The Serial Killer's Wife by Alice Hunter (best romantic novels to read .txt) 📗

as calmly as I can, ‘but he must accept I am too. What am I going to tell Poppy when her daddy doesn’t come home?’

‘I’m still banking on the evidence for conviction being too weak. Although we can’t be certain how the jury will go, of course, if they’re swayed by the prosecution. They have numerous pieces of circumstantial evidence, including incriminating emails from Tom’s iPad. Though that in itself doesn’t prove murder outright, it doesn’t look great either. With a good solid account from you, Beth, and no criminal record, there’s a strong possibility it could swing his way. That’s the positive spin.’

‘Right,’ I say, my mind drifting.

‘Have DI Manning and DC Cooper spoken to you again yet?’

‘No, why? Will they? I gave them a statement already.’ Even though I’d wondered about it early on, I’d not given it further thought. The suggestion now that this might happen makes my throat constrict, and I can’t quell the rising panic. I’ve said all I want to say to them.

You haven’t, though, a nagging voice in my head reminds me.

Adam was determined I should go to the police and be honest about what I know. I left him just before five yesterday with a promise I’d contact DC Cooper – I thought she’d be the most sympathetic, despite her icy exterior. Not because she’s a woman – although I suppose I’m hoping that’ll make her more likely to relate to what I say – but because the way she’s questioned me so far has instilled a certain amount of trust. I have more faith in her than I have in Manning, at any rate. There’s something behind his eyes that unnerves me; like he can see right through me. Imogen Cooper would be the one I’d confess to if I had to. And as far as Adam is concerned, I have to.

I feel despondent this morning. The spitting incident was probably a drop in the ocean compared to what I can expect from here on in. It’ll be worse once the trial starts. Will I have any friends left by then? Will Adam still be supportive? Deep down I know he’s right about going to the police – it’s just scary. They’ll be suspicious about why I didn’t relay this information to them sooner. From what I’ve told them so far, my marriage with Tom is a good one, and he is the model husband and father.

Will they believe my reasons for telling them a different story now?

Journalists are outside again when I step through the front door with Poppy. There are several yelling for my attention and others that get in my face, bombarding me with questions. I grip Poppy’s hand and drag her through them, saying nothing. I’ve given Poppy the best explanation I could think of about why these people are camping outside our house, asking us lots of questions and following us, taking photos. I told her it’s about her daddy, that something has happened in his job in London and people are very interested about it. She asked if it was a good thing he’d done, and I came very close to breaking down there and then.

I pulled myself together and I lied to her. I said he’d done something very important. It’s not such a big lie really – I suppose murdering someone is an important thing, in a way.

We don’t get followed to nursery – that boundary appears to have been upheld, thanks to Adam’s intervention yesterday.

I think about the almost-kiss and my heart flutters wildly. Afterwards, there’d been several minutes of awkwardness; neither of us had known what to do or say. We had both probably realised how close we’d been to taking a huge step into the unknown; crossing the boundary of friendship. Adam had reacted by muttering an apology; saying he felt bad, that he was taking advantage of my vulnerability. Of course, I firmly denied he’d done that, and explained how mine and Tom’s relationship had been crumbling long before the current events had come to light. He seemed to relax a little once I told him I’d been waiting a long time for the truth to come out – for Tom to be arrested. I wanted Adam to know he was in no way taking advantage.

I wonder how we’ll interact from now on. Will something happen between us? Where it goes from here is anyone’s guess, but Adam is free to do what he pleases, and I am not.

I’m married. I might need to do something about that.

I sneak back to the cottage via the back lane, climbing over the wall to avoid detection. Safely inside, I make a call to Moore & Wells and ask to speak with Jimmy. I know he’s not likely to be there as Alexander said he was on leave until today, so he probably won’t be at work until Monday. But I’m hoping I can wangle his mobile number from one of his colleagues.

It takes all my powers of persuasion, but finally I’m given his number and I’m speaking with him.

‘Jimmy – sorry to bother you. I know you’ve only just come back from holiday. It’s Beth Hardcastle, Tom’s wife—’

‘I’m not back, actually. I’ve still got the weekend.’

‘Oh, er … I’m sorry. I can call another time?’ I hesitate – I don’t want to wait any longer really, but I don’t want to annoy the man.

‘Alex said you’d been into the office asking questions.’ His attitude is off; he’s immediately on the defensive. I wonder why Alexander told him. But anyway, he hasn’t ended the call yet, so that’s a good sign. I need to ease into this conversation if I want to gain anything from him.

‘Yes, I did pop by on the off chance I’d catch one of Tom’s mates. It’s been such a traumatic couple of weeks I couldn’t think where else to turn.’ I lay it on thick, ensuring my voice sounds weak and teary. ‘Tom only ever really talked