Red, everything was red! The pain…so much pain.
Gerard’s thoughts slowed with the lessening of the beating of his heart.
It all hurt so much…
Amanda…
His wife…
Echoes of their voices lingered like ghosts as he slipped away.
The figure, head tilted to one side studying Gerard’s squirming, withdrew the knife and knelt over him, securing Gerard’s neck between its knees.
‘Tell a lie,’ the murderer hissed, ‘lose an eye. Tell two lies, lose two eyes.’
Gerard’s legs were gently twitching by the time the figure pulled the knife from his second eye-socket. Blood veiled Gerard’s face and his mouth hung slack. The figure moved to the desk and tore a piece of paper from a pad before scribbling on it. Spying an ornate letter opener adorned with sparkling gemstones the gloved hand curled around it and, after laying the note across Gerard’s bloodied face, secured the paper’s position by pining it with the letter opener into Gerard’s left eye socket.
* * *
‘You must make an appearance.’ Suzy’s mother’s face wobbled. ‘It will be tantamount to an admission of guilt if you don’t. Do you want everyone to think you did murder Simon?’
‘Dad!’ Suzy wailed. ‘Tell her I can’t go!’
Suzy’s father, plodding in with a newspaper, opened it at Suzy’s tiny kitchen table, using it as a shield. Cautiously, his currant-black eyes peeked out from behind it. ‘I’d rather not be involved in this conversation. Arabella has never listened to me and I doubt she’ll begin now.’
‘Is this how it will be all the time while you’re living with me, Mum?’ Suzy demanded. ‘You screeching at me like a demented banshee?’
Arabella’s voice rose. ‘You have to go to the party, there is no other choice!’
‘Like there wasn’t any other choice other than to marry Simon?’ Suzy returned.
Arabella’s pointed features pinched together. ‘There was the option of having him murdered!’
Suzy and her father gasped in unison.
Arabella smirked. ‘Made my point, haven’t I? By attending the party you’ll be proving you did love Simon even if he preferred to play with men.’
Suzy’s father’s newspaper lowered, although he kept his gaze on the page before him. ‘I beg your pardon?’
Suzy smiled at the uncomfortable look colouring her mother’s face. ‘You may as well tell him, Mum. It’ll probably be in the paper anyway. Besides, Dad isn’t anywhere as uptight as you.’
Suzy’s father handed her the newspaper. ‘You’re right, it is in the paper. The paper you work for, Suzy. Did you know they were going to print this?’
‘Of course I didn’t. Besides I don’t work for them, I’m freelance. It’s just they are the only paper I sell to.’
Taking the newspaper from her father, Suzy laid it on the table and sat down to read it.
“Eastcove Local Exclusive -
A Winter Bride and her Blood Groom
Eastcove Local once again is the first print-stop for local news. After our exclusive reports on the serial killer ‘Cut-throat Casanova’ we wonder if another such terror walks within our midst.
Not long ago, among the falling snow and weathered headstones of Holy Cross Church a bridegroom lay dying from a fatal knife wound.
The news has already flooded social networking sites and messages of sympathy are running into the thousands.
Onlookers, prepared for happy wedding celebrations, were shocked to find the bridegroom’s body in the church graveyard. The bride was taken in for police questioning but has been released without charge.
Was this an accident? Is there another horrendous pattern emerging? We can but hope this death will be the last to bloody our shores.”
‘That’s ridiculous!’ Suzy pushed the pages from the table.
Arabella picked the paper back up and smoothed it out. ‘What’s even more ridiculous,’ she said, ‘is that you write food reviews for them.’
Suzy huffed. ‘That’s different.’
‘Why is it?’
‘Because they pay me.’
Arabella sniffed. ‘Tell them to shove the job up their stupid backsides!’
‘Right,’ Suzy replied sarcastically, ‘because they’re not the ones who pay me thereby enabling me to pay for this house.’
Arabella huffed. ‘Maybe you should give them an interview.’ Her eyes lit up. ‘Would they pay you for an exclusive?’
Suzy stamped her foot. ‘Mum, I am not making money from Simon’s death!’ She stomped from the kitchen and went upstairs to change before she lost her temper and hit her mother over the head with the damned newspaper.
