‘Thanks for coming.’ He looked up at me. ‘I got you a coffee and a piece of cake. I think we both might need cake today.’
I pulled a chair out and dropped into it, letting my bag slide down to the floor.
‘Thanks, Hashim, what is it? You never said on the phone, you look pretty rough.’
And he did. I had never seen him look so pale. His hands were shaking around his mug. His eyes had shadows smudged underneath them.
He looked at me closer. ‘What have you done to your eye?’
I put my hand up to it, conscious of the bruise. I’d tried to use make-up to cover it this morning but swimming is not good for make-up.
‘I tripped over Lilac this morning and fell into the table. You should have heard me shriek at her, poor thing. She ran off in shock.’
Hashim nodded as though it was a perfectly acceptable explanation.
‘You didn’t answer my question,’ I reminded him.
‘My neighbour,’ he said. ‘You know the one I complained to you about?’
I nodded. Words wouldn’t come.
‘He’s been murdered. His sister went to visit him this morning because he didn’t answer his phone and when she got there the door was unlocked so she went in and she found him. Oh Alice… she said it was brutal.’
His shaking hands couldn’t hold the mug any longer and he put it down onto the table with a clatter.
Coffee wafted up from my mug and into my nose. It was warm but it was doing little to comfort me as it usually would. I didn’t dare try to pick my own mug up in case I gave myself away with my own shaking hands.
‘That’s awful,’ I said. ‘Why would someone do that?’
Hashim looked down at his coffee mug.
‘I don’t know. He was a nice enough bloke. They were the nicest couple. He just went off the rails a bit when they split up. I know I moaned about him, but I would never wish this on him. The poor, poor man.’
Tears pricked Hashim’s eyes.
‘What have the police said?’ I asked.
‘They came to ask me if I heard anything and took a quick statement. I didn’t hear anything other than the usual noise of his music until late and then nothing. It must have happened when the music was on, but I’m guessing. I’m a light sleeper. I like to hope I’d have heard something if he hadn’t been playing that damn music so loud.’
If he hadn’t been playing that damn music so loud it was likely he’d still be alive.
‘The police didn’t give you anything?’ I asked.
Hashim looked up at me.
‘Sorry,’ I said. ‘It’s a habit from writing. I’m always interested in the police point of view.’
I hung my head. I was all twisted up and had no idea how to deal with this.
‘They didn’t give anything away, no. They had more questions than they had answers. Not that I asked much.’
He scrunched up his face as he thought back to his interaction.
‘I did ask them why he had been killed and they didn’t seem to have any answers for me. They said they were still pulling their investigation together and would have more information in a couple of days but if I thought of anything that would be of help to get in touch, and one of them gave me a card with their details on.’
He fished in his pocket and pulled out a card with a name and number on. I didn’t recognise it.
I was surprised Hashim was so upset by the death. He had seemed annoyed by his neighbour. Not like he cared for him. I thought I was doing him a favour. I was perturbed by this. I looked at the cake in front of me, in front of Hashim as well and saw that neither of us had touched either piece.
‘I’m sure they’ll have some answers for you soon.’
I tried to soothe him but it was hollow. I hoped to hell they didn’t have any answers for him any time soon. Here he was sharing his grief with me about his neighbour and I had to pretend all was well in my world. I couldn’t tell him I was grieving for a loved one. Not just a neighbour. I was grieving for a family member. But I hadn’t been informed yet. I wondered about that, about why I hadn’t been informed. Surely as her only family it would be something they would do immediately. I could barely concentrate on what Hashim was saying. I wanted to leave, to go home and wait for a call so I could openly cry for Beth and do the things that normal people did. Not that I knew what normal people did. I always followed Beth’s lead in that department.
It was still reasonably early. I should be getting a call soon. I presumed they were dealing with all the official stuff first.
I had to go. I had nothing to give to Hashim. I hugged him; it was the first time and it felt stilted, but it also felt like it was the thing I was supposed to do in these circumstances.
‘I’m sorry, Hashim,’ I said. ‘Call me anytime, won’t you?’
And I meant it. It would at least keep me up to date with any investigation. Plus I liked the man. He had been nothing but kind to me.
I watched as he shuffled out of the coffee shop. His shoulders drooping, his walk slow. Then I made my way back home and waited for the call I knew was coming.
55
The call came as I travelled home. It was Karen; she was subdued and it only took a couple of words of her talking before she started to break down. I had to pretend I didn’t know what she was trying to say.
‘What is it, Karen? Is something wrong with Beth? Tell me,’ I said.
She blubbered some more and then told me that Beth was dead. That she had come in that morning and found her dead in her bed.
‘How? What the hell has happened?’
I parked the car in front of the house and stayed where I was. My brain was ticking over. I had to try and remember what I knew and what they thought I knew and didn’t know.
‘She was surrounded by pill bottles, Alice. The police are involved. I’ve had to make a statement. We both have. It’s awful.’
