Page 76 of The Dead Ex
She looks stunned, as though I’vejust slapped her.
‘Are you?’
‘I hope not. But my meds and the seizures. Sometimes I don’t remember stuff.’
Her eyes harden. ‘Or is that an excuse for lying like you did about the photograph showing you and David arguing?’
‘No. Like I said before, I was scared and embarrassed. However, there is one other thing I should have mentioned.’
She stays silent. I sense she’s losing confidence in me.
‘I told the police about David being a bit of a wheeler-dealer.’
‘So I gather.’
‘But I didn’t tell them I have proof that he might have been money laundering.’
Penny looks at me sharply. ‘What kind of proof?’
‘Several deeds, showing he bought houses for cash. Some were worth millions. As you know, it’s a recognized way of getting rid of money gained from illegal activity.’
‘Are you an experton this?’
‘I know a bit.’
‘And would you like to tell me why you haven’t revealed this before?’
It’s a question I have been asking myself; desperately trying to find another answer, even though there is only one.
‘Because I still love him,’ I blurt out. ‘Crazy, isn’t it? He’s hurt me more than anyone has ever done, but I still care for him.’
To my surprise, there’s a flash of sympathy inher eyes.
‘Where are these deeds?’
‘Hidden. I went round to the house to show one of them to Tanya because it implicated her too. I just had this feeling that she knew more about David’s disappearance than she was letting on. I thought that if she admitted she knew where he was, it would get me off the hook with the police. But she claimed ignorance. Then she attacked me. It’s how I hurt mywrist. I defended myself and she fell onto the floor.’
Then another thought comes to me. She’d crashed against the table on the way down. She was consciouswhen I left. But what if she’d passed out afterwards? Supposing she’d had a bleed to the brain. Oh God.
‘But you didn’t strangle her?’
‘What?’
‘Forensics suggest that a heavy dog-tooth metal chain was used. Rather like the key chains thatprison staff wear, attached to their belts.’
Sweat breaks out down my back. ‘But you can’t mean …’
Her eyes are cool. ‘I have to ask, Vicki. Did you ever take one home and keep it?’
‘No. Of course not.’ I am loud in my indignation. ‘They won’t find my fingerprints on this chain. I can assure you of that.’
‘There’s the thing. They can’t find it.’
‘So they think I’ve got rid of it?’ I bluster.
Penny nods. Then her mouth tightens. ‘There’s something you haven’t asked me, Vicki. I have to say I’m quite surprised.’
So she’s found out. It was only a matter of time. I brace myself.
