The Witness

by Jane Bidder

Hah! How often had she heard one of her mum’s boyfriends saying the same? “Don’t listen to him,” Kayleigh wanted to tell Alice. “He’s lying. They’re all the same.”

  Apart from Garth and Callum, of course. And maybe Seb although she felt rather confused about him now. When Garth had found out about the car accident, he’d gone very quiet and told her to ‘steer clear’ of ʻthe bloke’. Seb, she recalled, had spoken about Garth in the kind of way that suggested he hadn’t liked him either.

  Funny really. She’d quite fancied Seb until Garth had come home. But now there was no contest. Garth was really funny; he’d roll his eyes whenever Alice asked if he’d been smoking in his room again. And he’d open a bottle of wine from one of those racks in a room off the kitchen that was as big as their flat at home, pretending that Daniel had done it earlier.

  Meanwhile, at the back of her mind all the time, was that worry over Callum. “I’ll need more,” he’d told her when she’d handed over the money that Alice had given her.

  How was she meant to do that?

  “Come back tomorrow with it,” he’d told her.

  But she hadn’t.

  It wasn’t just that she’d been distracted by Garth’s homecoming (something that made her feel really guilty because here she was, living in this really cool place while Callum was on the streets). It was also because she didn’t dare nick any more stuff.

  Alice, she was sure, was getting really suspicious about the mugging story. She’d insisted on calling the police to report it. But when she’d put her on to the phone to give more details, Kayleigh had found herself stammering and blushing and getting the second version wrong.

  “I thought you said there were three girls,” Alice had said when she’d finished. “Not two.”

  “One of them legged it,” she said quickly. It was scary how the lies came out. “I don’t want to give a statement. I’ve had enough of the police. They freak me out.”

  Alice had reluctantly agreed. But then she decided to give the house a ‘jolly good dust’ and that’s when she noticed the missing photograph frame. “It can’t just have disappeared,” she kept saying, looking under the sofa and even behind the chair cushions with those fancy fringes.

  Kayleigh thought uncomfortably of the creased photograph in her handbag. It wasn’t as though she’d got much for the bloody thing anyway.

  In fact, the more Kayleigh liked Garth, the less she was beginning to like his mother. Instead of being kind, Alice now seemed annoying and pushy and also wet at the same time. Who else would put up with a husband that had had it off with one of her mates?

  Alice was also up to something. Kayleigh was sure of it. Only this morning, she’d gone into the kitchen to help herself to some muesli (she’d got really into the stuff since coming here) and found Alice on the phone, talking really quietly.

  Perhaps she was having an affair to get back at her husband. Kayleigh wouldn’t blame her if she did. The thought also passed through her mind that she might be able to blackmail her. “Give me some more money,” she might say, “and I won’t tell your husband.”

  But Garth wouldn’t like that. And if there was one thing she wanted to do, it was to keep Garth sweet. (That had been one of Marlene’s phrases.) Every now and then, Kayleigh began to imagine what it would be like to move in with Garth. They’d have plenty of money. He was pretty spoiled right now, with all those CDs and that posh music system.

  Maybe Callum was right. Some people had too much. Just look at Alice. She didn’t have to work (that china stuff didn’t count – not like an office job). She spent ages having coffee with friends like that Janice who was always over here. She did a bit in the house but she also had “Mrs M”, as she called her, to help her. And she had a bloke that came in to do the garden.

  Recently, Kayleigh had been having a daydream in which she took over Alice’s life. Not that she’d want Daniel Honeybun. Ugh! Mind you, she’d seen the way he’d looked at her the other day when she was coming out of the bathroom with just a towel wrapped round her. If she’d wanted, she was pretty sure she could have had him.

  The thought made her feel really powerful inside.

  “Would you like another cup of coffee?” asked Alice, interrupting her thoughts. She’d given up looking for the photograph, thankfully. Maybe, with any luck, she’d forget about it.

  “No thanks.” That powerful feeling she’d had just now, had disappeared. In its place, came a niggling, nagging feeling. Callum was in trouble. She just knew it. When he was living at home, she always sensed when there was something wrong. Mum always said it was like they shared the same father, they were so close.

