‘Who were her friends? Was there one in particular?’
Joanne stared at her for a few minutes, then spoke very fast. ‘Look, there’s nothing else I can tell you. The reason I’ve said as much as I have, I thought it might save you some wasted effort. I suppose you help your father. I know what he does.’ She was holding open the door, waiting to see Karen out of the building. ‘If you come to the cafe again pretend we’ve never met. It’ll be better that way, I’m sure you agree.’
Chapter Twelve
Russell had his own theory about Joanne Stevens. When Karen told him about her visit to Joanne’s flat he listened, without interrupting, then said she must have been trying to protect Liam Pearce.
‘Liam Pearce?’ They were walking across the old graveyard, taking a short cut through to the shopping centre. Russell had been waiting for her when she came out of school. She wondered if he had found out something important – or perhaps he just wanted to see her.
‘I’ve been thinking,’ he said. ‘What if Joanne knew Natalie was messing around with some other bloke?’
‘What if she did? You mean Joanne felt sorry for Liam, and that’s why she told me he couldn’t have killed Natalie.’
‘Fancied him, you mean.’
‘Joanne Stevens fancy Liam Pearce?’
Russell laughed. ‘Liam’s a lame duck. Good looking in a flashy kind of way, which is what appealed to Natalie I imagine, but basically a bit of a nerd.’
Karen’s brain was working overtime. ‘Russell, did you ever meet Ann Stevens?’
‘Who? Oh, you mean Natalie’s mother.’ He shook his head. ‘Why?’
‘When I went round there that time – it was only a feeling, but I got the impression she knew something but was terrified of telling anyone.’
‘What gave you that idea?’
‘Something she said when Walter Stevens was out of the room. About Natalie always wanting new clothes, excitement. I just thought it was rather strange. If my daughter was murdered I can’t imagine criticising her in front of a total stranger. Then she said . . .’ Karen broke off trying to remember Mrs Stevens’ exact words.
‘Go on.’ Russell sounded impatient, excited.
‘Something about Natalie’s father, but she was talking so quietly I could hardly hear what she was saying. Something about how Walter had just snapped.’
As they climbed the steps up to Lancing Road Karen thought she saw someone jump back, but when they reached the top there was no-one in sight, apart from an elderly man, shuffling towards the old people’s flats.
‘Russell, did you see someone?’ She pointed towards two dusty-looking shrubs that, in spite of the traffic fumes, had managed to produce a few pinkish flowers.
He laughed. ‘Where? The trouble with you, you’re so caught up with all this stuff you’re starting to imagine things. Listen.’ He sat on the low wall that ran along the edge of the flower beds. ‘We need to work everything out properly, not keep jumping about from one suspect to the next.’
‘You still think Liam did it?’
He nodded. ‘Seems the most likely candidate. If Natalie’d been messing him about he wouldn’t have liked that. Liam fancies himself with women, wouldn’t have taken it well, being passed over for some other guy.’
‘But there’s no real evidence against him.’
He thought about it for a moment. ‘No, you’re right. I once met a guy who’d been banged up for nearly a year for a crime he hadn’t really committed.’
‘Why? What was he supposed to have done?’
‘Hit someone outside a pub, but it was self-defence. The guy who was injured had threatened him with a knife only the knife never turned up. I reckon he passed it to a friend who ran off with it before the police turned up.’
‘I suppose there are bound to be some injustices like that,’ said Karen.
Russell nodded. ‘Yes, I suppose. Come on, let’s hear your list of suspects. Opportunity and motivation – that’s what we ought to be thinking about. Am I right?’
‘Well, there’s Joanne. She hated her sister. Said so herself.’
Russell frowned. ‘If she’d killed Natalie she’d hardly have let you in on how she felt about her.’
‘Perhaps she wanted to confess. And Walter Stevens. He belongs to some society, something to do with Victorian morals. There’s a kind of church hall place, quite near where you live. You’ve probably noticed the sign.’
‘Poster with a picture of some kids in a field?’
She nodded. ‘Maybe Walter thought Natalie had let down the family.’
‘By having a kid? Surely not. So he lay in wait for her and whacked her over the head?’
He was mocking her. It was getting on her nerves. One minute he seemed interested in the case, keen to help. The next he started treating her like an idiot.
‘It has been known,’ she said coldly. ‘A father killing his daughter.’
‘Of course. Sorry, go on.’
‘Well, that leaves Olive Pearce,’ she said, joining him on the wall, although it felt damp from last night’s rain.
‘Liam’s mum? Looks the violent type, does she?’
‘No. Oh, I don’t know. How can you tell? She’s really fond of the baby. I’m certain of that. If Natalie was threatening to move out, taking Justin with her, to go and live with her parents . . .’
‘I thought they wouldn’t have her. I thought her father said she’d brought disgrace on the family.’
‘No, I was only guessing. It’s only an idea.’
Suddenly Russell stood up and announced that he had to buy some food for his father’s cat.
‘I’ll come with you,’ she said.
‘No, better not. Some other time maybe.’
‘You’re going to visit your father?’
He nodded. ‘I drop by most days. He gets fed up, sitting there on
