by Liz Mistry
Gus felt his throat clog up as he watched them. The Professors Cooper were exactly as Alice had once described them to him. They were other-worldly. The nastiness and viciousness Alice dealt with on a day to day basis were anathema to them… and yet, here they were, dragged from their world of academia and plunged into the sordid reality of policing in 2016 and he was responsible for it.
Last night they’d clung to his hand, peering myopically up at him, seeking reassurances he felt obliged to give but, knew deep down inside were not based on anything more than hope. They were scientists through and through and had no religion to see them through this frightening time. Gus knew that they’d have spoken to the surgeon and would know, like he did, how unlikely they were to get Alice back.
As he watched, Alice’s dad rose and walked round to his wife’s side. Gus realised that she was sobbing, her head bowed in her grief. She put her hand over Alice’s and he put one arm round his wife and placed the other hand on top of his wife’s as if the three of them were making a pact, like he had done with his friends in childhood. Wiping his tears away with the back of his hand, Gus turned and patting Compo and then Sampson on the back, he left.
Chapter 90
14:30 Myrtle Park, Bingley
Myrtle Park was resplendent with shades of autumn but Gus couldn’t have cared less. His thoughts were still with Alice and her parents, yet he knew he had to get this over with. He’d phoned Shamila and insisted that she make Sadia meet up with him on neutral territory. He needed to talk to her and he hoped that this outdoor venue would be suitable for what he had to say. When she’d agreed, he’d dropped back home to collect Bingo. If nothing else, Bingo might prove a distraction for both of them. Besides which, Bingo deserved a decent walk with Gus. He’d relied too heavily on his mum to take the dog out over the past few weeks.
Partly to spend time playing with Bingo and partly to try to compose himself for what he knew would be a difficult meeting with Sadia, he’d arrived early. The park was within walking distance of Bingley so Gus had parked up and he and Bingo had skirted the children’s play area and gone to the huge field where the remnants of bonfire night still scarred the ground.
He and Sadia had spent many happy hours strolling through the park over the past few months… young lovers savouring their closeness, arms wrapped round each other, hips brushing together as they walked in synch. Finally, tossing Bingo a bone, he hooked the leash over his foot and slouched on the bench where they’d agreed to meet.
He’d wanted to give her the opportunity for a quick and un-embarrassing getaway, should the need arise, so had opted to avoid Tarquin’s café and gone for the safe outdoor option.
Alerted to her approach by Bingo’s low growl, he turned his head. Loping easily towards him, her hips swinging, she wore her leather jacket with a glittery blue scarf wrapped round her neck, matching gloves and a hat with a grey fur bobble on her head. As she neared, Gus could see the worry lines across her forehead. Her mouth was tight and her eyes avoided meeting his gaze. He felt his heart sink when she opted to sit at the far end of the bench as far away from him as she possibly could. Earlier, he’d decided not to burden her with Alice’s condition, so it seemed the only thing they had to talk about was her father.
Nudging Bingo with his toe to make him stop growling, Gus cleared his throat and tried to remember what he’d planned to say but, his mind was a blank. Swallowing, he turned slightly to her. She held herself rigid and, he suspected that one slight push would have her toppling backwards off the seat, so determined was she to distance herself from him. He sighed, knowing that what he was about to reveal wouldn’t ease the situation between them. Hmph, that was probably exactly what her old man had been aiming for when he sent Gus that email. Even from beyond the grave, the old bastard was manipulating her.
Clenching his hands in his jean pockets Gus took a deep breath and began. ‘I’m really sorry about your father, Sadia.’
She snorted and in his peripheral vision Gus could see her shaking her head from side to side. ‘Are you though, Gus? Are you really sorry or do you think that his death clears the way for you and me?’ She glared at him and then without waiting for a response she continued. ‘Well, if that’s what you think, you can forget it, okay? You and me are the last thing on my mind.’
Their relationship, or indeed, lack thereof, was the last thing on Gus’ mind, too, but he couldn’t reveal that to her. Instead he nodded. ‘Yeah Sad, I understand that. I don’t expect anything from you. That’s not why I insisted we meet.’
She waved her gloved hand at him. ‘Well, in case you don’t know, I’ve already been notified of…’ she swallowed and despite her obvious effort a tear rolled down her cheek. ‘They told me about his involvement in Millie Green’s death. I know what he did to Millie.’ She rubbed her glove over her cheek. ‘And to me … and to my mum. Thank God, she at least knew nowt about it all. Thank God, she died before this all came to light.’
Gus swivelled round so he was facing her. ‘Look, Sadia, I need you to listen to me.’
