‘So you’re really not telling the police?’ Her outraged tone is accompanied by a castigating glance.
‘It’s too late, Cait. I can’t report that I killed a man yesterday, wrapped him up in plastic and stuffed him in my car. It wouldn’t help my defence one little bit.’
‘I didn’t sleep a minute last night, Lalla. All I could see was the bloody knife and my hand covered in blood.’ Cait looks down at her hands, but they’re perfectly clean now, so I’m not sure what all the fuss is about.
‘Just put it out of your mind. I’ll look after everything. You know I’ve always looked out for you, right?’
‘Right,’ she says, slightly reluctantly, which is quite rich given the selfless support I lavished on her during the Owen drama. If it wasn’t for me, she’d still be his punchbag. And she’s not an easy person to help, I can tell you that quite honestly.
‘It’s all in the past now,’ I try reassuring her. ‘We just need to bury him somewhere and it’ll all be forgotten.’
Cait shakes her head. ‘You can’t just sweep a dead body under the carpet. They’ll find out eventually, they always do.’
‘Well then, what’s your suggestion?’ I say with a glib smile that is not at all well received.
‘To tell the truth, I don’t know,’ says Cait, quite forgetting that she hid her owntruthfor several years. One rule for her, and a completely different one for everyone else.
‘You want me to call the police?’ I say firmly and take out my phone.
‘It’s for the best. Just explain to them that you were scared.’
‘Of course, and the important thing is, it’s the right thing to do, never mind where it will lead,’ I say and dial 999. I look at Cait as I listen to the ring tone. ‘Just so you know, you need to get your story straight. The police will want to question you.’
‘Question me?’
‘Police, please,’ I say into the phone.
‘Why me?’ Cait repeats, her voice rising.
‘Your fingerprints are all over the body and the knife, for one, and your clothes are contaminated with his blood. You’ll need to explain that.’
‘I fell. You saw me! And it was you who made me hold the knife,’ she says.
‘Yes, exactly. You be sure to tell them that. Let’s just hope they’ll believe you.’
‘Why wouldn’t they?’ Her eyes are now watering in distress.
‘Sorry? Yes, police, please,’ I say into the phone, then turn back to Cait. ‘They’re just connecting me. I’m just being careful. I want to make sure you’re not arrested.’
‘Arrested?’
‘I’m sure they won’t, but it’s already been twenty-four hours. They’ll want to know why on earthyoudidn’t tell the police.’
‘You told me not to.’
‘I know that. But it’s hardly going to stand up in court, is it? My friend told me to keep my mouth shut, Your Honour!
‘Yes, hello. I’d like to report an incident. Well, an accident really,’ I say into the phone.
‘Stop,’ Cait whispers harshly.
‘Please could you hold for a moment, thank you,’ I say.
‘They record these calls,’ she whispers urgently, pointing at the phone.
‘What?’ I say loudly. ‘Caitlin, you’ll have to speak up.’
She rushes up to me, grabs the phone and disconnects.
