Dark Secrets: A Cavendish & Walker Novel - Book 11

by Sally Rigby

  ‘That might be the reason, but it’s not helping us investigate this case.’

  ‘I’ll look into it, Whitney. There may be money available to take on some temporary staff to ease the pressure. I can’t promise, though.’

  ‘Thanks, ma’am. I appreciate it.’ She left the super and marched down the corridor with a spring in her step, happy with the outcome. Additional forensic staff and no Dickhead to contend with. What more could she ask for? On the way, she pulled out her phone and gave George a quick call. ‘Are you still okay for tomorrow?’ she asked when the psychologist answered.

  ‘Yes, I believe we’ve already had this discussion before I left for the day.’

  Whitney smiled to herself. George could be so literal at times.

  ‘I was double-checking. I take it you left to continue with your house-hunt?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘How’s it going?’

  ‘Tediously.’

  ‘I can’t believe you’re not enjoying the search. I find going into people’s homes fascinating … to use one of your words.’

  ‘That’s where we differ, because it’s taking up an inordinate amount of time that could be better used on more pressing things, like my research.’

  ‘Well, fingers crossed you’ll find something soon.’

  ‘I wish I could share your optimism. Do you have anything specific for us to do tomorrow?’ George added, signalling to Whitney it was the end of their discussion.

  ‘Yes, we’re going back to Birmingham in the morning to interview Natalie McKay and Leigh Dempster. We’ll visit their homes first and hope to find them there. If not, we’ll go to Hutt Consulting to see Natalie and I’ll get Ellie to find out if Leigh is currently working and, if so, where.’

  ‘In which case, I will see you first thing.’

  Chapter 22

  I throw my phone on the other side of the sofa. I don’t know why I looked at social media. They’re parasites, waiting to pounce. Making accusations they can’t substantiate. How dare they start interpreting why I acted the way I did when they have no idea? And as for me being some sort of deranged monster, that’s total crap.

  They don’t know what I’m like, or why I did it.

  No one knows why, except for me. And that’s how it’s going to stay. Or should I say, no one alive knows why.

  It took me a long time to plan exactly what I was going to do, but after I had, absolutely everything fell into place.

  Is that behaviour of a monster? No, of course it isn’t.

  I didn’t want to do it, but they brought it on themselves.

  All they had to do was listen. To understand how I was feeling. But no, that was clearly too much for them.

  Well, if there is an afterlife and they’re looking down on me, maybe they now understand that you can’t discard someone’s feelings and think that it’s going to be okay.

  It isn’t.

  There are repercussions.

  It’s the only fair thing. And everything should be fair. To me. To them. To everyone.

  I lean back on the sofa, allowing my mind to drift back to the night I did it.

  They were all seated at the table, having their ritual evening meal. The time when they could each discuss their day. What a quaint custom. And no, I’m not jealous, if that’s what you’re thinking.

  I didn’t care about their day. Why should I, they didn’t care about mine.

  But they should have.

  There was no need for them to be so precious about their tight little family circle and exclude everyone else.

  That’s what I told them. I explained how I didn’t want to do this to them, but that they’d brought it on themselves. I said to them: ‘What gives you the right to have something I don’t?’

  After that, they said they wanted to include me. But I saw right through their empty words. I’m not an idiot.

  I’ve never killed anyone before. It was weird. But by the time I got to number five, it wasn’t so bad. Bearable, almost.

  It didn’t make me feel good,

  I didn’t get some burning excitement or adrenaline rush like you hear about from some killers. Again, proof that I’m not some crazy person.

  You see, that wasn’t the point of the exercise.

  It wasn’t about me being excited by what I was doing. Getting some perverse satisfaction from ending five lives. No. That wasn’t it at all.

  It was all about them having what I don’t.

  It’s as simple as that.

  And now they’re all dead.

  Do I care?

  I don’t know. Maybe a little.

  I’m never going to have what I wanted now.

  But, then again, nor will they.

