Chapter Ten

       “Good evening Bloodlusters, I am here this morning to bring you and update on the murder of Dayna Khalid. I’d like to start by saying I am blown away by the response this has been getting. My little backwater podcast has gained so many more listeners in a matter of two days. So welcome all, as we go through what happened together. Yesterday we laid Dayna to rest in Kirkleithen Cemetery and the turnout was amazing. Mostly locals though – doesn’t it go to show that thousands of internet followers does not necessarily mean friends?”

I shook my head and stopped the recording. That sounded cold, I thought, I should edit that out. Or should I? The whole point I was trying to emphasise was how editing your life to look good on camera, doesn’t mean it is good. I decided to leave it in after all – nobody likes a hypocrite.

       I swung back around in my desk chair and leaned back into the microphone. “The cause of death was multiple stab wounds, although water in her lungs found during the autopsy suggests she was held under water for some time. It is believed that after partying with friends she was lured by somebody to her parents’ cabin in the woods where they killed her in the hot tub. At first, the investigation seemed to believe it was an “online client” of Dayna’s, or possibly a secret lover. However, yesterday evening her father was arrested after police traced threatening messages she had received back to his phone. Did Dayna’s father really do it? Was it a crime of passion in the heat of the moment? Or was it a calculated and planned attack to keep his family honour? I’ll be bringing you updates as they happen. Let me know what you think in the comment section. Until next time, stay safe.”

I set the podcast to upload and sat back in my chair, swinging it from side to side. I should feel relieved; they had the killer, right? But a nagging feeling in my chest told me something was wrong. Mr Khalid had a temper, sure, but would such a family driven man really kill his own daughter? As if in response to my own musings, my phone vibrated to tell me I had a message. It was an Instagram direct message, from a seemingly unused profile with a username I instantly recognised: RejectedVexFan. My heart began to thump so hard I could hear reverberating in my own ears. The police had mentioned a similar username when they had questioned me.  A hot chill ran down my spine as I opened the message.

Blair. I know who RejectedVex is. The police have the wrong man. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. I’m just glad that bitch got what she deserved.

I stared, baffled, jaw hanging open for a moment. My secret was safe with them? What secret? What did they know?

Who are you???

They instantly began to reply. I stood, shaking, waiting for an answer.

Your guardian angel. I hid the evidence, don’t worry.

I quickly responded:

What evidence??

There was no response.

Hello?

???

I began pacing my bedroom, the floorboards creaking with each anxious step. Was it true? Could somebody really know what I had done? If they did, I sure as hell looked guilty of something. I couldn’t take this, the fear, the anxiety, the trembling. I made a dash for the bathroom and threw open the medicine cabinet. Jamie had renewed by prescription – I guess he was good for something after all. I swallowed two pills, leaned over to take a drink straight from the tap and then stood up. I jumped as I closed the medicine cabinet; mums concerned, wrinkle framed eyes were staring at me in the reflection.

       She raised a brow. “You ok?”

       I dug my nails into my hand, willing the tremors to stop. “Fine.”

       “Good.” She forced a smiled. “You can head down to the shop and get me some milk then.”

        I rolled my eyes. “Fine. I could use the fresh air anyway.”

I pushed past her and went down the stairs and out the front door. The uncharacteristically hot Summer was still in full swing. The sky was a never-ending scroll of blue, unmarred by clouds, joining with the sea and scrolling on forever. It was such a clear day you could just make out the silhouette of the Isle of Sky far out on the horizon. I took in a deep breath as I admired the view, my heart rate finally dropping as I flip-flopped down to the shop. It wasn’t until I was about to enter that I realised I hadn’t faced Jeannie Laird since I had attacked her son in the street. I hovered for a moment, contemplating turning around when she caught sight of me through the door. Her face erupted into a wide grin and she waved frantically at me. I sighed with relief and entered, a bell jingling above the door.

        “Blair my dear, what are you doing lurking out there like that?”

         “I was worried you’d be annoyed about… well you know, I did accuse Callum of murder.”

 I began to peruse the shelves as we spoke.

        She waved her hand as if shaking it off and tutted at me. “Don’t be silly my dear. Tension are running high in Kirkleithen at the minute. You lost your best friend – of course, you were not thinking straight. It doesn’t help that my boy isn’t exactly innocent either.”

        I froze, looking up from a shelf full of chocolate and sweets with wide eyes. “What do you mean?”

        “The affair of course. If he hadn’t of been playing away with Dayna then he wouldn’t have had half the village pointing fingers at him.”

I regained my composure, letting out a long, exacerbated breath. Of course, that was what she meant.

        She continued. “It’s always the boyfriend everyone looks at first – was the same with your Grandad when Margaret disappeared. Of course, I always knew he would never hurt her. He worshipped the ground she worked on you know. Good man your Grandad, makes me sick to my stomach that anyone would think him capable of that. It stays with you, even if there is no evidence, you will always be a potential killer in the eyes of the community. I don’t know how your Grandad didn’t just up and leave!”

       I shrugged. “Grandma, then along came mum. He’s never been one to worry what others think of him.”
       “You’re right there.”

        “I hope Callum’s reputation hasn’t been ruined.”

        Jeannie shook her head. “Nah he’s fine, can’t say the same for his marriage though. She’s filing for divorce!”

I turned and pretended to be interested in the ingredients of a tin of soup to hide my smirk. At least somebody was getting their comeuppance.

         She continued, as if unaware that I hadn’t responded. It often went like this once Jeannie was off on one of her tangents. Sean always joked that she could simultaneously win and lose a debate with herself. “I wish they’d hurry up and find who did it though. First they question Hannah and my Callum, then the father and now the brother.”

        “Brother!?”

        “Yes Jamal. The police took him in for questioning this morning.”

The incessant throbbing of guilt began to build in my chest again. Jamal was now a suspect? This wasn’t right. Abandoning the small collection of chocolate bars and the pint of milk I had collected, I raced out of the shop and towards the police station. This wasn’t right. I had to come clean.