Next of Kin (4 page)

He nodded. ‘That’s a shame. But I’m sure you can understand how she feels. You have to feel safe where you live. I felt the same way at my last place; there are some things you can cope with but not others.’ He paused. ‘Maybe someone left one of the outside doors unlocked. Someone could have crept in. We had the volume up pretty loud on the TV.’

Sarah shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. It doesn’t make any sense. And her bedroom door was locked. Why go up to Anna’s room when there is a TV and things in the kitchen, money, the radio, my iPod…’

‘Ah,’ Woody said. He didn’t need to say anything else. She could see what he was thinking. ‘Would you like me to come down and talk to her, try to sort things out?’

‘And say what?’ she said grimly. ‘Sorry, that was rude of me, Woody. It was a kind offer. Thank you, but no. I’ll sort it out. She said she doesn’t really care about the money, but the jewellery had sentimental value.’ Sarah sighed. ‘It’s about trust, isn’t it? As well as feeling safe.’

Woody nodded. ‘It is,’ he said. ‘And I’m sorry.’

She looked at him; both of them knew they were apologising for Ryan.

Sarah

‘So what happened after the incident with Anna?’ asked the detective. He was sitting back in his chair now, long legs stretched out in front of him, and fingers steepled across his belly.

‘I went downstairs and I rang the police. It took them three days to come round and then it was just basically to give us a crime number so we could claim on the contents insurance. By that time Anna had already found somewhere else to stay and moved out, so I gave them her new address so they could take a statement. I don’t know if they did or not. We never heard anything else from them. Anna went to stay with a friend till she could find somewhere. I gave her the forty pounds back.’

‘Because you thought Ryan had taken it?’

‘I hadn’t got any proof.’

‘But you suspected it was Ryan?

‘Yes, I couldn’t see how it could be anyone else – and he was the only one who knew where the spare keys were.’

‘And where were they?’

‘In the kitchen. On a hook.’

‘So not exactly hidden?’

‘No, not really. Although there was more than one key on the ring and several key rings. But the thing is Ryan that knew which ring it was on and which key it was.’

‘So you were more or less certain that Ryan had stolen the money and the jewellery?’

‘It was hard not to come to that conclusion. I’m not proud of that, but he was so difficult. I took all the keys upstairs after that, locking the door after the horse has bolted, you might say, but it made me feel a bit better knowing that only I knew where the keys were.

‘Then about a week later I came home from work and Woody was waiting for me in the kitchen. I told you I work in the restaurant two or three nights a week? It depends on how many people they’ve got booked. Anyway the manager had text me at the nursery asking if I could come in and do an extra shift for them, so I’d just come in from work and was on the turn around. You know, quick shower, change of clothes and then I was going back out again.’

‘So you were in hurry?’

‘Yes. Yes I was.’

Chapter Four

‘I need to show you something,’ Woody said, as Sarah opened the back door and dropped her bag onto the kitchen table. He was sitting at the kitchen table, looked serious, uncomfortable and had obviously been waiting for her to come home.

‘Can’t it wait? ’ Sarah asked, not meeting his eye, using her toes to ease off the back of her shoes and shuffling them into the corner by the door. ‘I’m not being rude, Woody, but I really need to be out in of here in half an hour. I have just about enough time to get cleaned up, get changed and grab a sandwich.’

‘No, I’m sorry, I don’t think it will wait,’ he said.

Something about his tone stopped Sarah in her tracks and she looked round as if she might be able to spot what the problem was. ‘Why, what is it? It’s not the shower again, is it? I’ll try and ring the plumber first thing tomorrow.’

‘No. You need to come and see for yourself,’ he said, getting to his feet. The legs of his chair scraped over the tiles as he got up.

‘Can’t you just tell me? I’ve really not got time.’ Even though she was saying it, Sarah found herself following Woody outside into the garden.

‘I was tidying up out here this afternoon and I found something that I really think you need to see,’ he said. He sounded sad.

‘Did you break something? I mean there’s nothing precious out here, I’m sure it’ll be fine.’

Just before she’d gone to work Woody had popped downstairs to say he had a couple of days off and would she mind if he made a start on the garden? He was thinking he would cut the grass and do some weeding, tidy up a bit, burn some rubbish, if that was okay.

Sarah had laughed. She didn’t mind a bit, far from it, she was grateful. She knew he felt bad about not paying her all the rent and guessed that this might be his way of making amends. So, humouring him, Sarah slipped on a pair of flip-flops and headed outside after him. It was easy to see where Woody had been. Two of the flowerbeds had been dug over, the lawn had been mown and the clippings raked up into a heap. In one corner by what had once been the vegetable patch, a pile of last year’s leaves and rubbish was smouldering in a brazier.

Slightly bemused, Sarah fell into step as the two of them headed across the lawn to the shed, or at least what was left of the shed. The corrugated roof had fallen in some time over the winter. The door was trapped open by the weight of the tin sheets, held down and wedged ajar to reveal a crush of tools and flowerpots, sun-faded paper sacks and weathered cardboard boxes. Just inside the door, sheltered by the fallen roof, stood a newly sharpened rotary lawn mower, a spade, fork and a rake. Woody reached inside, past the tools into the jumble of boxes and bags and pulled out a red fabric bundle. Looking uncomfortable he handed it to Sarah.

