Dying To Tell

by Beevis, Keri

  ‘You bastard!’

  He grinned at her as he blocked her exit, looking far too pleased with himself, which only annoyed her further.

  ‘It’s not funny, Jack.’

  She had been attacked. Someone had hurt her, tried to kill her. It wasn’t the time for pranks. So what if she was feeling sorry for herself? Anyone would be in her situation. She didn’t deserve to get thrown in the shower and dunked in cold water like that.

  Okay, he hadn’t exactly thrown her in the shower. He had sat her in the shower, and, she noticed, he had managed to keep her leg with the cast on out of the spray. And he may have manhandled her a little, but he’d been careful not to hurt her. The only thing he had slightly bruised was her ego. As the water warmed, she slowly thawed, and despite her best attempts to glower at him, not ready to let him off the hook, when he openly laughed at her, she struggled to suppress her smile.

  He didn’t miss it, reached down to cup a hand under her chin, brushing his thumb over her bottom lip. ‘That’s better. Don’t let this creep beat you, Lila.’

  She considered Jack’s words, knew he was right.

  ‘I’m still mad at you,’ she told him stubbornly, though the anger had gone and her threat sounded unconvincing.

  ‘I know.’ He let his hand linger for a moment. ‘Get showered and dressed, and I’ll make it up to you, I promise.’

  31

  Dave was already in the pub when they arrived, his laptop set up on the table and over halfway through a pint, having snagged a table towards the back of the bar. Lila made the introductions then sat down at the table while Jack went to order a round of drinks. He spotted Elliot arriving while he was still at the bar. ‘What are you drinking?’

  ‘Umm, just a Coke please.’

  Elliot scuttled off to find Lila and Dave while Jack paid for the drinks, grabbed the tray, joining the three of them a couple of minutes later. He handed Elliot his Coke, Dave another pint of bitter and Lila a large glass of Rioja.

  ‘I think you’ve earned it,’ Jack told her when she raised her eyebrows. He glanced at Dave, who was studying Stephanie’s tablet. ‘So do you think you can get it unlocked?’

  ‘Yeah.’ Dave frowned, his face deep in concentration. ‘Yeah, I should be able to get in. Give me twenty minutes.’

  While he played around with the tablet and his laptop, Lila asked Elliot about his holiday. She seemed distracted as he talked, taking a couple of large sips of her wine, and Jack knew that the attack was still weighing on her mind. He had taken her to Holkham for a picnic to get her out of the house, but although her mood had lifted, she was still shaken by the events of the previous night.

  He caught her free hand under the table and gave it a squeeze as he listened to Elliot talking animatedly about a marathon Star Wars viewing and how he had been victorious on the final games night.

  ‘Poker?’

  Elliot and Dave both shot him a look.

  Jack shrugged. ‘What?’

  ‘Give us a little credit.’ Elliot sounded insulted. ‘Pandemic, Risk, Dungeons & Dragons…’

  ‘You played board games?’

  ‘They’re not just board games.’

  ‘So what, do you dress up like wizards and stuff?’ When he received a scathing look, Jack held up his hands. ‘Hey, I’m only asking.’

  He immediately wished he hadn’t when Elliot launched into a passionate rant about the world of gaming, the skill and patience involved, and how, as a community, gamers deserved more credit. Jack wasn’t mocking him. Gaming had never been his thing and he knew little about it, but he did know that Elliot was a smart kid, even if he did take himself a little too seriously at times. Lila caught his eye, lips curving, and Jack guessed she had heard this all before. At least she was smiling again.

  ‘Okay, you’re in.’

  ‘Really?’ Jack snatched the tablet from Dave, as Elliot sat back in his chair with a huff, annoyed at the interruption.

  Lila reached across the table and squeezed Dave’s arm. ‘Thanks for doing this, Dave. It means a lot.’

  ‘Yes, thank you.’ Jack echoed Lila’s words, remembering his manners. He shook Dave’s hand. ‘What do I owe you?’

  ‘Nothing, don’t be silly, you’re a friend of Lila’s.’ Dave gave a toothy grin. ‘I’m happy I could help.’

