The Magpies A Psychological Thriller - By Mark Edwards Page 0,110

his head. ‘She’s gone. She left me.’

She nodded. He guessed she had probably figured that out already. After all, Kirsty hadn’t been around for a while.

‘Do you want to talk about it?’ she said.

He sipped the tea. He was beginning to feel a little calmer, but his mind was still racing, remembering what he had read in Letitia’s letter. ‘You remember I asked you for the address of Letitia and David? I received a letter from them today.’

Mary shook her head. ‘I don’t understand. What’s that got to do with Kirsty?’

‘No. It’s not Kirsty – it’s Lucy and Chris.’

‘What about them?’

He sighed. And then he told Mary everything, right from the beginning: from the first hoax, when the fire brigade turned up at his party, through the dead rats (‘I’m embarrassed to admit that I suspected Lennon at first,’ he said) and the letters and Paul’s supposed accident and the spiders and Kirsty’s miscarriage, all the way through to the second incident with the fire brigade. The only bit he left out was the part about the men he had given the money to. He was too ashamed to tell her about that.

After he had finished telling her she was silent for a while. Eventually she said, ‘My God, Jamie. I had no idea. I knew you were having some sort of problems, but I thought maybe it was just the worry of starting a family. I’ve never liked Lucy and Chris. I always thought there was something a bit nasty about them, but I really didn’t think–’ She shrugged. ‘Well, who would? It’s not the kind of thing that’s supposed to happen in real life, is it?’

‘I know.’

‘Poor Kirsty. Poor you.’

‘And Letitia and David too. The letter I got from them today explained that they’d been through pretty much the same as us.’

‘I always thought something had happened to them. They were so happy when they moved in. I remember Letitia coming up here and telling me how excited they were to have found the flat. I knew about Letitia’s friend dying, and I thought that was what made them want to move away. I feel so stupid. Maybe if I’d known, I could have helped.’

At that moment, Lennon walked into the room, sparking a memory in Jamie’s head. ‘You know when Lennon went missing and you were really worried about him? I saw him with Lucy. In fact, I’m sure she was keeping him in their flat.’

Mary’s mouth dropped open.

‘I expect she knew how worried you’d be and got a kick out of it.’

On cue, the cat jumped onto Mary’s lap and she wrapped her arms around him.

‘Perhaps you could help me now,’ Jamie said.

‘Of course. Anything.’

He put down his drink. He had only drunk half of it. ‘I need to get into the Newtons’ flat. I’ve been to the police about Lucy and Chris and they think I’m inventing it all. The same happened to Letitia and David. If I can get into the basement flat I might be able to find some evidence. A key to my flat, for example, to prove that Chris could have got into my flat to plant that virus. Or a diary. That would be good. There has to be something in there that will incriminate them, especially if I put it together with Letitia’s letter and remind the police that Chris has been involved in two accidents: three if you include Kirsty’s miscarriage.’

‘Isn’t that enough? Surely if you remind the police about Letitia’s friend…’

‘No, because there’s no evidence. It would never stand up in court. It wouldn’t even get to court. I need something more. I’m certain that if I get into their flat I’ll find it.’

Mary nodded. ‘So what can I do?’

‘I need them out of the way for an hour or so. Maybe you could ask them to dinner or something.’

‘But, Jamie, they don’t like me.’

‘I know. Lucy says you’re a witch.’

Mary raised an eyebrow. ‘Does she indeed. I wish I was. I’d turn her into a mouse and let Lennon play with her.’

Jamie laughed.

Mary said, ‘I’ve got an idea. Stay here. I’ll be back in a minute.’

She left Jamie on his own and left the flat. She was gone for over half an hour, leaving him twiddling his thumbs, wishing he had his cigarettes with him. He chewed his fingernails, trying to work out another way to get into the flat if Mary couldn’t help him. What was she doing? He had a sudden horrible feeling that