Page 59 of The Last One to See Him

Relief surges through Kate’s body. ‘I keep wondering if there’s a connection with Graham White. It just seems too much of a coincidence that I’m linked to two dead bodies.’ Especially when that note on her windscreen mentioned both men.

‘That thought crossed my mind too,’ Faye says. ‘So I looked into it, but I can’t find any hint of a link between the two men. I’ll continue digging, though.’ She pauses. ‘But there’s something about Harper Nolan I can’t trust. I can’t put my finger on it – call it instinct – but I’ll find out what it is. And in the meantime, I find it hard to believe you would have killed this man – Jamie. I’ve researched you. You live a quiet life with your son and you work as a vet, caring for animals. Now I know that doesn’t mean anything, but the vibe you give off doesn’t scream murderer to me. You met Jamie Archer that night – there’s no record anywhere of you having known him before. So I ask myself – why would you suddenly kill him after sleeping with him? What would your motive be? And there’s always motive. Harper, on the other hand, had plenty – a wronged wife. Or girlfriend. So let’s say they were still together. She finds out you’ve slept with Jamie, waits until you leave then confronts him. It gets messy. That’s a much more likely scenario. I’m keeping an open mind, though. Not saying I trustyouyet. But, when it comes down to it, we all have to pick a side, don’t we? Run with it until we’re proved wrong.’

‘You won’t be proved wrong,’ Kate says. ‘And thank you for your trust.’

As she pulls up to her house, Kate cuts the engine and stays in the car. Her conversation with Faye has unsettled her; she wants to believe that the podcaster is on her side, but if Kate can’t even trust the people closest to her, then how can she trust this stranger? Especially one with a professional agenda.

Kate still hasn’t heard from the one person who might have some answers, so she tries calling again, but as always it goes straight to voicemail. Hanging up, Kate throws her phone on the passenger seat and starts the car. Ellis can stay with Thomas for a bit longer – there’s something Kate needs to do.

She knocks on Harper’s door and waits. It’s time to put an end to this campaign of Harper’s. And whatever happens will be caught on the cameras Ellis hid. Seconds pass and nothing happens. Harper’s car isn’t anywhere on the road, but there are lights on in the living room. ‘Where are you?’ she whispers.

She’s about to turn away, when the door eases open and Dex is standing there, a confused frown on his face.

‘I thought you were Mum,’ he says.

‘Hi Dex. Do you know where she is?’

He shrugs. ‘No. She just had to go out. A few hours ago.’

Kate peers into the house. ‘And who’s with you?’

‘No one.’

Kate frowns. ‘No one? But you can’t be on your own.’

Dex shrugs. ‘I wasn’t. The babysitter was here. But then she said she had to go. It was only a few minutes ago.’

‘In that case, I think I should come in and stay with you. Just until your mum gets home.’

He shrugs again. ‘Okay. Can Thomas come?’

‘He’s with his dad, but maybe another time.’ Kate steps into the house, fully aware that this could be a trap of some kind. She wants to question Dex more, but he’s a child and no matter what, she won’t involve him in this. It’s between her and Harper.

‘Does your mum know that the babysitter left?’

‘No. Phoebe just rushed off and said it was a family emergency. I told her I’m ten and I’ll be fine until Mum gets back.’

‘What were you up to?’ Kate asks, unzipping her coat.

‘Just watching TV.’

‘Well, how about you carry on and I’ll just get myself some water. That okay?’

‘Yeah,’ Dex says. ‘I really wish Thomas could come, though.’

‘I know,’ Kate says.

While Dexter goes back to his TV programme, Kate roots through the kitchen cupboards until she finds a glass – even though she has no intention of drinking anything. Then she searches through the drawers. She’s sure she won’t find anything, but she’ll never again get this opportunity to be alone in Harper’s house.

‘What the hell are you doing?’

Kate spins around to find Harper standing in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest.

‘Dex was alone. I came in to stay with him until you got back. The babysitter walked out and just left him here.’

Harper rushes to the living room, calling for Dex, and from the kitchen Kate listens.

‘Dexter? Did Phoebe just leave?’

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