So, Kaitlyn had been turned on by money. Interesting.
‘I didn’t think twice. I bought her cocktails, an expensive dinner. I sent her flowers… I even planned to buy her a pair of diamond earrings we saw in a shop window but she d-died before I c-could.’ He swallowed. ‘Lucy, I had so many plans. I know we’d only just met but I was going to fly us to Venice. Verona, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney. She loved to travel. And even though I knew it probably wouldn’t last, I didn’t care. She was… wonderful.’
Somehow Lucy couldn’t see Ricky killing someone he was so in awe of, maybe even half in love with. Perhaps he’d been obsessed with Kaitlyn? That could have been a dangerous state of mind, turning into jealousy, possessiveness and suspicion, which could drive emotions into previously unchartered territory.
‘What happened last night?’
He took a deep breath. Brought out a handkerchief, crisp white cotton, monogrammed. Mopped his lip and brow.
‘She’d invited me to her place for dinner… I’d brought a bottle of Cristal Rosé and a dozen roses. She’s vegan.’ His gaze turned distant. ‘I wasn’t entirely sure what we’d be eating but I wouldn’t have cared what she gave me. She was amazing. She made me feel as though I could conquer the world and I–’
He broke off when there was a knock on the door. Karen stuck her head inside. ‘Your mother’s here, Ricky. Shall I bring her in?’
‘No!’ Ricky seemed horrified. ‘I don’t think now is the right–’
‘That would be great.’ Lucy overrode him, her police instinct kicking in. She wanted to see why he was so dismayed, check out the family dynamics. ‘Thanks, Karen.’
Jaya arrived in a flurry of vibrant silk and gold bangles. A cloud of touched-up black hair capped a plump, expressive face. High heels, dangling gold earrings and a huge orange handbag topped the ensemble.
Lucy rose and was immediately enveloped in an embrace that smelled of Clinique’s light and floral Happy, taking her straight back to her childhood. It was the same scent her mum used to wear.
Jaya wept a little while Lucy muttered consoling words. She could see Ricky’s jaw was tense, his body language closed. Eventually, take-charge Jaya said, ‘Lucy, what’s your plan? How are you going to get Ricky out of here?’
‘That’s just it, Jaya. I can’t do anything except advise you to liaise with Ricky’s solicitor, and hope things resolve themselves.’
‘You can’t really expect us to sit and do nothing!’
‘Mum, please…’ Ricky’s tone was plaintive. He sounded six years old, not twenty-six.
‘Quiet,’ Jaya said sharply. ‘I want to know what Lucy’s going to do to find the murderer.’
‘Seriously, Jaya, since I’m no longer with the Met, I really can’t help. I have no jurisdiction. No authority.’
‘Can’t you find out something about this woman? What she was doing in London? The press say she lived on a farm in the Cotswolds, but what if she had an ulterior motive? What if she was connected to terrorists or something? And they had to kill her to keep her quiet? I’m just brainstorming here.’ She turned to Ricky. ‘What do you think this woman saw in you?’
‘We just… got on.’ Ricky’s voice was small.
‘Did she know you’re an accountant?’ She made it sound as bad as if she’d said child abuser.
‘I’m doing very well, thank you.’ Ricky drew himself up.
‘Only thanks to Tomas Featherstone. Without him, you’d never have the client list you have.’
‘Mum!’ For a moment Ricky looked furious. ‘Why can’t you keep your mouth shut?!’
Lucy was startled. ‘You don’t mean Teflon Tom, do you? Who we went to school with?’
Ricky glanced away, seeming to shrink.
‘You’re Tomas’s accountant?’
‘He’s a client, yes,’ Ricky mumbled.
‘Jesus, Ricky.’
Tomas Featherstone had been one of the cool kids, mainly because he lived on the edge. He stole cars, took his gang joyriding. He smoked. Took drugs. He was also charismatic and charming and quick-witted as hell. He’d been suspended several times, but the school never expelled him, convinced they could improve his behaviour. Although his teachers were tireless, never giving up on him, the second he left school he went into business with his father, selling chalets in the south of Spain which didn’t exist. His dad ended up in jail for fraud, and how Tomas escaped being charged nobody ever knew, which is why he was nicknamed Teflon Tom. Nothing ever stuck to him.
‘What’s he into now?’ Lucy asked.
‘Lots of different things.’ Ricky still wouldn’t look at her.
‘I bet.’ Lucy’s tone was biting. She wanted to say I hope you’re not helping him launder dirty money but with Jaya there, she held her tongue. At least now she knew where Ricky had got his money from: criminals. Which opened Kaitlyn Rogers’ case to all sorts of permutations.
‘Did Tomas know Kaitlyn Rogers?’ Lucy asked instead.
‘Why should he?’ Finally Ricky looked at her, expression puzzled.
‘I don’t know, but if you’re doing business with the likes of Teflon Tom, I think you should take a serious look at your client list and–’
Ricky scrambled to his feet. His face had darkened. ‘Don’t be so sanctimonious. He’s a client. That’s all. I met Kat in a bar. I went to have dinner with her and when I got to her apartment…’ He took a shuddering breath.
‘Go on,’ Lucy prompted softly.
‘Well, the door was ajar and I called and called and when she didn’t appear… I pushed the door open and took a step inside and I was thinking something smelled good, I was getting hungry, but then I got a whiff of something horrible… it turned my stomach, and then I saw her lying in the hallway, her throat had been cut… there was so much blood…’ He began to sway.
‘Sit down,’ Lucy told him. He sat. His hands were trembling.
‘I checked to see… if she was alive but… I couldn’t find a pulse. She wasn’t breathing…’
Lucy held
