The Guilty Couple(37)

‘I’m just trying to work out if Ian’s ever mentioned that name to me but it’s not ringing any bells.’ I hear Nancy apologising to someone and the sound of voices. ‘Sorry, I’m getting in the way now, everyone’s descended on the toilets at once. Give me one second.’ The line becomes muffled for a moment, presumably as she moves away. ‘Anyway, the Matt Platt thing, it’s got to be mistaken identity, hasn’t it?’

‘Yeah, or some kind of joke. His name’s on the marriage certificate, the mortgage and his passport. If that wasn’t his real name I’m pretty sure I’d know about it.’

‘Weird. Maybe it was a nickname? Is it rude, like Mike Hunt? Matt Platt. Mart Plart. Matthew … Platt … oh, god knows. Are you sure you don’t want me to do a bit of digging with Ian? I can be subtle.’

That makes me laugh. Nancy’s about as subtle as a sledgehammer.

‘No. Keep it to yourself for now. Hang on, my phone just bleeped.’ I take the phone from my ear and check the notifications. It’s from Gmail, a new email from Jack.

‘Liv?’ I can faintly hear Nancy’s voice as I tap on the notification and the email opens. I quickly read what he’s written.

‘Liv?’ Nancy says again as I raise the phone to my ear. ‘Is everything okay?’

‘Jack got the answer right. I asked him where we talked about going together and he said Iceland, to see the Northern Lights. Nancy, it’s definitely him.’

‘Oh my god. What are you going to do?’

‘Arrange to meet him.’

‘And then what?’

‘I really don’t know.’

My conversation with Nancy ends with neither of us any closer to solving the mystery surrounding Dominic’s fake name and I spend the rest of the train journey frantically googling for answers.

I try searching for ‘Matt Platt’ but all Google returns is page after page of footballing news about a player with the same name. I try combining Ian and Dominic’s names with Jack’s but all that throws up is stuff about my court case. I try combining Matt Platt with Dominic Sutherland but, again, there’s nothing of interest. There are several Matt and Matthew Platts on Facebook but the only ones who were Manchester Uni alumni are too young to have been in the same year as Dominic and Ian. I message a few Matts who are around the same age as them and then I compose a message to Jack. I keep it short and succinct: We need to meet. Where and when?

By the time my train pulls into London Liverpool Street my head is spinning. I take two hundred pounds out of a cashpoint so I can go to Cash Converters tomorrow to buy Grace a second-hand phone then I pop into WH Smiths. I buy a notepad and pen then take myself off to the nearest bar and order a large glass of Rioja. As I sip my wine I scribble everything I know, and everything that’s been bothering me, onto the page:

• Dom and Dani framed me and Jack

• Dom paid Dani (saw possible repayment schedule?)

• Dani saw me and Smithy in Dom’s house but she didn’t arrest us. Why?

• Dom has hidden something at work that might help me (repayment schedule?)

• Jack is still alive but hiding

• Dom and Ian know Jack

• Dom may have used a false name (Matt Platt) at uni

I read, and reread the list and then something jumps out at me: Dom may have used a false name (Matt Platt) at uni. What if Matt Platt was his real name? What if he changed it before he met me? I could try asking Esther and George but there’s no way they’d tell me the truth.

I pick up my phone and google ‘how do you find out if someone has changed their name?’

As I’m reading the National Archives page on how to search deed polls Sonia’s name flashes up on my phone. I answer it immediately.

‘Hi Olivia, it’s Sonia.’ She sounds breathless, as though she’s just been for a run. ‘Sorry, I’m hiding in my bedroom from the kids. I don’t want them to overhear me but there’s something I have to tell you. Something I’m not sure you know.’

I brace myself. ‘Okay …’

‘You asked why Jack and I lost touch and, um … it’s not really something we talk about as a family … but he went to prison, shortly after he graduated university. He’d befriended an elderly man on his road and stolen thousands of pounds from his account. He’s been in and out of prison ever since. I’ve lost track of the number of times. Whenever he lets the kids down I assume it’s because he’s been arrested again. Mostly for fraud, forgery, theft,’ she adds quickly. ‘He’s never been convicted of anything violent. When he disappeared ahead of your trial I assumed he’d gone abroad and was ripping off tourists in Spain or something. There’s no predicting what Jack will do from one day to the next.’

I’m suddenly aware of a man at another table, staring at me as I fight to control my breathing. ‘I can’t … I can’t believe it …’

‘Jack’s capable of more than you know and I’m sorry you got caught up with him. There’s something else you should know too: Jack wasn’t the only one sent to prison for defrauding that poor man. They blamed each other when they were arrested. No honour amongst thieves and all that.’

All the hairs on my arms stand up. I already know what she’s going to say.