A Good Girl's Guide to Murder(35)

‘Certainly, footnote and everything,’ she said.

‘Ravi Singh,’ he said, drawing his words with his fingers, ‘deep unfiltered thoughts, Pip’s bug-faced car, 2017.’

‘We had an hour-long EPQ session on footnotes today,’ Pip said, eyes back on the road. ‘As if they think I don’t already know. I came out of the womb knowing how to do academic references.’

‘Such an interesting superpower; you should call up Marvel.’

The mechanical and snobby voice on Pip’s phone interrupted, telling them that in 500 yards they would reach their destination.

‘Must be this one,’ Pip said. ‘Naomi told me it was the one with the bright blue door.’ She indicated and pulled up on to the kerb. ‘I rang Natalie twice yesterday. The first time she hung up after I said the words “school project”. The second time she wouldn’t pick up at all. Let’s hope she’ll actually open the door. You coming?’

‘I’m not sure,’ he said, pointing at his own face, ‘there’s that whole murderer’s brother thing. You might get more answers if I’m not there.’

‘Oh.’

‘How about I stand on the path there?’ He gestured to the slabs of concrete that divided the front garden up to the house, at the point where they turned sharply left to lead to the front door. ‘She won’t see me, but I’ll be right there, ready for action.’

They stepped out of the car and Ravi handed over her rucksack, making exaggerated grunting sounds as he lifted it.

She nodded at him when he was in position and then strolled up to the front door. She prodded the bell in two short bursts, fiddling nervously with the collar of her blazer as a dark, shadowy figure appeared in the frosted glass.

The door opened slowly and a face appeared in the crack. A young woman with white-blonde hair cropped closely to her head and eyeliner raccoon-dripped around her eyes. The face beneath it all looked eerily Andie-like: similar big blue eyes and plump pale lips.

‘Hi,’ Pip said, ‘are you Nat da Silva?’

‘Y-yes,’ she said hesitantly.

‘My name’s Pip,’ she swallowed. ‘I was the one who called you yesterday. I’m friends with Naomi Ward; you knew her at school, didn’t you?’

‘Yeah, Naomi was a friend. Why? Is she OK?’ Nat looked concerned.

‘Oh, she’s fine,’ Pip smiled. ‘She’s back home at the moment.’

‘I didn’t know.’ Nat opened the door a little wider. ‘Yeah, I should catch up with her sometime. So . . .’

‘Sorry,’ Pip said. She looked down at full-length Natalie, noticing the electronic tag buckled round her ankle. ‘So, as I said when I called, I’m doing a school project and I was wondering if I could ask you some questions?’ She looked quickly back up into Nat’s face.

‘What about?’ Nat shifted the tagged foot back behind the door.

‘Um, it’s about Andie Bell.’

‘No thanks.’ Nat stood back and tried to shut the door but Pip stepped forward to block it with her foot.

‘Please. I know the awful things she did to you,’ she said. ‘I can understand why you wouldn’t want to but –’

‘That bitch ruined my life.’ Nat spat, ‘I’m not wasting one more breath on her. Move!’

That’s when they both heard the sound of a rubber sole skidding over concrete and a whispered, ‘Oh crap.’

Nat glanced up and her eyes widened. ‘You,’ she said quietly. ‘You’re Sal’s brother.’

It wasn’t a question.

Pip turned now, her eyes falling on Ravi behind her, standing sheepishly next to the uneven slab that must have tripped him up.

‘Hi,’ he said, ducking his head and raising his hand, ‘I’m Ravi.’

He came to stand beside Pip and as he did Nat’s grip on the door loosened and she let it swing back open.

‘Sal was always nice to me,’ she said, ‘even when he didn’t have to be. The last time I spoke to him, he was offering to give up his lunch breaks to tutor me in politics because I was struggling. I’m sorry you don’t have your brother any more.’

‘Thank you,’ Ravi said.

‘It must be hard for you too,’ Nat carried on, her eyes still lost in another world, ‘how much this town worships Andie Bell. Kilton’s saint and sweetheart. And that bench dedication she has: Taken too soon. Not soon enough, it should say.’

‘She wasn’t a saint,’ Pip said gently, trying to coax Nat out from behind the door. But Nat wasn’t looking at her, only at Ravi.

He stepped up. ‘She bullied you?’

‘Sure did,’ Nat laughed bitterly, ‘and she’s still ruining my life, even from the grave. You’ve checked out my hardware.’ She pointed to her ankle tag. ‘Got this because I punched one of my housemates at university. We were deciding on bedrooms and this girl started pulling a stunt, exactly like Andie would’ve, and I just lost it.’

‘We know about the video she put up of you,’ Pip said. ‘She should have faced charges over it; you were still a minor at the time.’

Nat shrugged. ‘At least she was punished in some way that week. Some divine providence. Thanks to Sal.’