The Silent Ones: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller(18)

‘Not yet.’ I kiss Dad on the cheek. His face is smooth from a recent shave, and I can smell toothpaste.

‘Thank God you’re both here.’ Mum offers me her cheek before turning her attention to my sister again. ‘We got Chloe’s message and brought the girls some clothes.’

‘I can’t bear seeing my baby like this, Mum,’ Chloe whines softly. When Mum’s around, she seems to regress to a teenager again, but she needs to stay strong for Brianna.

‘Try not to think about it, love,’ Mum tells her gently. ‘Everything will sort itself out, I’m sure.’

It doesn’t sound as if Mum quite understands the gravity of the situation.

‘All right, Tom?’ Dad stands up and shakes his hand. ‘Rum business, this. Terrible.’

Tom nods, a muscle flexing in his jaw.

‘Tell you the truth, we can’t get our heads around what’s happened,’ Dad says, his face haggard and pale. ‘Where’s Josh?’

‘He’s on his way back from the Hathersage trip,’ I say. ‘Tom’s got to go and pick him up from school shortly.’ I notice Mum hasn’t spoken to Tom yet.

Tom ventures a few steps further into the room and says pointedly, ‘Joan. How are you doing?’

Mum shakes her head sorrowfully by way of reply and continues to stare down at her hands.

‘I was due a trip up to Edinburgh tomorrow to see my old mate there but I’ve cancelled it now,’ Dad says softly, his voice fading out as he seems to realise nobody’s really listening. We’re all caught up in our own little worlds of denial and dread.

Tom sits down in Dad’s chair, next to Mum.

‘I know this is as hard for you both as it is for us, but we’re trying to understand what’s happened here,’ he says softly. ‘I need to ask you a few questions, is that OK?’

Mum looks over at Dad.

‘This has already sent her anxiety soaring, Tom. She’s been in bed with one of her headaches most of the day,’ Dad says in a confidential manner, as though Mum can’t hear him. ‘Think the world of those girls, we do. We’re gutted this happened on our watch.’

Mum is in charge of the kids when they’re over there; she kind of directs Dad to carry out certain duties so he’ll have coped on his own if she’s been in bed resting. As with everything else in their lives, it’s Mum who’s boss.

‘They said the detectives will need to talk to us too,’ Mum says fearfully. ‘I mean, what can we tell them? We didn’t even know they’d gone over to Bessie Wilford’s house, did we, Ray?’

Tom presses his lips together as Dad shakes his head sadly. ‘What her husband Charlie would make of all this, I can’t imagine. Friends since school, me and Charlie were, you know.’

‘How did the girls know Bessie?’ I ask.

‘She’d pop round the house now and again, but it’s been… oh, at least a couple of months,’ Mum says. ‘She’d talk to the kiddies if they were around, ask them how they were doing at school and suchlike, but that was it. Rumour in the village has been that she’s losing her marbles.’

Mum taps the side of her head and I shake mine in mild disapproval. Her comment is disrespectful and cruel but my parents are of another generation. I know from previous times I’ve challenged their language and views, I might as well save my breath.

‘I think if we just recap on timings, we can make sure we all agree on the early part of the day and you’ll feel more prepared to speak to the detectives,’ Tom says affably. ‘Juliet, you dropped Maddy off this morning at your mum and dad’s house, yes?’

‘About nine o’clock,’ I confirm. ‘Maddy darted straight upstairs to Brianna’s bedroom.’

Chloe and Brianna still live with Mum and Dad. They moved in for a few months after her husband, Jason, left her, supposedly so she could get a deposit for a new place together. Five years later, they’re still there.

Mum told me a year ago that it was time Chloe got her own place, and Chloe told me Mum had said she’d like them to stay.

‘I left for work at nine thirty, and the girls were playing quite happily in Bree’s room.’ Chloe sniffed.

‘I was making Joan’s breakfast when Juliet dropped Maddy off,’ Dad adds. ‘I saw Chloe leave for work while I was downstairs, too.’

‘And… where were you, Joan?’ Tom prompts.

‘She had a bit of a headache and stayed in bed later than usual, didn’t you, love?’ Dad looks at Mum and then back at Tom, lowering his voice a little. ‘If truth be told, she’s been under the weather the past couple of days.’

Mum starts to sob quietly. ‘I’d give my own life to keep those children safe,’ she says to nobody in particular. ‘I watch them like a hawk when they’re out in the back garden, you know. And I always check out of the window when they’re playing on the street, make sure I’ve got sight of them.’

Mum and Dad still live in the quiet cul-de-sac where Chloe and I grew up. They’ve been there since they got married forty years ago and have known most of their neighbours for as long. All the grandchildren often play out together, and everyone watches out for each other.

‘I heard Maddy suggesting to Bree before I left for work that they play outside,’ Chloe remarks lightly.