The Girl Who Lied

by Sue Fortin

  Saying our goodbyes, Fiona and I leave the hospital.

  ‘Sean’s working overtime,’ says Fiona, checking her phone as we drive out of the hospital grounds. ‘He texted me to say they are having one last search for Roisin before it gets dark. They’ll start again in the morning.’

  ‘Did you tell Sean about Roisin stirring up all this trouble?’ I ask. Fiona turns her head to the passing scenery. I ask again. ‘Fiona, did you tell Sean?’

  ‘No. I didn’t. I was hoping to keep him out of it. I didn’t want to worry him,’ she says, continuing to gaze out of the window. She rests her head against the glass. ‘If Roisin doesn’t turn up, I’m going to have to mention it.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because he needs to know all the facts before someone gossips in the village and tells him.’

  ‘But no one knows, other than us.’

  ‘And Kerry.’

  ‘He’s no gossip.’

  ‘Let’s hope he’s not.’

  ‘He is NOT.’

  Fiona turns away from the window. ‘I didn’t mean to offend you, but you don’t know him that well.’

  ‘Let’s agree to disagree. Innocent until proven guilty. I’m sure, married to Sean, you must know that.’ I try to keep the edge out of my voice. I don’t want to fall out with Fiona, but my instinct to defend Kerry is great, even though my sister does have a point about not knowing him that well.

  ‘It’s not just Kerry, anyway,’ says Fiona. ‘We don’t know what Roisin has told anyone else. What if she’s said something to Diana?’

  ‘I’m sure if Diana knew anything, she wouldn’t be quietly sat at home.’

  ‘I have to think of Sean too,’ says Fiona. ‘I don’t want him to have any surprises. Not while he’s investigating Roisin’s disappearance. He could get into trouble at work. Conflict of interest. Or accused of not doing his job properly because he doesn’t want Roisin found.’

  We continue the journey in silence until I pull up outside Fiona’s house. ‘I hadn’t thought of it like that,’ I say. ‘I suppose you had better tell him everything.’

  ‘He doesn’t want any of this to come out any more than we do. But it could put him in a really difficult position,’ says Fiona.

  ‘What were we thinking of back then? Why did we ever think we could pull this off?’

  ‘At the time it was very straightforward,’ says Fiona. ‘Never in a million years did we think anyone would find out, least of all Roisin. Don’t start with the recriminations. It’s too late for that. We have to deal with the here and now.’

  When I get back to the flat I go straight to Mum and Dad’s bedroom. Opening the wardrobe doors, I kneel down in front of the safe. I’m glad Dad didn’t invest in one of those safes with a keypad and secret number, having a key makes life so much easier.

  My hand is shaking with both excitement and fear. Never in my life have I ever been allowed anywhere near the safe. Dad is the keeper and doesn’t even allow Mum to open it. I wonder what I’m about to find. It’s as if I’m committing a crime merely by having the key, let alone opening the safe. Dad would be furious if he knew. In the past, defying his wishes would have given me a sense of satisfaction, but today it’s not there. Today there’s guilt and fear.

  I’ve taken the key from my mum without her knowing because I am suspicious of her. Guilt. If I find what I think I will in the safe, then the implications are huge. Fear.

  I wipe my sweaty palm on my trouser leg, buying myself a few seconds.

  The key turns easily. I can feel the internal locks moving and hear a clank as the bolt is freed from its position. I open the door and peer inside.

  The navy-blue coin bag is sitting folded neatly in half at the front of the safe. I lift it out. Inside the cloth bag, bundled up with an elastic band, is a collection of notes, twenties, tens and fives. A till receipt is on top. I examine the date and check on my phone. Fifteenth of May. Yep, that’s the day Dad had his accident.

  I sit back on my heels as the implications float around in my mind, settling in an uncomfortable order. Mum has been lying about the key. She’s lied about the takings in the safe. Why? And what else has she lied about? For whatever reason, she wants us to think that my dad might have been mugged for the takings. There’s something about that night that she’s not telling us.

  I sink back onto the carpet, bringing my knees up and resting my chin on them.

  The only reason Mum would be lying would be to protect someone. Who would she go to such lengths to protect?

  I know there is only one answer.