‘I don’t understand,’ she said, turning it over. ‘What is it?’

‘You need to look for yourself. I found it when I was trying to get the lawn mower out.’

Sarah turned it over in her hands. It was an old tee shirt, wrapped tightly around something hard – maybe not just one thing though, the core of the bundle moved and gave as Sarah very carefully unrolled it.

Inside was a tangle of necklaces, a lady’s watch, a couple of pairs of earrings, and some silver bangles. Sarah felt her heart lurch. She turned the watch over. On the back were engraved the words, ‘
To Anna on your 18th Birthday - With all our love, Mum and Dad xxx
.’ Sarah stared down at the jewellery in her hands and then looked up at Woody.

‘This is Anna’s and this…’ she said, the words catching in her throat, as she pulled out a locket on a tangled chain from amongst the rest, ‘…this is my mum’s and I think those are too.’ She picked out a pair of diamond studs. ‘They were in the jewellery box on my dressing table. I didn’t even know they had gone.’ She felt sick.

Woody said nothing.

‘This is Ryan’s tee shirt,’ said Sarah quietly.

Woody looked as if he was in pain. ‘I’m so sorry, Sarah. I wasn’t sure whether to say anything or not. But I thought you ought to know.’

Sarah nodded. ‘Thank you,’ she muttered. ‘I’ll talk to Ryan and then I’ll get these back to Anna.’ She sounded brisk, matter of fact, while the pulse thundered in her ears.

‘Some one could have taken his tee-shirt,’ Woody began, glancing back towards the house. ‘It would be easy enough to take it from the washing line and then hide the things in here. Maybe they were coming back for them when the coast was clear – maybe—’

Sarah’s expression stopped him. ‘That doesn’t make any sense, and you know that, Woody,’ she said. ‘If someone had taken the money and jewellery then why didn’t they just take it away with them? Why bother hiding it? Unless of course they just wanted it out of the house, somewhere safe where no one would look until it was safe to get rid of them.’

Woody looked downcast. ‘Maybe he didn’t know how to sell it?’ I can’t imagine what he was thinking,’ said Woody, embarrassed. ‘I know that he’s not good with money, but I never imagined that he would—’

‘It’s all right,’ said Sarah, holding a hand to silence him. ‘And you’re right. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions. I’ll deal with it, but please don’t lend Ryan any more money, is that clear? And keep your room locked. I don’t think he would steal from you but who knows. I’ve got the spares in my room now.’

He nodded, although from his body language Sarah wondered if Woody was going to say something else, but in the end apparently he thought better of it.

‘So where exactly did you find this?’ she said.

Woody look embarrassed. ‘I was going to burn some of the leaves and I’ve got some rubbish that needed burning as well so I was just pulling out some old newspapers to get the fire started.’ He nodded back towards the chaos in the shed. ‘I managed to get the mower out and there it was under that pile of papers. Just slipped inside, into the top of one of the boxes. It was pure chance that I found it at all. And now I wish I hadn’t.’

Sarah could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. ‘It’s not your fault,’ she said thickly. She looked past him into the shed and then shook her head. ‘I can’t do this,’ she whispered, almost to herself.

‘It might not be Ryan,’ he said.

Sarah stared up at him, wishing that she believed him. ‘Who else could it be?’ she said miserably, feeling the tears welling up. ‘Who else? Tell me, Woody.’

‘ Don’t cry. Come inside,’ said Woody, catching hold of her arm. ‘I’ll make us some tea.’

Sarah let him guide her back into the house. The door to the basement flat was closed, all the curtains pulled tight shut, a scatter of rubbish bags and bottles still stacked up around the door.

‘Do you want me to talk to him?’ asked Woody, catching the glance. ‘I don’t mind. Maybe it would be easier coming from me. I’m his friend. Maybe he’d listen to me?’

Sarah stared at him and then shook her head. ‘No, he is my responsibility, and anyway I think he’s working, doing some paving today. I’ll catch him when he gets in.’

‘I thought you said you had to go to work?’

‘I did but I’m going to call in sick.’

‘Are you sure?’

Sarah nodded, her fingers closing tight round the bundle. ‘I’ve got to do something, haven’t I? I just can’t pretend it didn’t happen, that you didn’t find it.’

Woody nodded. ‘If you need me…’ he let the sentence hang.

Sarah smiles, grateful. ‘Thank you.’

Sarah heard the van pull up at around half past six and, taking the tee shirt and the jewellery, she waited for a couple of minutes to let him get inside and then went downstairs to Ryan’s flat. She caught him at the door just as he was fumbling around in his pockets for his keys. The sun had bleached his hair, he looked tanned and fit and happy. He looked up as she picked her way down the steps behind him.

‘Hi, what’re you doing? I thought your text said you were going to be at work tonight?’ he said.

‘I was but something’s come up; I wanted to have a chat.’

