LORI’S PHONE CALL came as Edgar was driving to work. He’d known the girls had visited a couple of nights before. Since then, Sandra’s mood had deteriorated further. He also knew he needed to keep Lori sweet: he didn’t want any unnecessary complications.
‘Hi, Lori, is everything okay?’ he asked, keeping his tone upbeat.
‘I’ve been holding off phoning you, but I need to warn you about something.’
‘Warn me about what?’
‘Sandra is suspicious.’
‘Why, what did she say?’
‘She’s keeping notes on you.’
‘Notes?’ He didn’t disguise his surprise. ‘Hold on a second.’
He pulled the car into a side street. Once parked, he rolled down the driver’s window to get some air. ‘Lori, tell me exactly what happened.’
‘When we called to the house earlier in the week, she told us. She’s writing everything down.’
‘What do you mean writing it down? What is she writing down?’ He immediately regretted his anxious tone. He had to tread carefully, and her silence wasn’t a good sign. ‘Lori, I’m sorry for snapping. Just tell me.’
‘She says she’s writing down things about YOU.’
‘Where? In a diary? A notebook?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘And you didn’t ask?’
‘I didn’t want to push her. You understand, don’t you?’
‘Lori, I need you to find out exactly what she knows. She trusts you.’
‘I’ll try, but …’
‘But what?’
‘She has no idea what’s happening. She is completely off base.’
‘Are you positive?’
‘Absolutely – she’s digging, but she hasn’t found anything concrete. Maybe you should pay her more attention, make sure you keep her from finding out anything of value. You’ll need to do more to distract her.’
‘I’ve every intention of keeping her in the dark.’
‘I know that.’
‘Lori, I’ll need your help. You’re one of the few people she’ll talk to. Call to her tomorrow. Go on your own. Tell her you’re there to give her moral support.’
‘I’d planned to make a visit either way.’
‘Lori?’
‘What?’
‘Don’t be tempted to say anything to her.’
‘You’re not threatening me, are you?’
‘We both know what’s at stake here. We can’t leave anything to chance.’ He turned the keys in the ignition, ready to drive away. ‘You’ll need to find out what she’s writing in that notebook or diary, and where she’s keeping it. Knowing Sandra, she’s sure to be holding something back.’
Driving out of the side street, he remembered the darkened house from the night before. He had avoided his wife – he’d been too tired for an interrogation. When he had crept into the bedroom, the empty bed had surprised him. It was only when he went downstairs that he saw the light on at the back of the house, coming from under the studio door. Was that where she was writing things down? If she had a notebook, or a diary, knowing Sandra, she wouldn’t keep it anywhere as obvious.
Maybe it was best to leave it with Lori. He didn’t like being dependent on her, but there wasn’t a lot else he could do. Still, if anyone could find out what was going on inside Sandra’s head, it would be her. He had come to realise she wasn’t the shrinking violet he’d once thought she was.
MERVIN ROAD, RATHMINES
KATE HAD BEEN awake since four that morning. Finding it impossible to go back to sleep, she took advantage of her temporary insomnia, and the peace of Charlie being out for the count, to once again review her file notes on the Shevlin case. It was now three hours later, and in many ways she still had more questions than answers. The two international investigations had broadened the frame of reference – they were all still male victims, all viciously stabbed, and with connections to the Tarot – but the focus of the killer now had a wider scope, including those close to the victims, or any future victim.
She was relieved that O’Connor was back on duty. It would take her a while to get used to thinking of him as Adam. When her mobile rang, she answered it, even though it was Declan, whom she had been avoiding for days.
‘It’s seven a.m.’
‘Kate, you know why I’m calling.’
‘I have the papers, but work has been mental.’
‘Nothing ever changes with you, does it?’ His words were full of cynicism.
Maybe he was right, she thought, but she was damned if she was going to let him take the moral high ground. ‘I wasn’t the one looking for some personal space, was I?’ She had spoken louder than she’d intended.
‘You shut me out, Kate, not the other way around.’
‘That’s your excuse, is it, for having an affair?’ She turned to make sure Charlie’s bedroom door was still closed.
‘It’s not about excuses.’
‘Isn’t it, Declan? Explain it to me, then. I’m all ears.’
‘It didn’t happen the way you’re saying it. You and I drifted apart, that’s all.’
‘You said it was my fault, that I shut you out.’