Page 111 of Don't Say A Word
‘What is it?’
‘A receipt from Castle Home and Hardware.’
‘I’ve never seen it before.’
‘It’s a receipt for a hasp and staple, a padlock and a hand drill. Paid in cash.’
‘It’s not mine.’
‘It was found in your house. Your prints are on it.’
‘My prints? No.’ Teri shakes her head. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’
‘Your prints were also found all over the freezer.’
‘Because I was curious about it. I knew she was hiding something in there. I went down in the middle of the night, and also when she was at work, to try and open it. But I never managed to. I didn’t know what was in it – although I had my suspicions.’
‘Your DNA was found under his fingernails. Do you still maintain you had no dealings with Max Price for weeks before he disappeared?’
Teri swallows. ‘I don’t understand what you’re saying. There’s no way my DNA could be under his fingernails.’
‘His phone was in your bedroom.’
Teri half stands and slams the table. ‘No! You’re making it all up! Is she paying you? Is that it?’
But then she remembers Holly going upstairs the last time she came to see her. She was up there for a long time. She’d wanted to use Teri’s laptop. Teri didn’t have a problem with it. She liked Holly. But she’d seen her coming out of her bedroom, so asked her about it. Holly had said something about wanting to stay with Teri to get away from crazy Kate. Teri was pleased about that. She imagined Kate’s face when she told her.She wants to live with me.She even did her makeup. That was the day Teri told her she was convinced that Max was dead in the freezer and she was going to call the police. She told Holly all about her theory. She remembers Holly looking at her strangely, like this wasn’t exactly a surprise.
DI Evans is still speaking, still asking questions, but Teri isn’t listening. She feels dizzy. Blood is roaring in her ears. She used Kate’s hairbrush because she didn’t have one of her own. She remembers with a start the time she broke her nail while searching Kate’s wardrobe. And she did use the dishwashing gloves. They were brand new. She doesn’t remember Kate ever putting them on. And then she remembers that odd receipt, stuck between the notes Kate gave her. Teri had crumpled it up and thrown it on the floor.
Teri’s chest is so tight she can barely speak. ‘I think I’d like a lawyer now.’
47
Kate
Right up to the moment I walked through the gate from the release area to the outside I was sure someone would stop me. I kept expecting a tap on the shoulder. ‘We made a mistake. We didn’t mean to release you. We know what you did.’
But nobody stopped me, and now I’m staring at the palisade fence and the green fields beyond. It’s a sunny afternoon, for once, and I squint into the light, shielding my eyes.
‘Kate!’ Holly runs to me and throws her arms around me, almost knocking me over. ‘Oh, God! Kate! I was so scared they wouldn’t let you out!’
‘Holly…’
‘Oh my God. I can’t believe you’re here! Oh my God, Kate, I’ve missed you so much!’
‘That’s nice, but I can’t breathe.’
She releases me and laughs, but she’s crying too. ‘I really have missed you so much.’
‘I missed you too. But you scared the hell out of me,’ I say.
‘I know, I’m sorry.’
I hug her tightly, trying not to cry. Finally, we release each other, stare at each other, and hug again, laughing this time.
‘Where’s Jen?’ I ask.
‘She’s in the car.’
