The Silent Ones: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller(44)

‘I can sort that for you, love.’ Ray spoke up. ‘If you tell me what you—’

‘It’s OK, Dad. I’ll go, if you don’t mind lending me the car. The break will do me good.’

‘You’ll have to brave the mob outside the house. At least let me come with you then,’ Ray insisted.

‘I’ll be fine,’ she said, irritated now.

Joan looked over and studied Chloe through narrowed eyes, but Ray pulled the car keys from his pocket and handed them to her. ‘I’ve parked just around the back of the station, on Hudson Road. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

‘Thanks, Dad. Won’t be long.’

Chloe stepped into the corridor and breathed a sigh of relief at finally getting away from the enquiring eyes of her mother. She swallowed hard, battling the feeling of nausea that rose in her throat, then walked briskly through the security door and across the foyer without looking at the receptionist. DI Neary had said they must sign in and out of the premises, but she didn’t care about their stupid protocols. She had more important things to worry about.

There was a couple in reception dressed in grubby tracksuits and whispering to each other behind their hands. She swept by them with ill-disguised disdain.

This morning when she’d woken, she had a life, and now… now it felt as though the sky was about three inches from falling in on her head. She just needed to get away from this place. That would surely help.

Outside, she dragged in air like a drowning woman. Once she stopped feeling sick, she pulled out her phone and sent a text. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t, but now she felt like she had no choice.

Walking around the back of the station, she found Ray’s dark blue Toyota. She adjusted the driver’s seat to accommodate her shorter legs and sat for a few moments before starting the engine. She could detect a very faint smell of smoke inside the car. Seemed like her father was up to his old smoking tricks, despite Joan demanding he give up his twenty-a-day habit following last year’s health scare when he’d had breathing problems after a bad cold.

Smokers didn’t seem to realise that to a non-smoker, even one cigarette was pervasive. Its odour lodged itself almost instantly in soft furnishings and clothing, lingering there for hours.

Chloe gave a sardonic smile. Her father’s secret was safe with her. After all, they could all hang each other with everything else they knew.





Thirty-One





‘Thanks for agreeing to see me, Juliet. I know this must be a very difficult time for you,’ Dana said when the two women sat down in Neary’s small office. She chose one of the comfy upholstered chairs rather than the detective’s rather intimidating leather swivel chair behind his desk.

‘Thank you for suggesting it,’ Juliet replied. ‘If I don’t talk to someone about Maddy soon, I think I’ll implode. Tom’s still not back yet, so it’s the ideal time.’

Dana nodded and set down her notepad and pen on the small table to her side.

‘I’ve asked you in here because although Maddy has confessed to hurting Bessie, both DI Neary and I are keen to explore this a little further before events run away with us.’

Dana had thought long and hard about how to approach the session with Juliet. She could hardly say that both she and Conor Neary were of the impression that something didn’t feel right about the whole thing, or that she suspected there were issues within the family that might have a bearing on matters.

‘I’m so grateful.’ Juliet let out a long breath. ‘Everyone else seems to be quite happy to accept a ten-year-old’s accusation and then Maddy’s hasty admission and run with it. I know she didn’t hurt that old lady, Dana. I just know it, and yet I feel like everyone, my parents and my sister, are more than willing to accept the possibility.’

Dana didn’t correct Juliet when she used the word ‘hurt’ instead of ‘kill’. She could see it was simply a coping tool for her. Juliet was working hard to control her facial expressions, but her fidgeting hands and grey skin told a different story altogether.

Dana wanted to be completely transparent with her. Juliet deserved that much at least.

‘You’re probably wondering what I want to talk to you about.’

Juliet gave a faint nod.

‘I thought this might be a good time to take pause for a therapy session, as you agreed. You see, it’s my experience that often when children commit crime – and I just want to point out that despite her apparent confession, I’m not saying that Maddy has done so – the most useful clues in uncovering the truth often come not from an external source, but from within the family unit itself.’

‘Okaaay.’ Juliet lengthened the word cautiously.

‘I’ve only met your family briefly, but the dynamics within it are… interesting. I’m keen to find out a little about your own childhood and upbringing. It might help me approach Maddy from a better position of understanding. I’ll then be able to offer her more support.’

‘I see.’ Juliet sat up a little straighter and pressed her lips together. ‘Well, I can’t say I enjoy speaking about my childhood. It wasn’t the best time, if I’m honest.’

Dana noted the new pinched look that had appeared on Juliet’s face, the way her hands had gravitated together and locked tightly in front of her stomach like an immovable barrier.