The One You Love (Emma Holden suspense mystery trilogy)

by Paul Pilkington

***

  ‘I’m sorry, Em,’ Stuart said, once the police had left the apartment. ‘But they had to know about it. You can’t keep something like that from them – not when there’s so much at stake.’

  ‘I can’t believe you just did that without discussing it with me first. How dare you.’

  ‘I know you’ve got your loyalties, but if that letter was from Dan then it’s really important for the investigation.’

  ‘It wasn’t,’ Emma replied. ‘I know now, it wasn’t from Dan. Lizzy wouldn’t do that to me, and neither would Dan.’

  ‘But that’s the thing. You don’t know. It’s just what you want to believe.’

  Emma turned away.

  ‘It was my decision to tell the police about the letter,’ she stated. ‘Not yours.’

  ‘Okay, maybe I was out of order,’ Stuart said, moving up to Emma. ‘But I did it for you, Em. I hate to see you suffering like this. You deserve better. And I still hate myself for everything I put you through.’

  Emma turned around, face to face with her one-time fiancé. Stuart placed his hands gently around the top of her shoulders and for a second or two they just looked at one another in silence, inches apart.

  Then Stuart moved in for a kiss.

  45

  ‘No,’ Emma said, pulling back from the kiss. She turned away and touched her lips. ‘This isn’t right.’

  ‘Maybe it is right,’ Stuart replied. ‘Maybe this is what is supposed to happen.’

  ‘It’s not.’

  ‘But why?’

  ‘Because I love Dan.’ Emma turned around to face Stuart.

  ‘You loved me,’ Stuart said.

  ‘I used to love you, but not anymore.’

  Stuart stood there silently, looking as if he’d just been slapped in the face.

  ‘How can you still love him, after what he’s done to you?’ he said finally. ‘How could you still love someone who could do all this – attack his own brother, run out a week before his wedding, have an affair with your best friend?’

  ‘Because I don’t think he did it,’ Emma replied.

  Stuart shook his head. ‘You’re too trusting. Just like…’

  ‘Go on,’ Emma said. ‘Just like when? When I first met Stephen Myers?’

  Stuart pursed his lips.

  ‘Tell me what you were going to say,’ Emma pressed.

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’

  ‘You blame him for us splitting up, don’t you?’

  ‘It didn’t help,’ he admitted.

  ‘No,’ Emma said, shaking her head. ‘We’d put that behind us – everything was going to be okay. It was you walking out on me that split us up, Stuart. You can’t blame that one person for your actions.’

  ‘Yes I can!’ he bawled, losing his cool completely.

  Emma flinched.

  ‘Sorry,’ he said, holding up his hands. ‘Look, Emma, it’s just that this might be our one chance to put things right. We can start again. It’s been good these past few days – you’ve got to admit that. Like old times.’

  Emma took a step backwards. ‘Is that what this was all about?’

  ‘What?’ Stuart replied. ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘All this help. Was this all just a way to try and get back together with me?’

  ‘No,’ he said defensively. ‘You needed help. I thought you appreciated it.’

  ‘I do. I really appreciated it. But, Stuart, you’ve got to understand that there’s no chance of us getting back together. Even if Dan is guilty of all those things, it doesn’t affect you and me. You’ve just got to accept that what’s gone is gone.’

  ‘But I love you,’ Stuart said.

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  He just stood there for a moment, gazing at her. ‘I’d better go,’ he said, turning to the door. ‘I need time to think. You know, Em,’ he said, pausing in the doorway. ‘If you knew just how much I love you, you’d give us another try – I’m sure of it.’

  ***

  Will screwed his eyes shut and tried to control his breathing. He hadn’t seen the woman since she had left her seat, shortly after he had finished his confession. And that was ten minutes ago.

  Maybe she was just queuing for the toilet.

  He had to find out, so he undid his seatbelt and squeezed past the other passenger, giving his apologies as he moved into the aisle. He was halfway to the toilets when he saw the woman, sitting some ten or so rows in front of her original position. She saw him too, and quickly averted her eyes. The panic rose in his chest.

