Page 7 of Her Deadly Promise

‘It’s okay, take your time.’ Gina and Wyre sat at the table of the small kitchen. If Gina held her left hand out, she could do the washing-up if she wanted. They waited for the woman to blow her nose and wipe her eyes. ‘How well do you know Billie Reeves?’

She shrugged as Wyre flicked to a fresh page in her notebook. ‘Not well. I say hello to her if I see her coming or going. My great-granddaughter has played with Kayden a couple of times. I don’t suppose she’d see an old biddy like me as friend material. She was pallier with the lady next door, the one who lives between us. Her name is Meera, and she has a little boy who goes to the same school as Kayden. Those boys are always playing together in Meera’s front or back garden.’

‘Do you know if Billie had a partner?’

Mrs Pearlman scrunched her nose in thought. ‘She lives alone. There is a man that comes and stays sometimes but…’

Gina remained silent, hoping that Mrs Pearlman would continue.

‘I’ve seen a couple of other men too.’

‘Others?’

She nodded. ‘Yes, maybe they are friends, or it’s possible she’s having work done on the house. Maybe they’re relatives.’

‘Can you describe any of her visitors?’

Mrs Pearlman shook her head. ‘No, but I can describe the man who stays as he said hello to me a couple of weeks back. It was early one morning while I was walking Digger, so he must stay the night. He’s tall, must be close on six feet. Blond or light-brown hair, a full head of it, in fact. I’d say he was about thirty at the most. Clean-shaven and such a handsome young man. He has a little scar under his left eye. I remember that as I kept trying not to look at it.’

‘Do you know his name?’

‘No, I’m afraid not. As I say, Billie was friends with Meera. I’m sure she would have spoken to her about the new man in her life.’ Mrs Pearlman began lifting and returning the lid to the sugar bowl.

‘Did you speak to him?’

‘Yes, I said, “Good morning” and he smiled and said the same back. He commented on the beautiful weather, then he dragged Billie’s bin through the alleyway. He had a local accent, if that’s any help. I wonder if he knows yet.’ She paused. ‘I think I heard them arguing when I was walking past the house.’

‘Did you hear what was being said?’

‘No, but it was definitely last week, and I heard raised voices. It was a school day; I remember that much. I thought it was good that Kayden wasn’t there to hear it.’

Gina waited for Wyre to catch up with the notes. ‘What time did you walk your dog today?’

‘Oh, I don’t know. Time is irrelevant to me. I’ve been retired for years. Pete,’ she shouted. ‘What time did I take Digger out?’ Gina wondered if the man had heard her calling over the loud television.

‘Did you shout?’ The old man walked in, using a stick for support.

‘Yes, when did I take Digger for a walk this afternoon?’

The man checked on the boy and pulled the door to. ‘It was about half three, love, maybe a few minutes later.’

‘That was it. The kids had finished school, in fact, I think they got home earlier than usual today. Anyway, they were playing in Meera’s front garden. When I got back, Kayden was on his own, sitting on the kerb. I suppose that was about fifteen minutes later, so before four. I have a regular walk where I head to the high street, go for a walk through the church grounds and then walk back. It takes about that long.’

‘Did you see anyone suspicious hanging around?’

‘No, only the boys were playing and there was no one hanging around at all.’

Gina leaned forward and wiped her glistening nose, the heat becoming unbearable. She wished that Mrs Pearlman would open the back door. ‘How about the back of the houses?’

‘Billie’s visitors tend to use the back, but I didn’t hear anyone come or go today. I don’t tend to be looking out for anyone though. Our gate is always locked. That path running along the back of the houses is a bit creepy, so we like to keep people out, don’t we, Pete?’

He nodded. ‘Yes, love. That’s why you made me put the barbed wire along the top of the fence. Kids like to cause trouble back there. They graffiti our fences and drink.’

Gina undid the top button of her shirt. She glanced out of the window and noticed the back garden was in the shade. ‘May we look around the back?’ Treading through Billie’s garden was a no-no but she could access the path that led to it from the Pearlmans’ place and that would save her and Wyre walking all the way to the end of the terrace.

‘Of course.’ Mrs Pearlman stood and grabbed a bunch of keys. ‘Follow me.’ She led them down a crooked path, lifting the cord washing line as they went, and she unlocked the back gate. ‘There is something you should both know, and I didn’t want to alarm my husband with it as he can be a bit old-fashioned.’ As the gate unlocked, Gina watched the officers and crime scene investigators working away. The woman grabbed Gina’s arm. ‘I think that Billie had more than one boyfriend. I don’t like to tell my husband things like that, but fair play to her. She’s young and having fun.’

‘What makes you say that?’

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