* * *
Suzy still marvelled at the grounds surrounding the immense stately home Stephen resided in. The taxi driver whistled as he carefully drove his car along the tree lined drive. Clear white fairy lights twinkled from each tree, their branches intricately wrapped with the shimmering strands of luminance. Sleek cars occupied the space in front of the building, and extravagantly dressed guests filtered up the wide stone steps leading to the entrance.
Suzy tipped the driver and stood, unobserved, for a moment surveying the scene. Taking several deep breaths to steady her nerves, she smoothed the line of her designer vintage amethyst dress, which had been an early Christmas present from Simon, over the curves of her hips and swept up the steps towards the open doors.
With the heels of her gold sandals click-clacking across the marble floor Suzy made her way towards the Grand Hall, the sound emphasising how she was entering the party alone.
Tall, gilt doors to the Grand Hall were splayed wide like pincers on a beetle’s mouth and Suzy feared they would snap shut on her, accusatorily trapping her between them. Soft music wove from the hall and seductively carried Suzy forward on a wave of notes. The hall was awash with elegantly and glamorously dressed revellers. Six, matching twelve-foot high, fresh Norwegian spruces, adorned with simple yet oversized gold decorations, flanked the sides of the hall, and the ceiling sparkled with the light of thousands of small, star-shaped bulbs.
A surreal hush descended upon the crowd as Suzy stood at the top of the four steps looking down into the Grand Hall. All eyes swivelled in her direction, whispers flying from one person’s lips to another’s. Heat travelled up Suzy’s cheeks and she was thankful she’d had the foresight to colour them with a coral blush. For a moment no-one moved, each person afraid to be the first to approach her for fear of catching a socially out-casting disease.
‘Suzanna, my family!’ a voice boomed from the centre of the hall and the crowd parted for Stephen Prendergast.
Suzy heaved a sigh of relief when he reached her and greeted her with a kiss to each cheek before enveloping her in a bear hug. ‘Are they still staring?’ he whispered in her ear.
Suzy peeked over his shoulder. ‘Some but not all.’
Normal chatter returned to the hall and Stephen kept an arm around Suzy’s waist as he guided her down the steps and clicked his fingers at a nearby waiter, who hurried over with two glasses of champagne.
Suzy swallowed a generous mouthful of the icy bubbles before speaking. ‘I’ll never be your family now, will I? I’m just plain old Suzy who did or didn’t murder her groom on her wedding day.’
Stephen faced Suzy, his free hand reaching for hers. ‘You’ll always be a part of my family, Suzanna. You were the woman my son was going to marry.’
Suzy, touched, supped her drink again. ‘I’m sorry I’ve not been to see you sooner. I can’t imagine how you’ve been feeling. Simon was your only child.’
Stephen nodded slowly. ‘I wish things had worked out differently and that you and Simon were standing here together.’
The unwanted image of Simon naked with Nathaniel popped into Suzy’s head. She kept her mouth shut. Stephen didn’t need to know about that now Simon was no longer here.
Stephen squeezed Suzy’s hand. ‘Anyway, Darling, must mingle. I’ll check up on yo
u again soon, just don’t disappear into the night without telling me. I’d like to have a night-cap with you if I may.’
A short while later, Suzy, third glass of champagne in hand, slipped behind the Norwegian spruce in the furthest corner of the hall. Mingling was proving to be terribly hard work and she was certain accusations hid behind the eyes of each and every person who had the guts to speak with her.
A light tap on her shoulder made her jump and she span around, drink slopping from her glass to stain the front of her dress.
‘Great,’ she groaned. ‘Another dress ruined. Thank you very much.’ She scowled at the blond-haired intruder.
Sevastian, looming over her, laughed. ‘You know how to make an appearance, do you not?’
‘Very funny.’ She moved backwards, unnerved by the effect his presence was having on her.
‘Why are you trying to hide when everyone knows you are here?’
‘I just fancied a little quiet time,’ Suzy replied pointedly.
Sevastian’s clear eyes shone. ‘Me too.’
‘Alone and silent.’
Sevastian held a finger to his lips and Suzy sighed in exasperation, turning her back on him.
‘I visited Cove Jewellery after I rescued your handbag.’
Suzy stiffened but still kept her back to Sevastian, her breath caught in the back of her throat.
‘I was looking for a diamond ring.’
