Mo Hayder - Skin

Flea glanced up at the pub. A few people stood on the terrace. Some wore business suits; some, shorts and T-shirts. No one was paying them any attention. She took a step closer to Mandy anyway, lowering her voice. ‘Look, it’ll be easier than you think. There’s a huge shake-up going on at the moment in the forensic system and most investigative teams don’t have big forensic budgets to start with. The autopsy will show she was hit by a car. With a confession from Thom they won’t look at it too closely. There’d be no reason to order extra tests.’

‘What sort of extra tests?’

‘Tests that would show she hadn’t been out in the open for all that time. That’s the only hot button. If they ever find out she was put in the car…’

‘You’ve thought it all through.’

‘The car has to look right because they’ll test the point of impact. I’ve burnt the boot lining and you’re going to have to take a trip somewhere – London, maybe – to buy a new one. You’ll need to pay cash. I’ll take care of her clothes, get rid of fibres from the boot. The only other thing is her body.’

Mandy winced. ‘Yes. That.’

‘She’d have decomposed differently in the boot than if she’d been in the open. On the roadside there’d’ve been animal artefacts. Rats, mice, foxes. They’re not discerning about what meat’s on the menu.’

‘Jesus Christ,’ Thom muttered. ‘This is a nightmare.’

Mandy gave him a sharp look. ‘Be quiet.’

‘So, this is the crucial part. We’ve got to hide her somewhere it’s plausible she landed, but where she won’t be seen from the road. She needs to lie out there for a night or longer – as long as possible, really, so the animals can do their thing. Move her around. Destroy some evidence, make it believable.’ She took a sip of her drink and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. ‘And that’s where it gets tricky.’

‘What?’

‘It’s in a remote place but someone’s got a view of it. A good view. That’s where you come in, Mandy. I’m going to ask you to distract someone.’

‘How am I going to do that?’

‘I don’t know yet. You like animals, don’t you? Maybe you tell her your cat’s gone missing and you’re searching the neighbourhood.’

‘I’m not an actress.’

‘You might not have to be. This woman’s a drunk. If we time it right you won’t have to work hard to convince her.’

She took another sip of cider, put the glass down and got a pellet of chewing-gum from the packet in her pocket. Easy on the booze – the last thing she needed was to get pissed. ‘And it’s tonight. We’re going to get started tonight.’

Mandy and Thom didn’t speak. They both stared at her.

‘I know, I know. But it’s got to be done. When it’s done we’ll all feel better.’

‘OK.’ Mandy scratched her head. ‘One last thing.’

‘What?’

‘Take me through what really happened again. That night. Because at the time you told me he was in the back garden. I phoned you three times and you told me each time he was in the back garden.’

‘We’ve gone through this.’

‘Just so it’s clear in my head.’

Flea sighed. ‘OK. Like I said, I was covering for him. He went to meet some people about importing chandeliers from the Czech Republic, didn’t you, Thom? He thought you’d lose it if you knew. So we lied. Simple as that.’

‘It’s just that, on the night when I called, you told me, over and over again, he was down at the bottom of the terraces. You said he was pruning some tree or something.’

‘Mandy.’ Flea kept her voice patient. ‘Concentrate. Read my lips. I. Was. Lying. Thom was out. He had a drink with his business contacts and came home drunk. Come on, Thom? Haven’t you explained all this? She’s not listening to me.’

‘I…’ he began hesitantly. ‘I – I don’t know what to say.’

‘Just explain, for Christ’s sake. We’re wasting time.’

He glanced at Mandy, then away. He had exactly the same distant expression he’d get as a kid when Dad would try to pin him down over something. ‘I – I can’t remember,’ he muttered. ‘You know, it’s a bit of a haze.’

‘A bit of a haze? A bit of a haze ? Wake up, Thom. This is serious.’

Mandy put her hands into the air. ‘Let’s calm down. Phoebe. We’re only trying to get to the truth of what happened.’

‘The truth? I’ve told you the truth.’

‘Yes, but do you see our point? That’s what you said to me on the night of the accident. You said you were telling the truth then. But you weren’t. You were lying then , so how do I know you’re not lying now ?’

‘I’m not fucking lying , Mandy.’

‘No need to shout.’

‘ But I’m not lying. Why the hell would I be lying? ’

Mandy’s face became calm. ‘To save yourself? Maybe?’

Flea put her hand up to shade her eyes from the lights in the pub and studied Mandy’s face. ‘Are you being funny?’

‘It was you driving the car, wasn’t it?’

‘ What? ’

‘I said, it was you driving the car. You swore to the cop it was you driving.’

‘Swore because I was protecting Thom. He was off his tits.’

‘Says who?’

Flea let all the air out of her lungs. ‘This is fucking insane. Insane. I can’t believe this is coming out of your mouth.’

‘You were so high-strung that night – you know how you get. You were upset with work – upset about your parents.’ Mandy’s tone was pained, uncomprehending, as if it was not the sort of thing she’d understand but she was willing to be flexible about what others did. ‘You drove when you were upset and got followed home by the policeman. He breathalysed you. There’ll be a record of it somewhere.’

‘Tell me you’re not serious. Tell me you’re not trying to turn this on to me.’

Mandy didn’t answer.

Flea gave a low, disbelieving whistle. ‘You fucking bitch.’

‘Be careful what you say.’

‘Right.’ She put her glass down on the platform. ‘We’re going to the police.’

Mandy didn’t move. ‘I don’t think so. It’s your word against Thom’s. Mine. And the cop’s.’

‘That’s not going to work, Mandy. You take the gloves off, mate, and you lose. I’ve got proof I wasn’t driving the car.’

‘Really?’

‘A photo. Showing Thom hit Misty.’

Mandy sighed. ‘What is it about you, Phoebe, that always makes whatever you say sound so unfeasible? Where is this photo? Shall we have a look at it?’

‘It exists.’

‘Then show us.’

‘It exists , Mandy. You’d better believe it.’

Mandy smiled and put a reassuring hand on her arm. ‘I’m sure it does. Somewhere – maybe in your imagination. But there’s no need for you to invent things because we’re not going to tell anyone anyway. No, you’ve got nothing to worry about from us. We’ll protect you. We’re not going to say a thing .’

Flea snatched her arm away. ‘Don’t fucking touch me.’

She went to the car. Sat inside, windows closed. Turned up the Snow Patrol album as loud as it would go and tapped out the music hard on the dashboard. From the pub balcony one or two people were staring at the little Clio. On the fishing platform Mandy and Thom stood facing her, shoulder to shoulder. Their faces were in shadow but she could tell they weren’t speaking. They were doing nothing. Just watching her.

She thought of Ruth Lindermilk. Remembered the key going down her T-shirt. She imagined how she’d react if she ever found out the real reason the photo was important. Not a woman who’d be scared by the police into giving up a bit of evidence. Especially not to help Flea. She’d sooner destroy it.