Sweet Little Lies (Cat Kinsella #1)(65)

‘So did you give her any money?’

‘I had sixty pounds in my purse and I gave her that. But I told her, and it was the truth, that I couldn’t give her any more. Nate’s not particularly stingy or controlling around money, but I couldn’t explain away a big chunk of cash, even if I’d wanted to.’

‘And she was OK with this?’

‘Yes, she wasn’t being aggressive, if that’s what you’re thinking. She said she completely understood, and then she said she might have to consider going back to her husband, at least for a while, but that she was certain he was having an affair and it was all so humiliating.’ Her eyes are on the cusp of watery. ‘That pressed a nerve, you could say. Leo’s father, if you can use the term, cheated on me and I stayed with him because I thought I had no other option at the time, and that’s exactly the word for it: humiliating.’

Nate Hicks and Saskia French. I feel sick for her.

She continues, ‘So I said – and it was impulsive and stupid, I know – she could stay at one of our properties for a bit, if that would help, and Saskia’s place in King’s Cross was the only realistic option if I wanted to keep it from Nate. Like we said, she’s been so quiet a tenant that we almost forget she’s there. Nate especially, seeing as the property’s mine.’

I frown. ‘And Saskia was fine to have a roommate all of a sudden?’

‘I said she was a family friend, that it’d only be temporary and I’d reduce the rent for that month.’ Her mouth twists into a scowl. ‘Saskia knows she’s on to a good thing. Do you know, I haven’t upped the rent on that place in seven years and how does she repay me – by turning my property into a bloody brothel!’

‘So it’s true you didn’t know about Saskia’s .?.?. profession?’

She looks horrified. ‘God no, I didn’t. I really didn’t.’

‘Saskia must have worried about it getting back to you through Alice?’ I write motive in my pad. ‘Did you have much contact with Alice once she’d moved in?’

‘No, none.’

‘Did she have your number, email address?’

‘No, I changed my email account a few years ago. We got burgled, you see. I wanted to change everything. And no, I didn’t give her my number, I just wanted the least communication possible. I said if she needed to get in contact with me, let Saskia know and I’d call her.’

I give her a dubious stare. ‘And that was it? You were going to let her stay there indefinitely?’

She brings her hands into her lap, clenches them tightly. ‘Well, no, initially I thought I’d leave her be for a few weeks and then see what her plans were. But then Christmas took over, and what with my dad, I didn’t exactly forget about her but it took a backseat. And I wouldn’t have asked her to leave just before Christmas. Bit Ebenezer Scrooge, don’t you think?’

I sit forward. ‘Gina, we know that Alice was in the Donatella Caffé on Friday December 12th, just a few days before she died. Do you think she might have been coming to tell you about what was going on in your flat? What Saskia was up to? I mean, it’s the least she could do, given the kindness you’d shown her.’

‘I’ve no idea. All I can tell you is I didn’t see her. She certainly didn’t come to the house, thank God.’ Her hand slams to her chest. ‘Oh my God, you don’t think Saskia has anything to do with this?’

‘Not necessarily,’ I lie, ‘but Saskia did lie to us. She gave us some cock-and-bull story about meeting Alice in a bar. About Alice also being a prostitute. Why would she say that?’

She thinks about this. ‘Well, look, I had nothing to do with that particular lie, but I did make it clear that I didn’t want Nate finding out about Alice being at the flat, so whatever Saskia said, she was just trying to make sure it didn’t lead back to me. As I say, she knows she’s on to a good thing. Is she going to get in trouble for this? Christ, am I?’

I ignore this, let her sweat a bit longer.

‘Gina, did Alice ever use the name Maryanne, either recently or when you knew her before? Saskia referred to her as Maryanne from the minute we met her whereas you knew her as Alice. Any idea why she’d have used a different name?’

‘None whatsoever.’ She throws her hands up. ‘Honestly, I’ve told you everything I know now. And I’m so sorry that I lied, I’ve never had so much as a library fine in my life, but I panicked. I just wanted to stay out of it. But really, this is just horrendous and I’m devastated by it all. I keep thinking if she’d just gone back to her husband, maybe she’d still be alive.’ She’s edging towards hysterical now, talking faster and faster. ‘I should have told her to go back to her husband, shouldn’t I? But I was honestly just trying to do a kind thing.’

‘I know, I know,’ I say, calming her. Then to bring her back to focus, I ask, ‘Can you remember the names of any of these forums you visited?’

She pulls at her lip, still edgy. ‘No. No, I’m sorry, I can’t. It just seems like a lifetime ago. And I don’t have that laptop anymore or you’d have been welcome to check. The bastards took it when we were burgled.’

Can’t say I’m too disappointed. If Alice had been on the forums recently, Forensics would have found them.