  “I need to go into the centre again.”

  Alice’s face tightened. Sometimes Kayleigh felt like she was in a prison.

  “Why?”

  “None of your bleeding business.”

  Alice’s head jerked up, shocked. Instantly, Kayleigh knew she’d made a mistake. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m not used to people asking me where I’m going and what time I’m going to be back.”

  Alice still looked uncertain.

  “I’ve got a job interview,” she added.

  Instantly, Alice’s face softened. It was so easy, thought Kayleigh, guiltily.

  “I’m sorry too, Kayleigh. And it’s great that you’ve got an interview. But the thing is that I’ve got a responsibility to look after you. And after last time, I’m nervous for you.”

  “Last time?”

  Alice put her head on one side and gave her a funny little look. “When you were mugged.”

  Shit.

  “Oh that. Yeah. Sure. Whatever.”

  Alice gave a nervous little laugh. “You’re beginning to sound like Garth.”

  “Someone mention my name?”

  They both turned round as he sauntered in. Bloody hell. He looked even more gorgeous this morning. His hair was beginning to grow a bit; it suited him. And he had a great body! Clearly he wanted to show it off. That’s why he wasn’t wearing a T-shirt with his jeans. Kayleigh tried not to look at the crop of dark hairs running down the middle of his chest and round his tummy button, but it was difficult not to.

  She was sure Alice could see her trying not to stare.

  “Kayleigh was just saying she needed to go into Plymouth.” Alice was handing her son a mug of coffee at the same time. Kayleigh couldn’t ever remember her own mum fussing round her like that.

  “Me too.” He grinned at her. A lovely friendly grin which made her feel like she was gorgeous. “Want a lift?”

  “That would be great.” Kayleigh took a deep breath. “I need to buy some stuff. The only thing is that I don’t have any money.”

  Alice’s face went stiff again. “I thought you had a job interview.”

  “I do.” Kayleigh felt herself getting hot. “That’s why I need some more clothes. So I look smart.”

  Alice nodded slowly. “She got mugged the other day. Thank goodness she was only robbed and not hurt.”

  Garth gave her a meaningful look. “Yeah. That was lucky, wasn’t it?”

  Kayleigh felt herself burning up inside.

  “This should be enough.” Alice was opening her purse and peeling out some notes.

  “Thanks, Mum,” he said casually, winking at Kayleigh but in a way that Alice didn’t notice.

  Kayleigh stared at the money in her hand. It wasn’t right. She’d got tenners. Garth’s were twenties. Callum wouldn’t be happy with this.

  “Let’s hit the road, shall we? Don’t look like that, Mum. I’m a good driver. You know that. Not like that idiot, Seb.”

  “Why don’t you like him?” she asked as they drove through the narrow lanes towards town. Garth had been right. He was a safe driver; waiting patiently for someone to pass and then spending ages at the crossroads until it was OK to go over.

  “Who?”

  “Seb.”

  “Never have. He’s a complete and utter prat.” Garth’s lips tightened. “Our mothers were friends w
hen we were at school but we weren’t. Not after he told Mum that I’d been caught smoking.”

  “I don’t think your mum and his are friends now,” Kayleigh said, without thinking.

  “Really? Because he nearly killed you in his car?”

  “No. It’s because …”

  She stopped, remembering what it had been like when some woman had rung to tell Mum that her bloke was having it off with someone else. She’d literally crumpled. Broke Kayleigh’s heart, it had, to see her so upset.

  “Sorry. You’ll have to ask her.”

  “Come on, Kayleigh. Give me a clue.”

  Garth was so persuasive when he looked at her like that, head on one side, his eyes twinkling. “OK. I heard her talking to her friend. Janice. She said that your dad and Seb’s mum were …”

  Fuck. That was close. The car nearly went into a ditch.

  “Were what?” Garth’s voice was raw. “WERE WHAT?”

  His shout was right in her ear. It scared her.

  “You know,” she mumbled miserably. “Were having a thing. He told her it was only once – least that’s what she believes.”

