The Worst Lie

by Shauna Bickley

  Finally, an answer. It might not be the whole truth, but those words sounded sincere.

  ‘It must be close to impossible to deal with the conclusion that your closest friend has been murdered.’ Lexie chose her words carefully. The official report didn’t reach that conclusion, and there were reasons why Madelaine might have killed herself, but she didn’t want to alienate Eden at this point. Mostly, she believed that Eden could well be right, even if Lexie didn’t agree with her reasoning. ‘But it must be equally as hard to believe that one of your other friends could have committed that crime. Why are you so sure it was one of the group?’

  ‘I wasn’t, at first.’ Eden massaged her temples and then started walking along the dirt track around the top of the hill. ‘It’s not the thing you want to believe of people you trust, and the people here were at the very bottom of my list. We were Madelaine’s closest friends, but not the only people she knew. I talked to Spike about the people on the film set. Surprisingly, Madelaine didn’t have many other close friends. She was popular with everyone and joined them on evenings out, but Spike wasn’t aware of anyone else she confided in. He said there weren’t any arguments or ill-feelings among any of the cast. I talked with Madelaine’s co-star and he confirmed that. Madelaine had finished filming her scenes but the rest of the cast were still here finishing up the beginning of the week she died.’

  ‘What about the family of the girl killed in the hit and run?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Other people Madelaine or Gareth knew?’

  ‘There was a guy Gareth worked with at the time. He and his partner occasionally went out with them.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘No.’ Eden sighed loudly, annoyed that her research skills were being called into question. ‘I checked. They were overseas on holiday at the time.’

  The hill wasn’t that broad and they were now back overlooking the long barrow. Once again, Eden massaged her temples. Perhaps the effect of the painkillers hadn’t yet kicked in. She spoke again.

  ‘Believe me, I don’t want to think that any of my friends could murder anyone, let alone Madelaine, but I’ve already checked everyone else. Either there wasn’t a motive, or they weren’t around at the time.’

  Below them, the group were coming out of the long barrow. Eden stared at them for a moment before striding down the hill to join them.

  Pale clouds drifted across the sky. The forecast had mentioned the possibility of a storm later, but at the moment it was a beautiful morning. Too lovely for the dark thoughts that crowded Lexie’s head.

  Eden had told her about the group dynamics while they were at university and later, but not about the period immediately before Madelaine’s death.

  In contrast, Helen had talked about the weekend and the visit to Little Stillford. She’d been upset, and the information had come in snatches. While Madelaine had been happy at the beginning of the weekend, something or someone had upset her and she’d become distraught. After leaving the group and driving away, she’d been involved in an accident. What wasn’t clear was whether she had also been the hit and run driver. Gareth said he’d broken up with her the day before she died.

  Lexie considered it unlikely that amount of pills and alcohol had been ingested by accident. There were two reasons why Madelaine might have killed herself, but Eden was certain it was murder. Goose bumps rose on Lexie’s arms and she shivered at the thought of one of her friends being considered a murderer.

  Her glance roamed over the group below. She and Nathan were here because of their friendship with Gareth and Helen, and Hunter and Xena hadn’t been part of the original group. That left the people who had known Madelaine – Helen, Gareth, Mitch, Renelle, Spike, Laurence and Eden. If Eden’s reason for organising the weekend was true then she didn’t have anything to do with Madelaine’s death, but Lexie wasn’t discounting anyone yet.

  Lexie considered Helen, her calm, dignified friend, who’d helped her so much when she and Nathan had first moved to Nettleford. Gareth was talking to some of the others and even from where she stood Lexie could make out the loving expression on Helen’s face as she looked at him. Lexie couldn’t believe that Helen would kill someone, but Helen loved Gareth. Could that depth of love drive her to murder?

  Then there was Gareth. The problem with finding out something about a person was the inability to go back to the previous impression of them. Their friend, the small business owner, father and husband she knew had dated a gorgeous actress, but what reason did he have to kill her?

