Page 72 of The Liar's House
‘Do you hate me?’ Diane turned back to her. ‘Now you know the type of person I am, do you think I’m dirty, disgusting? I didn’t want Richard to go into care so I had to provide for him. It’s all my fault.’
Gina undid a couple of buttons on her shirt and took a few controlled breaths. ‘Of course I don’t hate you, Diane. You were just a girl. I’m sad that things were so hard for you and you didn’t get the help you deserved after your mother died. I’m also glad I found you and that you’re here now. You don’t realise how much you have to give. Look at the relationship you had with Samantha, she needed you and you were a wonderful friend to her. You have so much to give but you have to let go of the guilt that is weighing you down as it’s holding you back. Forgive yourself – you were a girl, a desperate girl who felt she was doing the best she could. I’m so sorry the system let you down or you felt that you couldn’t trust it.’
Diane burst into tears and gripped Gina, leaning her head against her chest. Gina placed an arm around her, allowing her to weep until she eventually calmed down. After a few minutes, she loosened her grip and shuffled back. ‘Have you heard from Richard? Does he know I’m here?’
‘Diane, I’m really sorry to tell you that we’ve arrested him for the murder of Jade Ashmore and the abduction of Aimee Prowse.’ Gina’s foot tapped on the floor as she waited for Diane to respond.
‘And Samantha?’ Diane was joining up the dots.
‘We have found a body under your brother’s pagoda in the garden.’ She didn’t have the heart to tell Diane that only half of the body was there.
‘My beautiful friend,’ she cried as she lay down and hugged her pillow. Gina sat beside her. Diane had no one. Gina had nothing to hurry home for. She wouldn’t leave, not for a while.
Epilogue
A Month Later
Half an hour to go. Gina had arrived at the coffee shop far too early for her meetup. She scrolled down Facebook and smiled at the photos of Gracie that Hannah had posted. She was growing up so quickly. Whatever happened, she wasn’t going to break their date next weekend – she was going to have lunch with her daughter and take her granddaughter out for a couple of hours. She closed Facebook and stared at the Tinder app. Thoughts of Rex ran through her mind and she shivered. He’d been a prize weirdo. He also knew better than to come near Gina again. She pressed on the Tinder logo and deleted the app.
There was only one person she’d ever care enough about and she couldn’t allow herself to get caught up with him. His relationships never really lasted and hers had been laughable since their affair. Both of them trying to show the other that they were fine and getting on with things. How did she know? Her phone buzzed. This is how she knew, he called her often and she didn’t tell him not to. ‘Briggs?’
‘It’s my day off,’ he replied.
‘Okay, Chris.’
There was a slight pause. She could hear some music in the background, something jazzy and light. ‘I just thought I’d give you a call. I haven’t heard from you for a few days.’
‘Well I’ve had a few days off. I’ll be back in next week. You miss me, don’t you?’
‘You know I do, Gina.’
‘Chris, if I ask you something, promise you won’t answer with a lie?’ She gripped her steaming hot coffee and took a sip while she waited for him to answer.
‘That depends on what you want to ask. I think I know where this is going.’
The café was busy. Several people laughed as they talked about the latest sitcom that they were watching. She grabbed her drink and headed outside, sitting while watching the world go by. ‘That’s better, I can hear now. I’m going to get straight to the point. Steven never bothered me again after the search of Dawn’s house. Steven doesn’t go away that easily. I want to know what you said to him.’ She shivered even though the June sun was almost burning her arms.
‘What makes you think I said something to him?’
She remained silent.
‘Okay, okay. That day outside Dawn’s house. I passed him a make-up compact. It was so easy, he just took it. After he passed it back to me, I told him it was prime evidence in an unsolved murder case from twenty years ago. I said if he didn’t leave you alone, the case would be reopened and his prints would match the prints on the compact. I said as long as he leaves you alone, the compact would remain hidden forever and would never see the light of day. You’re right about him being stupid, he lapped it all up, called me a bastard and stormed off.’
Gina’s pulse was heavy, each beat of her heart seeming to take forever. He’d risked everything to help her and in many ways he had also been stupid.
‘Gina, say something.’
‘Why would you do this?’ Not only had she ruined her own life with secrets, she’d now left Briggs with a huge burden to carry.
‘You know why. There’s not much I wouldn’t do for you. I’d draw the line at eating kale.’
‘You shouldn’t have. You know, sir. You’re the only man in my life who’s treated me with any respect and I’m thanking you for that.’
He paused and exhaled. ‘Yet I’m the only one you seem to be pushing away. Do you see a pattern?’
A tear crept down her cheek. Memories of Terry, Steven, Rex and the unfulfilling Tinder dates ran through her thoughts.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said with a sniffle as she ended the call. Gina knew he’d be upset. In another time and place, she’d run to him and kiss him, tell him that she loved him and stay with him. It was all way more complicated than he was suggesting but still, his words had hit her like she’d been slapped across the face.
Clip, clip, clip. The noise stopped beside her. She placed her phone in her pocket and looked up. ‘Diane, I’m so glad you could come for a drink. How are you feeling?’
‘Taking one step at a time.’
Gina smiled. Diane had combed her hair and even put on a little make-up. The loose jeans and corduroy jacket she wore looked dated but she looked smart and clean. Diane was a woman who had very little but she’d certainly made that little amount go a long way in readiness for their coffee date.
‘It’s so lovely to have someone to meet up with for a drink. I haven’t been out socially in years. Thank you, Detective.’
‘Call me Gina. What can I get you?’
* * *