‘Is Beth still there? I want to see her,’ I said.
And I realised I did. I hadn’t spent long with her after she died last night. I was too concerned with leaving and thinking about things like getting caught. I wanted to say my goodbyes to her now she had passed.
Karen snuffled some more.
‘She’s been taken away. I’m sorry. This has been the first chance I’ve had to phone you, it’s been so busy here. The police told me not to phone you this morning while they were interviewing us. I don’t know why. I’m so sorry, Alice. I don’t know what’s happened.’
I could hear her crying, she had a tissue or something up to her mouth and nose because it was muffled. She was trying to stop the tears that were flowing. I knew she cared about her charge. It wasn’t just a job for her. I had always been happy with the quality of care she had provided.
‘Thank you for letting me know, Karen.’
‘She was a wonderful woman, I’m sorry it ended like this. I never knew she even thought this way. I would have talked to her about her feelings more. I would have tried to talk her out of it.’
And that was why she never told you. ‘I know you would. I’m sure she knew how much you cared. Thank you for taking such good care of her.’
‘If there’s anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to let me know.’
I thanked her again and we hung up the call. Karen was still crying into the phone as we said goodbye.
I looked out of the car window. Home was a few strides away. I was in such need of it now. I was overwhelmed by everything that had happened. I climbed out of the car and slammed the door behind me, clicking the locking mechanism. The sun was out again and I could feel the heat on my skin.
As I approached my front door I could see a couple of people standing there. I scrunched up my eyes from the sun and tried to get a better look. I couldn’t make them out. My stomach flipped over.
This was to do with Beth, I knew it.
They were either here to inform me of Beth’s passing, not knowing Karen had phoned me, in which case I would have to ac
t my way through it, though there wouldn’t be much acting, I was devastated by the fact that she was gone. Or they were here to take me away for putting the pills on the table so she could take them.
I was queasy but I continued my walk over to the door.
‘Hello, can I help you?’ I asked.
‘Ms Friend?’ the woman asked. She seemed familiar.
I nodded.
‘DI Heidi Thomas and DC Jackson Wade.’ They both flashed me their identification cards. ‘Do you mind if we come in and have a chat?’
Did I ask them what this was about?
I unlocked the door. I remembered where I had seen them before. They had come to speak to me about the murder at the car park. They were a busy couple of cops.
I stepped into the house and turned around to face them.
‘Can I ask what this is about?’
‘Do you know someone by the name of Beth Casterton?’
I nodded, struck mute by the fact that the time was here.
‘We need to talk to you about her.’
She pushed forward and I acquiesced, moving back and allowing them both in.
We walked over to the sofas and they made themselves comfortable. I sat opposite, quietly with my legs together, hands on my knees.
‘Please, what is this about? Beth?’ I asked.
‘What’s your relationship with her?’ Thomas asked.
‘She’s my ex-mother-in-law.’
She leaned forward slightly.
‘I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but Beth Casterton was found dead in her home this morning.’
She looked at me, her head tilted to the side. Like an owl checking out its prey.
I didn’t need to pretend to give a reaction, Karen had already informed me. I allowed the grief I had been holding just below the surface to flow. I gasped for air, a quick wail escaped as I clutched my stomach and I bent over myself. And then for what felt like the hundredth time tears flooded my eyes and fell down my cheeks and I sobbed. This time though I tried to speak through the tears.
‘H-h-h-how?’ I wanted to know what the police thought.
Thomas looked at Wade. She didn’t give anything away. She was good.
‘It looks like she took an overdose of pills last night.’
I wiped at my face with my hand.
‘Do you have any idea how she might have done that? Bearing in mind how badly she was affected with multiple sclerosis?’ Thomas asked.
The tears were still falling and I wiped more away. I didn’t answer the question though. I didn’t know where they were in the investigation.
Thomas continued unperturbed.
‘Mrs Casterton had carers come into her home several times a day. We’ve obtained statements from all of those and we’ve corroborated what they’ve said. You’re the last person we need to speak to.’
She let the silence hang for a minute.
I didn’t fill it.
‘When did you see her last?’ asked Wade. His long legs were crossed in front of him. He looked perfectly relaxed.
‘I saw her last night.’
Thomas twitched. It was slight but I saw it. ‘Before I ask you the next question I’m going to caution you, you do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?’
I nodded. This was running away with me. I hadn’t expected this, but my car was parked outside of Beth’s all evening, there was no way I could deny when I was there. Why didn’t we think of this? Oh well, I did it knowing what could happen.
Thomas took a notepad and pen out of her bag.
‘Did you give the medications to Mrs Casterton?’
56
Statement of Karen Harris
Age: 52 Occupation: Carer
This statement (consisting of …2 Pages each signed by me) is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully stated anything in it which I know to be false, or do not know to be true.
