The Liar's House: An absolutely gripping thriller with a fantastic twist (Detective Gina Harte Book 4)

by Carla Kovach

  Grounding – the counsellor told her to use this technique when the overwhelming feelings of anxiety started up. She felt the desk in front of her, it was smooth and cool. Her fingers brushed the side and underneath, hard chewing gum – gross. She inhaled and the mustiness of the room made her feel slightly queasy, but at least it was real. The little room was always musty regardless of how often it was cleaned. She listened to the voices as Wyre finished with the opening formalities.

  ‘So, go over what happened that night?’ Wyre said.

  Steven removed his hands from behind his head and leaned forward. ‘Oh it was a good one. It would have been better if I hadn’t have ended up with that munter, Maggie. Stupid bitch looks like a man. There was only one woman there that every man wanted to stick it in and that was Aimee.’

  Gina wondered if Wyre would try to get the interview back on course but she hoped Wyre and Jacob would allow him to continue speaking freely, hoping it wouldn’t take long for him to hang himself. She loved their strategy, Wyre leading. She knew they’d both be able to see his character as they entered the interview room. She trusted her team to be vigilant.

  Steven shrugged. ‘You can’t win ’em all. That dick, Noah, with his preened pretty-boy hair and Ken doll body ended up being the lucky one. When I left with the dog, we walked to Malcolm’s house, that’s Dawn’s brother. We lit up a spliff and she looked a bit ill. Didn’t stop her though. Stupid cow was gagging for it.’ He ran his tongue across his teeth. ‘The women are the worst for this you know. They pretend to be all, oh we’re so prim and ooh we’re not sure, but they love it. Dawn was like that when we met but boy is she a dirty bitch now, you should see her. Maggie was the same too, gagging for it by the time we got to the house. Anyway, we did it against his worktop – slam, slam, slam and she was loving it. When we finished she chucked up in the sink and I left. Couldn’t be bothered dealing with some sick bint who couldn’t hold her wine.’

  Maybe the thought of being with you made her sick. Gina thought that was more the case.

  ‘What happened after you left Maggie Leason?’

  Well played again. Steven was trying so hard to get a reaction out of Jacob or Wyre but neither were giving him anything to be joyous about. He was certainly losing the attention battle that he’d instigated.

  ‘It was late, I don’t remember what time. I staggered home. I’d had a few draws on the old spliff. I was all warm, post-coital and tired, you know how that feels, Detective?’

  Wyre stared back at him, waiting for him to continue.

  ‘Bundle of laughs you lot are,’ he said as he smiled at Jacob, seeking some male support.

  ‘Just answer the question,’ Wyre said in a firm tone.

  ‘Ooh, angry, are we?’ Silence filled the room. Steven sighed. ‘I just walked home and went to bed.’

  Wyre glanced at the file in front of her. ‘Did you go through Gilmore Close?’

  ‘Why would I go that way?’ He began leaning back on the chair, front legs repetitively lifting off the carpet tiles, a sickly grin across his face.

  ‘Fresh air to sober up, looking for someone, meeting someone? You tell me.’

  He shook his head as he laughed. ‘You ain’t pinning that on me. No, I didn’t go that way.’

  ‘You knew where all the locations were, didn’t you?’

  ‘Me and the rest of ’em. We told everyone about all the different locations during the course of the evening. They weren’t a secret.’

  Gina slammed her fist on the desk as she wondered why none of the witnesses had mentioned that fact. That blew her theory out. If they all knew the locations, they’d all know where Jade could have been. Given that all the locations were as close by as all their addresses, she’d be easy to find in a relatively short period of time.

  ‘Calm it, Harte!’ Briggs said as he offered her a mint.

  Reluctantly, she took one, unwrapped it and popped it in her mouth.

  Wyre continued for a few minutes as Gina sucked on the mint, watching intently. Steven tapped his slightly stubbly chin with his index finger as he grinned before rubbing it in exactly the same way that Terry used to. The similarities were uncanny. She shivered and took a deep breath. Briggs placed a friendly hand over her shoulder and squeezed before removing it. A slight crossing of boundaries but one they were both comfortable with.