  ‘Oh, Jesus, Mum,’ I say out loud. ‘What have you done?’

  Chapter 30

  Kerry rubbed his hair dry with the towel and pulled on his black t-shirt before going in search of his jeans. Ten minutes earlier he had seen Erin pull up outside the café. He had been thinking about what she’d told him. In fact, it had never been far from his mind, trying to reconcile her actions with his morals. It made him sound pompous when he said it like that, but the divide was there. However, ignoring it wasn’t solving it.

  He sat down on the sofa and slipped on his boots. He’d go over on the pretext he was checking she was okay after her visit to her dad. It was partly true, but it would also give him the opportunity to talk to her.

  A sudden crash from outside had him jumping up to look out of the window.

  Kerry knew the sound. It was the distinctive dull crunch of metal on metal.

  ‘Shit.’

  Grabbing his keys, he ran out of the flat, down the outside steps and round into the side road.

  He could see a black Audi A3 embedded in the side of a silver estate. He recognised the cars immediately. The Audi belonged to Diana Marshall and the silver estate was Jim Hurley’s.

  The door of the A3 swung open and out stumbled Diana Marshall. Kerry increased his stride.

  ‘Mrs Marshall!’ he called. Diana staggered towards him. As he reached her, he put out his arms to stop her from falling over. It was then that the waft of alcohol hit him. Jesus, she wasn’t concussed at all, she was steaming drunk.

  ‘Where’s that bloody Hurley girl?’ Diana slurred her words as she spoke, pushing Kerry away from her. ‘I need to speak to her.’

  ‘Mrs Marshall, I don’t think now is a good time,’ said Kerry.

  ‘Ah! There she is!’ Diana pushed Kerry to one side and swayed with the effort, trying to maintain an upright position.

  Kerry looked back towards the shops. Erin was standing on the path watching events unfold. She must have heard the crash too. He glanced up at the other flats. He could see a couple of faces at the windows, like theatre-goers in the balcony seats.

  Great.

  ‘Erin, go inside,’ he called, jogging to catch up with Diana.

  Erin folded her arms and stood her ground. No words needed, her body language spoke volumes.

  Diana was making her way across the grass, her heels sinking into the soft turf, making her progress even more unsteady. She reminded Kerry of Storm as a toddler, just finding his feet but not being in complete control.

  ‘Erin Hurley! This is all your fault.’ Diana was shouting as she staggered. ‘You have brought nothing but misery to my family. Why did you have to come back? Go back to England. You’re not wanted here.’

  Erin raised her chin, her arms dropped to her sides, but she didn’t budge.

  Kerry swore to himself again. He wondered just how much Diana knew. Maybe Roisin had confided in her mother. Somehow he doubted it, however. Now wasn’t the time to mull this over. He needed to get Diana away from Erin.

  ‘Mrs Marshall, stop this. Not here. Everyone is watching,’ he said, trying to appeal to her vanity. ‘You’re embarrassing yourself.’

  Diana leaned back, trying to focus her eyes on him. ‘Whilst I appreciate your concerns, Kerry,’ she said. ‘This has nothing to do with you whatsoever.’

  ‘Please, this is going to achieve nothing tonight. Let me take you home,’ he said. He looked over his
shoulder. ‘Erin, why don’t you go inside? You’re making it worse.’

  ‘Me, making it worse?’ Erin gave an exaggerated huff. ‘I’m not the one causing the scene.’

  ‘You’re not helping!’ Honestly, women! ‘Just go inside. Please.’

  ‘While she stands there and rubbishes me for everyone to hear? I don’t think so.’

  ‘I’m taking her home.’ He turned his attention back to Diana. ‘Come on, Mrs Marshall, I’ll drive you.’

  Somehow he managed to get Diana moving in the direction of the car. He hoped the Audi was driveable. It looked like the front bumper of Diana’s car had gone down the off-side of Jim’s, gouging a furrow from the rear wing to the driver’s door.

  Somewhat unceremoniously, he bundled Diana into the rear of the car. He turned round to see Erin jogging across the grass towards him.

  She looked at the side of her dad’s car.

  ‘Looks like she’s taken a giant can opener to it,’ she said.

