Conflicted Innocence

by Netta Newbound

  Lydia appeared with a tray of refreshments, giving him a temporary reprieve.

  “Good. Then they’ll be able to tell you my every move, won’t they?”

  Lee wasn’t certain, but he thought he saw the detective smirk. He definitely seemed to be acting as though he’d worked out the whole story but just needed proof.

  DI Cassidy pulled a zip lock bag from his pocket and placed it on the coffee table. “Have you ever seen this before?”

  Once again, Lee’s stomach dropped. He leaned forward and picked up the bag containing Susie’s lighter.

  “Yes, Lucas had it at the cottage that night.”

  “Lucas had it?”

  “Yes.” Fingerprints! A voice suddenly screamed in his head. “When we were chatting at first, we had a cigarette together.”

  “Lee!” Lydia scolded.

  “I’m sorry, Lyddie. It had been a crazy day, and was getting crazier by the second. I needed a cigarette.”

  “Funny. You didn’t mention that in your statement,” DI Cassidy said.

  Lee shrugged. “It slipped my mind.”

  “Did Lucas light your cigarette?”

  “I can’t remember. Oh, sorry, I do. No, he handed the lighter to me. Why? Is this relevant?”

  The detective paused briefly, then plucked the bag off the table and stuffed it back in his pocket. “It’s not. There is one other thing. Did you have any cash lying around the cottage?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Miss Findlay had three hundred pounds in her coat pocket. Seems a lot of money for a young down-and-out.”

  “Sorry, I can’t help you, detective.”

  DI Cassidy got to his feet, and his sidekick followed suit.

  “That’ll be all for now, sir. Thanks for the tea, Mrs Barnes.”

  He and Lydia showed the detectives out, and watched from the doorway until they drove away.

  “He gave me the creeps,” Lydia said.

  “Me too, my love. Me too.”

  Chapter 20

  “They’ve gone,” James said, peeking through the curtains. He’d been back and forwards from the window since returning from the office.

  The detectives had knocked at our door the second time they came, the older one a little star struck when he realised James was also Aaron Clark—the true-crime author.

  James had tried to use his expertise to get the detective to give details of their findings, but the detective was wary. He knew of James’ close relationship with Lee and held his cards tight to his chest.

  When they arrived the last time, James tried to call Lee once again, but it was going straight to voice mail. Then, moments later, Lee and Lydia pulled up outside.

  “Well they couldn’t have had much to say. They weren’t in there very long,” I said.

  “No, but it’s only a matter of time, I swear. Lee’s hiding something—I know he is.”

  “Aren’t you being a little melodramatic?” I chuckled. “This is Lee—your best mate we’re talking about. Do you really think he would be lying about anything?”

  “I know. You’re right. It’s just...I can’t seem to shake this feeling.”

  Grace, who was lying on a blanket by the fireplace, finished her bottle and threw it at me, gurgling contentedly.

  “You ready for bed now, Missy-moo?” I said, dropping to her side and pretending to eat her tummy.

  She laughed hysterically.

  “It’s no good,” James said. “I’m going to have to go next door and find out what’s happened.”

  “I knew it. You can’t help yourself.” I laughed. “Papa’s a nosy crow, isn’t he, Gracie?”

  He also dropped to the carpet and began tickling us both. After a crazy few minutes, James popped next door while I put Grace to bed.

  When he returned, he was even more agitated.

  “What happened?” I asked, handing him a glass of wine.

  “Apparently they just wanted to know if he knew the dead girl. She was called Susan Finlay.”

  “And? Does he?”

  “He says not, but I dunno. I’m not convinced. And Lydia was going on about a lighter they found that belonged to the girl, and Lee cut her off mid-sentence. Why would he do that?”

  “You think it was the lighter you saw him with?”

  “I do. Don’t you?”

  “Maybe you need to ask him. He is your friend.”

  “He’s not open to a discussion at the moment. He’s hiding something, Geri. Believe me, he is.”

