Page 38 of The Girlfriend’s Secret

I do my best to push away any negative thoughts about Scott and the way Valerie died for as long as I can during the service, a service that is simple and sweet, just like that woman’s messages were to me. There is a moment where I find myself making eye contact with Liane and I smile nervously at her, feeling awkward as I do because maybe a smile is the wrong thing in this situation.

I look away quickly and then make sure to study Scott as he carries the coffin into the church, watching him for any sign of something wrong. But he just looks stoic, so if he is hiding anything, he is doing a good job of keeping it covered up. Unlike Joel. Bless him, my boyfriend has tears running down his cheeks as he walks behind his father and brother, the coffin resting on their shoulders as we all watch on with sadness.

By the time we move on to the wake, and after consoling Joel with a warm hug, I am still watching Scott to try and get a sense of the man and his possible motivations. But it’s not easy because if someone was a killer, they’re hardly going to make it obvious, are they? But then I hear something interesting.

Scott is having a conversation with some guy at the wake and I’m lingering nearby, pretending to be busy sipping my drink. But I’m actually eavesdropping and I’m glad that I do, although maybe glad is not the right word for the sudden increase in tension that my body experiences.

‘How’s work going, Scott?’ the guy asks.

‘It’s been up and down,’ Scott replies, which doesn’t sound like something the self-proclaimed best mechanic in town would say.

‘Always is in that type of business,’ the other guy replies. ‘But I’m sure you’ll be fine. People will always have cars, so they’ll always need fixing.’

‘Yeah, but costs are always rising and bills are getting bigger,’ Scott says ruefully.

I know then that his business isn’t doing well. He needs more money. The inheritance.

I try to stay calm, but it’s not easy with so many scary thoughts running through my head. But things get even trickier for me when I realise Scott has stopped talking to that other person and has now approached me.

‘So, Haven. What are your plans next?’ he asks me.

‘I’m sorry?’

‘Are you going travelling again?’

‘Oh, erm. I’m not sure. Me and Joel are discussing it.’

‘That makes sense. I guess you have plenty more options now than you did this time last week.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Oh, you must know,’ Scott says, clearly trying to read me.

‘Know what?’

‘My brother hasn’t told you about the money he’ll be inheriting now?’

I don’t know what to say to that, but the fact that I have been asked it is a sure sign that the inheritance is very much on Scott’s mind, as I already feared it was.

‘Erm,’ is the best response I can give to what feels like a very inappropriate conversation topic at a funeral, before I think of something better to talk about.

‘Were you and your grandmother close?’ I ask Scott.

‘Close?’ Scott repeats before scoffing. ‘Of course, she was my grandma.’

‘I know, but not everybody is close with their relatives, are they? I just wondered how often you saw her.’

‘All the time,’ Scott says casually before reaching past me to pick up a tuna and cucumber sandwich from the buffet table.

‘Really? All the time?’ I say, my instincts telling me I should perhaps shut up now.

‘Yeah. Why? You seem surprised.’

‘Oh, no, it’s just that…’ Leave it, Haven. Don’t show your cards too soon. ‘Well, I was messaging Valerie while I was in Australia and she said you were visiting her last week. I think it was on the day she died.’

Too late.

Scott’s demeanour suddenly changes and he no longer looks like a guy trying to become friendly with his brother’s new girlfriend. Instead, he leans forward and looks a lot more aggressive.