  Chapter 23

  ‘According to Ellie, Leigh Dempster isn’t working, so we’ll visit her place first,’ Whitney said as George drove them onto the M1, in the direction of Birmingham.

  ‘We should be there by ten,’ George replied, after using voice recognition to input the address into her satnav and taking a quick look at the screen. ‘Providing there are no hold-ups on the motorway.’

  ‘Great. Then we’ll go to Natalie McKay’s, and if she’s not at home, we’ll assume she’s gone back to work and go there to see her. Hopefully we shouldn’t be back any later than two.’

  ‘Do you have another appointment?’

  ‘No. But the sooner we get this sorted, the sooner we’ll solve the case. This double life of David Barker’s has got to be linked to the murders. How could it not?’

  ‘I’m assuming that was a rhetorical question,’ George checked, knowing that they were getting back into the gut instinct territory.

  ‘You’re dead right. Anyway, what’s going on with your dad? Any more news?’

  George let out a sigh. ‘I haven’t heard from my parents since returning home. I’m hoping that following me turning them down regarding living there, they’re looking into other solutions.’

  ‘Are you upset about not hearing from them?’

  ‘No. Why should I be? You know what my family is like.’

  ‘But you’ll keep in contact with them, won’t you? They’ll still need your support, even if you can’t be with them all the time.’

  ‘Yes, I will. I’ll contact them at the weekend to find out how everything is progressing.’

  She hadn’t intended to, but now Whitney had mentioned it, she could see it was the right thing to do.

  ‘What about your house-hunting? I know you’re not enjoying it but have you found anything suitable?’

  ‘Not yet, but Ross has arranged for us to view two properties on Sunday afternoon.’

  ‘That’s exciting.’

  ‘Unless you’re going to need me.’

  George half-hoped she would be needed, which was ridiculous. No one was twisting her arm to take this step. She wanted to be with Ross permanently, and their current arrangement was becoming tiresome. So why was she resisting?

  ‘I’m sure we can manage without you. This is important. Where are the houses, and what are they like?’

  ‘Both are in villages east of Lenchester. One is a modern barn conversion that’s only five years old, and—’

  ‘But you don’t like modern?’

  ‘No, but it’s been sympathetically restored, and does have all the space we require.’

  ‘Hmm. You don’t sound convinced.’

  It was like a light had turned on in her head. Whitney had inadvertently put her finger on why George was feeling reticent. She didn’t want anything modern, sympathetically restored or otherwise.

  ‘The other is a Georgian property with stables which, once converted, would make an ideal studio.’

  ‘That sounds more like you.’

  ‘Yes, you’re right. But the conversion might take a while, and that would leave Ross without anywhere to work in the interim.’

  ‘Can’t he rent a studio somewhere local while you’re undertaking the renovations?’

  ‘Yes, that is an op
tion we can consider. I’ll mention it to Ross.’

  ‘Have you put both of your houses on the market yet?’

  ‘Ross has had his valued, and it will be listed straight away. I thought we should sell his first and keep mine until we’ve found our joint home and the sale has been completed. In case of any complications.’

  ‘Will you need to get a bridging loan until you sell yours?’

  Whitney didn’t know that George still had money left over from an inheritance, and she didn’t need to sell her house to put in her half. It wasn’t something she would ever share with her friend, who wasn’t in such a fortunate position.

  ‘We should be fine with only selling his initially. To be honest, I don’t know whether I can bring myself to sell mine.’

  ‘It’s not like you to be emotionally attached to anything.’

  Whitney was right, which made her feelings even more bewildering.

  ‘You’re correct, and it’s perplexing me.’

  ‘Are you sure it’s not linked to Ross rather than your house? You might be having reservations about living together permanently, especially after your experience with that tosspot Stephen.’

  ‘It’s a good question to ask, but I don’t believe it’s anything to do with that. Ross and I have been residing together for a while now, and it’s been most satisfactory.’

