False Money by Veronica Heley Page A

about him quite a bit, and she said he was always so pleased with himself. He only ever talked to her about what he was doing, and what he wanted to do. If Tomi ventured an opinion he cut her off at the knees. I asked her why she continued to go out with him, and she said he’d been quite an experience, but she was probably going to move on sometime soon.’
    Chris hunched his shoulders. ‘He left a suicide note on his laptop.’
    CJ took a stool, helping himself to a scone. ‘His body was found hanging from a dressing-gown cord via a hook behind his bedroom door. A chair had fallen over beside him. There was indeed a suicide message on his computer. I believe the police will think he killed Tomi after an argument, stuck a syringe into her to make it look as if she’d tried drugs, and dumped her out in the country. They think it was he who sent the texts from her phone, to give himself some sort of alibi and stave off enquiries from her friends and workplace.’
    Bea made a big pot of tea. ‘So where’s her mobile? And where’s his? Did they find them at Harry’s?’
    â€˜They haven’t finished searching yet. If they don’t find them, they’ll say he got rid of them after texting the police and Chris last night.’
    Maggie shook her head. ‘I suppose that makes sense. How horrible. I don’t think he treated her well—’
    â€˜Plus,’ said Chris, ‘he was all over someone else as soon as she was out of the way.’
    Maggie nodded. ‘But why would he want to commit suicide?’
    â€˜The only person he ever loved was himself,’ said Chris. ‘He didn’t love Tomi, and he didn’t love Hermia. He fancied being seen around with them, that’s all.’
    â€˜Nevertheless,’ said CJ, round a mouthful of scone, ‘I think the police will accept the easy option. Maggie, just to tie up loose ends, did Harry have access to anyone selling drugs?’
    â€˜Well, I suppose we all did or could have done. I mean; they are around if you want them. Someone told me, ages ago, that you only had to ask and someone would know someone who could help you.’
    â€˜Can you point out any names of people Harry might have had contact with?’
    â€˜I suppose so.’ She rustled through her papers, then pushed them away from her. ‘No, I don’t believe it. None of it. If Tomi died of a drug overdose, then someone else gave it to her without her knowledge, and if Harry committed suicide, then I’m a . . . a Polish plumber!’
    â€˜Agreed,’ said Bea. ‘CJ, what can we do to help?’
    â€˜Nothing, my dear. Let the police deal with it from now on.’
    â€˜Tomi’s parents?’
    â€˜I’ve given the police her laptop. That gives them her parents’ email address, and the police will inform them of what’s happened.’
    Bea poured out tea. ‘What about Miss Drobny? She’s still holding all Tomi’s belongings.’ And has already let her room again.
    â€˜They’ll see to all that.’
    Chris stared at his empty plate. ‘I know you’ll say it’s not rational, but I feel responsible. My vanity caused me to drop out of university, where I might have learned something useful, just so that I could show off and make a film. To do this, I made use of my friends and trespassed on my father’s good nature. My inflated ego! I thought myself no end of a genius when I won that prize. I thought the world was going to beat a path to my door, asking me to direct the next Hollywood blockbuster. Idiot that I am!
    â€˜On top of that, as the police have pointed out, I’ve been making a fool of myself rushing around after Harry, actually hitting him. Stupid! Stupid! And now what? I’ve no job, no place at university, no stomach for making another film, no car. Not even a mobile phone, as I had to leave mine with the police. I can’t