  ‘Don’t be worrying about that now,’ said Kerry. ‘Can’t you go inside, out of the way?’

  Diana must have spotted Erin, for she started shouting again. Kerry pushed the door shut as she tried to get out.

  ‘I’ll follow you in Dad’s car,’ said Erin. ‘You’ll need a lift back. As long as this heap still works.’

  Kerry didn’t argue. It would save him having to call Joe out for a lift. ‘Okay, but stay parked up down the road a bit, where she won’t see you.’

  ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be discreet.’ Erin went round and got in the car. It started up and she drove out of the parking bay onto Beach Road.

  Diana had calmed down and when Kerry looked in the back of the car, she was slumped to one side. ‘Right, I’ll be taking you home now, Mrs Marshall,’ he said as he got in the driver’s seat. ‘You stay right where you are.’

  Diana made an incoherent noise, which Kerry took as a yes.

  When he reached the Marshall’s house, he was glad to see Erin had parked a few houses down. He swung the A3 into the driveway, coming to a halt outside the front door.

  There were no lights on in the house, but Pat Marshall’s car was in the drive. Kerry rang the bell and banged on the door, before resorting to shouting through the letter-box.

  Finally, a light went on in the hallway.

  ‘Mr Marshall, it’s Kerry Wright. I’ve got Mrs Marshall here with me!’

  He could hear the lock and bolt being slid open and a bleary-eyed Pat appeared in the doorway.

  ‘Kerry, sorry, I was upstairs. Must have dozed off.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Is that the time? Nine-thirty? Don’t know what happened there.’

  Kerry suspected that Pat, like his wife, had been on the booze. Shame it hadn’t had the same effect on Mrs Marshall and sent her off to sleep long before she got it into her head to confront Erin.

  ‘Mrs Marshall was in the village. She’s in a bit of a state,’ said Kerry, as he went back round to the car, followed by Pat. ‘She was very upset with Erin Hurley. I’m afraid she crashed into Jim Hurley’s car.’

  Pat groaned. ‘Any damage?’

  ‘You could say that.’ Kerry nodded at the smashed bumper of the A3. ‘There’s a big gouge down the side of Jim’s car.’

  ‘Send me the bill,’ said Pat, with a sigh. He leaned into the car and hauled his wife out. ‘Come on, Diana. Let’s get you inside.’ He turned to Kerry at the doorway. ‘Thank you. And sorry.’

  Kerry held up his hand. ‘No need to apologise, Mr Marshall.’ He went to walk away, but paused. ‘Mr Marshall. Just to say, we’re all hoping that Roisin comes back soon.’

  ‘Thank you, Kerry. I appreciate that. Goodnight.’ He closed the door.

  Kerry let out a sigh. It was a sorry state of affairs all round.

  Kerry crunched his way back down the gravel drive and out into the road. Erin was leaning against the side of the car, her hands in the front pockets of her jeans.

  ‘All okay?’ she asked as he neared.

  ‘Yeah, Pat’s taken her in. I think the pair of them have hit the bottle tonight. He’d been asleep. Had no idea she had even gone out.’

  Erin rolled her eyes. ‘That woman has a serious drink problem.’

  ‘Is it any wonder?’

  Erin got in the car and slammed the door. ‘It’s not my fault.’

  ‘I know that. I wasn’t saying it was,’ said Kerry, as he got in the car. ‘You’re very defensive and there’s no need to be. Not with me, at least.’

  Her face softened and she gave him a small smile.

  ‘I know. Sorry, old habits and all that.’ She started the engine and pulled away down the road back towards the village. ‘She does hate me, though. Her and Roisin.’

  ‘No one hates you,’ said Kerry.

  ‘Not even you?’

  ‘Not even me.’ Far from hating her, Kerry acknowledged that his feelings for Erin were growing each day. He had thought long and hard about what she had done, about what his mother had done and he kept coming back to what Joe had said about not judging a teenager’s actions through the eyes of an adult.

  ‘What I did when I had the baby doesn’t mean I didn’t love her,’ said Erin. It was as if she had read his mind. She continued without waiting for him to speak. ‘I love my child, more than anything and giving her up was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Nothing has ever come close to being that difficult. Nothing. It doesn’t make me a bad person or a bad mother. I sacrificed motherhood for my child.’