She laughed, the sound hollow and incredulous. ‘Why should I listen to you, Gus? What makes you so worthy of my attention? For fuck’s sake, all you were to me was a quick shag… a bit of a novelty, that’s all. Now, I’ve more important things to think about, like burying my dad, convincing Councillor Majid to bury him in the Muslim cemetery, despite the fact he committed suicide… Fuck, I almost wish he’d been murdered. Why the fuck couldn’t he leave a suicide note like normal people?’
Gus jumped to his feet and moved closer to her. He knew that the venom streaming from her mouth was caused by grief, but he felt each barb like a bullet piercing his skin. It wasn’t like he was on top of the world right now either. Still, what he felt wasn’t what was important right now. He had to be the one to tell her this, even if she was making it as difficult as hell.
‘Look, Sadia, I need to tell you something and you need to listen. This is important.’
Just when he thought she was going to jump up and flounce off, she capitulated. Her shoulders relaxed and she turned and leaned back. ‘Okay, Gus, you win, but make it quick.’
Gus sat back down and plunged right in. ‘I got an email from your father dated yesterday at 16:35.’
Sadia lurched to her feet, her eyes wide. ‘What?’
Gus ignored her question and continued, ‘I reckon that was after Shahid Khan’s visit. It was your father’s suicide note. I’ve had to pass it onto the relevant officers but, I asked them to let me tell you in person. I couldn’t let anyone else tell you.’
Sadia exhaled. ‘What did he say, Gus?’
Gus pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her. ‘I printed it out, Sadia.’
Pulling her gloves off, Sadia took the paper and looked Gus straight in the eye before opening it. ‘Thank you, Gus.’
With a shrug, he waited as she unfolded it. As her eyes scanned each word, Gus recited them in his own head. Her father’s last communication was seared in his brain and he knew that it would be seared in her heart forever.
DI McGuire,
I have decided that I am too cowardly to face my beautiful daughter Sadia with the truth. I have proved to be unworthy of her love and, despite my intentions to protect her over the years, I now realise I have, in fact, failed her. I am entrusting you with this communication and am sure you will deliver it in whichever way you feel best.
In recent years, in commune with Allah, I have realised that my actions surrounding the death of Millie Green have had consequences from which I can no longer escape. I now wish to reveal the truth and trust that my punishment will be meted out on the other side by my God.
Sadia’s mother was unable to have children after Sadia and that left her despondent. She became extremely depressed and for long periods withdrew from both me and Sadia. Thankfully, the full impact of that was lost to Sadia in her early years. However, this lack of comfort at home led me to embark on an affair with Millie Gre
en. I make no excuses for that. I have prayed for forgiveness and stand before Allah to be judged on this.
I truly loved Millie. She was a remarkable woman; loving, caring and honest. When she became pregnant with my child, I decided that I would leave Amina and take Sadia with me. I was sure that Millie would be a much better mother to Sadia than Amina. However, what I didn’t realise was that Amina had discovered mine and Millie’s affair.
Sadia’s mother was not in her right mind when she did what she did to Millie Green. I also believe that if she had known Millie was pregnant, she would have taken a different course of action. I was in a unique position to misdirect the investigation. I falsified interviews and drip-fed lies about Millie’s state of mind and about her relationship with Arshad Khan. I disposed of Amina’s clothes and, ultimately, I moved us away from that area and protected Sadia in the only way I could.
I have made my peace with Allah and trust my sins will be expunged. Suicide is against the will of Allah but I can no longer continue in this life. I give my life and soul to my God and accept his decision for me.
I love Sadia more than I can say. I am proud of her fierce independence and her resolve. She has been the one true joy of my life and I pray she can forgive me.
Please accept this as my confession of obstructing the course of justice
Yours sincerely
DCS Khalid M Hussain.
When she had finished reading Sadia folded the paper up, put it in her pocket and with her gloves in one hand, she walked away. Feeling as if his heart had been yanked from his chest, Gus watched her retrace her steps to the car park.
He stood, picking up Bingo’s leash, then leaned over to traced his finger over the inscription on the back of the bench,
‘In memory of Janet and Robert Dingle, who for fifty years shared their lives lovingly with each other.’
Sadia and I didn’t even make fifty weeks, thought Gus, and, whistling to Bingo, he too made his way back to his car.
Three weeks later
Chapter 91
14:00 Marriner’s Drive
Listening to soppy songs had never been Gus’ thing but, since Sadia had asked for and been approved a transfer to Scotland, he’d been more susceptible to love songs on the radio, tearing up and getting all emotional. When he’d confided this to Sampson, he’d told him to get a grip and take a leaf out of Little Mix’s book with their ‘Shout Out To My Ex’ song.
