Page 69 of M for Murder

‘It’s very important we talk, Justine. I really think you should reconsider.’

She laughed scornfully.

‘I’m not meeting you. No way! In fact, I think you’d better leave. And just so you know, I already have a boyfriend.’

The man’s smile grew wider. ‘It’s not Lawrie Parker, though, is it?’

Justine’s jaw dropped open. She felt as though a knife had been plunged into her chest.

‘What do you mean?’ she asked, her voice coming out in a high-pitched squeak.

‘I think you know what I mean.’

‘I don’t. Tell me.’

‘I think Justine has a little crush on her professor.’ His tone was teasing and singsong as he looked at her expectantly. ‘You do, don’t you?’

Justine squirmed uncomfortably in her seat, heat rushing to her face. ‘I want you to leave now.’

‘No, you don’t. I can help you, Justine, and I think you’ll be very interested in hearing what I have to say.’

Justine glanced around the crowded room, checking that no one was looking in their direction. It crossed her mind that maybe the guy had been sent to play a practical joke. If he had though, how the hell did he know about her liking Lawrie? How the hell did anyone know about Lawrie?

Had she really been that obvious?

She glared at him. ‘I don’t want your help. In fact, I don’t want anything to do with you at all, so why don’t you just fuck off.’

The man didn’t move. Instead he smiled at her.

Justine repeated her request, this time hissing the words. ‘I said fuck off!’

Again, he didn’t move, only glanced around to see if anyone was in earshot of their conversation. The diner was busy though and no one seemed to be paying any attention to the two of them. He refocused his attention on her.

‘So, tell me, Justine, did you have a nice time playing in Lawrie’s house last Saturday night?’

Justine stared at him, not believing what she was hearing. She swallowed hard. ‘What did you say?’

‘You heard what I said. Still want me to “fuck off”?’

She didn’t answer, couldn’t answer. She was completely lost for words. How did he know? She found herself in a dangerous situation. So far, she hadn’t admitted to anything. Not that it mattered, as this guy seemed to know everything there was to know about her. Perhaps he was planning to blackmail her. Maybe threaten to go to Lawrie and tell him everything.

He can’t prove anything, though. It would be my word against his.

In her mind, she tried to retrace her steps through Lawrie’s house. Had she left any incriminating evidence that this guy could use against her? He must have something. Had he watched her in the house, maybe taken photos? Not sure how to play the situation, Justine waited for him to continue.

He smiled at her. ‘You’re going to let me stay, then? That’s good. Of course, I don’t know really why I should help you. After all, it seems to me that you’ve got a bit of an attitude problem.’ He leaned back comfortably in his chair, though his eyes remained lingering on her face. ‘So, tell me, then, why you did it, Justine. Was it for the excitement of breaking into someone else’s house? Or perhaps you just wanted to check out the competition. Kylan Parker is very pretty, isn’t she?’ He paused, looking thoughtful for a moment. ‘If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that you did it for kicks. Did you go into the marital bedroom while you were there? Perhaps have a look through the closets or try out the bed?’

As he spoke, Justine’s cheeks burned and she had trouble breathing.

‘A regular little Goldilocks, aren’t you? Of course, you don’t have a chance in hell of getting Lawrie away from Kylan, but then you probably already know that. I mean, look at you. Your hair is too dull, and you don’t have her beautiful doe eyes. Still,’ he smiled cheerfully, ‘I guess there’s nothing there that can’t be fixed with a bottle of bleach and some tinted contact lenses.’ His eyes dropped to her breasts. ‘I don’t really know what you can do about the rest of you, though. To say you’re flat-chested would be an understatement. I guess you’d better hope that Lawrie likes the pancake look.’

Anger overcoming her embarrassment, Justine raised her hand to slap him. He caught her wrist and squeezed it tightly. Narrowing his eyes, he spoke with a harsh tone.

‘Think before you act, sweetheart. I know everything there is to know about you, don’t ever forget that, and don’t forget how easily I can bring you down if I have to.’ His tone became gentler and he smiled at her. ‘I say “have to”, but that doesn’t mean I want to. I need you, Justine, and you need me. If we work together then nobody else will ever have to know your dark and guilty secret, I promise you that.’

Justine studied his face, not sure whether she could trust him. Thinking about it realistically, she knew that she didn’t really have much of a choice. Fighting the urge to get up and run, she instead shifted her chair closer to him.

‘Go on, then. Let’s hear it. What do you have to say?’