Page 48 of The Serial Killer's Sister
‘Yes and no. It wasn’t a lie Itoldhim. The lie he’s referring to is the one we agreed on together.’ I look DI Walker in the eye and see confusion. Without telling him everything right here and now, it’s difficult to explain. ‘It was a secret between the two of us, something we swore we’d never talk of again, never utter to anyone else.’
‘I don’t understand,’ DI Walker says. ‘If that’s the case, why ishetrying to exposeyounow? If it’s something you both did – agreed to keep quiet, or whatever. I don’t get it. What’s this really all about, Anna?’
‘It’s complicated,’ I say, avoiding his gaze. I swivel my wedding ring around and around on my finger, lost in the past. DI Walker slaps his hand down over mine.
‘You’ve known all along,’ he says, his face contorted. ‘Wasted police time. The significance of today’s date – the thirteenth of May – all of it – you knew the entire time.’ The weight of his anger presses down on me. I feel like a child again.
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know what to do. The police haven’t exactly made for trustworthy allies in my past—’
‘Oh, blaming the police, that’s rich. Anything to prevent you taking responsibility for your actions – yourchoices.’
‘I’m sorry, Detective Walker. This hasn’t exactly been easy.’ My voice is thick with threatening tears.
‘No. And informing five sets of family members about the brutal murders of their loved ones wasn’t easy, either.’
My face burns, and I rake my fingers through my hair. Fine, brown strands tangle between them and I pick at them, unable to bring my gaze up to meet DI Walker’s.
‘I’ll take you there.’ My words are quiet, muttered.
‘Yes, damn right you will.’ He stands, towering above me. He takes hold of my upper arm and pulls me up. ‘You’re lucky I’m not arresting you.’
I feel a flash of annoyance. ‘Well, you need me, don’t you. Arresting me would be counterproductive.’
His fingers tighten around the top of my arm. ‘When this is over, Anna, you will be hauled into the station. You do know that, right? Just because you’ve finally decided to help, doesn’t let you off the hook.’
‘No worries,Detective Inspector Walker,’ I say, with as much contempt as I dare. ‘I don’t expect to be alive long enough for you to arrest me.’
His shoulders slump slightly – a sign of guilt for his harsh reaction, maybe? I’m sure that won’t last. Once he gets his man, he won’t care a jot about me.
‘Let’s go,’ he says, firmly.
I glare at him. ‘I need to change into something warmer first,’ I say, pulling away from his grip. He nods, but stands at the foot of the stairs as though he doesn’t trust me not to make a run for it.
‘Hurry up.’
Upstairs, I go into the bathroom and call Serena, but it goes to voicemail. I leave a brief message telling her how much I value her friendship, and that there are things I need to tell her, so could she call back ASAP. I tap out a similar text on WhatsApp too, for good measure. I need her to know that I at least attempted to tell her the truth in the end. I swap my joggers for jeans and grab my favourite FatFace jumper, pulling it over my head as I go back downstairs. DI Walker stares at me, an expression on his face I can’t read. I move around him to reach my boots.
‘Ready,’ I say as I take my coat from the hook.
‘Your car keys?’
I frown. ‘I assumed you’d be driving?’
‘We’ll take both cars – go in convoy. I’ll follow close behind, but not too close. Don’t want to frighten Henry off.’
‘But hewantedme to be with the police. That’s the point of him sending you the letter. Right?’
‘And I will be there, just hanging back. In case. If we only have the one vehicle, we’ve only one means of escape if things turn …’ He looks up, as if trying to pluck the right word from the air.
‘Nasty,’ I finish for him. ‘Yes. I get it. We will have backup too, though?’
‘Once I have all the details, and I’ve assessed the situation, everything will be set in motion. The team and support will be waiting for me to give them the go-ahead to approach. Trust me, Anna – they’ll be close by. We’ve been after this evil fucker for ages.’ DI Walker turns to walk out the door. I quickly check my mobile. The WhatsApp mark remains stubbornly solitary and grey beside Serena’s message. I haven’t got time to wait for a response anyway, so I pocket it and snatch my keys from the cracked dish.
I hesitate at the door. I take my phone out again and forward the same message to Ross, but add an extra sentence. If I don’t return from the location Henry is sending me to, I want to know that I’ve left this world with as few regrets as possible.
Chapter 34
MAY