  *

  “You’ll never guess what?” James said, throwing the local newspaper down on the table.

  I took a baby wipe from the packet and began cleaning Weetabix from my messy daughter’s fine blonde hair. “I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

  “Some lousy bastard has only gone and spray painted murderer on Lee’s front door.”

  “You’re joking?” I lifted Grace from her highchair and followed James from the house.

  Peering over the fence, I saw Lee on his knees, painting the blue paint over large black letters.

  “Oh, Lee. Who’d do such a thing?” I asked.

  He glanced up and wiped his forehead on the sleeve of his grey sweater. “I haven’t a clue, but I want to cover it up before Lydia sees it. I told her to have a bath and pamper herself. She’d be so upset by this.”

  “I’m sure she would, mate,” James said. “Tell you what, you go inside and keep her occupied. I’ll finish that for you.”

  “Would you? I’d appreciate it.”

  “Of course.” James scooted down our path and up theirs. He took the paint and brush off his friend. “Go on. Get back inside. I’ll call you when I’m done.”

  I sat Grace on the grass while I pulled out a few weeds that we’d missed last week. I started off at one end of the garden and ended up at the other.

  “Is that the phone?” James called.

  I stopped, cocking my head in the direction of the house. Sure enough, the phone was ringing.

  “Keep an eye on Gracie for a sec,” I said, running inside.

  “Hello,” I cried into the phone.

  “About time, I was just going to hang up.”

  I smiled at the familiar sound of Simon’s voice. “It’s this bloody phone. I never hear it half the time,” I said, walking back outside.

  “Get that skinflint to buy you a new one. I need to be able to get hold of you in an instant. How’s that daughter of mine?”

  “She’s in the garden, bumming and rolling around the grass.” I laughed. “You should see her now. She’s got dried leaves stuck all over the drool on her chin.”

  “Classy bird,” he said.

  “She’s a definite tomboy. Gracie, don’t chew on that dirty stick,” I said, bending to pull the soggy twig from her mouth.

  James came down the path. “I’ve finished the painting. I’m just going to call Lee,” he whispered.

  I nodded. “So how’s Kevin?”

  “He’s driving me batty. That bloody idiot next door has got a new car, a top-of-the-range BMW. Kevin only changed his car last year and there’s—”

  “Aaarrrrggghhh!! Gerroff me you crazy pillock!” came a cry from the street.

  “James!” I yelled, dropping the phone and running in the direction of the cries.

  Mad Thomas was swinging his shopping bag repeatedly at a young girl cowering by the hedge.

  “Hey!” I yelled, running towards them. “Get off her, you nutter.” I got in between them, catching the next smack on my shoulder as James appeared.

  Leaving James to deal with the nut-case, I turned to the girl.

  “Are you okay? I saw what he did if you need a witness.” I helped her to her feet.

  “I’m fine, but I lost my earring. He just launched himself at me, out of nowhere.”

  I clocked the earring in the opposite ear, a small silver sleeper. “Here, let me help you search.”

  “Found it,” she said with a smile.

  “Oh, good. Are you a local?” />
  “Used to be. I moved away a few years ago. Should’ve stayed away, considering the warm welcome.”

  James had whisked Thomas away, but I could still hear him shouting the same word over and over. “Guildy—guildy.”

  “What’s guildy?” I asked.

  “How do I know? The man’s lost his marbles.”

  I laughed and held my hand out. “I’m Geraldine. Pleased to meet you.”

  “Candy. Are you new around here?”

  “Does it show?”

  “Not really. I just don’t recognise you, that’s all.”

  “Fancy a cuppa?” I said, hearing Grace moaning over the hedge.

  “Yeah, why not.”

  Grace had climbed into the soiled border and was covered from head to toe in mud. She even had it on her six little teeth.

  “She’s adorable,” Candy said, watching Grace excitedly bumming over to me.

  “She is, when she’s asleep. I was just telling her dad—” I gasped and ran to the phone in the middle of the lawn. “Hello?”