Suzy slowly turned and faced him. ‘I thought we were being quiet.’
‘You were. There was nothing in the jewellery store I liked. Do you have any idea where I could find a very nice diamond ring? My father is looking for one as a present for my sister’s birthday.’
‘No,’ Suzy replied, heart thudding furiously and jumping into her throat. ‘I don’t. You’re the jeweller, you should know and judging by how fluently you speak English, you are more than capable of finding out for yourself.’ She pushed past Sevastian and joined the fray, hoping he didn’t detect her trembling. As soon as she left the party she’d make sure it was safe to contact Gerard and tell him not to breathe a word of the Vydrina Diamond to anyone and to make sure his daughter kept her big teenage gob shut. There was something unfathomable within Sevastian’s eyes which shook her to her very core.
Stephen was telling Suzy about the coffin he had chosen for Simon’s funeral when there was a commotion at the grand doors. For the second time that evening a surreal hush descended in the Prendergast Grand Hall.
Instantly recognising the face of the smartly dressed, albeit ragingly drunken man, at the top of the steps, Suzy swallowed the remainder of her champagne in one huge gulp and wished she could disappear just as easily.
‘Is that Nathaniel Drinkwater?’ a woman beside Stephen asked him.
Stephen nodded. ‘The one and only.’
The woman snorted. ‘He’s not even wearing a tie.’
‘I don’t suppose it matters if your father’s a diamond merchant,’ interjected another snooty voice.
‘A diamond merchant?’ Suzy parroted in disbelief.
‘Yes,’ began the snooty voiced woman. ‘Daddy Drinkwater used to supply diamonds to top jewellers across the world but I heard he’s hit hard times. There have been some serious allegations regarding how he sourced the diamonds.’
Suzy’s brain slowly clinked into action. Did that mean Nathaniel had a reason to kill Simon? Had he found out about the Vydrina Diamond and decided he wanted it for himself?
‘You lot,’ Nathaniel slurred from the top step. ‘Should all be ashamed of yourselves!’ He slapped away the steadying hands of a waiter who had appeared at his side. ‘Partying when Simon’s not even been laid to rest!’
Stephen, his mouth set in a grim line, cannonballed through the crowd until he stood at the bottom of the steps. ‘Mr Drinkwater, you are drunk. Please leave.’
‘Drunk?’ Nathaniel stumbled down the four steps and crashed into Stephen. ‘I’m not nearly drunk enough!’ He expertly lifted two glasses of champagne from a waitress’ tray and proceeded to down one after the other.
Suzy held back, part of her wanted to slap Nathaniel’s handsomely tanned face and the other wanted to cosset him, he was clearly suffering far more than her over Simon’s death. She bit her lip, guilty at having suspected Nathaniel possible of murder.
Or, a nasty thought whispered itself through her head; he was a bloody excellent actor.
‘Have you no respect for Simon?’ Nathaniel continued, his unfocussed eyes trying to toss scorn on those in the crowd. ‘Does no-one love him?’
‘That’s enough!’ Stephen commanded, roughly grabbing Nathaniel’s elbow. ‘Now, either leave or be thrown out.’
Nathaniel shook his arm free and his gaze finally settled on Suzy. ‘You!’ he bellowed, extending a long finger. ‘You claim to love him yet you’re here with these...these...leeches!’ His lip curled.
Suzy, aware of eyes upon her, spoke with a trembling voice. ‘I did love Simon.’
‘Did?’ Nathaniel screeched. ‘Did? And what, you don’t now just because he’s dead?’
‘I didn’t mean that!’ Suzy screamed, suddenly overcome with anger. Pointing a finger back at Nathaniel, she continued, ‘I did love him but I’ve accepted he didn’t love me as he loved YOU!’
Nathaniel shrank back from the verbal prod as if he’d been slapped. The only sound in the hall was the wracking of Suzy’s sobs as her suppressed emotions finally consumed her and she dropped to her knees, hands over her face.
Stephen broke the silence. ‘What?’
Nathaniel wobbled on his feet and the same waiter who had tried, unsuccessfully, before to steady him succeeded this time. ‘Simon’s my lover!’ he screamed. ‘And yes we love each other!’
‘But Simon was to marry Suzanna,’ Stephen’s voice remained controlled.
