Sister Sister(101)

‘How are you getting on with him?’

‘Luke? He’s a nice guy.’

‘I need you to do me a favour,’ Tom says.

There’s a hesitation before Martha answers and her voice is guarded. ‘Which is?’

‘Get a bit closer to Luke. Make a few waves for him and Clare.’

‘I thought that’s what I was doing.’

‘You need to do more. Clare’s got her suspicions about you and the last thing we need is for everyone to start listening to her.’ There’s an impatience in Tom’s voice and a coldness he usually reserves for his ex-wife.

‘If I’m her ally, though, then she’s more likely to believe me.’

‘Leave Clare to me.’

Martha gives a laugh. ‘Oh, I get it. You want Clare to turn to you. Now, I know you and Clare have history, but I thought that was all puppy love.’

‘It’s unfinished business and business that doesn’t concern you.’

‘If you want me to up my game, then I suggest you up your payment.’ The laughter has gone from Martha’s voice now and is replaced with a steely edge.

‘Don’t play hardball with me,’ says Tom. ‘Remember, I know what you did. All it will take is one call to the police in America and it’s game over for you.’

‘Well, that’s where you’re wrong,’ replies Martha. ‘I’m pretty sure the authorities would be interested to learn that you have been swindling money from the trust fund yourself. I think that’s called embezzlement.’

‘It’s not fucking murder, though.’

I give a sharp intake of breath, sitting up in my seat. Murder? My fears are confirmed. I miss the next couple of exchanges while I take in what I’ve just heard. Aware that Tom could be back any minute I force myself back to the recording and take the mouse to slide the cursor back a few seconds and listen to that part of the conversation again.

‘It’s not fucking murder, though.’

‘It was an accident!’ Martha’s voice is indignant but angry too.

Me, I feel numb. I’m trying hard to take in what is being said. My own head is throbbing and the nauseous feeling won’t go away. Tom is talking again and I make another effort to focus.

‘You pushed her. She hit her head. Fatally. You didn’t call the emergency services.’ Tom emphasises each point, as I’ve seen him do so many times in the courtroom. I imagine him strolling back and forth in front of the witness box, marking each point off on his fingers. ‘You hid the body. You went home to bed. Even when you woke the next morning, you did nothing.

‘Shut up! Just shut up!’ Martha hisses.

‘At worst, this could be premeditated murder, at best manslaughter,’ Tom continues, ignoring her. ‘Then there’s concealing a crime and/or evidence, withholding evidence, perverting the course of justice … do I need to go on?’

‘If I go down, so do you.’

‘You’ll go down for life, I, on the other hand, could be out in a few years. I might even get a suspended sentence. My life will go on. Yours, well, that’s not looking so good.’

‘You’re bluffing.’

‘I can assure you, I’m not. I even know where to tell the authorities to look for the body. The woods near the bridge to Talbot Island. It won’t take them long to find her.’ Tom has an air of confidence about him. ‘Ever heard the expression ‘loose lips sink ships’? Well, I have this whole conversation recorded. And our previous one.’

‘Bastard.’

‘I’ve been called worse.’

There’s an uneasy silence between the two and I can hear Martha’s breathing deepen as she fights to control it. Not unlike what I’m doing myself right now. She speaks again after a few seconds.

‘So, you want me to make trouble between Clare and Luke? Is that it?’

‘Yeah, that’s it.’

‘What if he’s not interested?’

‘A good-looking girl like you? I’m sure you can turn Luke’s head.’

‘Why do I get the impression this is not necessarily because you care about Clare?’

‘You’re very perceptive,’ says Tom. ‘I must congratulate you. Put it this way, love and hate are very close friends. If this little part of the plan doesn’t work out, then it’s okay, I have a Plan B.’

‘You’re one sick bastard.’

‘I just like winning.’

‘I’ve gotta go. Marion’s car has just pulled up on the drive.’

‘Don’t let me down, Martha, and if you do really well I might actually give you that pay rise after all.’