Todd walked into the café, still buzzing from the argument he’d just had with Sarah. She’d told him the truth, plain and simple—she’d worked out who killed Theo, and it was Gary. And she was covering for him. Todd had tried to push her on it, to get her to say more, but Sarah had shut him down completely.
“I am so sick of everyone just playing amateur detective,” she’d snapped. “Nosy, gossipy people putting two and two together and coming up with five. Just stop, okay? Let the real detectives do the job.
”
She’d walked away before he could say another word. Now he sat down with a coffee, replaying the conversation in his head. Gary and Sarah. Everyone suspected they were having an affair, but that wasn’t it at all.
It was something worse. Something way bigger. Bethany slid into the seat across from him, carrying a couple of ice creams. “You’re miles away,” she said, handing him one.
Todd took it, managing a small smile. “Just thinking about the court case. ”
“The one where they’re all arguing whether you should be there in person or on a video link? ” She raised an eyebrow.
“Has anyone actually asked you what you’d like to do? ”
He let out a short laugh. “Be nice if they did. Dad, Eva, Nan, my mum—they’re all fighting to make themselves heard.
I can’t get a word in. ”
“Well, you need to be listened to, don’t you? ” she said gently. He looked at her, grateful for the first sensible words he’d heard all day.
—
At the flat, Asha, Amy, and Nina were meant to be helping him redecorate, but the paint cans were still sealed and the music was turned up loud. Asha was dancing around with a brush that had never touched a wall, while Amy had apparently convinced herself she was sober when she clearly wasn’t. “We are all young, and we are all blessed,” Asha announced, raising her glass like she was giving a toast. “This could be the greatest time of our lives.
So let’s have a party and just live a little, yeah? ”
Nina rolled her eyes but smiled. “Just look at this place. ”
“It doesn’t look great,” Asha admitted, squinting at the half-done wall.
Amy stumbled over, tea towel thrown over her shoulder. “Does anyone want a top-up? ”
“No,” Asha said firmly. “You’re half cut.
”
“I am not. Am I? ” Amy frowned, trying to focus. “You passed out last night, girl.
Again. ”
Everyone laughed. It was chaotic, messy, and nothing about the flat actually got finished. But for a few hours, it was easy to forget the weight of everything hanging over them.
That is, until Todd’s father walked through the door. “Mr. Ellaham? ” he announced, holding up the keys to the flat.
“I’ll take it. You need a tenant? Here I am. ”
Todd stared at him.
“What do you mean, here you are? ”
“Why not? We’ve talked about this. ”
“Dad, you can’t afford a place on your own,” Todd said.
“The bills, the tax, the rent—it’s too much. ”
Roy sighed. “Well, I’ll move in. ”
Todd blinked.
“What, you two—you and me? Here? ”
“Two bedrooms, right? ” Roy said.
“You moved out, didn’t you? And history’s just history, isn’t it? I’m okay if you’re okay. ”
Todd glanced at Asha, who shrugged.
He felt a strange warmth in his chest. “Well,” he said slowly. “I’m okay. ”
Roy gave him a small, unsure smile.
“Roy’s going to be gutted if you move out, won’t he? ” Todd said. “Yeah,” Roy admitted. Then he added, softer, “I’m proud of you.
”
Todd didn’t know why that made his throat tighten. “I don’t know why. ”
—
Later that evening, the family gathered in the pub. The court case was the only thing anyone wanted to talk about.
Eva was saying he needed to be in the courtroom, that Will should see justice served with his own eyes. His father was arguing for the video link, to keep him safe from the woman who’d taken everything from him. Nan Marie was caught somewhere in the middle, wringing her hands. It was Tim, of all people, who finally spoke up.
“Will,” he said, loud enough to cut through the noise. “Hasn’t it occurred to any of you to ask him what he thinks? You’ve all got one hole in your mouth for talking and two for listening. Why don’t you shut up and make some space for the one that really matters?
