Killing Kate
Page 30
Just as it is RIGHT for a boy to know his DAD.
It will be better for Beth if she allows this, because then she will be able to control it.
I know YOU will understand this. And that is why I want YOU to talk to her on my behalf. If you don’t, then what happens will be on YOUR conscience. You KNOW what I am capable of.
You can write back to me at the address on the top of this letter. Make sure you include my prisoner number, if you want to be sure the letter will reach me. For avoidance of doubt, the number is—
She stopped reading.
He was in prison, locked in a cell, miles away from her, but, with the letter in her hand, he felt so close. It was as though he was in the room with her, right there, grinning like the madman he was. She sobbed, memories of the barn and the motorhome flooding over her.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts. She had to think through what to do. First and foremost, she had to find a way to stop him doing this again.
And then she had to tell Beth. She needed to know.
She picked up her phone and called Gus.
‘Hi,’ he said. ‘What’s up?’
‘I got a letter,’ she replied. ‘From him. From Mike. Colin. Whatever he’s called.’
‘Fucking arsehole,’ Gus said. ‘He shouldn’t be writing to you. What does he want?’
‘To see Dylan. He wants me to pass the message on to Beth. I don’t know what to do. And I don’t want any more letters.’
‘I’ll deal with that,’ Gus said. ‘I’ll contact the prison authorities and tell them what happened. They won’t let him send any more.’
‘And what about Beth?’
‘I think you should tell her.’
Kate stared at the wall. ‘Shit,’ she said. ‘I’m scared, Gus. Scared that he’ll get out and come for us.’
‘That won’t happen. He’s locked up, Kate. Locked up for good.’
‘I wish he was gone for good.’
‘Yeah. It would be better,’ Gus said, ‘if one night the wardens happened to forget to lock his cell and he had a nasty accident.’
‘Is that possible?’
There was a long pause.
‘Anything’s possible,’ Gus said. ‘With the right word in the right ear.’
After she hung up with Gus, Kate dialled Beth’s number. She was dreading telling her friend about the letter, dreading her reaction, dreading being the one who brought the past flooding into the present.
‘Hey, stranger,’ Beth said. She sounded bright, happy. ‘What’re you calling for?’
‘I …’ Kate didn’t know how to say it, didn’t know how to pass on the news that would shatter her friend’s hard-won peace of mind. ‘I …’
‘Is everything OK?’ Beth said. Her tone was alarmed. ‘Kate?’
‘Yes,’ Kate said. ‘Everything’s fine.’
She couldn’t do it. Beth was better not knowing. Mike was gone, safely locked away in prison. There was no point causing Beth the torture of sleepless nights.
She smiled, trying to put some warmth into her voice. ‘I wanted to say hi.’
They chatted for a few more minutes, then hung up, Kate relieved she hadn’t passed on Mike’s message, Beth sounding confused at the strange call from her friend.
Kate picked up the letter and read it again. She could hear his voice in her head, hear his lunatic tone.
He’s never going to stop, she thought. He’s going to keep on until he gets what he wants. And I didn’t tell Beth, so now it’s my problem.
She thought for a few seconds – only a few, this was a decision that had to be taken quickly, without too much thought, or it would never be taken at all – then called Gus again.
‘Hi,’ she said. ‘I didn’t tell her.’
‘Oh?’ Gus replied. ‘She needs to know, Kate.’
‘I couldn’t. She sounded so happy. She doesn’t need to be worrying about this. It’s not fair. And there’s no threat. He can’t get out.’
‘Right. He’s going nowhere.’
Kate hesitated. ‘But if something did happen. If he did get out and come after her and Dylan, then it would be on me, because I didn’t say anything. And that can’t happen.’
‘So you need to tell her,’ Gus said.
‘Maybe not,’ Kate replied. ‘I was thinking about what you said. About him having an accident in prison. That it’s possible. That anything’s possible.’
‘Yes,’ Gus said slowly. ‘And?’
‘And I was wondering, how possible. If there’s a way to make it real …’
‘Kate,’ Gus said. ‘If you’re saying what I think you’re saying—’
‘I am,’ she said. ‘I am. This has to end, Gus. And he deserves it. If anyone does, he does.’
Gus paused. ‘Are you sure, Kate?’
‘If he’d left us alone, I’d say no,’ Kate said. ‘But he didn’t. He started this. And he won’t stop, ever. Beth and Dylan and I deserve to live in peace. So yes, I’m sure.’
‘OK,’ Gus said. ‘Are you asking me to help?’
‘I don’t want you to do anything that will get you in trouble,’ Kate said. ‘Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.’
‘If I’m going to do that, I might as well take care of it myself,’ Gus said. He paused for a long time. ‘But you’re right. This has to stop. I can help with that.’
‘I can deal with it, Gus.’
‘I don’t doubt that, but it’ll be easier if I do it. All I need from you is cash.’
He named a number – a lot, but a surprisingly small amount, given what it represented – and told her to assemble it over a few weeks, so there would be no record of a large withdrawal.
He came over one Sunday afternoon a few weeks later. Didn’t finish the cup of tea she made him. She passed him a fat envelope. He nodded, and hugged her.
Whatever he did, it didn’t take long. She read the story on her phone the following Wednesday morning:
BREAKING NEWS: SERIAL KILLER COLIN DAVIDSON FOUND DEAD
Serial killer Colin Davidson is dead. The exact cause of death has not yet been released, but according to a statement from the prison, he committed suicide.
Davidson was responsible for the murders of at least eight women. He operated in Sheffield, and the small village of Stockton Heath. Davidson, also known as, among others, Mike Sadler and Mark Stevens, was one of Britain’s most notorious killers. He is survived by his parents.
She was interrupted by her phone ringing. It was Beth.
‘Hi,’ Kate said. ‘Did you see it?’
‘Yes,’ Beth said. It sounded like she’d been crying. ‘It’s over, Kate. Finally, it’s over.’
Acknowledgements
Warmest thanks to:
My early readers – Jessie, Barbara and Tahnthawan: their careful editorial suggestions – always kindly delivered (‘I’m not sure that scene works as well as it could’ or ‘you might want to think about how that character would behave’) are invaluable.
Marcus Deck, for his advice on what might or might not be medically feasible.
Norman Banner, for his legal review.
Becky Ritchie, for her support, advice and encouragement. I am lucky to have her as an agent.
Sarah Hodgson, for her invaluable editorial advice. She is patient, thorough and inspiring.
Lucy Dauman, and everyone else at Harper Collins. I continue to be amazed at the work you do in marketing, cover design and all the other things that go into making a book which you mercifully keep hidden from me. Thank you.
Loved Killing Kate? Enjoy another psychological thriller by Alex Lake…
The real nightmare starts when her daughter is returned…
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About the Author
Alex Lake is the pseudonym of a British novelist. Alex’s first novel, After Anna, was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller, a USA Today Top Twenty bestseller and a number one bestselling ebook. Killing Kate is Alex’s second novel.
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Alex was born in the North West of England in the 1970s and currently lives in Maine.
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