  As Mitch sauntered up to Renelle, she reached out to take his hand. Up close, a few flecks of grey showed around his temples, but from this distance all that was apparent was dark hair tending to a slight wave. He was tall and lean, talked easily to people and Lexie thought he would see beyond any façade a person might put up. From what she’d been told, he stood up for Renelle when Spike poked fun at her. His actions as a gallant, protective knight for Renelle would have annoyed Eden when they went out together, but none of that gave him any reason for murdering Madelaine. Wanting to murder Spike perhaps, but not Madelaine. He and Gareth had shared a flat together and were still friends but she couldn’t imagine Mitch murdering someone for a friend, and that brought her back to a lack of motive for Gareth wanting Madelaine dead.

  What about Renelle? She and Madelaine had been friends, and Madelaine had stood up for her against Eden and Spike. She’d also done more than anyone else to find Renelle an alternative degree course.

  Lexie turned her attention to Spike. While she had only just met him, Lexie liked Spike. He was witty and charismatic with a seemingly unending supply of hilarious tales to tell. As long as you weren’t the object of his sharp, mocking humour he would be great company. From what she’d heard, Spike and Madelaine had got on well. She had the potential and skill to be an outstanding actress, although possibly a little trusting and not an intellectual, giving Spike no reason to use his sarcasm on her. The Legacy of Time had been an enormous success and won awards, with huge admiration for Madelaine’s role. There was no reason to believe they wouldn’t have made more films together. Lexie couldn’t think of any reason for Spike killing Madelaine.

  Laurence was a chameleon. At the moment he had his arm around Xena and from the group’s shout of laughter she guessed he’d been telling a funny anecdote. He never really stood out from the others. Lexie had worked with several people like him. They kept their opinions to themselves and generally went with the group consensus, often because they didn’t have a strong opinion on the subject themselves, sometimes because they wanted to be a part of the group and so didn’t challenge the status quo, and for the few, because they had something to hide. Which was it for Laurence?

  Lexie headed down the hill as everyone started the trek back to the cars. How was it possible the only person with the slightest reason for wanting Madelaine out of the way was her good friend Helen? Was Eden right to think that Madelaine had been murdered, or was it purely driven by a guilty conscience that she hadn’t been there when her friend needed her?

  That afternoon Gareth, Nathan and Mitch went to a nearby driving range for some male-bonding time, as Lexie called it. Laurence and Xena had gone off for a drive and Lexie noted Eden and Spike wandering towards the stone circles. An ideal time to have a quiet talk with Renelle.

  The best place to hang out to catch Renelle, making it appear like chance, was the hotel garden. Lexie found a seat in the shade of an ancient oak tree, from which she could see the hotel entrance and car park. While she waited, she pulled out her phone and checked through her Twitter feed. What on earth had she done before the internet and social media? After that she turned to the online newspapers to see what had been happening in the world.

  ‘Hi, Lexie. Hope I’m not interrupting you,’ called out Renelle.

  The greeting startled Lexie and she dropped the phone on her lap. So much for assuming she was alert and would notice everything that went on.

  ‘Not at all. I’m enjoy
ing the freedom from the demands of our daughters, and doing nothing more than flicking through some websites.’

  ‘Oh good. I wanted to have a chat with you.’

  Excellent. Lexie popped her phone into her pocket and gestured in the direction of the stone circles. ‘Shall we go for a stroll?’

  As they walked through the trees, the air was thick and humid, the atmosphere building to a storm and the low canopy of branches accentuating the heaviness.

  ‘Do you know what’s wrong with Helen?’ Renelle asked. ‘Are things okay between her and Gareth?’

  So she wasn’t the only one who’d noted the change. Helen had intimated that Renelle was a friend, and Renelle’s voice and expression showed concern so Lexie was relieved to discuss her worries with someone else.

