The Silent Ones: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller(45)



‘No rush, we can take it as slowly as you want to.’ She imagined Neary objecting to her relaxed approach, given his pressing timeline. ‘If you’re comfortable doing so, I’d like to continue.’ She eyed her notepad but left it where it was. ‘Rest assured our chat will be subject to the same confidentiality as an ordinary private therapy session unrelated to this case.’

When Juliet said she was happy to continue, Dana made a start.

‘Why don’t you tell me a little bit about your childhood? I’m interested in what life was like at home for you.’

Juliet thought for a moment.

‘I mean, it was OK. Mum likes to say it was a lot better than some kids have, and she’s right. We lived in the village in a decent, clean house with a garden, same one Mum and Dad still live in now. We were well fed, we had new clothes and shoes when we needed them. Nothing really to complain about.’

Dana gave her an encouraging nod, but silently dissected the language she’d chosen to use. Decent, clean, well fed… No mention of happiness, love or closeness. Given the opportunity to speak about anything at all, Juliet had chosen to outline only the basic needs that her parents had provided. She’d made no reference to Chloe, her sister; to shared happy family times, or to feeling loved.

Juliet was silent for a few moments, as though she expected to be asked another question. But Dana did not speak. Before long, Juliet began talking again.

‘Dad worked in the same place for thirty years, a small engineering factory that made injection-moulded packaging. Mum was a nurse when she met Dad and dropped to part time, but she gave it up in the end because she found it too stressful to cope with when her anxiety became worse.’

‘So when your mum finally gave up work, she was at home?’ Dana asked.

‘She was home… but not always present.’ Juliet allowed herself a sad little smile. ‘For as long as I can remember, she’s suffered from bad anxiety. That’s why she gave up nursing in the first place, but being at home didn’t solve it. If anything, having more time to dwell on stuff made it worse.’

‘And how did that show itself, to you and your sister, I mean, as children? How did you know your mum was feeling bad?’

‘Well, on her worst days, she couldn’t even get out of bed. I’d do what I could to keep things running in the house, but Dad worked long hours at the factory and… it wasn’t always easy.’

Dana had been involved with many families over the years where a parent was incapacitated through illness, depression and anxiety, or sometimes from being an addict of one type or another. Often the kids would take the full hit, be required to act like adults and assume responsibilities way beyond their years. She wondered if life had been like that for Juliet and Chloe growing up in the Voce household.

‘Chloe is older than you; did she help you around the house when your mum took to her bed?’

‘Not really.’ Juliet chewed on her lip. ‘I mean, she struggled to deal with Mum’s episodes. Chloe’s kind of sensitive, and if too much pressure is put on her, she spirals down very quickly. Mum’s always said she’s like her in that respect.’

‘And you didn’t mind taking on adult duties like that? It didn’t affect your friendships or your social life?’

Juliet hesitated. ‘I never really thought about it; I just got on with it. Someone had to do it, and it wasn’t Mum’s fault. I’d just turn invitations down without thinking.’

‘There were just the two of you? No other siblings?’

Juliet coughed. She crossed her legs and then uncrossed them again.

‘I was the middle child. Chloe’s two years older than me, and then… We did have a much younger brother, Corey.’ She took a breath. ‘But there was a tragedy in the family when I was thirteen. It was a terrible time for all of us. I don’t… I can’t really talk about it.’

There was a sudden marked change in Juliet’s demeanour. Her darting eyes settled on Dana’s face. The colour rose in her cheeks a little and her fingers unlocked, balling into soft fists on her thighs.

Dana recognised the signs. Juliet was challenging her to ask something… possibly to accuse her of something? She wasn’t sure, but it was significant, showing that unresolved issues still loomed large in Juliet’s psyche.

Again, though, Dana remained silent.

‘Things were never the same after Corey. Everything changed.’ Juliet’s eyes grew dull. ‘Mum got worse. Dad had an accident at work and lost a finger when his hand became trapped inside a machine at the factory. They made him redundant and he couldn’t get another job. He’d travel up to Scotland two or three times a year for a couple of days to do labouring jobs for a guy he used to work with but that was it. Chloe ran away and they had to call the police out to find her.’ Juliet sighed. ‘It was like our world fell apart in lots of different ways… and it was all my fault.’

‘Your fault? Is that what your family told you?’

‘Not in so many words, but… well, it happened because of me, because I failed to take care of my brother. So it was my fault.’

‘It was a long time ago now, and yet it seems to me you still haven’t forgiven yourself.’

‘I never will. I’ve tried all my life to make amends, but I never feel any closer to getting there. You can’t make amends for something when it’s so terrible.’

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