  ‘Can I buy you another pint?’

  ‘Thank you, but I have to head off. I’m on the early shift tomorrow.’

  ‘Okay, well, thank you again. I really appreciate it.’

  Jack had hoped Elliot was going to disappear with Dave and give him and Lila some privacy so they could go through Stephanie’s tablet together, but he seemed intent on sticking around, waving goodbye to his friend before settling back in his seat. He’d only drunk a third of his Coke, which suggested he was here for the long haul and intended to go back to Lila’s flat. Not that there was any need for Elliot to stay over at Lila’s. She had already told him she would be going back to Jack’s place and the alarm was installed, meaning the place was secure. For some reason Elliot, with his gangly frame and nervy disposition, seemed to believe he added an extra level of protection.

  As Lila chatted with her brother, Elliot keen to tell them both more about his week away, Jack zoned out. He was distracted by the tablet and couldn’t stop himself from logging into Stephanie’s Instagram account, keen to check her private messages.

  The Bishop had made contact with her just two days after she had commented on his Godfather post, simply asking for her e-mail address. Stephanie had replied, giving it, and there was no further contact between the two of them. Jack clicked on to her e-mail account, grateful that all of her social media accounts were automatically logged in.

  He felt a little guilty as he scrolled through her inbox, had to remind himself he wasn’t snooping and that he only wanted answers about what had happened to her.

  ‘What exactly is it you’re trying to find?’

  Elliot’s voice broke his concentration and he glanced up, aware Lila’s younger brother was staring at him, his brown eyes curious behind his Jarvis Cocker glasses.

  ‘Trying to tie up some loose ends.’ Jack kept his tone light. Although Elliot was Lila’s brother and had put him in touch with Dave, he was keen to protect Stephanie and had no intention of letting anyone else find out what had been happening in the weeks leading up to her death.

  ‘It’s easier for Jack and his family to deal with everything that needs to be done if they can access her accounts,’ Lila told Elliot when his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

  Elliot sniffed, appearing to accept that, and Jack shot her a grateful look as the conversation turned back to the holiday. He tried to focus on what he was looking for, skimming past e-mails from Amazon, eBay and a number of clothing stores (how much crap did Steph buy?), statements from her bank and mobile supplier, many of which had come in since she had died. There were a couple of messages from friends. He ignored those, figuring he would come back to them only if it was absolutely necessary. Stephanie might be gone, but he wouldn’t infringe on her privacy unless he had to.

  He found the e-mail trail with The Bishop easily. Whoever her tormentor was he was keen to keep his identity a secret, his e-mail address giving no clue as to who he was. The first message urged Stephanie to reveal what it was she wanted. She had told him, had been upfront about her fears of failing her A levels, pleading for his help and telling him she could get her hands on the three-grand payment. The Bishop had replied telling her his fees had doubled, that the money he had been asking was no longer worth the risk.

  The bastard had been playing her. Steph couldn’t get her hands on that kind of money without raising suspicion – hell, she’d asked Jack for over two grand and although he had intended to give it to her, he’d initially questioned the extravagance of what was supposed to be a graduation holiday. The Bishop knew she wouldn’t be able to get the money, as did Steph, but it didn’t stop her begging. When he’d refused to budge on his fee, she agreed in
desperation she would somehow figure a way, and then he had tightened the noose, giving her an impossible twenty-four-hour window.

  ‘You find anything?’

  Jack glanced up at Lila’s question; saw Elliot was no longer at the table, though half a glass of flat Coke remained.

  ‘She was e-mailing him,’ he told her, keeping his voice low, not wanting anyone to overhear the conversation. ‘Where’s Elliot?’

  ‘Loo.’ Lila leant in close, resting her chin on Jack’s shoulder as she read the e-mail trail. ‘Bastard.’ She murmured the word, though her tone had heat. ‘He set her up.’

  ‘I know.’

