The Silent Ones: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller(49)

‘It’s going to be all over the papers tomorrow, Juliet,’ Dad says eventually. ‘The nationals have got hold of the story good and proper now on their online websites.’

So this is how they want to play it. The elephant in the room: Brianna’s accusation, Maddy’s admission. Never to be mentioned.

Nothing gets talked about in this family. Nothing.

Opinions and judgements are made by my mother, and then the rest of us carry them like a torch. Questioning Mum’s reasoning has never been an option.

That’s how families work, isn’t it? Nobody actually sits down and says, ‘These are the family rules.’ We receive them subconsciously, we follow the example of others. Learning from childhood to turn a blind eye to the comments of a bigoted uncle because ‘that’s just the way he is’ and overlooking constant rudeness from a grumpy ‘but loveable’ aunt.

We willingly accept different standards of behaviour from different people and before we know it, the brainwashing is complete. We never think to question it when we become adults.

‘Are you all right, love?’ Dad narrows his eyes to get a better look at me. ‘You look a bit peaky.’ If the situation wasn’t so dire, I’d probably laugh at his comment.

‘Funnily enough, I feel terrible.’ I turn my gaze to look at Mum and Dad. ‘Seriously, think about it. I don’t hear you rushing to my daughter’s defence. If you think Maddy killed an old lady all on her own, that means Brianna was there and had nothing whatsoever to do with it. Does that make sense to you?’

The looks on their faces say it all: You are breaking the family rules, confronting us like this.

Mum’s hand flies to her throat. ‘What are you trying to say, Juliet? That Bree is lying?’

If the cap fits…

‘I’m asking you what you think of Brianna’s accusation and Maddy’s admission. I’m not trying to start an argument.’

‘Good, because there’s no point in us falling out,’ says Dad, eyeing Mum. ‘We have to stay strong for each other.’ He stands up and guides me to the chair next to Mum. ‘Sit yourself down there, lass.’

My thoughts feel indistinct, like I can’t quite grasp them. This room is so stuffy, I can’t bear it. But I don’t sit down.

‘This is my daughter’s life we’re talking about here. I’m not going to stand by and watch her be vilified on the strength of an accusation from her ten-year-old cousin, who may well be trying to save her own skin.’

Mum and Dad glance at each other, but nobody speaks.

DS March puts her head around the door and asks a little awkwardly if we can get everyone together as soon as possible.

‘DI Neary has some important news for you.’

Mum’s jaw sets and Dad pats her hand.

I feel heartened that they might have new evidence, or that they don’t believe Maddy’s confession.

‘I’ll try and contact Tom,’ I say. ‘I don’t know where he’s got to.’

‘Much appreciated.’ March nods and sweeps out of the room with an air of urgency.

Mum turns on me.

‘Tom should have stayed put.’ She fixes her dark eyes on me. ‘We’re all struggling to cope but we can’t just run off with our heads in our hands.’

‘Everybody has their own way of coping, Mum.’ I tell her. ‘If the business collapses and Tom loses his job, our problems will double overnight. We could lose the house and be declared bankrupt. It’s a heavy load to bear. And Chloe isn’t here either, don’t forget.’

‘Chloe’s daughter hasn’t done anything wrong.’ Mum can be so effortlessly cruel.

I feel a sudden urge to run out of the room. Anywhere that’s away from them.

‘Your mum’s just worried, love.’ Dad sees my face, immediately defaulting to his smoothing-over mode.

‘That’s always been the case though, hasn’t it, Dad? Mum’s worried so we’re all expected to keep our mouths shut and our opinions to ourselves.’

I turn away from her and call Tom, but it goes straight to voicemail.

‘He must have got delayed,’ I murmur, waiting for the beep so I can leave him a message. ‘Tom, it’s me. DI Neary needs to speak to us all. Can you come back here as soon as possible? Thanks.’

After ten minutes of sitting with my parents in near silence, DI Neary appears at the door. ‘No Tom or Chloe yet?’

‘Sorry. I’ve left Tom a message, but he’s not back yet,’ I say.

‘OK, well I’ve waited as long as I can, so I’ll just tell you and you can pass it on when he gets here. There’s been a development.’ He sounds a little breathless. ‘We’ve had a witness come forward.’





Thirty-Five





Chloe is the first to arrive at the juvenile detention centre. She is pale and shocked.

When I try to speak to her about Brianna’s accusation, she shrugs me off. ‘I need to speak to Mum and Dad about damage to their house first.’

I go back to my room. I don’t want to sit among them knowing they all support Brianna’s accusation.

Eventually Tom gets to the juvenile detention centre around ten minutes later. He texts me to say he’s in the lounge area with Chloe and our parents as he doesn’t know where my room is.