Nathaniel shrugged. ‘Only because you were making him, if it were up to Simon he and I would’ve been married years ago but you would have cut him off and we both have rather expensive tastes.’ His voice rose. ‘And yes, my father is broke!’
Whispers spread again from mouth to mouth, heads nodding in acknowledgment of being proven right. Suzy, still on the floor, broke into a fresh bout of wails.
‘Enough!’ Stephen roared at the same time Detective Sanders and another police officer erupted through the doorway.
‘Mr Prendergast,’ Detective Julian Sanders interrupted, ‘I received a call about a disturbance and I seem to have found it.’
Stephen nodded stiffly. ‘There is a disturbance most definitely. I’ll trust you will take care of the removal of Mr Drinkwater from my property.’ He strode away and lifted Suzy to her feet. ‘Come on, Suzanna, let’s clean you up, my darling.’ He promptly whirled her past the police and Nathaniel, amid a rising level in excited chatter.
Suzy allowed Stephen to guide her into the cosy library at the front of the grand house, and into an oxblood, leather club chair. He pushed a glass of neat whisky into her hand with orders to drink.
‘That bloody idiot, Nathaniel!’ he spat through gritted teeth, grasping the mantle of the fireplace which commanded centre stage in the room. ‘Didn’t he think all he would succeed in doing was to oil the rumour mill even further?’ His eyes travelled up to the urn in the middle of the mantle, which held his wife’s—Simon’s mother’s—ashes. Who had tragically died from a horse-riding accident earlier in the year. ‘Apologies for the swearing,’ he told the urn. ‘I know you hate it.’
Suzy, dutifully sipping the whisky, winced as its heat scalded her throat. ‘I don’t think Nathaniel thought it through. I think he’s heartbroken.’
She gulped a mouthful of air and held her breath to stop from crying. Stephen had already the grief of losing his wife and child, and now he had even more heartbreak to handle. Maybe she should have told him sooner, to have saved him from such a scene as had just unravelled.
Stephen turned from the fireplace and dropped to one knee in front of Suzy, grasping her hands, which were tightly clut
ching the crystal tumbler of alcohol. ‘I’m sorry you had to find out like that, it must have been perfectly awful for you. I’m his father and I’m shocked beyond belief, especially after losing Simon in such a horrific way.’ He suppressed a sigh and dropped his gaze to the floor.
Suzy wondered whether lying was the preferable option, it would be, she considered, the easiest but the truth wouldn’t stay hidden for long after the newspapers were allowed to publish the exact details surrounding Simon’s demise.
‘I already knew about Nathaniel,’ she admitted. ‘I found out the morning of the wedding.’
Stephen took a moment to respond. Painfully slowly he removed his hands from hers and drew himself to his full height. Hardened, aqua-marine eyes glittered down at Suzy, making her wish she’d kept her mouth shut. Stephen poured a measure of whisky and swallowed it in one gulp. The knuckles of his hand encasing the glass turned white before he launched the tumbler at the fireplace, causing the expensive, Austrian crystal to shatter.
His voice grew from normal into a boom. ‘You knew?’
Suzy set her drink on the table beside the chair, noticing even in his anger Stephen’s hawk eyes observed she missed the coaster. Nervously she jumped to her feet. ‘I think I should leave, you’re obviously upset.’
‘You’ll do no such thing.’ Stephen’s hand clamped around her wrist. ‘You will tell me exactly what you know.’
‘Calm down, Mr Prendergast.’ Detective Sanders’ athletic frame filled the doorway. ‘I think Miss Harte has had enough to deal with these last few days.’
Stephen looked at his fingers, nails pinching into the soft underside of Suzy’s wrist, as if seeing them for the first time, and instantly released his hold. ‘I apologise, my darling. I don’t know what came over me.’ He patted her shoulder.
Suzy managed an awkward smile. ‘We’ve both had a lot to deal with, I completely understand.’
‘Has Mr Drinkwater been dealt with?’ Stephen asked the detective.
‘Yes, he’s been bundled off in a taxi with instruction to stay away from the alcohol. I think he’s a bit embarrassed about his behaviour. I’ll arrange another taxi for you, Miss Harte.’ Detective Sanders strode back into the hallway, barking instructions into his mobile phone.
Unveiling Lies (Eastcove Lies Book 2) Page 4
