constantly exhausted. I will say that I’d suggested you have a hot bath and early night. You’d been reluctant for me to go, so I’d stayed while you ran a bath. You’d told me you were distressed about the hoodies in the back alley harming Puddles, and then we had gone into your bedroom where he was sleeping, and I’d stroked him while the bath was running. Finally, I’d given you a motherly hug, which will explain why my DNA is upstairs and will end up on your clothes. My story will then be that I then went home and later heard you screaming. You were shouting for help. I will tell the police that I raced round here, but couldn’t get in, and then hastily sought out Mr Good at Number 2 because I knew he was a keyholder. Unfortunately, by the time we let ourselves into Number 3, it was too late to save you. You were dead in the bath after slashing yourself.’
Jade stared at Dee. My God, she really thought she had it all figured out. Jade forced herself to sit still and appear untroubled. She needed to keep the woman talking… to keep things as calm as possible… and search for an appropriate moment where any advantage could be had over her.
‘Of course, what will really have happened’ – Dee continued – ‘is that I held you down in the bath, watched you choke until you passed out… and then cut you to make you bleed while still breathing… and then held you down again until you’d eventually blacked out from blood loss and subsequently drowned. Suicide.’
‘Right,’ Jade nodded, endeavouring to sound matter of fact. She was amazed at the steadiness in her voice given that every nerve in her body was screaming with panic. ‘And I’m going to oblige, am I? Just meekly stand aside while you run the bath, and then dutifully hop in?’
‘I took the liberty of preparing the bath earlier,’ said Dee as she reached into her sleeve. ‘And yes. You will meekly do as you’re told.’
It was then that Jade saw the knife.
Chapter Sixty-Six
Dee felt like she’d overdosed on energy drinks. Her heart was pumping as if she’d run a marathon and she was aware of every vein in her body. It felt like Niagara Falls was roaring through her arteries.
She’d waited so long for this moment and, now it had arrived, she couldn’t quite believe it. But here she was, in Jade Ferguson’s kitchen, trying not to crow with pleasure as she watched shock and fear play across the younger woman’s features.
Deanna had always known that her husband was a player, whether in the court room, his office, or between the sheets. Over the years there had always been signs when a woman had come into his life. Mostly lavish guilt presents, from diamond earrings to armfuls of exquisite flowers. But Deanna had never had hard proof. Not until she’d found that packet of condoms in the pocket of Tom’s jacket.
‘Why?’ she’d furiously demanded. ‘Haven’t I been a good wife to you?’
Tom had immediately caved in, tears pouring down his cheeks.
‘Yes,’ he’d snivelled. ‘You’re the best wife a man could ever wish for.’
‘So why?’ she’d repeated.
Tom had spread his hands wide. A helpless gesture.
‘I don’t know, Dee-Dee,’ he’d cried. ‘Because it was offered on a plate? Because I was flattered? I don’t know. It just happened.’
‘How long?’ she’d hissed.
Tom had hung his head with shame.
‘Ten…’ he’d mumbled.
‘Months?’
‘Years,’ he’d said, his voice barely audible.
Deanna had stared at him in astonishment.
‘Ten years?’ she’d spluttered. ‘So all the time you’ve been sharing a bed with me, making love to me, telling me that I was your world… you’ve been doing the same thing with another woman?’
Tom had stood before her and then dropped to his knees, tightly wrapping his arms around his wife’s ample hips. Tears had soaked the lower half of her blouse as he’d begged for forgiveness.
‘Please, Dee-Dee. I’ll tell her it’s over. I promise.’
‘How can I ever trust you?’
‘I’ll make it up to you.’
‘Who is she?’
‘It doesn’t matter who she is.’
‘It does to me.’
‘She’s nothing. No one.’
‘I want to know.’
But no matter how many times Deanna pressed to know who the other woman was, Tom would not tell her, insisting that the female in question was insignificant. It was the not knowing that endlessly gnawed at her mind.
Nor did she quite believe Tom when he insisted that he was no longer seeing the other woman. Gut instinct told her