The Silent Ones: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller(8)

Behind him was a bird-like young woman in her mid twenties, dressed in a black trouser suit and white blouse with flat black pumps. Her movements were precise but nervy, and from the second she stepped into the room, her eyes darted backwards and forwards between Chloe and her sister as if she was trying to get the measure of them.

‘DI Conor Neary,’ stated the man in a thick Irish accent and held out his hand. Chloe felt glad of his directness after the ambiguous manner of the two uniformed officers who’d driven them here. ‘And this is my DS, Rachel March.’

They all shook hands and the detectives sat down opposite them. DI Neary glanced at a piece of paper in his hand and established who were the parents of which child.

‘So what’s happened?’ Tom said briskly. ‘Where are the girls?’

‘Brianna and Madeleine are with a specially trained female officer right now,’ March said officiously. ‘They’re quite safe and you’ll be able to see them very soon.’

‘Maddy,’ Juliet said. ‘We call her Maddy.’

Neary leaned forward, elbows on his knees. He laced his fingers together and Chloe spotted faint nicotine stains. When he spoke, his voice was heavy with a grave regret.

‘Mr and Mrs Fletcher, Ms Voce. I’m sorry to tell you that your daughters are here because we believe they were involved in a very serious assault that took place this afternoon on Conmore Road in Annesley.’

‘Oh God, are they OK?’ Juliet stood up abruptly and Tom touched her arm to still her.

‘The girls are safe, yes. They are both physically unhurt.’

She sat down again, her posture stiff.

Chloe spoke next, making an effort to keep her voice steady. She didn’t want to show any weakness.

‘Our mother, Joan Voce, was looking after the girls today, as it was a school staff training day. Does she know what’s happened? That the girls are here?’

‘Your mother and father have been informed and will make their way here soon. Apparently your mother is feeling unwell and needs to rest first.’

Chloe and Juliet glanced at each other. If Joan was in bed with one of her migraines and making her usual demands, then it might’ve been far easier for the girls to slip away without Ray noticing.

‘Our priority was to contact you, as the girls’ parents,’ DS March continued, referring to her notes. ‘May I ask if you have spoken to Brianna’s father?’

‘Brianna’s father is not in touch with her,’ Chloe said sharply.

‘I see.’ March made a note before looking up again. ‘It seems the girls were quite a way from your mother’s address at the time they were apprehended; about a ten-minute walk, we’ve estimated.’

‘They wouldn’t stray that far from Mum’s,’ Juliet offered limply.

‘So who was assaulted, and why are Maddy and Brianna being held here?’ Chloe asked bluntly, thinking about the police incident tape they’d seen as they passed the end of Conmore Street.

‘What happened exactly?’ Tom added.

Chloe locked her back teeth, feeling her nostrils flare as she renewed the pledge she had made to herself. She would not veer from her intention now she was finally here. All the other problems in her life had paled into insignificance, at least for now.

‘Officers were called by a neighbour to a house in Annesley, where they found an elderly woman who had been assaulted.’ DI Neary locked his fingers tightly together. ‘We don’t yet know the severity of her injuries and we’re still waiting for an update from King’s Mill Hospital. Suffice to say she’s being treated in intensive care as we speak.’

‘Who is this old lady?’ Tom asked.

‘A Mrs Bessie Wilford,’ March answered, consulting her notes. ‘She’s eighty-one years old.’

‘Remember Dad’s friend, Charlie Wilford, who died?’ Juliet frowned and looked at Chloe. ‘Wasn’t his wife called Bessie?’

‘I think so,’ Chloe murmured. ‘I know Bessie went round to Mum’s house a few times after Charlie died, but not for a while now, as far as I’m aware. The girls might have met her there.’

DS March scribbled something down on her pad.

‘Were our girls witnesses to the assault?’ Tom edged forward on his seat.

The senior detective cleared his throat and DS March began jiggling her foot.

‘We have reason to believe your daughters had just left the house when the officers arrived,’ Neary said simply, unclasping his fingers and looking at them all in turn. ‘It’s possible one or both of them may have assaulted the victim.’

‘Now hang on a minute!’ Tom said forcefully.

‘That’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard!’ Juliet let out a strained laugh. ‘Why on earth would they attack an old lady they barely even know?’

‘There must be some mistake,’ Chloe echoed. ‘They’re just ten years old, for God’s sake. It’s not possible. You need to—’

‘There is strong evidence to suggest they were involved in the assault.’ DS March frowned.

‘What evidence exactly?’ Tom snapped.

‘First things first, Mr Fletcher. There’s something else we must address urgently to ensure we deal with this in the best interests of the girls.’ He hesitated. ‘Something I hope you’ll all be able to assist us with.’