The Stepmother(111)

 

‘Yeah,’ she says, then there’s a pause. ‘Well no, not really. How’s – how’s Jeanie?’

 

‘She’s – sleeping,’ I say, trying to be kind, though there’s a part of me that wants to yell at her, to scream and shout at her for her part in Jeanie’s downfall. But I don’t want to scare her off. ‘She’s in the hospital, and she’s sleeping still.’

 

‘Will she be okay?’ she says, and I swallow hard.

 

‘I hope so. I really hope so. So, Scarlett, what’s going on for you?’

 

‘Can you meet me?’ she says, and I jump at the idea of course.

 

‘Sure,’ I say. ‘Now?’

 

‘Yeah.’ I hear the shrug in her voice. ‘Yeah, okay.’

 

‘Where? Can you come into town?’

 

‘Not really,’ she says. ‘I’m not meant to go out yet. Can you come near my dad’s?’

 

‘Yes, of course. Where?’

 

She describes a café nearby, near the woods, she says, and I think of that poor bloody puppy.

 

And what did old Bedford say yesterday? What kept happening to the pets…?

 

‘Scarlett?’ I say. ‘Did you send me Jeanie’s diary?’

 

She hangs up.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

At the café in the woods I wait – but Scarlett’s not there. Lots of dog walkers come in and out, and I look for one in a pink Puffa jacket, but there’s no Scarlett.

 

I drink two large black coffees, and then I think, I can’t wait any more. She’s not answering her phone, and time is running out.

 

I drive to Malum House. I park up and take a huge breath, and I walk up the drive to knock on the door.

 

The boy, Luke, answers it.

 

‘Are your mum and dad here?’

 

Up close I see that he doesn’t have the looks of his parents – or rather he’s the worst combination of them. ‘My dad is,’ he says, and he looks suspicious. ‘Who shall I say it is?’

 

But his father has appeared behind him in the hallway, and he knows who I am.

 

‘Marlena,’ Matthew says, obviously surprised. ‘How’s Jeanie?’

 

‘Are you bothered?’ I say, and Luke looks like he might cry.

 

‘Of course I’m bothered.’ Mathew is first taken aback and then angry. ‘I’ve just got off the phone to the hospital. They say she’s stable. They say they may try and wake her later.’

 

This, I won’t lie, disarms me. But of course he’s next of kin.

 

‘Oh,’ I say. ‘Can I come in?’

 

‘Sure.’ He opens the door to me and leads me to the kitchen. ‘Can I offer you a drink?’

 

‘Is Scarlett here?’ I ask without answering, and he shakes his head. ‘She’s been staying with friends. Since the – incident.’

 

‘And all the charges have been dropped?’

 

‘There were no charges…’ He’s angry again. ‘It was malicious rumour.’

 

‘Do you know who started it?’ I ask.

 

‘I bloody wish I did.’ Matthew is vehement. ‘But I don’t at the moment. It was a written allegation apparently. The police say it was anonymous. Still.’ He has gained weight since I last saw him, no longer the svelte businessman Jeanie met, but a slightly sweaty, middle-aged guy who looks very dishevelled.

 

‘And Kaye?’ I keep waiting for her to walk into the room and purr at me, false and proud. ‘Where’s she?’

 

‘No idea. Why would I know?’ he says distractedly, looking for cups. Everything’s dirty apparently – no handy housekeeping Jeanie any more.

 

I don’t really want to admit I was poking round the garden yesterday evening, but I’m probably going to have to admit it. As I prepare to make my accusation, Matthew suggests we go into the lounge – ‘It’s tidier’ – and I follow him, annoying plinky jazz playing throughout the house.

 

‘Sit please,’ Matthew says, but I don’t want to.

 

I’m about to tell him I’m on to him when a car skids into the drive and pulls up very sharply, just missing the flowerbed.

 

‘Blimey,’ I say, ‘someone’s in a hurry.’

 

From the window I can see Kaye getting out – as I expected.

 

‘News travels fast!’ I raise a brow at Matthew, but to his credit, he looks as surprised as I do. If he has warned her I’m here, he’s a very good actor.