Page 86 of The Last One to See Him

‘I haven’t done anything to you,’ Mona says. ‘I’ve kept my distance and tried not to think about you. Until now.’

‘And even back then, you planted that seed about me killing Graham on purpose! And I was too scared to challenge you.’

‘Iwas scared too,’ Mona says. ‘I thought people would find out the truth. I…I just said stuff to make them think it was you, so that they’d never even consider for a second it could have been me.’

‘No one even knows you were there,’ Kate hisses. ‘You didn’t have to say anything at all.’ Crushing silence descends on them as everything unravels. ‘Did you attack Faye?’ Kate demands.

‘No!’

‘Were you trying to silence her in case she discovered the truth? She was good at that, wasn’t she? I’m sure if she kept digging, she would have found out the truth, or at least come close to it.’

‘No. That’s not possible. We’re the only two who know.’

‘Graham White’s girlfriend knew. You just said you wrote her a letter telling her he’d been seeing you. So she knew.’

‘But she never said anything to the police. I’ve thought about that a lot – and I think it’s because she didn’t want people to think she’d been in a relationship with a paedophile. That’s the only thing that makes sense.’

Kate recalls Jennifer’s comment all those years ago about knowing Kate was with Graham. At the time Kate had no idea what she was talking about but now it’s clear she was talking about Mona. She was probably disgusted that the man she loved could do that. ‘How could you let Jennifer think her partner was capable of that? You’ve ruined so many lives, Mona!’

‘Don’t you think I know that?’ Mona screams, shrinking back against the sofa.

‘Who’s Jamie Archer?’ Kate says. ‘Don’t lie to me!’

‘What? I don’t know.’

‘You’re lying.’ Kate scrolls through her phone and shows Mona a picture of Jamie.

‘He’s the man you were having an affair with. I met his wife – she told me everything. She’s convinced it was you.’ Mona’s lips form a half-smile. ‘Maybe we’re not so different after all?’

Kate slams her fist down on the sofa, right by Mona’s head. ‘Don’t you ever compare us. I’m nothing like you.’ But as soon as she’s said it, Kate realises this isn’t true. She’s been as much of a liar as Mona has.

Kate forces deep breaths. ‘So you don’t know him?’

‘How would I know him? He’s got nothing to do with me.’

‘But he might have something to do with Graham White.’

‘How? That was all years ago? This guy looks around our age – what could he have to do with it? I think you’re just desperate, Kate. Maybe you need to look closer to home.’

‘And what’s that supposed to mean?’

‘I mean that maybe you’re the link to everything here. Not Graham White.’

It’s late evening by the time Kate leaves St Albans and makes her way to Ellis’s house, with sleet pattering against her windscreen.

Ellis has given her a door key, but she rings the bell, determined to show him that she’s not settling in here, that this is a temporary arrangement.

What she’s not expecting to see when the door opens is Harper, smiling at her and letting her in, as if it’s her own house.

‘What are you doing here?’ Kate asks.

‘Ellis had an emergency and had to go out. He tried calling you but you didn’t answer. Apparently, Thomas begged him to let Dexter come over so he took me up on my offer of watching Thomas while he’s…doing whatever he needs to do. He didn’t like the idea of me being here, but I guess whatever he had to go and deal with was more important.’

Kate pulls out her phone, and sure enough there are three texts from Ellis and a voice message. ‘I must have accidentally turned my phone to silent.’ She can’t think what kind of emergency Ellis would be having; none of it sounds right.

‘This is our chance,’ Harper continues, ushering Kate inside and closing the door. ‘I can stay down here and keep an eye out in case he comes back, and you can have a root around. Start with his laptop. There’s got to be something on there.’

Kate bristles, annoyed that Harper is dictating what she should do. She brushes past her and follows the sound of the boys’ voices to the living room.

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