  And certainly nothing like her previous experience.

  ‘I’ll assume that most satisfactory is George parlance for being bloody good. In which case, what’s the point of keeping your house if you’re not going to live there? I’m sure we’ve had this conversation in the past.’

  ‘We’ll sort it out. How are Tiffany and the baby?’ she asked, wanting to steer the conversation in a different direction.

  ‘Both are doing very well, and nothing’s changed in the three days since you saw them.’

  ‘And your mother and brother?’

  ‘Funnily enough, after work today, I’m going to take Tiffany, Ava, and Rob to see Mum.’

  ‘Has your mother seen the baby yet?’

  Whitney gave a little sigh. ‘Yes, several times, but she doesn’t always remember. Rob is totally different, thank goodness. He idolises Ava already, even though she’s only a few weeks old. He’s lovely with her, very gentle and caring. It’s going to do him the world of good.’

  Fleetingly, a pang of envy coursed through George. Whitney’s family might not have been affluent like hers, but what they had was something money couldn’t buy. Being with Ross had given George a taste of what close family life was like, but it still wasn’t the same as Whitney had. That only came with having children. She hurriedly dismissed that thought and concentrated on driving to their destination.

  Leigh Dempster lived in a modern block of flats, in an established and well-kept area, a mile from the city centre. They took the lift to the second floor and Whitney rung the bell. It was answered by a tall, attractive woman, in her late twenties, with blonde curls hanging to her shoulders.

  ‘Yes.’

  Whitney held out her ID. ‘I’m DCI Walker from Lenchester CID, and this is Dr Cavendish. Are you Leigh Dempster?’

  ‘Yes, that’s me. What is it? Has something happened to my family?’ Panic shone from her eyes.

  ‘No, that’s not why we’re here. We’d like to talk inside.’

  The woman opened the door, and they walked into a small oblong-shaped entrance hall.

  ‘So, what’s this about?’ Leigh said, her arms folded and staring directly at Whitney.

  ‘Are you aware of what happened to David Barker and his family?’ Whitney asked.

  ‘Yes, I heard on the news, but why are you here? Don’t tell me you think I’ve got anything to do with it.’

  Already on the offensive? No sign of being concerned over what had happened. George found the reactions from the woman odd. Although if she was guilty, then wouldn’t she have pretended to be concerned?

  ‘We’ve been informed you were angry with him when you left the company, and that you made your feelings known.’

  ‘Anyone would if they were out of work with no reference, thanks to that man. I’m sorry they’re all dead. But you don’t know what he was like.’

  ‘Perhaps you could tell us your version of events. Shall we sit down?’ Whitney asked gently.

  George nodded her approval at Whitney’s attempt to put the woman at ease.

  ‘Okay, come through to the lounge.’

  They followed her into a small room with a sofa and matching chair focused on the TV in the corner.

  ‘Please tell us about your relationship with David Barker,’ Whitney asked once they were all seated.

  ‘I suppose you’d call it an affair. We saw each other for six months, up until a short while before I left, when it all blew up and we finished.’

  ‘How often did you see him?’

  ‘Not as often as I wanted because he was busy with his family at home, and work took him away to other places. I suppose on average we’d be together once a week. He’d come around here after work.’

  ‘Would he stay overnight?’

  ‘Not usually because he had to get home. We’d have a meal and … you know.’ She blushed.

  ‘When you said it all blew up, what exactly happened?’

  ‘It was my fault. I stupidly told my so-called best friend about us and she mentioned it to someone she knew, who happened to know someone who worked at Hutts. It got back to David, and he totally lost it. I told him we should deny it. It wasn’t like anyone could’ve seen us together because we never went anywhere. He didn’t see it like that and ended the relationship. He then proceeded to make my life hell.’

  ‘In what way?’

  ‘He belittled me in front of others in our department, and constantly criticised my work. In the end I couldn’t take it, so one day I walked out and didn’t go back.’