  “Geraldine! What the hell happened? I was just organising Kevin—we were about to head over there.”

  “I’m so sorry, Simon. I witnessed somebody getting attacked by that crazy old man next door, and I completely forgot about you on the phone.”

  “Oh, that’s nice, isn’t it? You forgot me.”

  “Don’t be so touchy. Listen, I’ve got a visitor so I’m going to have to call you back.”

  Candy winced with me and then laughed as I hung up.

  “The ex?” she asked.

  “Yes, but it’s complicated.”

  “Isn’t it always when an ex is involved?”

  “Normally, yes. But my ex is slightly different. We’re actually best friends.” I picked Grace up and headed indoors.

  “Whoa, I wasn’t expecting that.” She laughed.

  “Expecting what?” James said, suddenly behind us.

  “I was telling Candy about Simon. How’s Thomas?”

  “He calmed down, eventually. What about Simon? That he’s gay?”

  “No...” Candy said, looking at me.

  I laughed. “I told you it was complicated.”

  “Did you say your name’s Candy?” James asked.

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  “Not little Candice?”

  “Yes! I didn’t know if you would recognise me.”

  “Oh, you know each other?” I asked.

  “Candice is Lydia’s little sister.” James began filling the kitchen sink with warm bubbly water.

  “Ah.” I nodded. “Is she expecting you?”

  “Yes. Well, kind of. She knows I’m coming, but just not when.”

  “She’ll be happy to see you. And you her, no doubt. You get off. I’ll bet you’re dying to see her.”

  “A bit apprehensive, if I’m honest. I haven’t seen her in years.”

  “Oh, you’ll be fine. She’s your sister when all’s said and done.” I said.

  James lifted Grace from my arms and undressed her before sitting her in the sink.

  Grace squealed with delight, and began splashing bubbles everywhere.

  “You’re right. I must go.” Candice quickly bade her goodbyes and hurried down the path.

  “What are you going to do about Thomas?” I called after her.

  “Probably nothing. He’s a loony,” she said, as she came back towards me on the other side of the fence.

  I opened my mouth to warn her about the wet paint, but too late. She knocked and cursed, looking down at her blue knuckles as the door opened.

  Going by the screams and whoops coming from the sisters, I could see Candy’s fears were not warranted.

  I closed my door quietly to give them some privacy and went back through to the kitchen.

  “Candy knocked on the wet door,” I said.

  “Oh, no! Why didn’t you stop her?”

  “I tried to but not fast enough,” I laughed.

  “I could’ve kicked myself when I put Gracie in the sink right in front of her.”

  “I don’t get you?”

  “Candice found Joseph in the bath.”

  I gasped.

  “Poor girl was traumatised,” he said.

  “I didn’t realise. No wonder she couldn’t get out of here fast enough. Why do you think the wacko attacked her like that?”

  “I don’t know. He didn’t make any sense, whatsoever.”

  “He’s unhinged, and is becoming a danger. I told you how much he terrified me when I first arrived, didn’t I?”

  “He’s usually harmless. I must admit, that’s the first time I’ve seen him violent like that.” He lifted Grace from the sink, and she began screaming the house down.

  “Hey, my darling. Shall Papa take you to the swing?”

  “I’ll go and grab her some clean clothes,” I said. “We need to start making the most of the weekends with Gracie, now I’ll be working full time.”

  “I know, but, if it’s too much for you, Lee will understand and reduce the hours. I was going to suggest you start part-time at first.”

  “You’ll do nothing of the kind.”

  “Alright, keep your hair on. Thought you were going for clothes.”

  I ran upstairs and grabbed a clean outfit, then called Simon back while James dressed our daughter.

  “I wondered if you’d bother calling me back.”

  “I said I would, didn’t I?”

  “So what’s been happening in your world?” he asked.

  “Gosh, where do I begin? Okay. First off, you know that guy you met last week—the neighbour?”

  “The nutter?”

  “No, the other one.”

  “The sexy one?”

