The Secret Child (DI Amy Winter #2)(92)

As an older sibling, Sally-Ann had suffered at the hands of her cruel parents a lot more than Amy had. Yet she had found the strength to revert to her old name. Amy could never imagine calling herself Poppy again.

Sally-Ann stared at the gravel drive as they headed back towards reception. ‘How much do you remember about our childhood?’

‘Enough. Too much. Although I’m not sure how reliable my memory is. The more I see Lillian, the more I remember, which is why I throw myself into work.’

‘It’s just that I . . .’ Sally-Ann took a breath, her palm flat on her chest. Inhaling slowly, she tried to assemble her words. ‘It’s just that I may need your help . . .’ Another deep breath. Her hand circled her chest. It was the beginnings of a panic attack. Amy recognised it instantly. Flora had suffered from them for years.

Amy touched her arm. ‘It’s OK. Take a deep breath. Focus on my words. In and out . . . nice and steady. You’re safe here. We don’t need to talk about it right now.’

Breathing through her panic attack, Sally-Ann stood beneath one of the trees bordering the driveway. Gradually, her breath returned to normal. She gave Amy a grateful smile. ‘I’m OK now, thanks.’

‘Do you want to talk about it? You said you needed my help.’ Amy knew she was going back on her earlier reassurance, but she needed to know what was wrong.

‘It’s just stuff from the past. I can’t bear the thought of it all coming out.’

‘I’m here for you,’ Amy replied. ‘Whatever it is, I’ve got your back.’ She would never forget how Sally-Ann had hidden her from their drunken father in the basement of the Grimes family home. Had she not acted so selflessly, Amy could have taken the full force of an anger dark enough to kill.

Sally-Ann stood rooted to the spot beneath the tree.

Amy recognised her expression. Her gaze was far away, in an unspeakable place.

Sally-Ann reached out to the bark of the leafless tree, her fingers tracing its grooves as she tried to ground herself. ‘I stood by and allowed my parents to be sent down for my murder. Yes, there were others, but the fact they killed their own daughter made a big impact on their case. Now I’m worried what will happen when I come forward. There’s a very real chance Mum will be freed.’

Amy was also dreading the excavation of their past. There were secrets buried in her psyche and things that Sally-Ann was still struggling to get to grips with. But Lillian was an abomination. She must never be set free. Sally-Ann’s use of the word ‘Mum’ sickened Amy. Why couldn’t she call them Lillian and Jack? It was a stark reminder that, in some ways, they were worlds apart. She looked away from her sister as she tried to conceal her emotions. ‘We can testify, tell the jury what we’ve seen.’

Sally-Ann shook her head, her face haunted by shadows of the past. ‘Mum was promiscuous. She slept with lots of people and had a filthy tongue. But I never saw her murder anyone. Dad, yes, but not Mum. She was too clever for that.’

‘But I saw her,’ Amy replied. ‘She killed one of the women who got a little too close to Jack.’

‘You were so young. Do you think the court will give any credence to your testimony?’ Sally-Ann stepped away from the tree, dry-washing her hands. ‘Thanks to Adam’s story, a lot of people have changed their minds about Mum. She’s being backed by No Choice. They’re helping to fund her appeal.’

Amy knew about No Choice, an anti-police movement set up to assist victims coerced into crime because they feared for their lives.

‘Up until now, the major stumbling block was that Mum allowed her daughter to be killed to save her own neck. When it comes out I’m alive . . .’ Sally-Ann stared glumly into the distance. ‘She’s an evil woman but I can’t lie in court.’

‘Then why call her Mum?’ Amy said, unable to contain the question a second longer. ‘You said it yourself: she’s evil. Why don’t you call her Lillian, like me?’

Sally-Ann sighed, her face grim. ‘Because I’m sick of fighting it. She’s my mum, always will be.’ She turned to face Amy. ‘I’m not as strong as you. I tried pretending I was someone else, but the stress of it was making me ill.’

‘Then you must do the right thing.’ Amy followed Sally-Ann’s lead as they took the path. Lillian’s appeal was a blight on the horizon, but there was more to her sister’s behaviour than that. She was hiding something, and the prospect of Lillian being freed was a reality neither of them was ready to face.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Coming to the end of a book always feels like a huge accomplishment, but I haven’t done it alone. I’d like to thank my editors, Jane Snelgrove and Ian Pindar, for their valued insights. It has been a pleasure working with you on this book. Thanks also to Eoin, Laura, Jack, Hatty, Nicole, Shona and the team at Thomas & Mercer. I feel very privileged to work with people who are as passionate about my writing as I am. I’d like to give thanks to Tom Sanderson, whose cover designs leave me in awe.

I want to thank Madeleine Milburn, Hayley Steed and the wonderful team at the Madeleine Milburn literary agency – a more dedicated bunch of professionals you could not meet.

A special mention of gratitude to my supportive fellow authors, in particular to Angie Marsons and Mel Sherratt, two truly inspirational (and hilarious) people I feel proud to call my pals. Also, to my ex-colleagues in the police who are still up against it, you are never far from my thoughts. To the organisers of such events as Theakston’s Crime Writing Festival, Bloody Scotland and Killer Women – thanks so much for having me at your events.