First Born(13)

‘About Mum and Dad, mainly. She was frustrated at them. They’re here visiting KT for a week or so. Holiday of a lifetime. Well, they’ve extended their trip now because of . . . It’s their first time to America as well. We haven’t travelled much, not like KT.’

‘Frustrated, you say?’

‘Nothing serious – KT was just venting. We’re twins. Three minutes age gap. We talk about nearly everything. Stupid stuff, everyday stuff. It’s not like two sisters or two best friends. We just offload on each other. It’s like a reflex.’

‘Why was she frustrated, Molly?’

‘I need to know what happened to my twin.’

‘Why was Katie frustrated, do you think?’

‘I don’t know, really. Dad being Dad, I guess. He’s annoying sometimes.’ I break out into an unexpected smile. ‘He can get overexcited in new places. And he’s been very excited to visit New York, railroading Mum into things he wants to do without really consulting her or thinking about her. Dad likes to spend money and Mum worries a lot. And then he’d talk her into a whole day at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, and she’ll just do it even though she has no interest in that. Normal marriage drama, I guess. KT wanted Mum to stick up for herself more, do what she wanted to do.’

‘Was Katie unhappy or anxious? What mood was she in?’

I take a minute.

‘She seemed normal. I don’t know, I wasn’t analysing it in the moment. Maybe a little tired? She’d spent the night at her boyfriend’s place.’

The detective makes a note. ‘Identity of her boyfriend?’

‘Scott Sbarra. I’ve never met him.’

The detective writes down the name but I can tell from his demeanour he already knows it. Maybe he’s already interviewed Scott. Maybe he’s a suspect.

‘Back to that last phone call for a second. The FaceTime call. Did Katie mention she was scared about anything or anyone? Do you know if she had any arguments recently? Any enemies?’

‘KT? No, not her style. Everyone loved her. She was the easygoing, fun-loving, smiley twin.’

He looks confused.

‘We’re identical, but we’re not identical.’

‘I think I get what you mean.’

‘It’s weird to be here and she’s not with us, you know. Especially with Mum and Dad; it feels like we’re going to go and pick her up and go see a movie. Mum and Dad found her in her apartment. They’ve seen her and they’ve been able to say a real goodbye. They’re grieving, but I can’t believe she’s really gone. I can’t get a grip on it.’

‘I understand. We have people who can talk to you about that if you like. Help you through until the burial.’

‘Will that be here or in England? How soon can we have her back?’

He frowns for a moment. ‘Let me look into that for you. Listen, you sure you don’t want a water or a coffee?’

I do not want to get caught out in this place needing a toilet. ‘No, I’m good.’

‘I asked you about enemies Katie may have made.’

‘Honestly I can’t think of anyone.’

‘Did she have a good relationship with her boyfriend? She ever mention anything less than positive about Sbarra?’

‘They’ve only been together since spring. I think they were OK. She liked him.’

‘She never talked about arguments or fights or anything of that nature?’

‘No, I don’t think so. Why? Do you know she had a fight with someone? Did she die in a fight?’

‘Who were her other schoolfriends?’

‘From Columbia?’

‘Right.’

I adjust my posture. ‘Violet.’

‘Violet Roseberry?’

‘Yes. They were really good friends. Hung out a lot. She was KT’s tour guide her first semester. She’s a native New Yorker and she helped KT out. She trusted her.’

The CCTV camera in the corner of the room flashes.

‘Did she mention other people in her life here? Her tutor? Any other boyfriends before Scott Sbarra? Any neighbours? Classmates?’

‘Not really.’

‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but did Katie have any vices you know of?’

‘Vices?’

‘You know: gambling, narcotics, anything she might hide from you.’

I smile. ‘No, not KT. She would try things once maybe but I wouldn’t say she had any vices. Maybe being too nice, if that’s a vice? Too gullible and friendly to strangers. Not on her guard enough. She was a little na?ve about the risks of modern life, but that’s hardly a vice.’

I answer more questions about her friends back home, and her hobbies, and her ex-boyfriends in London, and then I remember Mum’s words. We have to tell her the truth, Paul.

I ask, ‘What happened to her?’

‘We’re treating your sister’s death as suspected homicide, Molly. But it’s complicated. There were no signs of a forced entry. Few indications of a fight, no scratches or blood or skin under her fingernails.’

‘So it could have been an accident?’

‘We’re working on the assumption it wasn’t an accident, pending further investigation and medical reports. We have trace evidence collected from the scene. Fingerprints and hair samples, things of that nature. And your sister had some bruising to her face.’