Page 59 of The Best Friend
‘How about the deceased? Did you touch his clothing or the weapon?’
‘No. He was… he was like that when I got here. I didn’t touch anything.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Yes.’ I nod.
‘Good, okay. CID are on their way, and they’ll want to talk to you when they get here.’
‘Can I call my husband?’ I ask.
‘Sure, go ahead.’
They make no move to go back into the apartment, so I guess I’ll have to speak to Jared while they’re listening in.
I don’t need to make the call. My phone buzzes and Jared’s tanned face flashes up on my screen – a photo of him I took last year on holiday in Cornwall. I press reply.
‘Hi. Sorry I had to hang up before. The police just got here and wanted to talk to me.’
‘God, what’s happened? You’re at Mike’s?’
‘Yes, look, hang on and I’ll tell you.’ I run a hand through my hair and sit back down on the seat. The younger officer shakes his head and motions to me to get up, so I stand and walk over to the edge of the lobby where a window looks down into a car park full of expensive vehicles. ‘I came over to see Mike,’ I say in a low voice. ‘I wanted to hear his side of things. And then I changed my mind. I was about to come home and forget all about the Lanes. But Mike’s apartment door was open, so I got worried. I went inside, and he was on the kitchen floor. Jared, he’s dead.’
‘Shit. No. Dead? What happened? An accident? Or…’
‘It’s awful. He’s in there right now. There’s blood. It looks like he was killed.’
‘Fuck. Where are you?’
‘In the hallway outside, with the police. They’re waiting for CID to arrive. They want to talk to me. I’m freaking out, Jared. What if they think I’m something to do with it?’
‘Did you touch anything? His body or…’
‘No.’
‘Okay, good. And you were the one who called the police, right?’
‘Mm.’
‘So, then that’s fine. You’re hardly going to call the police if you killed the man, are you?’
‘No. No, I guess not. Unless it’s like a double bluff or something.’ My heart is suddenly loud in my ears, my whole body pulsing with fear.
‘I don’t think so,’ he says. ‘I’m coming over. Where’s the flat?’
‘No,’ I say. ‘You need to stay with Joe.’
‘I’ll get a babysitter.’
‘No, it’s too late, you’ll never get anyone at this time.’
‘What about your sister?’
I pause. Beth would do it… No. I don’t want to call her out at this time of night. She’ll be tired from work. ‘I’ll be fine, Jared.’ I’m not fine – far from it, but it’ll be too complicated for him to come here. ‘Look, hopefully, they’ll ask a few questions and then I can come straight home.’
‘Okay,’ Jared says, ‘But, I’m not happy about it. I should be there with you. And anyway, I still think I should call your sister. It might to handy to have a lawyer, just in case.’
‘Oh my God, Jared. Do you think I need a lawyer?’ I take a breath and press my fingers to my forehead.