I am the above-named person and I reside at the address shown overleaf. I was one of the carers of Beth Casterton. I worked as part of a team of two. I worked on Sunday night and did my usual tasks. I helped Beth from her chair in the living room into the bed she has in her living room. Beth was living with Multiple Sclerosis and it was at an advanced stage. We attended her address four times a day when it was our day to be on duty. There was a rotation of nurses that cared for Beth.
Once Beth was in bed I gave her a bath and washed her hair in a bowl. It’s not an easy task but we can’t get her in and out of the bath upstairs. She was always pleasant and cooperative and never moaned about what she had to do or how she had to do it. I bought her a special shower gel for her bed bath so that she would smell nice afterwards and she appreciated that thought. It was the least I could do for her. She was one of the loveliest patients we cared for.
I gave Beth her dinner and her evening tablets which are kept in a kitchen drawer. I gave her the tablets she was prescribed and the dose she was prescribed. She took them and thanked me for helping her. At no time did she ask me to move the bottles of pills into the living room within her reach.
I left the house at 7.45pm. She was sitting up in bed. I knew she was expecting her ex-daughter-in-law, Alice Friend, because she had told me she was coming and she comes every Sunday night. She’s the only person who visits Beth other than a friend who comes once every few months.
Beth was alone when I left. She was alive and as well as she usually was. She made no indication that she intended to take her own life. I would have called for extra support if she had made any comment that would have concerned me in that way. I know it is difficult living with a debilitating disease such as MS.
I was on duty again the next morning and arrived at 7 am. The house was in darkness save for the small lamp in the corner which is always on through the night. Beth does not like to sleep in total darkness. So I did not suspect anything at first.
I walked into the living room and said good morning to Beth. She was lying in bed with the covers down around her waist. The table was over the bed and on the table were empty pill bottles and packets.
I could see that Beth was dead. I checked for a pulse anyway and couldn’t feel one.
Beth’s hands are weak and shaky and she would have had trouble opening the pill bottles and popping the medication out of the strips.
There was no one else in the house when I entered. The door was locked as it was when I had left. There was no sign of forced entry.
Signed. Karen Harris
57
I was taken up to Great Yarmouth custody block to be interviewed by DI Thomas and DS Wade. As soon as she asked the question I knew I was in trouble. They had done their homework before they had come to make the arrest. I could do nothing but stay silent and she arrested me for murder anyway.
She told me she didn’t know how long I would be so I fed Lilac and left with the officers. The custody block was large, clean and noisy. Someone was shouting somewhere within the bowels of the building. They weren’t happy to be locked up inside a cell. I couldn’t say I was particularly happy but I’d done what they said I’d done. I couldn’t complain. And I would do it again if Beth asked. I would do anything for that woman.
I was booked in, which was a process of a big burly custody sergeant asking me lots of questions including personal stuff like did I hurt myself, which of course I didn’t. Some people may argue there was something wrong with the inside of my head but not in that way. I was averse to pain. There were plenty of other ways to ease my troubled mind.
I was fingerprinted and photographed and had my DNA taken by a swab in the mouth.
Once all that was done I was fit for interview apparently.
It was weird going through the process after I had written about it for so many years. Seeing it from t
he inside like this was surreal. It was like I was walking through a dream but this time I wasn’t going to wake up. It was all very real, the smell in there was a combination of microwaved meals, sweaty feet and disinfectant, and it wasn’t very pleasant.
The interview room was as I’d described in all of my books, a bland room with a table and four chairs inside it and a recording machine. There was also a panic button going around the entire inside of the room. They wouldn’t need to use that for me. I wouldn’t be causing them any problems.
Thomas and Wade were polite and kind. They offered me a drink before we went into interview and I requested tea. It was powdered milk, they explained, but it was warm and wet and would tide me over during the interview process. I accepted it gratefully.
The introductions were made. I’d decided I didn’t need a solicitor. After all, I had done what they were accusing me of doing. Not that I had yet decided how I was going to play this. My mind was still working too slow, still too wrapped up in the loss of Beth. We hadn’t talked much about the afterwards. Just a little about trying to make it look like Beth had done it herself. I had gone along with her when she had said this but I knew it was unlikely to work and at some point they would come looking for me. But it was my duty to take care of Beth to the end and that included taking her to the end as she wanted.
The reason for arrest was given again and I was cautioned again and the caution explained in full. Everyone knows the caution but after hearing it explained I wondered how many people understood the full implications of it in law. It was a powerful little piece of language.
I took a sip of my tea. Thomas had been right about the powdered milk. I pulled a face and Thomas smiled at me. It wasn’t nice but it would do. For one thing, it would give my hands something to do as this progressed.
‘Tell us what happened last night when you were at Beth’s,’ Thomas said.
Where did I start? What did I tell them? I didn’t know how much they had. But they had enough to make this arrest and quite early as well.
Perfect Murder Page 21