  She glanced nervously at Garth. His hands were white on the steering wheel. “I hate the bastard,” he was muttering. “It’s not the first time, you know.”

  Kayleigh felt a little thrill passing through her. She liked the way he was taking her into his confidence. “What do you mean?”

  “I saw Dad with another woman two years ago. They were in a pub, holding hands. He pretended she was just a friend but I made him tell me the truth. He made me swear not to tell Mum so I didn’t.” His eyes filled with tears. “I couldn’t bear the idea of hurting her. That’s why I went away. It messed with my head.”

  Then he looked across at her. “Anyone ever messed up your head, Kayleigh?”

  She nodded. “Frankie. The one your mum saw me with in the park. He gave me a tablet and it made me do stuff that … that I hadn’t done before.”

  Garth’s hand stole out and patted her on the knee, sending little thrills through her. “He gave you drugs?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then he had it off with you. In the open air.”

  She felt awkward. “Your mum told you?”

  He nodded. “It’s how you met, isn’t it?”

  She nodded.

  “She’s a good person.” Garth was still looking straight ahead at the road but there was something different about him. His eyes were steely hard. “I’d do anything for my mother, Kayleigh. If we’re going to be friends – and I hope we will because I can really talk to you – you need to know that. She gets on my nerves but she means the world to me. I’d do anything for her. Anything.”

  Kayleigh felt her heart bursting. If Garth could feel that way about his mother, what would it be like if he learned to feel that way about her?

  “Did you do drugs before this Frankie?” he asked, just as they pulled into the car park.

  She shook her head, vehemently.

  “It’s just that, well if you feel like anything to help you relax, all you have to do is ask me.”

  Kayleigh swivelled round in her seat to face him. “So you did? You did what they said you did in South America?”

  Garth shrugged. “I didn’t say that. I’m just saying that if you fancy a smoke, you know where to come. Listen, forget I said that. OK?”

  He seemed nervous now, opening the car door like he wanted to leave her. Kayleigh’s heart began to quicken with fear. “See you here in two hours. And good luck.”

  “Good luck?”

  He winked. “With the job interview. The one you pretended you’ve got. You can’t fool me, Kayleigh. I know all the tricks because I’ve done them myself. See you. And try not to get mugged either. They stop believing you after the first time. Trust me.”

  Confused, Kayleigh wandered round the city, looking for Callum. Was Garth going to grass on her to his mother about the money or the job interview? If he did, she could tell Alice that her son did drugs after all.

  But she had a feeling that Alice wouldn’t believe her. ’Sides, she didn’t want to cause trouble. There was no way she wanted to get thrown out of the house. It was nice there. With any luck, she might be able to carry on living there, even when she went to college.

  Perhaps she and Garth might have a baby. Then they’d be able to stay there for ever.

  “Hiya.”

  It was Seb! Sitting outside one of the pavement cafes, his arm in a sling. Next to him was a really pretty girl, with those high cheekbones you only usually saw in magazines, giving her a dirty look.

  “Hi,” said Kayleigh uncomfortably.

  “Sorry about the other day.” He was grinning as though he hadn’t nearly killed her.

  “What other day?” said the pretty girl smoothly. She had bright pink lips, noticed Kayleigh, and a nose that tilted up at the end like a model. Posh voice too. The sort that looked down on others.

  “Just a bit of a problem with the car. Come on. Sit down and I’ll buy you a drink.”

  She didn’t want to but somehow she did. “Lucky you didn’t hurt more than your arm,” Kayleigh found herself saying.

  The pretty girl pouted. “I thought you did that playing cricket.”

  “Don’t believe a bloody word he says. Seb wouldn’t know the truth if it hit him in the face. ”

  They all turned at the voice. Kayleigh’s heart plummeted as Garth stood there. His eyes fixed on hers, disappointed.

  “That’s not very fair …” began Seb.

  “Fair!” Garth had Seb by the collar. “Learned the meaning from your fucking mother, did you?”

  There was a gasp from the pretty girl with the pouting pink mouth. “Let’s go,” cut in Kayleigh quickly.

