Page 60 of The Vow
‘So you would recognise it if someone tried it on you? Even though it begins in ways so subtle they’re barely detectable?’
‘I think I would.’ When it comes to relationships, at the first sign of any sociopathic tendencies, I walk away. And usually I spot them a mile off. ‘But I take your point.’
‘You weren’t aware of Mr Roche behaving in this way towards you?’
I frown. ‘I don’t think so. I often felt he had the upper hand – but that was because of the situation. My understanding of emotional abuse is that for all kinds of reasons, some people are more susceptible than others.’
Until now there’s been a kind of mutual respect. But thistime, as DI Lacey speaks, I know I have every reason to be very worried. ‘If you require a solicitor, Ms Rose, now might be that time.’
Suddenly I’m rigid, playing for time as he glances at PC Page. ‘We need to question you about the murder of Kimberley Preston. The matter of the herbal potion designed to make her fall out of love with her boyfriend. The boyfriend you wanted for yourself. Except at the last minute, you added a substance that killed her.’
It’s as though every last drop of blood has drained out of me, leaving me lightheaded. ‘I … I’d like to call Bill Merton.’ Even my voice sounds different. ‘I used to work for him. He’s a partner at Dentons – in their Cobham branch.’ Bill’s hardcore, used to defending serious criminals. Once upon a time, he and I had a brief dalliance, one I’ve no wish to resurrect, but right now, he’s my best hope.
Clearly his reputation precedes him. ‘You haven’t been arrested, Ms Rose.’ DI Lacey looks surprised.
Folding my arms, I stand my ground. ‘I have the right.’
‘I’ll see to it.’ Glancing at the DI, PC Page gets up and heads for the door, leaving me alone with him.
‘As I told Ms Reid, the truth always comes out.’ Speaking quietly, he sits back, his eyes resting on my face, as if waiting for me to speak.
I refuse to be drawn. Then I’m thinking of the anonymous letter again – how the police now have both Amy and me. Is this what the writer of the letter wanted? Staring back at DI Lacey, we’re adversaries, our accounts conflicting; suspended in the air between us, the truth.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Two hours pass before Bill arrives, the small room growing stuffier with each passing minute, DI Lacey long replaced by a junior officer. My eyes scan my surroundings, observe every mark on the wall, imagine the conversations that have taken place here. ‘Could I have a glass of water?’
When he goes out, I lean forward, resting my head in my hands. Amy’s cracked. How else could they know about the potion Kimberley took? But I know she’ll have told them her version of events, saying whatever it takes to save her own neck, not caring for a second what will happen to me.
A wave of rage floods over me as I think how her life has been. No-one’s ever disowned Amy, or washed their hands of her. Compared to what I’ve been through, she got off scot-free. If I’m not careful, it will happen again. I’m the only person who can make sure justice is served. Amy deserves to suffer.
When Bill eventually walks in, he looks fraught. ‘Sorry I couldn’t get here earlier. I got caught in terrible traffic. What’s going on?’
As he sits down, I start talking. ‘It’s unbelievable, Bill. It’s todo with something that happened twenty-three years ago. It’s a long story. I was at my friend’s grandmother’s house in the summer holidays, with her older sister. My friend’s name was Emily. She changed it to Amy subsequently, for reasons which become apparent.’ I go on, telling him what happened and how Emily and I played this prank which went horribly wrong. ‘We were kids, Bill. Emily was hopelessly jealous of her sister. Kimberley was beautiful and had everything Emily wanted – especially her boyfriend. We cooked up an idea to create a love potion, so that Kimberley’s boyfriend might fancy Emily. Childhood games. Her gran had all these bottles and a book of recipes – she dabbled as a herbalist. We cooked up something to make Kimberley fall out of love with her boyfriend. It was supposed to be completely harmless, more of a joke rather than anything serious. But at the last minute, Emily added something extra when my back was turned. It had hemlock in it, I think. Possibly digitalis, too. It killed Kimberley. Bill, it was the most terrible time.’ I break off, as a look of shock crosses Bill’s face. Shaking my head, remembering the events that day, I go on. ‘The police have been talking to Emily about it – or Amy as she is now. She’s told them this cock and bull story about how it was me who added the poison. I’m really worried they believe her.’ Pausing for a moment, I stare at Bill – it’s imperative he believes me. ‘She’s already in a lot of trouble. She was recently charged with the murder of a man.’ I hesitate again, knowing how implausible this is going to sound. ‘The man’s name is Matthew Roche. She was living with him. They were about to get married.’ I look at Bill. ‘The thing is … You couldn’t make this up, Bill. A few months ago, I met Matt in a bar. He told me his relationship with Amy was over and we started seeing each other. The night he disappeared, he was about to tell her he was leaving her – for me.’
Bill listens without saying a word, a look on his face I can’t read. None of this is what I wanted. I never set out to reveal what Amy did all those years ago. But I’m left with no choice but to defend my position. Amy is guilty, weak, selfish. The police should be able to see that now. But for all their razor-sharp insight and knowledge of the criminal profile, they’ve clearly missed something. I go on. ‘I know. What are the chances. Even to me, it sounds implausible. But the problem is, what if they believe her?’ My voice drops to a whisper as I clutch his arm. ‘I didn’t do it, Bill. Even though I’ve no way of proving it. You have to believe me.’
‘Of course I do.’ His face is grim. ‘We’ll see what they have to say. If you’re sure there’s nothing else I should know, let’s get this started.’
I shake my head. ‘Thanks for coming.’ I’m genuinely grateful, my words heartfelt but I’m nervous. Not only is he my best hope, he’s my only hope. If Bill can’t help me, then no-one can.
*
In all the years as a solicitor, for the first time I’m on the other side, with someone else acting on my behalf. When PC Page and DI Lacey return, Bill is straight onto it.
‘I’d like to know exactly why you’re holding my client.’ Bill speaks with an authority that comes from years of experience, that so many solicitors lack.
‘Then let us tell you.’ The DI is unruffled. ‘In 1996, a teenage girl tragically died. At first, her death was thought to be an accident. But a post-mortem revealed she’d ingested enough digitalis and hemlock to cause respiratory and cardiac arrest. Her grandmother was a herbalist and had a collection of dried herbs and extracts, which she kept in labelled jars. There was,however, one jar that was kept separately. A jar that someone found and that day, deliberately added to her drink, so that she ingested enough poison to kill her.’
‘What does this have to do with my client?’ Bill’s voice is calm.
‘The teenager’s name was Kimberley Preston. She had a sister, Emily, who was close friends with Ms Rose. In fact, it’s fair to say you were very close, weren’t you, Ms Rose?’
‘You don’t have to answer that.’ Bill interrupts. ‘Go on.’
‘Ms Rose had a crush on Kimberley’s boyfriend, Charlie. Between them, Ms Rose and Emily Preston cooked up a herbal concoction to make Kimberley fall out of love with Charlie. It was concocted from fairly benign substances – but at the last minute, somebody added something else, primarily the digitalis and hemlock that killed Kimberley. According to our witness, that was you, Ms Rose.’
It’s what I’d known Amy would tell them. By getting in first, she’s ahead of me, her story already lodged in their minds. Bill’s quiet for a moment. ‘And apart from this so-called witness, what proof do you have of this?’
