The Silent Ones: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller(28)

The hair above his ears stuck out at odd angles, he had a coffee spill on his tie and his eyes were red-rimmed. The last thing Dana wanted was to rain on his parade, but she couldn’t shake the feeling. She had to speak up.

‘There’s something else I want to try.’ She hesitated. ‘Something’s just not sitting right.’

‘You want to speak to the girls individually?’ He ran his fingers through his hair. ‘I think that’s a good idea, but you want my honest opinion? You’ve nearly cracked them, so I think you should apply a bit more pressure. We’re fast running out of—’

‘That’s not it,’ Dana interrupted. ‘I mean, I do still want to speak to them alone, I think it’s important, but before that, I want to talk to the family. All of them, together. I suspect the fact that the girls have been so stubbornly silent is a symptom of something far bigger. In my opinion, this is a family that’s holding secrets, operating within invisible boundaries. The answers to our questions about what happened in that house lie there.’

‘I’m only interested in what happened to Bessie Wilford.’ Neary frowned. ‘I’ve neither the time nor the inclination to get bogged down in family politics.’

‘It’s not about that.’ Dana pressed on. ‘Kids pick up so much stuff without us noticing. I suspect we’re dealing with a highly dysfunctional family unit here.’

‘The family seem perfectly normal to me.’ He shook his head dismissively. ‘They’re bound to be stressed and act a little odd at a time like this.’

‘I agree, any family would be stressed given the situation,’ Dana said. ‘But trust me, Conor, this is not any family. This is a family that’s hiding something. I can feel it in the spaces between their words and the odd dynamic between them all. This may be our only chance to find out what.’



* * *



Dana had been meaning to start back at the gym regularly for months now but hadn’t managed it yet, just the occasional visit. She was tied in to an eighteen-month contract so had been forced to continue the monthly payments even though she hadn’t used the facilities enough to justify the expense. It bugged her every time she checked her bank statement.

There always seemed to be a sound reason not to go as planned: something she wanted to watch on TV, an important task she needed to get done at home like wash the tea towels. She was aware of all the ways her lack of confidence after the job ordeal showed itself but it didn’t make it any easier to deal with it.

When she left the police station, she made a snap decision and drove to the gym rather than back home. Her packed workout bag had been in the boot for weeks, a habit Orla had encouraged her to adopt.

It had been over three years since Orla had moved back to Dublin. Dana had been very sad their relationship broke up but in the end, they’d wanted different things and they had both agreed it was for the best.

Strangely, it was the break-up and a rare gym visit that had paved the way for her meeting Lizzie.

She parked up and walked into the large, airy reception of the gym, striding purposefully with her bag, hoping the nervousness didn’t show on her face. She waved her membership card at the electronic monitor, a beep sounded, a green light lit up and she walked through the turnstile; it felt like she’d never been away. Her mood lifted as she headed for the smart changing rooms with the piped music.

After she changed and deposited her bag in a locker, she walked to the spinning room and chose a bike on the third row back. The class was nearly full and there was a pleasant buzz which made Dana feel at home, even though she didn’t actually speak to anyone.

It reminded her of the day she met Lizzie here.

The music started for the warm-up and Dana had felt exhilarated. She’d done it! Such great strides in one day: there had been a visit to the station to discuss a forthcoming job with Conor Neary, and now the gym. Life had felt good for the first time in a long time.

A woman had entered the class late, selecting the spare bike next to her.

Just as the music ramped up, the woman had slipped, nearly falling off the equipment. Dana had jumped off her own bike and quickly adjusted the seat height and handlebars for her so she was able to complete the class.

‘Thanks,’ the woman had told her at the end of class. ‘That could’ve been so embarrassing. I’m Lizzie.’

‘Dana.’ She’d shook her small, warm hand.

The woman was diminutive, with a sad air about her, and she had the most incredible amber-flecked brown eyes that complemented her caramel-coloured hair perfectly. Dana remembered thinking she looked like the kind of person who could do with someone to lean on.

Over lattes and polite conversation in the gym café that Lizzie insisted on buying, Dana had felt herself melt a little inside.

Was it too much to hope that her life was finally back on track?





Nineteen





Juliet





All the rooms in this place are faceless, and I sit in one of them now with Chloe, waiting for Carol to bring the girls through to see us.

I didn’t recognise Maddy in that interview; Brianna either, for that matter. Our girls are usually so full of energy and life; it’s a constant battle to get a word in edgeways when the two of them are together.