Trust No One - Keri Beevis Page 0,8

wasn’t alone, at least for tonight.’

‘What?’

‘That settles it. You’re coming home.’

‘I’ll be fine. I have Molly.’

‘You said Molly was away with work.’

Damn, her mother didn’t miss a trick. Olivia had forgotten she had told her mother that her lodger was away on a course. ‘Only temporarily. She’ll be home tonight.’ At Elena’s narrowed eyes, she cursed her mother’s ability to remember everything. ‘Or maybe tomorrow,’ she added grudgingly.

‘So tonight then you come home.’

‘I can’t leave Luna.’

‘We’ll stop by to get your things and you can feed Luna. She’s a cat. She will cope for one night.’

‘I don’t need to come home, Mum. I’m thirty-one. I can take care of myself.’

‘You witnessed a murder, Olivia.’ Elena was on her feet, a formidable presence even though she was only five foot two. ‘And then you were involved in a nasty accident. Tell her I’m right, DC Upton.’ It wasn’t a request.

‘You’ve had quite an ordeal today,’ the detective began diplomatically. ‘I don’t think it would be a bad thing to be with family tonight.’

Olivia scowled at him, knowing he had sealed her fate.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be around her family. Far from it. She had grown up in a close-knit household with her brother, and parents who loved them unconditionally. After her dad’s death, she and Jamie had rallied around Elena and they had become an even tighter unit.

Today had thrown her a curveball though and she wanted time alone to process everything that had happened. She also wanted the comfort of her own home and to sleep in her own bed.

It wasn’t to be though and, after the interview with DC Upton had concluded, she followed her mother out to the car park, unaware of the eyes that were watching her.

5

There were five in the bed and the little one said, roll over, roll over.

So they all rolled over and one fell out.

There were four in the bed…

Gary Lamb was an easy kill and the most enjoyable one so far. It had been simple enough to lure him to the house and restrain him in the chair. Listening to him beg and plead for his life, seeing the horror on his face when he realised what was going to happen to him, had made the plotting and the waiting all worthwhile.

The filthy pig had shit himself when I doused him in the petrol and teased him with the lit match, and the smell of his fear had been vile.

Of course I blew it out. We weren’t quite ready. The moment had to be perfect.

Then she had arrived and it was showtime.

I have lost track of how many times I have watched the video, but I hit play again, enjoying the look on the bitch’s face when she enters the room and finds him chained up and burning alive. His muffled screams, her reaction of disbelief and anguish, and the sounds of our favourite Christmas song playing. It was perfect and you would have loved it.

I know you want me to hurt her for what she did to you, for how she betrayed you, and, trust me, I will, but first there are others who need to be punished, who also hurt you.

I promise you though that she will be there every step of the way, witnessing the consequences of her actions. And when it finally gets to her turn, I will make sure she pays.

6

Olivia had spent her childhood in The Riverside Inn, her bedroom overlooking the tranquil River Green in the suburb of Thorpe St Andrew and it was one of her favourite spots in the city. The old pub restaurant had been adapted over the years, but still retained much of its charm, and pulled in a decent crowd, especially over the weekends.

Downstairs was business, while upstairs was personal, with her mum and brother managing the business and living on the top floor of the old building, and over the years, Olivia had helped in the restaurant. These days she only did the odd waitressing shift when needed, to help the family out.

Dropping her overnight bag on the floor of her old bedroom, she looked out of the window at the stunning riverfront view. People paid a premium for this location and she knew her mother had worked hard to keep the business afloat through difficult times, not willing to sacrifice the place she had built up with their father from scratch.

‘Get yourself settled. I’ll go put the kettle on and make some lunch.’

‘Thanks. I’m not