Page 18 of The Last One to See Him

All eyes are on Kate, and surely she will cave. Seconds tick by.

‘Please, Kate,’ Dexter adds.

‘Okay,’ Kate finally says. I guess it’s fine if Thomas’s dad doesn’t mind.’

Harper hugs her, a gesture that turns her body cold. ‘Send me your address. And I’ll see you then if I don’t catch you at school.’

When Harper closes the door, Dexter rushes upstairs. She’ll speak to him later and make sure he had a nice time. They’re going to be seeing a lot of Harper and Thomas, so she wants to make sure that Dexter will be happy about that. Despite everything she needs to do, she won’t risk her son’s happiness and wellbeing; if he and Thomas don’t bond then Harper will find other ways to get to Kate. She rushes to the window in the living room and watches Kate drive off.

Things have been set in motion now, and there’s no turning back.

EIGHT

FRIDAY 24 JANUARY

Kate finishes speaking and waits for Rowan to say something. She’s just told him about being in Harper’s house, under the woman’s scrutinising gaze, surrounded by photos of Jamie. And somehow Kate has been forced to agree to see her again this afternoon.

Rowan’s hands form a steeple in front of his chin. ‘It doesn’t sound like you to give in to anyone, if you don’t mind me saying so. From what I’ve learned of you over the years – you don’t let people control you.’

‘I was sent some flowers,’ Kate says. ‘Dead lilies in a box. Covered in a sticky black substance – I don’t know what it was.’

‘I see. That’s troubling. And you think it was this woman who sent them?’

‘I don’t know, but when I was at her house she had some beautiful white lilies in a vase on her mantelpiece. And I know what you’re about to say. Lilies are often sent to people when someone dies. But…it had to have been Harper who sent me those flowers. She’s letting me know that she’s aware I spent the night with her husband.’

Rowan contemplates her words. ‘It’s possible. Did she make you feel angry?’

Kate’s head jolts up. She should have known Rowan would refer to her anger issues. ‘No. Not angry. Of course not – I feel sorry for her. Her husband has died.’

‘Then what did you feel?’

Rowan’s pushing her and Kate can feel anger bubbling. She must keep it at bay. Especially here with Rowan. ‘I just felt…anxious, I suppose. Being in her house like that only days after I’ve slept with her husband. And that’s the other thing – according to her they were very much together.’

‘So this man lied to you.’

‘Yes, I suppose. Or she’s lying.’

‘I can totally understand why this troubles you,’ Rowan says. ‘It must feel very unnerving, and perhaps she’s having trouble accepting that her marriage is over if she’s still got wedding photos up. But I hope you’ll trust me when I say that stranger coincidences have happened.’ He pauses. ‘In a sense, everyone’s connected in some way, through the people we know. So coincidences are only to be expected.’

‘If she’s lying about them being together then that’s disturbing,’ Kate says. ‘What does she want with me?’

‘Kate, the dead flowers aren’t evidence that she knows you spent the night with her husband. I think this is a problem you’re creating that hasn’t even happened yet. That’s what anxiety does.’

Kate knows this – but she also trusts her instinct. Rowan will never understand that, though.

‘But if you’re worried, you could lie low for a while. Let the dust settle. You don’t have to have anything to do with this woman if you don’t want to – you could cancel the arrangement for this afternoon.’

‘I’ll work it out,’ Kate says. ‘I always do.’

Rowan nods. ‘It does trouble me that you think this woman wants to harm you. Even if she did send those flowers, she could just be tormenting you. You haven’t said how you know she wants to hurt you.’

Kate doesn’t answer.Because Harper knows I slept with Jamie – she must do. And if she’s the one who killed him then there’s a chance she could do the same to me.

‘And I’m worried,’ Rowan continues, ‘that even if you believe this, you’re still inviting her into your home.’

Kate can’t tell Rowan that she’s doing this to keep Harper close, so she can find out what happened to Jamie.‘The truth is, I don’t know which one of them lied to me. Harper or Jamie? There were wedding photos in her house, and wouldn’t her son have said something if they were divorced?’And Jamie had been so convincing. ‘And I went to her house for Thomas’s sake,’ Kate explains. ‘He seems to really like her son, and I’m sure she wouldn’t do anything when her son is there. The boys really get on.’

Frown lines crease Rowan’s forehead, like tracks in sand. ‘I’m just not sure how healthy this is.’

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