  ‘Mr Smithson, you say you can’t remember when you got home. Can anyone else confirm when you returned?’

  He nodded then stared into space as he tried to recall that night. ‘My nosey neighbour, Frank. The bastard never sleeps and is always looking through that spyhole of his. I think he finds me attractive.’ Steven sniggered. ‘Apart from that, I went back, took my kit off and had a shower.’

  Wyre tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. ‘Did you speak to anyone else after that?’

  He tutted. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘Did you speak to anyone else after that? Answer the question.’

  For a moment, Gina thought he might demand a solicitor or refuse to speak. He was at present only a suspect and they had no direct evidence linking him to the murder.

  ‘Mr Smithson, it’s important that you tell us all you can.’ Well played, Wyre – a slightly softer approach could get them what they needed.

  ‘Dawn kept trying to call me. Stupid woman doesn’t know when to give up. I ended a few of her calls. When I woke up in the morning, I had a further several missed calls. At one point I told her to leave it out and hung up. Stupid woman was sobbing down the phone.’

  Gina made a note to see if Dawn would give them access to her phone records. She needed to know what time that would have been and exactly what was said. Briggs glanced at her notes and nodded. The interview finally came to an end.

  Steven stood and zipped up his jacket as he headed towards the door Wyre held open.

  Gina slammed the chair into the wall behind her. Briggs grabbed her arm, pulling her back. ‘Give it a minute until he’s gone.’

  She wanted to throw the chair and break the table. She’d like nothing more than to kick it to death. Instead, she’d breathe it out and wait. Steven knew full well she’d be involved in the case and that she worked at Cleevesford. The lights went off in the interview room as Jacob left and closed the door behind him.

  ‘Gina?’ She turned.

  ‘Huh?’

  ‘Do you fancy a drink on the way home? We can have a catch up, talk about the case.’

  He brought his hand slowly towards her arm and she stepped out of the way. ‘No, I have things to do tonight and I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

  ‘I was just going to open the door and if you don’t want a drink, that’s fine.’

  He grabbed the door handle. He was nowhere near her and she’d flinched out of his way like an idiot, thoughts of Steven and Terry swimming through her mind and clouding her judgement.

  He left first, leaving her alone inhaling the musty air.

  ‘Sir,’ she called.

  He turned back and smiled.

  ‘Thanks for the offer though. See you tomorrow.’ She was going to update her notes, call Dawn Brown to ask about her phone calls and then she was grabbing some chips and going home to work.

  Gina pulled her hood over her head as she jogged across the car park, trying to avoid the puddles forming in the tiny potholes. The chip shop was calling. The sick feeling in her stomach was more likely to be hunger.

  ‘Fancy seeing you, Detective,’ Steven called as he waited beside the main road. ‘Just waiting for the bitch to pick me up.’

  She felt her heart begin to race. He’d been waiting for her, she knew it. ‘Good for you.’ She pulled her car keys from her pocket and pressed the button, unlocking her car doors.

  ‘You can fool them but you can’t fool me, Gina. You’re like me, aren’t you? Like a bit of someone else in the bedroom. Terry told me all about your ways.’ He winked and grinned.

  Her stomach lurched. Maybe she’d forget the chips. She
turned and swallowed forcing away the gagging feeling that threatened to overcome her. What had Terry told Steven about that night? Obviously not the truth. She opened her car door, swallowed and turned back to face him. ‘Steven, just go home and stop being a dick.’

  ‘You like dick, don’t you, Gina? I know everything.’ He paused and laughed, raindrops bouncing off his nose. ‘You know it has struck me and our family that you’ve never properly grieved for Terry. Miss him, do you?’ He pointed two fingers at his eyes and then pointed them over at her. ‘Your own daughter thinks you’re a cold-hearted bitch too, that’s why she moved.’

  She flinched as if that comment had literally slapped her. Sticking two fingers up at him, she got into her car and drove off without looking back. As she turned out of the car park, she passed Dawn’s car. That’s why Dawn hadn’t been answering her phone when Gina had called her, she’d been driving.