  Why had he told her? Why had he been so stupid?

  ‘You okay, Sir?’ a steward asked.

  ‘Fine, fine,’ Will replied, realising he was gripping the back of someone’s headrest. He let go and carried on past the steward.

  What if she had told the cabin crew? At this moment, the police might be waiting at the airport, ready to board the plane when it landed.

  Fortunately the toilet was free. He locked himself inside and sat down on the seat with his head in his hands. He remembered the advice the woman had given him about using distraction techniques to cure his fear of flying.

  He had all the distraction he needed now.

  ***

  Emma waited for a couple of hours before phoning Lizzy. Stuart had been right in one respect – she couldn’t do this alone. Unfortunately Lizzy’s mobile was off so she left a message, asking her to get in touch as soon as possible.

  She then spent a good half hour training on the punch bag, her phone standing upright on the window ledge, hoping that Lizzy would call back soon. Rehearsals would probably be finished by now. She hoped that Lizzy wasn’t deliberately ignoring her calls, though after the accusations she had levelled against her, it would be understandable.

  The courier called shortly after she’d showered and dressed.

  ‘Miss Holden?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah, that’s me,’ Emma replied.

  ‘Package for you,’ he said, bringing out an envelope from the bag tucked by his side. ‘Can you just sign here please?’ He handed over an electronic device. Emma scrawled a signature on the touch screen and exchanged the device for the envelope.

  ‘Cheers,’ he said, ‘have a good day.’

  ‘Excuse me,’ Emma shouted, as he headed for the stairs. ‘Can you tell me who it’s from?’

  ‘Sorry,’ he said, ‘I don’t carry that information. But head office might be able to help.’

  ‘Thanks,’ said Emma, closing the door.

  She stared at the white envelope. She slid her finger under the rim and pulled out a card. It was a wedding card. Her first emotion was one of sadness. Someone hadn’t heard the news and had sent a card in ignorance – maybe one of her distant relations who couldn’t make the wedding itself. It was a lovely and obviously expensive card – beautifully decorated with “Happy Wedding Day” emblazoned on the front. But as she opened the card her stomach turned. The first thing she saw, tucked into the inside of the card, was a photograph of her on the doorstep outside the apartment, looking startled, illuminated against the dark background. Her hands shaking, she lifted up the photograph and read the short and sickening message on the card underneath. It was written in a shaking, baby-like scrawl.

  I have the one you love.

  46

  ‘Thank God you’re here Lizzy,’ Emma said, as she opened the door to her friend.

  ‘I came as soon as I got your message,’ Lizzy said, stepping into the apartment. ‘Look, Em, I don’t know what’s going on with that letter, but I swear it’s all complete rubbish. I would never do something like that to you – you’ve got to believe me.’

  ‘I do believe you,’ Emma replied.

  Lizzy looked both surprised and hugely relieved. ‘Oh. You don’t know how happy I am to hear that,’ she said, visibly relaxing. ‘I was so upset last night. I couldn’t bear the thought of falling out with you for good, Em.’

  ‘Me neither,’ Emma agreed.

  ‘What I can’t understand
,’ Lizzy said, ‘is why Dan would say those things. I’ve always got on well with him – I thought. Why would he just lie like that?’

  ‘I don’t think Dan sent the letter.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Look at this.’ Emma pulled out the wedding card. ‘This was delivered half an hour ago.’

  Lizzy took the card, screwing her face up as she realised what it was. She looked up at Emma, as if for guidance.

  ‘Open it,’ Emma directed. ‘Read what it says inside.’

  Lizzy did as requested.

  ‘My God, Em,’ she said, putting a hand to her mouth and looking at her with wide eyes. ‘What the hell is this?’

  ‘I think someone has Dan. This was in the envelope too.’

  Lizzy examined the photograph. ‘When was this taken?’

  ‘Last night,’ Emma said. ‘I didn’t see who it was because he was wearing a balaclava and hood. I chased after him but he got away.’

