Here We Lie by Sophie McKenzie Read Free Book Online Page A

I’m disconnected from myself as I speak.
My mind is replaying the moment I handed the sachet to Dee Dee. Did she take the powders? Suppose she had an allergic reaction? Or suppose she was too young for them? I’m sure I checked the
small print to make sure of the dosage. I remember because it was in English. Just like a Lemsip, okay to take for over twelves. I rub my forehead. I need to call Martin, tell him not to touch the
rest of the powders. I break off to explain this to Chabrol. He barks something in French before Meunière has even finished translating.
    Meunière frowns. ‘He wants you to explain exactly what you did again?’
    ‘Okay, but will you send someone to check about the powders?’
    Chabrol speaks. Meunière translates. ‘You don’t need to worry, we will do our job.’
    ‘I know,’ I say, ‘Of course. I just can’t bear to think I might have misunderstood the dose or . . . or . . .’ My stomach is twisted into hard, painful knots. I
glance outside to where Jed is still talking with Gary. Our eyes meet. The pain in his expression is indescribable. Tears well up, my throat tight, my heart aching for him.
    Jed strides to the French doors. As he opens them I can hear Gary protesting, telling him to come back, but Jed is stony-faced.
    ‘What’s going on?’ he demands. ‘Why is my fiancée looking so upset?’
    ‘It’s fine, Jed—’ But before I can say more Chabrol is on his feet, gesticulating and speaking rapid-fire French. All of a sudden Jed is shouting in French, then Gary is
by his side trying to calm him. Chabrol is talking over them both. All I can think is that upstairs, poor Dee Dee is lying dead, that she died alone, in her own vomit.
    Meunière touches my arm. ‘Go and call your brother,’ he says quietly. I rush away, my tears now trickling down my cheek. Martin’s phone is still out of range so I leave
a hiccupy message, then go back to the kitchen. Gary is sitting at the table, his head in his hands.
    ‘Where’s Jed?’ I ask.
    ‘Up with the inspector, talking to Lish. They want to know where he bought the headache powders from.’
    ‘So Dee Dee did take them?’
    Gary nods. ‘They’ve found the empty sachet by her glass, looks like she mixed it with some bottled water. They’re taking the whole lot off to be analysed.’
    I nod, numbly. It all still feels so unreal. Two long hours pass while the police officers cordon off Dee Dee’s room. Her body has been superficially examined. There’s no sign that
she has been attacked, which leaves some kind of poisoning the most likely cause of death. As a result, the entire villa is thoroughly – and fruitlessly – searched for drugs while
Chabrol questions and re-questions everyone. Jed stays upstairs with Lish. I haven’t seen him since he harangued Chabrol. By midday the sun is scorching, high in the sky. Gary comes over and
tells me in a solemn whisper that the body is about to be removed, that he and Jed will go with poor Dee Dee to the morgue. He asks me to keep Iveta and Rose outside by the swimming pool.
    I go and sit with them, the three of us perched side by side on one of the loungers. Jed and Gary leave with the police officials and suddenly, after hours of frantic bustle and panic, the house
falls silent. I head up to Lish’s room but he doesn’t answer my knock. As I pass the police tape across Dee Dee’s door I suddenly remember the secret she hinted yesterday that she
wanted to tell me, something she saw. Guilt wraps its cold fingers around my throat. I forgot all about it after Jed and I got back to the boat. Feeling sick, I seek out Rose and tell her how
terrible I feel. She hugs me through her tears.
    ‘It was probably nothing, you know what girls are like,’ she soothes. ‘Anyway, if it had been important, Dee Dee would have made sure she told someone.’
    I pray that she is right.
    Another hour passes. I try to call Jed, but his mobile goes to voice mail.
    ‘Just calling to see how