  “Well, he’s not really my type but yes, I guess you’d find him sexy.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” he huffed.

  “Well, you think Kevin is sexy, but he’s not my type. Nothing wrong with him. It just means we have different taste.”

  “I think James is sexy, too. So we must have similar taste,” he said.

  I laughed. “You think anyone is sexy. So long as they’re male.”

  “Oi! Stop being cheeky.”

  “I’m not. But I’ll be sure to tell James what you said.”

  “Don’t you dare! I’ll never be able to look him in the eye again. Anyway, what were you telling me?”

  “Well, his wife was released from prison this week, for killing her baby. She had post-natal depression.”

  “Oh, no. That’s awful.”

  “I know, and she’s lovely too. Well, Lee has been doing a place up for them in another area, but he went over there the other night and, bugger me, didn’t he disturb an intruder, who attacked him.”

  “No...”

  “Yes. He had to fight for his life. But that’s not all. There was already another body at the property. Turned out to be the man’s girlfriend.”

  “Which man? Lee?”

  “No, not Lee. Jesus, you’re as bad as James. The intruder’s girlfriend.”

  “Wow! And here I was thinking you would be bored out of your mind.”

  “No. Quite the opposite. Oh, and I got a job, and was sacked after two hours.”

  Raucous laughter almost deafened me.

  “It’s not funny. I did nothing wrong. It was because I was friends with Lydia.”

  “The baby killer?”

  “Don’t call her that—but yeah.”

  “Outrageous!”

  “I know, tell me about it. I was devastated.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I told him he could stick his job up his bony arse.”

  I heard James laughing from the other room, clearly eavesdropping.

  “But on the brighter side, I found Grace a lovely nursery. And I got another new job.”

  “Jesus Christ. I’m going to have to lie down, just listening to you.” He laughed.

  “I know! Anyway, hon. I’m going to have to go because we�
�re taking Gracie to the swings. When are we going to see you again?”

  “That’s what I was going to say, if only I could get a word in edgeways.”

  “Cheeky bugger!”

  “We were going to come over next Saturday, overnight, if that’s okay?”

  “Course it’s okay. If I don’t hear from you before, I’ll see you then.”

  “Can’t wait for the next instalment—and you didn’t even get around to telling me about the crazy attacker neighbour.”

  “I’ll save that story for next week.” I laughed. “Gotta go. Love you, babe. And say Hi to Kevin for me.”

  Chapter 21

  Lee hardly slept a wink. Thoughts of the detective’s disbelieving face, mixed with Jimmy’s probing questions, set his nerves on edge. He’d never been a good liar. His mother could always see straight through him as a child.

  In the end, he got out of bed in the early hours and tried to settle on the sofa. He heard a sound in the front garden at one point, but presumed it must be the neighbour’s cat or fox. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the word MURDERER scrawled across the front door in black spray paint.

  He quickly took Lydia a cup of tea up to bed, and ran her a luxurious bubbly bath—forgetting that a bath, especially that bath, was not really her thing anymore.

  “I’m sorry, Lyddie. I didn’t think,” he said, when he saw her horrified expression.

  “No, it’s okay. I’ll give it a go. It’s just a bath,” she said, chanting the mantra Geri had somehow put in her head. But he wasn’t knocking it. If saying it’s only a house, or it’s only a bedroom, or it’s only a bath over and over worked, then who was he to judge?

  Certain she wouldn’t be coming downstairs for a while, he rummaged in the back of the shed for the paint and a brush.

  Just after he started painting, Jimmy offered to finish it and he practically snatched his arm off. Between them, Lydia need never find out about the disgusting graffiti.

  He just had to keep her inside until the paint dried.

  No such luck.

  Soon after, a loud rapping at the door had Lydia on her feet and, moments later, she dragged her sister into the kitchen.

  Candice’s knuckles were covered in blue paint.

  “What the heck is that?” Lydia asked.

  “I think I just ruined your nice paint job.” Candice laughed.

  “What paint job?” Lydia glanced at Lee.