  ‘Bloody hell, Em, why didn’t you call me sooner? If you’d have called last night I’d have come around straight away.’

  ‘Stuart came round,’ Emma said. ‘And I just thought we needed a bit of time to cool off while I thought about what that letter had said. I needed to be sure about what I believed. You understand that, don’t you?’

  ‘Of course. Where’s Stuart now?’

  ‘I asked him to leave. He tried to kiss me this morning – said he wants us to make another go of it.’

  ‘No,’ Lizzy said in disbelief. ‘How could he, while all this is going on?’

  ‘He’s not thinking straight, no matter how many times I tried to tell him there was no way back. I think he might even be delusional.’

  ‘Maybe he’s just in love?’ Lizzy ventured.

  ‘Maybe,’ Emma said.

  ‘So you think that the person who wrote the letter about me and Dan is the same person who sent this?’ Lizzy held up the card.

  ‘Yes. And I think they attacked Richard, and they’ve been holding Dan ever since.’

  ‘But who would want to do that? Where’s the motive for kidnapping him?’

  ‘Dan or Richard might have upset someone – I don’t know,’ Emma admitted. ‘Maybe it’s something to do with me.’

  ‘It might just be a prank,’ Lizzy said. ‘Someone from the newspapers trying to wind you up?’

  ‘I thought that too. But I don’t think they’d go this far. If the police traced the card back to someone they’d be in big trouble, surely. Not really worth the risk just for a story, is it?’

  ‘I guess not,’ Lizzy acknowledged. ‘Will the police be able to trace it?’

  ‘I don’t see why not. It was delivered by a courier company, and I have their name. They should have the details of who sent it.’

  ‘Will they tell us that information?’

  ‘Probably not, but they’ll have to tell the police.’

  ***

  ‘Hope you enjoyed the flight,’ the air stewardess said as Will disembarked the plane. He forced a smile and then kept his head down, trying to blend in amongst the passengers as they made their way down the tunnel to passport control.

  He felt a hell of a lot better once he got through immigration. But his anxiety increased again during the long wait for the cases on the conveyor belt. He’d noticed the woman standing on the far side, and he wondered whether it had been a deliberate ploy on her part to get as far away from him as possible. Maybe he was just being paranoid.

  Finally his bag arrived. He reached out and turned to walk away.

  Then he felt a tap on his shoulder.

  ‘Excuse me.’

  He froze on the spot before turning around slowly.

  ‘I think you’ve got my bag,’ an elderly gentleman said, almost apologetically. It took a second or two for his words to sink in. ‘My name’s on the tag, there,’ he explained, pointing at the case.

  Will looked down to see the label. He had taken someone else’s bag.

  ‘I’m really sorry,’ he said, handing the bag back to the elderly man. ‘It looks exactly the same as mine.’

  ‘That’s all right,’ the man said. ‘Easily done.’

  Will’s case came a minute or so later; this time he made sure he had the right one. He couldn’t wait to get out of the airport, so he upped his pace towards customs. He had just reached the customs area when he felt another hand on his shoulder.

  ‘Excuse me, Sir.’

  ‘It’s okay,’ he said, turning around. ‘It’s definitely my…’

  ‘Are you Will Holden?’

  ‘Yes,’ Will answered, facing up to the policeman. ‘That’s me.’

  47

  He returned to his flat, her words pinging around his head like a pinball.

  There’s no chance of us getting back together.

  She had meant every word of it, he realised that. It wasn’t just what she had said, but the way she had said it. The look was so heartless, so devoid of love. Maybe it was what he deserved. It made him feel so lonely.

  ‘Hi, it’s me,’ he slurred into the phone receiver. ‘I’ve had a bit to drink, yes. It’s Em – she doesn’t want me back. She never wants me back. And she still loves Dan. After everything I’ve done to try and change things, she still loves him – can you believe that? She still loves him, not me. What? Okay, maybe speak to you later.’