  He could hear the pain in her voice. It tugged at his heart. She was still staring straight ahead, her eyes not leaving the road, but as they neared the village and passed under the streetlights, he could see her biting on her lip.

  ‘I’m really trying to understand,’ he said. ‘Honest, I am. It’s just… well, having been shunned by my own mother, it doesn’t come easy.’

  She nodded and a tear dropped down her cheek. She wiped it away with her fingertips.

  ‘You know, after a time, bearing a grudge becomes second nature. It’s easier to cut someone off and not speak to them than it is to face them and to face whatever the issue is. If you talk about things and resolve them, it means that you have to readjust everything that has kept you going for all that time, every word you’ve ever spoken against that person, you have to take back. You have to swallow your pride and take a very scary step into the unknown.’

  As Erin turned the car onto Beach Road and drove towards the café, they saw two police cars parked in the bays.

  Kerry sat up a bit straighter. ‘Looks like someone called the Guards about Diana.’

  ‘What are you going to say?’

  ‘Nothing, she was upset so I drove her home. I won’t be mentioning the alcohol. The poor woman has enough on her plate. You won’t say anything either, will you?’

  Erin pulled into the parking bay. ‘No. What’s the point?’

  ‘Good.’

  As they got out of the car, so did two guards from each of the vehicles. It was then that Kerry recognised Sean Keane.

  ‘Hi, Sean,’ said Erin. ‘Everything all right?’

  ‘There’s been a development on Roisin going missing,’ he said. ‘We’ve looked at her phone records. It seems the night she disappeared she exchanged text messages with both you and Kerry at separate times.’

  Kerry exchanged a look with Erin. He didn’t like the tone in Sean’s voice and two squad cars was overkill for just a catch-up.

  ‘Do you want to get to the point, Sean?’ he said.

  ‘We need to interview both of you. Separately,’ said Sean.

  ‘What?’ It was Erin. ‘You don’t think we’ve anything to do with Roisin’s disappearance, do you?’

  ‘Let’s go down to the station,’ said Sean. ‘We’ll chat then.’

  ‘I’m guessing it’s more than a chat,’ said Kerry. He could feel the old hostility towards the local law enforcement resurrect itself. He spoke to Erin. ‘You don’t have to go with them. They have to formally ar
rest you to make you go down to the station.’ Then he turned to Sean and the three officers, who were now flanking him. ‘If it’s just a chat, let’s have it now.’

  ‘Kerry, don’t,’ said Erin. ‘We’ve nothing to hide, let’s go along with them.’ She came round the car and stood beside him, her hand resting on his arm. ‘Please, don’t make a fuss.’

  She was right, of course. Kerry took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. ‘Okay.’

  Sean stepped forward. ‘Erin, you go in the car with my two colleagues. Kerry, you come with me.’

  Kerry felt Erin’s grip tighten on his hand. ‘Just tell the truth,’ she said. ‘You’ve done nothing wrong.’

  ‘And neither have you,’ said Kerry, before letting her hand fall and making his way to the police car.

  Chapter 31

  The interview room at the station was no different to any other interview room Kerry had sat in before. In his younger days they were familiar places. Regularly hauled in for many a misdemeanour, only to have his knuckles rapped and then to be released again. Kerry had always known it was his stepfather behind the harsh treatment he received for petty things such as drinking in the park with his friends, or just not being in the right place at the right time. His friends got a ticking off on the spot; Kerry got taken down to the station for a talk.

  Despite the seriousness of today’s interview, Kerry was as relaxed as he had ever been. Erin, on the other hand, he suspected was faring less well.

  Eventually, Sean Keane and another officer came into the interview room.

  ‘Am I likely to need a solicitor?’ said Kerry.

  ‘You’re here of your own free will. You’re not under arrest. We simply want a chat,’ said Sean. He sat down opposite Kerry, resting his hands on the table between them. ‘Do you want a coffee? Tea?’

  ‘No. I’m good. Can we get on with this? It’s late and kind of messing up my plans for the evening.’

  ‘Can you confirm exactly when you last saw Roisin Marshall?’

  ‘I don’t know exactly. Sunday, maybe?’