  ‘You would have grounds for constructive dismissal. Did you complain to anyone about this?’ George asked.

  ‘How could I? They wouldn’t believe me. They’d take his side because he was a senior consultant, and I was a junior. He had all the important accounts. I was no loss. Unlike him. It doesn’t matter now he’s gone. But I still can’t get a job in my field because I don’t have a good reference.’

  ‘I suggest you go to the firm and talk to them regarding the factors behind you leaving. They may offer you a position, or a reference at least,’ George suggested.

  ‘I’ll think about it.’

  ‘Where were you on Saturday between the hours of ten and midnight?’ Whitney asked.

  Leigh looked at her, frowning. ‘I was here.’

  ‘Can anyone vouch for you?’

  ‘No. I was on my own watching the telly. I can’t afford to go out all the time. My benefits barely cover the rent.’

  ‘Do you know where David Barker lived?’

  ‘With his family in Lenchester.’

  ‘Have you ever been to his house?’

  ‘No.’ She looked away and fidgeted in the chair.

  ‘Your body language is telling me otherwise, so perhaps you’d like to revisit your answer,’ George said.

  Leigh tutted. ‘Okay, I did drive there once to see where it was. All right? I didn’t want to tell you because I knew you’d accuse me of murdering them. Which is ridiculous. I didn’t have anything against his wife and children. If anything, I felt sorry for them having to live with the bastard and all his lies.’

  George believed her.

  ‘Was David seeing anyone else at work during the time you were with him?’ Whitney asked.

  ‘I don’t know about that, but I do know he was seeing someone up to when he died, because I saw them together. She works at Hutts and her name’s Natalie McKay,’ Leigh said.

  ‘You saw them by accident, or because you were following him?’ Whitney asked.

  ‘A bit of both. I went to the takeaway we often used, to pick up my order, and he was there with Natalie.’

  ‘Did he not
ice you?’

  ‘No. I didn’t go in. Instead, I went back to my car and when they came out, I followed them to a hotel not far from there and watched them go in together. I waited a few minutes and then went back to pick up my meal.’

  ‘Could it have been going on while you were seeing him?’ Whitney asked.

  ‘I don’t think so, but I could be wrong.’

  ‘How did seeing them together make you feel?’ George asked.

  ‘Bloody annoyed … But not enough to kill him, if that’s what you’re thinking.’

  ‘Do you know Tracy Osman?’ Whitney asked.

  ‘No. Should I?’ Leigh asked, frowning.

  ‘I just wanted to check. What car do you drive?’ Whitney asked.

  ‘I have a Honda Jazz.’

  ‘Please write down the registration number.’ Whitney handed over her notebook and pen.

  Leigh wrote it down and passed it back. ‘If you’re trying to see if I was in the Lenchester area on Saturday, you’ll see I wasn’t. My car stayed in the car park here all night.’

  ‘Thank you. That’s all for now. We may wish to speak to you again. Please don’t leave the area without first telling me. Here’s my card.’ Whitney handed it to her.

  Chapter 24

  ‘I can’t believe this man had four women on the go at one time. Gillian, Tracy, Leigh, and Natalie,’ Whitney said, once they were back in the car and driving towards their next destination.

  ‘We don’t know if Leigh and Natalie overlapped. But obviously he was a serial philanderer, of that there’s no doubt,’ George said.

  ‘You think? But was this the reason he was murdered? Was it Tracy, Leigh, or Natalie? And, if so, why the rest of the family? Surely, they weren’t collateral damage. It would take one crazy, fucked-up person to do that.’

  ‘Jealousy has long been a motive for murder. If it was one of these women, and I’m not assuming either way, it could have been because they weren’t able to be with him full-time.’

  ‘Neither Tracy nor Leigh have an alibi. Let’s see Natalie McKay and find out what she’s got to say for herself … hang on … no …’ she said to herself, as a thought pushed its way to the front of her mind. ‘It’s possible, I suppose … but …’