  He placed the phone back on its holder and stumbled into the kitchen. Nobody wanted to be with him, or even speak to him. He had to accept that this was the end of the road – all those weeks and months of hoping that things would turn out all right. It was what had kept him going.

  But she loved Dan, not him.

  It was all over.

  He opened one of the kitchen cupboards and took out several boxes of paracetamol, then poured himself a pint glass of water.

  ***

  ‘It’s good to see you, Will,’ Edward said.

  ‘You too,’ Will replied, not sounding particularly convincing. He flopped down into the front passenger seat and closed the door.

  ‘Thanks for picking me up,’ he said, as they drove out of the airport. ‘You didn’t have to.’

  ‘I thought we could use the time to talk,’ Edward answered, as he negotiated a roundabout.

  ‘Sounds ominous,’ Will replied, looking out of the window.

  ‘We need to talk,’ Edward said. ‘About a lot of things.’

  ‘Definitely ominous,’ Will quipped.

  ‘No, I’m serious,’ Edward said. ‘I know that things haven’t been great between us since your mother died, but things are going to change. I’ve been thinking about it a lot since you’ve been away – I don’t want things to carry on the way they have been. I want us all to be…’

  ‘A happy family?’ Will offered.

  ‘Please, Will.’

  ‘Okay, I’m sorry.’

  ‘Miranda’s pregnant,’ Edward blurted out. ‘I’ve been waiting for the right time to tell you.’

  ‘Right,’ Will said, laughing to himself. ‘Now it all makes sense.’

  ‘I hoped you’d be happy for me. This could be our chance to start again – we could get to know each other better – all of us. It would mean so much to me.’

  Will thought for a moment.

  ‘Okay,’ he said.

  ‘You mean it?’ Edward said, unable to hide his surprise.

  ‘I’ve been doing a lot of thinking too,’ Will revealed. ‘Life’s too short. I’ll try my best to make it work.’

  ‘Will, that’s fantastic.’

  They spent the next few minutes driving in silence, heading for London: Edward revelling in the chance of reconciliation, Will musing on how his life would never be the same again after making his revelations.

  ‘How’s Em?’ Will asked.

  ‘I haven’t seen her since calling you,’ Edward admitted. ‘I was afraid that if I did see her, I wouldn’t be able to control myself. She might have suspected something.’

  ‘Would that have been a bad thing?’
r />   ‘Pardon?’

  ‘Well, it would have saved me the bother of telling her myself. That way, I could have stayed on the other side of the world – probably not far away enough for Em, but it would have been a start.’

  ‘Emma isn’t going to find out about anything.’

  Will was bemused. ‘But when we spoke, I thought…’

  ‘I’ve changed my mind,’ Edward answered. ‘We can’t tell her about what you did. We can’t tell anyone.’

  ‘I want to tell her. I’ve decided I want to tell her.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘I told someone on the aeroplane,’ Will confessed. ‘I told them everything.’

  ‘What?’ Edward said, horrified. The car swerved slightly as he glanced across at Will. ‘What the hell did you do that for?’

  ‘I needed to tell someone. At first I was scared, wondering why I’d done it, thinking that she’d tell someone else and that I’d get into trouble. Then when I got off the plane a policeman came up to me. I thought that was it, but all he wanted to do was give me back my passport – I’d dropped it on the floor.’

  ‘Christ, have you lost all your reasoning, Will? You do understand that you could go to jail for what you did?’

  ‘Of course I do. But back there, standing in front of that policeman, I realised that I didn’t feel afraid – I was relieved. I realised that going to jail would probably be the only thing that will really set me free. And when he just gave me back my passport I was actually disappointed.’

  ‘You can’t do this, Will,’ Edward said. ‘You can’t.’

  ‘I can handle it, Dad.’

  ‘You’re living in a fantasy world,’ Edward rebuked. ‘Prison is a horrific experience. And when you do get out, do you think the guilt will have gone? You’ll still feel the same, except that you’ll have lost your sister forever. She’ll never forgive you for what you did.’

  ‘I’ve made my mind up. I’m prepared to take the chance. I have faith in Em.’