  ‘I’m pretty sure there aren’t any problems in their relationship but Helen definitely hasn’t been herself lately.’ Lexie debated whether to mention Eden. Being aware of the antipathy between Renelle and Eden, she didn’t want to get side-tracked into any tirades about ancient arguments, but Helen’s anxiety had started with Eden’s phone call. She mentally flipped a coin but didn’t stop to check which side it had come down on before talking.

  ‘I don’t know much about the relationships between everyone in the group, but Helen became anxious after hearing from Eden.’

  ‘That’s hardly surprising as anything to do with Eden is stressful.’ Renelle gave a sigh. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. We’ve all known each other for a long time and there are certain dynamics that aren’t healthy. Eden and I were flatmates for a while but it had its problems.’

  Lexie guessed she knew some of those already.

  ‘I’m relieved you don’t think the stress is about her and Gareth,’ said Renelle. ‘I haven’t had much chance to talk to them but I gained the same impression.’

  ‘I’m not sure how to help her.’

  ‘I think you’re being a good friend, and Helen will need that now more than ever.’

  Lexie would’ve preferred a more specific suggestion.

  ‘Did Helen invite Eden to stay with them?’ asked Renelle.

  ‘Not really. She got a bit flustered hearing from Eden unexpectedly and it went from there.’

  ‘And Eden generally gets what she wants. Unfortunately, it means that Helen’s anxiety is most likely caused by us.’

  ‘I’m not sure I understand.’

  As they approached the clearing, Renelle came to a halt and stared towards the stone circles. She wore her hair loose today and it flowed around her face, hiding her expression.

  ‘Relationships are such complex things. At the moment you believe you have someone figured out they do something that’s beyond belief.’

  Renelle appeared to be thinking out loud and not expecting an answer, but who was the object of her thoughts? Helen or Eden? Or someone else entirely? Overall she felt more at ease with Renelle than Eden, but the woman was speaking in riddles.

  They walked through the outer circle until Renelle stopped at the horizontal stone. ‘It’s strange being back here. I remember Madelaine lying on this stone showing us how they’d filmed that final scene in The Legacy of Time. She even got me into the editing suite one day and I saw a few of the scenes while they were still working on it, including that final one they filmed here. She looked exactly the same in death, same dress, same position.’

  ‘I saw the film years ago when it first came out, and I watched it again recently after finding out that Helen and Gareth knew Madelaine. It’s so sad when you think of all that lost potential, a life that could have been.’

  Renelle’s face twisted and Lexie caught her breath. She’d probably said the wrong thing.

  ‘Sorry, you were close friends. I spoke without thinking and didn’t mean to upset you.’

  ‘There’s no need to apologise, you didn’t upset me. And you’re right in a way, all those parallel existences. How things might have gone if we’d made different decisions.’ Renelle gazed at the large, grey sarsen stone in much the way people do when standing before a grave, her arms folded across her chest. ‘Madelaine had huge talent and worked so hard. I was always sure she’d be famous and I guess she is. People forget what happened and remember what’s left. Dying young bequeaths an innocent immortality.’

  Before Lexie could come up with an answer to Renelle’s observation, she gestured in the direction of the village. ‘I could do with a coffee.’

  They’d just reached the edge of the trees when Eden appeared, also walking towards the village but at a different angle.

  She nodded and the three of them fell into step. Lexie was acutely aware of a change in mood. Over the weekend, Eden had been conciliatory around Renelle, much to Lexie’s relief, given what Helen had said about her previous antagonism. Renelle for her part had shown surprise, and while not relaxed around Spike and Eden, had appeared to enjoy the rest of the group’s company.

  ‘We’re going to get coffee.’ Lexie hoped she’d mistaken the sudden air of frost that emanated from Eden and the stiffness in Renelle.

  ‘I’m just out for a stroll,’ replied Eden.

  As soon as they reached the village Eden gave an abrupt wave of her hand and turned away from them.

  Lexie was about to comment, but Renelle’s pursed lips and sombre expression stopped her.

