The Guilty Couple(68)

‘Did you ring him back?’

I laugh, hollowly. ‘Almost as many times as I listened to the message. He didn’t pick up once.’

Ayesha sits back on the sofa and takes a sip of the wine. Her eyes drift to the window and she sighs softly. She can’t make sense of this any more than I can.

‘Do you think—’ she stops herself.

‘What?’

‘No, you won’t like it.’

‘Just say it. Please.’

Her gaze flicks back towards me. ‘Do you think Jack might have anything to do with this?’

‘In what way?’

‘I don’t know. Don’t you think the timing’s a bit odd? That he ignores the email you sent asking him to meet up but when the evidence gets stolen and Smithy gets attacked he suddenly gets in touch.’

‘You think he attacked her?’

‘No.’ She frowns, deep in thought. ‘No, that wouldn’t make sense because how would he know where she lived? And even if he did, why would he need to steal the evidence? It exonerates both of you and he wouldn’t have to hide anymore. Unless …’

‘What?’

‘Unless he and Dom framed you. They know each other. Didn’t his sister tell you they went to prison together?’

‘Yes, for defrauding an old man. I’ve considered that, that they were in it together, but there’s nothing either of them would have gained for framing me, not financially at least.’

‘Maybe they gained something else?’

‘Like what?’

She shakes her head. ‘I don’t know. I feel like there’s a piece of the puzzle we haven’t found yet.’

‘Well,’ I look at my watch and sigh. ‘We’ve got less than sixteen hours to find it.’

We lapse into silence. It’s dark outside, or as dark as London can get. Sirens wail in the distance and the rumble of a pounding bassline drifts through the ceiling.

‘I don’t think he did it,’ I say. ‘I don’t think Jack fitted me up.’

Ayesha snorts in amusement.

‘What?’ I ask. ‘What did I say?’

‘Fitted me up.’ She picks up my empty glass. ‘That’s not a phrase you would have used back in the day.’

‘That’s because I hadn’t been fitted up then.’

I know what she means though. The last five years have changed me. I’m not the woman I was. I thought I could be. I thought I’d get out of prison, prove my innocence and everything would go back to normal. But even if I had the contents of Dominic’s safe in my hands right now, there’s no way I could rewind time and slip back into my old life. Too much has changed. I’ve changed.

‘So what’s the plan then?’ Ayesha asks from the counter, topping up our glasses with the last of the wine.

I shift in my seat. This is a conversation I’ve been dreading.

‘What’s up?’ She hands me a glass. ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’

‘Because I need to borrow some money.’

‘What for?’ She sits down and gathers a cushion to her chest.

‘To go away with Grace. We’re going to King’s Cross, early tomorrow morning, and we’re going to get on a train. I don’t know where but I’ll work it out. I can afford train tickets and maybe a month’s rent but I’ll need a deposit too and I haven’t got enough. If you could help me out I’ll pay you back as soon as I get a job.’

‘Of course, I’d do anything to help you Liv, but … running away? There’s got to be an alternative.’

‘Then tell me because I’ve run out of options.’

‘How about if—’

She’s interrupted by my phone, pinging with a message. We share a look, both thinking the same thing. But the message isn’t from Jack, it’s from Grace.

Hi Mum. Guess what? I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m off to Dubai with Dad tomorrow and I CAN’T WAIT. I hated spending time with you but I had to do it to spy on you for Dad. How could I ever love someone who tried to have him killed? Ha ha. Turns out I am a liar after all.

I gasp so loudly that Ayesha leans over me to read the message. She clamps a hand over her mouth and looks up at me, disbelief clouding her eyes.

‘I …’ she shakes her head lightly. ‘Liv, I don’t know what to say.’

I don’t bother with a text reply. I hit call, straight away, not caring that I told Grace we should never talk on the phone in case she’s overheard. She doesn’t pick up and the call goes to voicemail. I try again, and again, and again. With each call she fails to answer my panic increases. Why won’t she pick up? The fifth time I call I leave a message:

‘Grace, it’s Mum. Please call me back.’

I send her a WhatsApp message, telling her to pick up the next time I call. Two ticks appear beside what I’ve written but when I ring again she doesn’t answer.

‘Do you believe her?’ Ayesha asks. ‘Do you really think she wants to go away with her dad?’

‘No. I think he made her write that,’ I say but I’m not as convinced as I sound. How well do I really know my daughter? I’ve only seen her three times, face to face, since I was released. Could she have been gathering information for Dominic the whole time? Was everything she told me about the bullying a lie?