  Jack clicked on the next e-mail, read The Bishop’s compromise, sickness swirling in his gut. Lila snaked her arm around his waist, and God he needed that connection, as together they read his proposal. The arsehole had known Stephanie would be desperate by that point, was counting on it.

  Even though Ruby had told them what had happened, what The Bishop had demanded, it didn’t make the words any easier to read. Anger followed the sickness as Jack realised how dark a place his sister had been pushed to.

  It was a one-time offer. Stephanie was to meet The Bishop the following night at a car park in Great Yarmouth. Once she had given him what he wanted, he would send her the test answers. If she didn’t agree he would expose her. Jack noted the date, realised she was supposed to meet him the night before she died.

  There were more e-mails on the morning of her death.

  She had gone to the car park, but to Jack’s relief had chickened out at the last minute.

  That relief was short-lived though as he read three frantic e-mails from his sister, admitting she had panicked when The Bishop had wanted her to get in his car and let him drive her to an undisclosed location. She was begging for a second chance.

  It was mid-afternoon before The Bishop replied, his response brief and angry, saying she had blown her opportunity and there were no second chances, and it cut Jack when Steph had e-mailed back immediately promising if he helped her she would do anything he asked.

  The Bishop hadn’t replied to that and the final e-mail was from Stephanie, her tone desperate, but her words more revealing than the rest of the trail.

  I know who you are. You tried to keep your face hidden under your hood, but I remember you from the French trip, and I haven’t forgotten what happened. I know you were angry with me and that’s why you’re doing this, to get back at me.

  Please, I need you to give me another chance. I promise I won’t bottle it again. My dad can’t find out. It will destroy him. One more chance and I will do anything, I mean ANYTHING, you want. I need to pass. PLEASE. You are my only hope.

  ‘She knew him.’ Lila’s voice was barely more than a whisper. ‘That means we can find out who he is. If something happened between them, people will remember. When did she go to France?’

  Jack cast his mind back. He was fairly certain it had been her final year of high school. ‘I think it was the summer before last. I remember she was excited because she’d nearly finished school.’

  ‘So we speak with her friends, find out what happened. We’re going to figure out who he is, Jack, and I promise we will make him pay for what he’s been doing.’

  Lila’s dark eyes sparked with passion and Jack knew she really believed that, made him want to believe it too. She was right; they were getting closer to finding out The Bishop’s identity. Still, Jack’s tone was sober when he spoke. She had skim read the e-mail trail and had missed one important detail.

  ‘Steph said he was wearing a hood, Lila.’

  He saw the fear then, knew she had joined the dots and was reliving her attack. ‘Oh God, it was him. We need to tell the police.’

  ‘Tell them what? That someone tried to blackmail my sister and he might be the same person who attacked you because he was wearing a hood?’

  ‘But Stephanie’s e-mail proves–’

  ‘Nothing. At least it proves nothing they can use as evidence. We need something substantial before we can take this to the police. The Bishop has been clever enough to avoid getting caught so far. He’s smart and calculating. We need more rope to hang him.’

  ‘I guess we’d better start looking.’

  Elliot dropped back down onto his chair, picked up his flat Coke and took a sip. ‘Looking for what?’

  ‘Nothing,’ Lila told him absently. She was distracted, Jack could see that, and he wished he’d kept his big mouth shut, at least until they were home.

  ‘Listen, Elliot, Jack and I need to get back.’

  ‘Already? But we only got here an hour ago.’

  ‘I know, but I have a headache and I feel crappy. I need to rest. The paramedics said I shouldn’t overdo things.’

  When Elliot pouted, Jack offered a compromise. ‘I’m out tomorrow night. Why don’t you come over and you can keep Lila company? You’re welcome to stay the night.’

  He had Oliver’s birthday meal and much as he wanted Lila there with him it was too soon. Henry would have a fit if he brought her along and he couldn’t be sure how Oliver or Alyssa would react. There was no way he would put her through that. Instead he figured he would give it a few weeks then arrange a casual lunch with his mother. She was already halfway on board and he knew she was the key to getting the rest of his family to give Lila a chance.

