The Silent Ones: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller(7)

As Chloe had pointed out to Juliet many times, it was hardly the same thing that had happened to Corey, but Beth’s sob story obviously struck a chord with her sister, and whatever Chloe had to say about the woman always fell on deaf ears.

Their mother’s opinion was that Juliet had turned into an irritating people-pleaser, and the car journey bore witness to this. Her eyes were silently pleading with Chloe not to make a fuss, so as not to offend the police officers.

Good old Jules, maintaining the status quo, keeping everybody happy whilst everything fell down around her ears. She seemed to notice nothing unless it actually slapped her in the face.

A big part of Chloe wanted to tell Juliet everything, without censoring it. Her sister would either cope or not. Period. Life was sometimes unpalatable and you just had to find the strength to deal with it or go under. She of all people understood that.

Still, for now they had to pull together to sort out whatever mix-up had occurred with the girls. Once they arrived at the police station, Chloe was determined to get the facts. She wasn’t going to be put off by small talk or more of the officers’ irritating vagueness.



* * *



One of the policemen opened her car door and Chloe emerged silently, her face still dark with everything she was suppressing.

‘Are you OK, Chloe?’ Juliet asked nervously when she clocked her sister’s sour expression.

‘I’ll be OK once I know exactly what’s happening around here, instead of having to make do with a load of senseless answers from Dumb and Dumber,’ Chloe seethed.

Juliet gulped and glanced at the glowering officers, who had clearly overheard the comment.

The police station foyer was thankfully almost empty save for a pockmarked teenager in a baseball cap and hoodie, who didn’t glance up from the game he was playing on his phone as they walked past. The only other person in the vicinity was the duty officer, who sat watching their arrival from behind a Perspex security screen, her fingers poised above a keyboard in anticipation.

‘We’re bringing in Juliet Fletcher and Chloe Voce… they’re the mothers of the two girls,’ one of the officers told her in a quiet voice.

The duty officer hesitated, glancing up at Chloe and then at Juliet. Was it Chloe’s imagination, or did her eyebrow rise just a fraction in apparent disapproval before she began to tap at the keys?

Christ, she was almost starting to feel like a criminal herself.

They were led through a keypad-protected door into a long, stark corridor lined with linoleum and glossy white walls. Scuffed unmarked wooden doors led off to rooms every few yards.

The leading officer slowed his pace before stopping and opening a door on the left. The small, airless room was sparse inside, furnished only with four hard plastic chairs and a small table holding a withered pot plant and a dusty-looking jug of water.

‘If you wait here, someone will be with you very shortly,’ the officer told them.

‘But how long will it be?’ Juliet pleaded, her face pale and drawn. ‘We still don’t know what’s happened.’

‘Where are Brianna and Maddy?’ Chloe’s tone was steely in comparison. ‘We have a right to see them without any further delay.’

‘Someone will be with you shortly,’ the officer repeated, closing the door behind him.

‘Damn. I meant to remind them to check that someone has contacted Mum.’ Chloe’s nostrils flared. ‘I hope she’s listened to her answerphone messages.’

Juliet picked up the dusty jug and poured the water into the parched soil of the plant pot.

Chloe watched her closely. Mum was right: Juliet never seemed in the least bit concerned about her. Joan was in her mid sixties now, and it took next to nothing to spark off her anxiety. This whole misunderstanding with the girls could set her back big-time unless it was handled properly.

And then they’d all suffer.





Four





The door of the small, stuffy room opened unexpectedly and both women sat up straight as Tom appeared with an accompanying officer.

‘I came as soon as I could,’ he gasped, rushing over to Juliet. ‘What’s happened? Where is she?’

Chloe watched as they embraced, Tom’s broad shoulders and biceps straining against the material of his navy suit jacket. He glanced over at her, nodding an acknowledgement.

Juliet pressed her face against his chest in such an intimate way, Chloe felt like she ought to look away.

‘We still haven’t seen the girls,’ she wailed.

Tom kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes briefly, and Chloe remembered when Jason used to do the same to her if she got upset. It was a long time since she’d had a man show her such soothing, reassuring concern.

‘You OK, Chloe?’ Tom asked when Juliet led him to the seating area.

‘Oh yeah, I’m champion, Tom,’ she replied sourly.

Tom and Juliet exchanged what they thought was a discreet glance, but Chloe caught it anyway.

Juliet touched her husband’s cheek. ‘How did the interview go?’

‘Really well. But we can talk about all that later, when we’ve sorted this mess out.’ He looked at both women. ‘What exactly happened before—’

He broke off mid sentence when the door opened and a well-built middle-aged man with swept-back sandy hair walked in. He wore a slightly crumpled brown suit and a tired mustard tie, and had an easy confidence about him, his florid cheeks making him seem jollier than his serious expression suggested.