‘Oh okay, sure come on in,’ Ryan said brightly, shouldering the door open as the key turned. ‘You’ll have to excuse the mess.’ He grinned. ‘I’m thinking I really ought to get myself a cleaner. How are you fixed? Or do you want me to come upstairs? I’ll just grab a quick shower. I was wondering, is there any chance you could cut my hair? I could do with a bit off the back and off the fringe.’ He grabbed a handful.’ Just maybe take the ends off?’

When they were little their mum had always cut their hair. Since she had gone Sarah had taken over the job. Ryan was happy and tired and Sarah was reluctant to embark on the conversation that she knew she had to have with him. She had been nearly six when Ryan was born, and when he was little she had loved him so fiercely that she thought she might die. She didn’t want him to be a liar or a thief, she wanted him to take all the clever bright funny things that he was and be more than this, be more than the bundle of jewellery she was holding in her hand. He was worth so much more; all her love for him was worth that alone.

‘So, do you want me to come up later?’

‘No, here is just fine,’ she said, following him inside. The air in the basement was heavy and stale, thick with the scent of frying, damp washing and the smell of sweat and old trainers.

‘Do you want some tea?’ he asked, opening the fridge, pulling out a carton of milk and sniffing it speculatively.

‘No, thanks. I’m fine.’

‘So to what do I owe the pleasure, then? If it’s about the money I’ve had off Woody then don’t start, okay? I’ve got it here. Cash, two hundred and forty quid; you can have it now if you like.’

Sarah nodded. ‘That would be good.’

He slipped his hand into the back pocket of his jeans, pulled out a fold of notes, counted out some, and dropped them onto the table. ‘There you go. Do you want to sit down?’

‘No, not really.’

He eyed her up; cooler now. ‘So what is it? If it’s about the rubbish round the back door I promise I’ll sort it out tomorrow. And I’ve got a couple more days’ work next week too. Don was saying he might be able to find me something a bit more regular. Maybe even on the books. I told him to sign me up. Show me the way. You know, like a proper job?’ Ryan laughed. ‘You sure you don’t want a drink? I’ve got a beer here somewhere; it might be a bit warm though.’

Sarah set the tee shirt down in amongst the chaos on the kitchen table and picked up the money.

‘What’s that?’ Ryan asked, tucking the rest of the notes back into his pocket.

‘I think you probably already know.’

Ryan shrugged. ‘No, I don’t. Why would I?’

She looked at his face. Oh he was good. ‘Ryan, please, don’t do this,’ she said.

‘Don’t do what? I don‘t know what it is. Something I’m meant to have lost or spoilt or put in with white wash, what?’ He picked up the tee shirt. It fell open as if he really didn’t know what was wrapped up in it. Clever, very clever. The jewellery spilt out onto the table, clattering down in amongst the bowls and the mugs and the bottles of sauce.

He looked at Sarah. ‘For fuck sake, what’s all this? Is it some kind of joke?’ His good mood had evaporated. ‘This is my tee shirt.’

Sarah nodded. ‘I know.’

His expression darkened. ‘Oh right, I get it. Here we go again. I know where this is going, Ryan the thief, Ryan the liar. Ryan who can’t be bloody trusted,’ he growled. ‘That’s what you think, isn’t it?’

‘I don’t want to think that, Ryan, but how else do you explain it?’

‘I can’t explain it. I don’t need to explain it. I’ve never seen any of this stuff before.’ He stopped and looked closer. ‘Hang on, those are Mum’s earrings, aren’t they? You think I’d steal jewellery that belonged to Mum? Where did you find all this stuff?’

‘ Woody found it in the shed.’

‘Okay, well I can’t remember the last time I was anywhere near the shed. I have no idea how it ended up there. Do you understand?’

Sarah nodded.

‘You don’t believe me, do you? You think I put it there, don’t you?’

‘How else could it have got there?’

‘I don’t know, and if I’d stolen it why did I hide it? Why didn’t I sell it or pawn it. Why hide it, Sarah? It makes no sense. Have you talked to Woody about it?’

‘Woody?’ said Sarah.

‘Yeah. I’m assuming this is Anna’s stuff that got stolen. I wasn’t the only one in the house that night, you know. Have you asked him what he knows about it? What he was doing? Did you get around to accusing him?’

Sarah stared at him; the thought hadn’t crossed her mind. ‘No of course not.’

‘Why not?’ Ryan snapped.

‘You mean Woody, the man who you’re always telling me is minted, who you’re always borrowing money off? Why would he steal someone else’s money and jewellery? Tell me that? You told me yourself he’s as sound as a pound.’

Ryan ran his hands back through his hair and then gestured towards the jewellery. ‘It wasn’t me, all right? You have to believe me. I don’t know anything about this stuff or how it got in the shed. I really don’t, Sarah. Someone else must have been here. And I’m serious about Woody, what if he is having people round when we’re out, you never know.’ Ryan was gabbling now, looking for another way out.

Sarah nodded. ‘You’re right. I will ask him. I’m going to take the things round to Anna’s tomorrow.’