Tomek noticed a flicker of the eyes, a movement of the muscles in his face. It was only minor, but noticeable to Tomek’s highly trained eye.
‘She did know, didn’t she? She found out, didn’t she? How?’
‘Her… her friend,’ the man started. ‘They invited… I was performing…’
‘So she saw you. She saw you and suddenly your secret was out. What did you do when she confronted you with it?’
The man turned unresponsive again, his body sloping to one side like a stroke patient.
‘Did you get angry towards her, Johnny? Did you kill her because she threatened to tell Rose about your big secret? Is that what happened?’
The man raised an arm and started to swing it towards Tomek, but the movement was so slow Tomek would’ve had enough time to leave the room, fill a small cup of water and return to his seat before it hit him. As the man realised his mistake, attempting to punch a police officer wasn’t the smartest idea at even the best of times, his eyes widened and he lowered his fist before any contact was made.
‘Did you just try to assault me?’
‘No.’
‘Yes, you did. I fucking saw you do it. I have a witness.’ Tomek pointed to Anna, who was sitting on the other side of the bed, quietly making notes. ‘You tried to punch me. That’s a very serious thing to do, especially to a police officer. Would you like me to arrest you?’
Johnny shook his head.
‘I should. I really should. I mean, you’ve already proven how violent you are. Punching Shawn Wilkins in the face repeatedly. Who’s to say you’ve never punched your wife or never hurt your sister? Maybe even killed her.’
Johnny’s brow furrowed as his expression tightened. ‘I… never… killed… her…’
‘So you say, but I’m having difficulty believing anything you tell me right now. So far, everything you’ve said has proven to be a lie. First you were away for work, then you were having an affair, and now you’re secretly a drag queen.’ Tomek shuffled forward on his chair, and leant forward, placing his elbows on his knees. ‘Why don’t you be honest with me, Johnny? Why don’t we start with an easy one: what did you do after you finished your act at Cool Cats and Kittens on the night Angelica was murdered?’
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Kasia was waiting for him as soon as he opened the door, a look of concern across her face.
‘I watched you walk up from the window,’ she told him.
‘Okay…’
‘I wanted to give you this.’
In her hand, she held an envelope.
Nathan.
‘Why?’ he asked. ‘I thought we agreed to leave it on the table, just in case…’
‘I know, but this is the third one in, like, less than a week.’ She shrugged. ‘I dunno. I just wanted to make sure you got it.’
Tomek took the envelope from her carefully and observed it, turning it over in his hands. The edges of the seal were torn slightly. ‘Have you tried opening it?’ he asked.
Kasia shook her head.
‘Why do you look so worried?’ he asked.
‘I don’t like how many we’re getting,’ she said. ‘It… it makes me feel uncomfortable. I… I read one of the other ones you got.’
Tomek chose not to react immediately.
Kasia continued: And… and I wish I hadn’t. But, it was so difficult not to open it. I’m sorry, Dad. I know I shouldn’t have done gone through your stuff. I know it was an invasion of your privacy, but… I was just curious.’
Before Tomek opened his mouth to respond, he wanted to think about it first. He was furious, livid with her for going through his personal property – his letters from his brother’s killer, no less. He expected that from Abigail, but not Kasia. Kasia wasn’t supposed to care about those letters. She was supposed to treat them with as much flippant disregard as she did a council tax bill or a letter from the estate agents. But she hadn’t. She’d searched through his things and betrayed his trust. For a second time.
On the other hand, the more rational portion of his brain came into play now; she was curious. She was only thirteen. Innocent, young, naïve. Perhaps she’d done it because she’d felt she couldn’t ask him about them, or she didn’t know how, and this had been the only way for her to find out the answers for herself. The problem was now she had the full truth, with all its jagged edges and cuts, and not the softened, smooth version Tomek would have given her.
‘Kash…’ he started, but she cut him off.
‘How does he know my name?’
Fuck.
‘Did you tell him?’
‘No,’ Tomek answered. ‘Absolutely not.’ He placed both hands on her shoulders, immediately calming her down. ‘I don’t know how he knows your name. I’ve been trying to think about it, go over the time I saw him, question whether I said anything to him about you, but I’m certain I didn’t. I don’t know how he knows your and Abigail’s names. It’s been something I’m looking into.’ Then he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. There wasn’t much physical connection between them as father and daughter, but Tomek felt it appropriate. Right now she needed reassurance, to feel safe. In the past, she had been the victim of a personal attack that had almost killed her. It was something she lived with every day, and Tomek wanted to ensure there was no anxiety or concern for her to face.
‘You’re safe,’ Tomek told her. ‘He’s in prison. He can’t hurt us. He can’t do anything to me, to you, to anyone. Okay?’
Kasia looked up at him, fear and paranoia, with a glint of belief, swimming in her big brown eyes.
As they broke away from the hug, she asked, ‘Are you angry?’
Tomek ruffled her hair. ‘No, of course not. I should have told you. I should have been more open with you. That’s on me. You have nothing to be sorry for, okay?’