  Terry told me all about your ways. Her skin began to itch as she thought back to the night when at knifepoint Terry had forced both her and the prostitute to do things as they cried into the night. Tears flooded her face as she wondered exactly what Terry had said to Steven. The rain fell harder, clouding the windscreen. As she left the town and headed along the country roads, she slammed the brakes on and jolted out of the car, throwing up in the verge, trying to purge herself of all that had happened. She retched until nothing more would come out. Soaked through, she staggered back to her car, sat in the front seat and gazed through the steamed-up window as she yelled and hit the passenger seat until she’d drained herself. One thing she was certain of was that Steven wouldn’t win this battle, he couldn’t. If he did, she would be finished.

  Thirty-Two

  I watch through the hole in the back fence as Aimee helps Nicole drag her cases through the hallway. Spending time with Aimee is a little trickier now that her dopey friend had arrived back from her holiday. My mind wandered back to how we’d meet.

  Aimee would enter the café, coming out of the rain. We’d part after arranging a date. Of course, a date was inevitable. I’d easily be able to impress her as I already knew all about her. I’ve watched her little fitness videos on YouTube, read her blog, checked out her Facebook page and even tried some of her fitness tips. I’ve never followed her page or tried to friend her though, don’t want to look like a cyber stalker.

  The rain has stopped for now. I inhale, enjoying the earthy smell that has been left behind. What I really want to smell is Aimee’s soft perfume tantalising my senses. I’d like nothing more than to run my fingers through her soft curls and feel the firmness of her body pressed against mine. My mind wanders all too often.

  The two women head towards the kitchen and the shorter chubby woman grabs a pen. Through the open window I hear parts of their conversation. Fish and chips, Aimee only wants fish with no batter, always watching her figure. The good news is, one of them will be going to fetch their food and as Nicole has her coat on, it looks like she will be the one. My stomach flips with excitement.

  Nicole flings the back door open and lights up a cigarette. I’d love a cigarette but now isn’t a good time and I’ve been trying to quit. I can smell Aimee’s perfume through the smoke, it’s only slight but I can detect it. Lilies, I love them. They remind me of someone else but I can’t think about her at the moment. I don’t want to think about her – there’s a time and a place. Aimee scurries around, looking for her purse.

  ‘You’re always losing things,’ I whisper with a smile.

  ‘Found it! You know, those cancer sticks will kill you. I can’t believe you started smoking again when you were away.’

  Nicole laughs and taps her friend on the shoulder. ‘Oh shut up, Mum.’

  Aimee passes her some cash.

  ‘Have you heard from him since?’

  Aimee shakes her head. ‘No. But he didn’t do it, I’m sure of that.’

  ‘You can’t keep defending him. I heard what went on and he’s well capable of doing it. I’ve seen him when he’s in a mood.’

  Aimee steps back into the kitchen, casting a shadow across the garden as she stands in the light. ‘I can’t talk about this now. Forget my fish.’

  I love the rage in her face, it almost turns me on.

  ‘Aimee, Aimee—’ Nicole takes a final drag on her cigarette and throws it on the slabs, its gentle glow fizzling out as the damp concrete consumes all its warmth. ‘I’ll get you your fish anyway.’

  It’s no use Nicole talking to Aimee, she’s already gone in and isn’t listening. My back stiffens and I want to stand up straight and to walk it off but it’s so quiet. Nicole eventually slams the door at the same time Aimee’s bedroom light goes on. Aimee stares out of her window so I press my body against the fence and hold my breath, knowing she can’t see me here. The light on the bushes behind me softens as she closes her curtains. I bend once again and stare through the hole. Nicole walks around the house and heads off towards the chip shop. Ten minutes to walk there, ten minutes in the shop and ten minutes back. That gives me thirty minutes alone with Aimee. And the stupid woman didn’t lock the back door. This was too easy. ‘It’s just you and me, Aimee.’

  Just as I enter the kitchen door, the neighbour’s dog bounds over and starts jumping against the fence. Slipping through the door, I gently close it behind me. Thirty minutes and the clock is ticking.