Truth was that although he missed Sadia he knew that the circumstances surrounding her father’s death were too much to overcome and he wasn’t sure he was strong enough to help her anyway. They’d been working flat-out at The Fort in the preceding weeks, what with being four officers down since Sadia had left and Brighton’s enforced transfer – hopefully to outer Siberia – and of course the absence of their DCS. Alice was still in a coma and with each day that passed Gus grew more despondent. Her parents had authorised that, later on today, she be taken off the life support machines. Gus was dreading the outcome of that.
However, on Friday in a flurry of Chanel and chiffon, DCI Nancy Chalmers had drifted in bringing joy, laughter and a much-needed bottle of whisky. The team were overjoyed to have her back and Gus was thrilled. She’d lost weight since The Matchmaker case, but the old glint was back in her eye and she seemed ready to dig in. Her return was the one bright light in an otherwise dark future.
A burst of ecstatic barking from Bingo seconds before the doorbell rang, told Gus that his parents were at the door. He pulled himself from the couch where he’d been watching the football and, barefoot, wandered through to open the door, Bingo bouncing beside him.
At first, he wasn’t entirely sure what he was seeing on his doorstep, but then his mothers’ head poked over the rather large box she was carrying and his father’s voice boomed from behind her saying, ‘In you go, Corrine,’
Puzzled, Gus stepped back from the door as his parent’s trooped through to the living room. Following them, his heart sinking in trepidation, Gus wondered what they were up to. Much as he loved them, he’d found them quite unbearable these past weeks. He felt like they’d put him on suicide watch. Every time he turned they seemed to be there, eyes anxious, watching him as if they thought he was going to break down. No matter how often he told them he was fine and that he was taking his meds and that he’d re-enrolled with the dynamic counselling, they flapped. He dreaded to think what they were doing here today.
Seeing his father’s balloon face grinning at him, with a striking similarity to Bingo when he thought he’d been particularly clever, Gus shook his head, knowing that no matter what idiocy they were about to subject him to, he’d submit.
His mum was practically hopping from foot to foot. ‘Quick, Fergus show him.’
Holding his breath, Gus watched as his father swept the phone book and a vase from the sideboard and placed them on the floor before bending down to rummage in the box, talking all the while in a baby voice to whatever was inside.
Shit, thought Gus, please not another bloody dog. Much as he loved Bingo, another dog was not what he wanted. Finally, his father, face jubilant stood upright with a birdcage in his hand. His mum, unable to maintain her silence anymore, said, ‘Look, it’s a wee canary, Angus. Do you see its wee Beatle-style fringe… well, it’s called Ringo!’ She turned to the small yellow bird with its distinctive brown head feathers that, did indeed, make it look like a Beatle and began talking to it as if it were a parrot. ‘Who’s a pretty boy, who’s a pretty boy?’
Speechless Gus could only watch as his dad looked at his mum. ‘It’s not a parrot, Corinne darling. It’s a wee canary birdie.’
Gus rolled his eyes and then, as Bingo, paws up to investigate the new addition to their family, gave an approving bark, said ‘Bloody hell, you two will be the end of me. What am I going to end up with next time a relationship of mine goes down the pan? A bloody goldfish called Pingu?’
Looking sheepish, his dad flung a big arm round Gus’ shoulders. ‘It’ll be company for Bingo when you’re at work.’
Gus watched the small yellow bird jump from rung to rung, its head nodding from side to side. Smiling, he turned and gave his dad a hug before lifting his mum up and swinging her round, making her squeal. ‘You’re the best parents in the world, you know?’ and he deposited a kiss on their cheeks before heading to the kitchen to turn on the kettle.
Just as it boiled, he heard his phone ring, followed seconds later by his mum’s ‘phone’ voice. ‘Who is it, Mum?’
She walked into the kitchen, tears streaming down her face. Reaching out her arms to Gus she said, ‘It’s Alice…’
THE END
Have you read Unquiet Souls? The best-selling, first part of Liz Mistry’s DI Gus McGuire series.
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Death and Deception by B.A. Steadman
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Candles and Roses by Alex Walters
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Acknowledgments
So many people have encouraged me in this process so apologies in advance if I've missed anyone out.
First a huge thanks to my publisher Bloodhound Books and their kennel of awesome authors who are not only talented but also supportive.
Many thanks to Leeds Trinity University Creative Writing MA, students and staff for all their practical and emotional support during this amazing journey.
Thanks to The Barny Bunch, who as well as being fantastic pub quizzers are also mad enough to keep me sane. My fellow Crime Warpers continue to inspire and encourage me - I owe you one!
But, mos
t of all, thanks to you, the reader, for taking the time to read Uncoiled Lies. I'd be delighted to hear from you so if you want to contact me I'm on Twitter :@LizCrimeWarp and FB : @LizMistrybooks