  “I see.” Seb’s eyes narrowed. “So you too are together now are you? What’s it like being out of prison, Garth?”

  “Leave him,” said Kayleigh urgently. To her relief, Garth began to stride along the street. She had to run to keep up with him.

  “He saw me in the street,” she began. “I didn’t want to sit down but he made me.”

  “Made you? Really?” His eyes hardened.

  They were standing by the car. So close that she could almost lean up and kiss him. But at the same time, she felt angry with him too.

  “We understand each other, you and I,” he said softly. “I must admit, Kayleigh. I was privately a bit hacked off to find you at home at first. But now I think we could make good allies.”

  Then, to her disappointment, he moved away to open the car door. “Get in then,” he said.

  They wove their way in and out of the traffic in silence. Kayleigh stared out of the window. What a mess! She hadn’t been able to find Callum and now she and Garth were … were what? Friends? Boyfriend and girlfriend? She didn’t know.

  “Get out of the fucking way,” growled a male voice.

  Kayleigh gasped as a man in a black T-shirt walked right in front of the car just before they turned off to take the road home. If it hadn’t been for Garth’s quick thinking, they’d have hit him. Shocked, she stared back and that’s when she saw it. The tattoo on his neck.

  Shit. It was Frankie’s friend. Pete. The one who’d gone out with Marlene. And he’d recognised her too, judging from the way he was standing there, staring.

  Garth had noticed too. “Know him, do you?”

  She didn’t want to lie this time.

  “He’s Frankie’s mate.”

  Her voice trailed away but Garth seemed to know what she meant, judging from his face.

  “Mum said he got ten years.”

  So he knew more than he’d let on.

  She nodded.

  “No one will hurt you, Kayleigh. I won’t let them.”

  She could hardly speak for the lump in her throat. “That’s why Mum took you in.” His voice was soft; like his left hand which was reaching out for hers. “Mum and I are both the same. We’re loyal to the people we like. And I like you, Kayleigh. You�
��re clever even though life’s dealt you a rough card. And you’re drop-dead gorgeous too.”

  Drop-dead gorgeous? No one had ever called her that before!

  “Really?”

  “Sure.” He took his eyes off the road and grinned at her. “I love your hair. It’s a really cool colour. And your eyes are like a witch’s! Maybe you are a witch! You’ve certainly bewitched me!”

  They were almost back now. Kayleigh wanted Garth to stop. To take her in his arms and snog her. “I love you,” she tried to say but the words stuck in her mouth.

  She tried again.

  “I …”

  “Fucking hell.”

  She leaned forward, staring at the flashing police light. Garth leaped out of the car, leaving the engine running; tearing towards the front door which was open.

  “Mum,” he yelled out. “Are you all right?”

  Kayleigh followed, not sure if it was OK to leave the car like that. Her eyes widened as she took in the mess. Stuff was everywhere. Broken china on the floor in the hall. Silver cutlery on the ground in the kitchen as though someone had just pulled open the drawer and rifled through. Coming down the stairs with something in her hand, was Alice. Her face white.

  Garth had his arm around her. “What happened?”

  “We’ve been burgled,” she said in a weird voice that sounded like Mum’s when she’d taken a sleeping tablet. “Mungo and I were only out for an hour. Someone got in, even though I set the alarm.”

  Kayleigh felt dizzy. Even though I set the alarm.

  “Who else knows the code?”

  Alice was looking straight at her. As though seeing her for the first time. “No one. Just me and your father. We changed it when you were away. The police said it had to be done by someone who was very good at that kind of thing.”

  But Kayleigh turned her gaze away. It wasn’t that she was trying to avoid Alice’s anguished face. It was because her eye was drawn to something in the corner. Bending down, on the pretext of picking up some broken glass next to it, she slipped the small brass link into her pocket without anyone seeing.

  It was just like the one from Callum’s bracelet.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Until she’d come back from the walk and discovered the break-in, Alice had felt quite positive. She’d done it at last! Summoned up the courage to finally do something about “Uncle Phil”.