  Thirty-Three

  Gina lay in bed, laptop screen lit up in the dark with Jade and Samantha looking at her, side by side. Both young, beautiful women with their whole lives ahead of them. One missing, the other murdered. Her head pounded. After feeling so sick, she’d skipped the takeaway that she’d promised herself earlier that day and settled for peppermint tea to settle her stomach which now rumbled away.

  Snatching her phone, she checked it one last time for messages before putting it on charge. Nothing. Rex had left her alone. She hoped she’d heard the last of him. She’d made a big mistake giving him false hope with the second date. Another lesson learned. Her finger hovered over the Tinder app on her phone. Several swipes in her favour had pinged up. Maybe a quick glance, to satisfy her curiosity. No – she threw the phone face down onto the bed.

  Paws pattered up the stairs and Ebony jumped up on the bed and began nudging her under the arm. ‘Hello, girl,’ She stroked the short-haired cat as she purred and settled, filling her bed with comforting warmth. Between the cat’s purrs and the humming of the laptop, Gina felt her eyelids begin to clamp until she drifted off into a deep sleep.

  Aimee lay in the darkness, her face covered in blood. Was she alive? The young woman jolted up. Gina had to protect her just like she’d want someone to protect Hannah. She needed to get her to safety. ‘We have to run, get up.’ Gina grabbed the woman’s arms and tried to pull her from the floor but Aimee wasn’t responding.

  Aimee’s fear-filled eyes opened and stared directly at her. ‘Take my hand, Aimee. We have to leave now,’ Gina whispered. She rubbed her eyes as Aimee’s face morphed into Samantha’s.

  ‘Why would you want to leave?’ the man asked. She squinted several times until she could just about see her oppressor through the red mist that had begun to fill the room. Steven! He prodded her with a knife, cutting the skin that protected her rapidly beating heart, forcing her backwards into the secret room.

  ‘Samantha, run,’ Gina called out. Was it Samantha or Aimee? As Gina stood to run, the door in which she’d fell through vanished leaving nothing but a black wall in its place. A wall with no door, a room with no escape lit by three candles.

  A black whirlwind began to form in the middle of the room as Steven howled with laughter. As the breeze gathered like a mini tornado, a chill ran down her spine and the lit candles blew out, leaving her in darkness. She thrashed around, searching for a door before being slashed by the knife and sucked in by the whirlwind. She couldn’t hear – the noise filled her head, ringing, buzzing, gale force winds, howling laughter.

  ‘No, get me out. Get me out of here,’ she whimpered as sh
e fought against her surroundings, blindly grasping for anything that felt tangible. The floor began to melt and she felt herself sinking and falling, whirling uncontrollably to her end. ‘No!’

  Ebony meowed and pounced onto the floor as Gina thrashed, tangling her legs in the quilt. Her fearful stare searched every corner of her bedroom for the intruders from her dream as she gasped for breath. Her heart skipped a beat as she caught her laptop before it crashed onto the floor. Several screens flashed up as she randomly pressed the buttons on the keyboard. It eventually rested on the photo of Jade, lying dead on the path. Gina held her breath as she gazed at the screen. Slamming the lid down, she placed it on the floor and held her hand to her chest.

  Snatching a tissue, she mopped the sweat that dripped down her forehead. She could guess all night and day as to what Steven thought he knew and it was killing her. She knew it wouldn’t be the true version of events and she also knew that wouldn’t matter to Steven, the man who idolised his loser brother and believed everything he’d told him.

  She looked down and noticed how hard she was gripping her pillow. Gasping, she kneeled up, punching it over and over until she was too exhausted to breathe. She loosened her grip and ran to the bathroom. Hot and sweaty, she turned on the shower and stepped in before it had even warmed up.

  Through chattering teeth, she sat in the bath as the water cleansed her, washing away all her self-disgust. Cold turned to steaming hot. Tears mingled with the shower water and all she wanted was someone to hold her and tell her everything would be okay. Closing her eyes, she thought back to when Briggs had touched her arm, his tender touch making her crave him.