer. I didn’t know. George’s mum came by later. She looked broken.
“That must have been very hard for you,” she said to me. “It was especially for George because Todd was, you know, like the son he never had,” I said. “What were you planning to do with the polish? ” she asked out of nowhere.
“Of course we should burn the flaming thing now,” I said, not really thinking. “Well, if I did it wasn’t for like a nano second because I thought George had killed him,” I said, and then I realized what I’d said. “Didn’t need two of us. He was only five minutes from Inkerman Street.
We’ve kept hold of him before,” I added, trying to make sense. “Just wants to know why I’d sat on it so long. It’s fair enough, I suppose,” I said. “Well, I’m glad that they’ve kept your mobile,” she said.
I sighed. “She’s looking after number one. Maybe at half term, if he wants to. ”
“One thing after the other from year dot,” she said.
I shook my head. “If I am traumatized, yeah, it’s cuz of you lot, all of you, constantly at me 24/7, talking about me like I’m not even in the room. ”
“All right, son,” she said, and I felt the tears coming. “Nice one.
And then there were two,” I said, wiping my eyes. “She’s still got it,” I said, forcing a smile. But I didn’t feel like smiling. I felt like the walls were closing in.
Jody was missing, her blood was in my flat, and I didn’t know who to trust. The police were watching my every move. And somewhere out there, Jody was either hiding or dead.
I just hoped I’d find her before it was too late.