”
The table went quiet. Will stood up, pulling himself to his full height. He was trembling slightly, but his voice was steady. “No screens.
No video links,” he said. “I want to look her in the eye. ”
Eva opened her mouth to protest, but Will cut her off. “It’s my choice.
I’m going to be there. ”
The silence stretched. Then his mother reached out and squeezed his hand. “You’ll always be my little boy,” she whispered.
Will’s voice cracked. “Hardly. ”
“Aw,” she said, pulling him into a hug. “Always.
”
—
The next morning, Todd found Maria in the café, alone with a cup of tea that had long gone cold. “Maria not believe your story, then? ” he asked, sliding into the seat opposite her. She didn’t look up.
“Come again? ”
“You and Sarah. ”
“Ah, do one, will you? ” she said sharply.
“Thought you two might have even ended it. Especially after last night. ”
“Well,” Todd said carefully, “you don’t know the whole story. ”
Maria finally met his eyes.
“Tell me, then. ”
Todd hesitated. “It’s nothing. ”
“It’s obviously something.
”
“It’s nothing to do with you. ”
Maria let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, you know, I saw her coming out of the builder’s yard earlier. And I’m guessing she’s not getting any work done on her flat right now.
Good luck keeping in touch. ”
He frowned. “What do you mean? ”
“Tell you what, Todd.
” She leaned in, her voice low and sharp. “You go and do exactly what you want. But I promise you that I won’t be the one that suffers. In fact, I can guarantee it.
”
She stood up, leaving him sitting there with a sinking feeling in his stomach. —
At Sarah’s house, Kit was scrolling through a dating app on his phone when he saw a familiar face. “Someone likes your profile,” he muttered to himself. “Let’s see if you’re worth being burnt for.
”
He swiped, and then nearly dropped his phone. There she was. Sarah. “No way.
You’ve got to be kidding me. ”
He stared at the screen, his thumb hovering over the button. She was out there, making a profile, while their whole world was falling apart. Who was she doing this for?
Why now? He stood up, grabbed his keys, and left without a word to anyone. —
Sarah answered her phone on the second ring. “Hey,” she said, her voice soft.
“Is it safe to talk? ”
“Yeah,” Kit said. “Are you okay? ”
There was a pause.
“I’m not doing too good, Kit. ”
“Hey, still there? ” he asked. “Yeah.
” She sniffed. “I wish I could see you. Just to talk. Talk to you properly.
”
“Hey. ” He paused, hearing the front door creak downstairs. “Listen, Kit’s not here—he’ll be back in two minutes. I’m just trying to make it up to him.
I found out he’s planning to propose, and I accidentally ruined the surprise. Like I didn’t feel like the worst girlfriend in the world already. Anyway,” she went on, “did you want him? ”
“No,” Kit said quietly.
“It’s you I want to talk to. You alone. ”
“That sounds ominous. ”
“It is.
”
He took a breath, then pressed the phone tighter to his ear. “I’ve worked out who killed Theo,” he said. “Gary. And you’re covering for him.
”
The silence on the other end was so long he thought she’d hung up. Then Sarah spoke, and her voice was a whisper. “I don’t even know where you’re getting this from. But everyone’s suspecting us of having an affair.
Please, can we just—when actually, there is something way bigger—“
“Will you just stop? ” Kit snapped. “I’m so sick of everyone playing amateur detective. Nosy, gossipy people putting two and two together and coming up with five.
Like it’s not bad enough we’ve not learned from the past—with Roy and whoever else sending people to prison for something they did not do. So please, Todd, just stop. Let the real detectives do the job. ”
He heard her breath catch.
“Sorry,” she said, her voice breaking. “Just leave me alone. ”
The line went dead. Kit stared at his phone, the truth he’d uncovered burning in his chest.
He knew what Sarah was hiding. And now he had to decide what to do about it—before Gary found out he knew.
