Page 7 of Dissection of a Murder
“I’m not worried.” I laugh. “In fact, we’re going away this weekend for Julian’s birthday. Barkenfield Lodge. Supposed to be beautiful.”
“What did you get him for his birthday? These barristers are so bloody hard to buy for. What do you get the man who has everything? I bought Chester an Omega watch last year and he said, ‘What the hell do I need another watch for?’ ” she says, barely pausing for breath. “I love his fiery temper. It makes me laughsomuch!”
“I’ve bought Julian an antique chess set. I’ve been teaching him how to play recently,” I tell her.
“Never had you down as a chess player, Leila,” she says, attempting to hide her shock. “You’re a woman of many talents!”
“Well, don’t tell him I said this, but I just like to beat him at something.” I laugh again. “That man does not like losing.”
“I can imagine! Anyway, lovely speaking to you!” She flashes her perfectly aligned teeth in a smile. “I must find Chester.”
People in the tightly packed room move out of the way when they see Demi coming. She’s like Moses parting the Red Sea. Men fall over themselves to accommodate the goddess she is. Women are fascinated by her energy, and it’s not hard to see why—there’s something captivating about her.
I remember the first time I met Demi; it must have been five years ago at a chambers function. Nobody could believe it when Chester waltzed in with this breathtakingly beautiful blonde by his side. None of us thought it would last. He enjoyed the divorced single life too much. Two years later we all attended their wedding. They’re still together, much to our surprise.
I’ve always found her elusive. She’s one of those people whodoesn’t talk about herself, always switching the conversation back to you. You could be chatting to her all night and by the end of it still know nothing more about her.
She’s an enigma. But men love that, don’t they? Some women do it deliberately.
I watch her as she glides through the room, holding a glass of wine in her right hand, smiling, greeting everyone like the obedient, perfect wife of the host she is.
But the longer I watch, the more I notice it.
She speaks to everyone except my husband, the prosecutor in the case she just asked me about. I like watching people. It’s part of the job, I suppose. You become very attuned to the behavior of others. Being a barrister turns you into an amateur psychologist.
Often, it’s the tiniest details that reveal the greatest secrets.
3
Witness X
Rule #1
Don’t Get Caught
I’ve got myselfinto trouble.
Not the kind I’m used to, butrealtrouble.
If he finds out, I’m finished.
How did I allow it to get this far?
Play the game, bend the rules. Break them if you want. But never get caught. That’s what he taught me.
Saturday was torture, having to pretend everything was OK, constantly refreshing social media outlets for news—any kind of news—until it appeared.
Man, 32, arrested on suspicion of murdering criminal judge
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering fifty-six-year-old Anton Smythe in Durham. Police said the thirty-two-year-old suspect was held in the central Durham area at around 11:30 p.m. on Friday night and is now in custody.
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The last seven months have been a roller coaster of lies, risk, andhim. Fast and hot. It was always going to explode at some point, but some hopeful part of me thought maybe this would be different.
How could I have been so stupid?
What’s that saying: “If you play with matches, you get burned”? Right now, the flames are licking at my skin, blazing up my body. Already, I can smell charred flesh.