  10

  Lexie Wyatt

  Little Stillford, Wiltshire

  2018

  By the time the group met that evening for dinner, the pale, innocuous clouds of the morning had been replaced by darker storm clouds. Eden had booked a table at the village restaurant closest to the woods. When they arrived, Lexie guessed it was the restaurant the group had visited that last evening with Madelaine. If so, then Eden was certainly stirring up emotions.

  Over dinner they talked at length, or that’s how it felt to Lexie, about rugby and the games Gareth and Laurence had played. University was the glue that bound this group together, but it also evoked bad memories so they were careful in what they said and skirted around certain subjects.

  On reflection, Lexie was irritated that she hadn’t asked Renelle more questions during their conversation. If Eden’s suspicion that Madelaine had been murdered was right, then she ought to use this opportunity to talk to the others about Madelaine and find out more. She ate most of her bruschetta entrée without noticing it while she pondered the best way to rectify this mistake.

  The children weren’t keen on creamy pasta dishes and Lexie had taken the opportunity to order Shrimp and Broccoli Alfredo as her main dish. As she ate she pushed away the annoying thoughts to concentrate on her food. Helen sat further along the table, out of Lexie’s line of sight, but Lexie didn’t hear her take any part in the conversation. They consumed several bottles of wine while eating and the underlying tensions appeared to ease.

  After the waiter took Lexie’s empty plate, Spike pulled a chair over to sit next to her. Lexie found herself a little in awe of the famous film director. What on earth could she talk about that would interest him? His work was probably the best answer. Earlier in the year, she had attended a short film critique course and one of Spike’s films was on their discussion list. If she could remember the lecturer’s comments then she might make some reasonable conversation.

  ‘I saw Lingua last year. It was… mesmerising. I’m sure you’ve been asked this question a million times, but what was the inspiration for the film? What gave you the initial idea?’

  Spike leaned back in his chair giving every indication he enjoyed this topic. ‘For an entire project there’s never just one thing, but the starting point was someone saying that Eskimos have fifty different words for snow.’

  Lexie was about to say that she’d heard that too, but Spike carried on, warming to his theme.

  ‘That started a random set of ideas. Language fascinates me. A colour specialist, say a paint manufacturer, has hundreds of different versions of yellow, or white, and each has a different name. Think of the difference
between a smile and a smirk. Language is how we describe ourselves and our feelings. We feel an emotion but without a label to describe it precisely then it becomes the shade of an adjacent emotion.’

  ‘And from that you came up with the idea of newly found writings from a previously unknown ancient people.’

  Spike nodded. ‘That no one understood, of course. We all see the world differently. Tomorrow we’ll all describe this dinner in a different way. Through their language that ancient people saw the world with no linear constraints. Intimations of the future and memories of the past right here in the present.’ His smile bordered the content end of the scale. ‘What did you enjoy most about the film?’

  Fortunately Lexie was speaking the truth about enjoying the film. She’d been absorbed by the nuances of the underlying themes while there had been enough action scenes for Nathan to enjoy it.

  ‘Where to start,’ said Lexie. ‘I guess it was the structure or seeming lack of it that interested me most. Nothing happened as I expected and yet, at the end, everything made sense. The subtlety of those faded colours in some scenes. It was only at the end I realised their significance. I described it to a friend as Memento meets Adaptation. It’s very different to The Legacy of Time but it felt as if there was a link, although I couldn’t describe my reasons.’

  ‘Interesting you should say that. I had the initial idea for The Legacy of Time floating around in my head for months, years probably, but it was elusive, I simply couldn’t figure out how to make it work, but then I was a lot younger with a lot less experience. We were at university, so I was busy with assignments and other things, but I couldn’t get it out of my mind. It was Madelaine who crystallised it for me. She said she wanted me to write a role for her where she could do stuff like Carrie-Anne Moss. One of the Matrix films had just been released.’ Spike laughed kindly at her expression. ‘I know what you’re thinking. Those two films don’t have anything in common, and you’re right. It wasn’t the film, but something about the flexibility of time. How time didn’t matter, the story didn’t have to be linear.’