Wanting Daisy Dead

by Sue Watson

On a cold November night twenty years ago, in 2005, student Daisy Harrington left the house

her housemates were busy with their own lives, and she set off alone.

the next morning before any of Daisy’s friends realised she wasn’t in her room,

But no one had seen her since the previous evening,

so they called the police and raised the alarm.

In newspapers, TV news reports and soon documentaries,

they pleaded for Daisy, or whoever had her, to contact them.

After the trial, when Daisy’s killer was safely in prison,

We know why you wanted Daisy dead – and if you aren’t at her party, everyone else will know too.’

There were six of us, including Daisy, and we’d lived together

By the time Daisy died, we were all so vulnerable and broken,

we didn’t trust ourselves, let alone each other.

I don’t listen to podcasts; I’m too busy cooking, cleaning, child rearing,

building a business, and keeping my husband from other women’s beds. I don’t have time.

But the other side of me, the one that holds the secrets, is less brave,

Maddie Parr, Daisy’s Housemate and Friend

ice. An invite to Daisy’s would-have-been fortieth? A birthday weekend for a dead person? Who does that?

after all these years of hiding, running away – someone knows what I did to Daisy.

I immediately call Alex. He’ll know all about this podcast,

‘It’s no coincidence that her murderer killed himself recently and now the podcast is sniffing around,’ I say.

I have this image of what her body must have looked like, battered and bloody, lying there undiscovered for a week.

I remember taking that photo; they used it for her funeral.

she was angry with me that day.

Who could possibly know that I wanted Daisy dead?

really worried about what these freaks have on me. I

have to go, because if I don’t that podcast will tell everyone everything,

and that would be curtains for me.

Once I’d fallen for the kitten, I was stuck with the Rottweiler.

‘And finally, Maddie, the dance and drama student who always wore ballet shoes.

been at ballet school since she was six. She was sweet, quite sensitive really,

But I have to be very careful. If the podcast were to reveal my secret on this birthday weekend, I’d have nothing.

Finty would have nothing to do with my book, or me.

I’d have to tell him why I wanted Daisy dead.

‘How he bashed her head in with a hammer.’

what happened in those fourteen months you all lived with Daisy.

you love her or hate her? Did you know her, or was she a mystery?

“If David Montgomery didn’t kill Da...

our aim is to clear his name and find Daisy’s real killer.

when Daisy was being mean to Maddie, Lauren was usually cheering her on.

‘You can put my name down – I’m not your friend, Lauren,’ Georgie says. She means it.

‘You still have that cruel streak, don’t you, Georgie?’ Lauren shoots straight back.

apologise on my behalf. I’m stating a fact! Lauren and I are not friends, and we’ve never been friends,’

Georgie yells as she hurls her pen across the table.

‘So, we’ve come to what we thought was a birthday party

‘and it’s turned into a murder mystery party, where we’re the murderers!’

‘You are a Miss Piggy, aren’t you?’ Then she’d poke her in the tummy

To me and Daisy it was harmless teasing, but I realise

Maddie was fragile and neither of us realised the harm we might have been causing.

‘Where have you been, Maddie? Alex is a hot-shot tech guy – he’s a billionaire.’

remember seeing him sneak into her room once when Georgie was asleep,