  Elliot seemed unimpressed by the offer, frowning at his sister. ‘Are you ever going home?’

  Not exactly the reaction Jack had counted on. Lila had agreed to stay with him for a few days and, in truth, now her brother was home there was no reason she couldn’t return to her flat. Jack didn’t want that though. He liked having her around and intended to keep her at his place for as long as possible. Neither of them had broached the subject of her going home and he didn’t appreciate Elliot suddenly pushing the question to the forefront, wanting a definite timeframe.

  ‘She’s safer with me.’

  ‘What about the new alarm system? Isn’t that supposed to keep her safe?’

  ‘She’s still safer with me!’

  ‘I can stay with her.’

  Jack didn’t even bother to dignify Elliot’s offer with a response. To his relief, Lila didn’t seem in a rush to go home either.

  ‘I’ll be home in a few days, okay?’ Her tone was non-committal, as she downed the last third of her glass of wine and reached for her crutches. ‘You should come over tomorrow night though, Elliot. It would be nice to have the company.’

  Elliot shrugged. ‘Yeah, maybe, I’ll let you know.’

  Once they were alone in Jack’s car, Lila immediately perked up. ‘Okay, we need a plan. Do you know any of Stephanie’s friends who were on the French trip with her? We can try to get hold of them when we get back.’

  Jack gave her a sideways glance as he eased the car out of the parking space. ‘Headache gone already?’ he asked dryly.

  ‘I’ll take some painkillers when we get back to yours. Do you think Ruby would have gone? We can ask her.’

  ‘Jessica’s probably the best person to ask.’

  ‘You want to go to Barbie?’

  Jack ignored the bitchy dig. ‘She was close to Steph and she knows me.’

  ‘Are you going to flirt the information out of her again?’

  Lila’s tone was light and teasing, but Jack sensed the insecurity bubbling underneath. Jessica was just eighteen, still a kid, but for whatever reason Lila felt threatened by her.

  ‘Actually, I thought I’d fuck her this time.’

  ‘Ha, that’s cute, Jack.’ Although she smiled, it was weak, and Jack caught hold of her hand, brought it to his lips.

  ‘I’m only going to call her, okay? Trust me, Jessica’s the one who will be able to give us answers. I know she went on the trip with Steph and the two of them were close. Whatever this thing was that happened in France, she will know. He’s still out there and he might try to hurt you again. We need to figure out who he is, Lila. If Jess can give us answers we need to go to her.’
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br />   Lila hesitated, huffed a little, partly he suspected because she hated the idea of him talking to Jessica, but mostly because she knew he was right.

  ‘Okay,’ she agreed resignedly. ‘Call Jessica.’

  32

  While Jack walked Cooper, Lila sat in the middle of his big bed, having snagged one of the jotter pads and a pen from his writing desk, she made a list, her mind working overtime. Everything was connected somehow, she knew it, but she needed to see it in black and white to figure out how.

  By the time Jack returned, the page was full and her iPad had provided some interesting revelations she couldn’t wait to share with him.

  ‘What are you doing there?’ he asked, kicking off his trainers and sitting on the bed beside her, peering over her shoulder.

  ‘Making a list.’

  When Jack slipped his arm around her waist, she leant into him, turned the pad so he could read her notes easier. She went through them point by point.

  ‘So we know something happened with Stephanie around Christmas time, something that distracted her from her studies. Someone was sending her gifts, apologising for what had happened at Christmas, and given that the gifts were hidden away and unopened, we already know they were unwanted.’

  ‘Agreed.’

  ‘But the gifts weren’t from The Bishop. She turned to him later when she needed help with her exams. He tried to hide his face from her when they met, but she recognised him, realised they had met a couple of years earlier on a school trip to France, so it’s logical to assume he was a teacher at her school.’

  ‘Unless the sister schools were part of the trip.’

  Lila nodded, agreed that was possible. ‘Maybe. She knew him though regardless, because something had happened between them on that trip, and she was convinced he wouldn’t help her because of it.’

  ‘I left a voicemail for Jessica. When she gets back to me, we’ll know soon enough.’