The Perfect Mother(54)

“No, not really. I attended the meetings a lot while I was pregnant, but we’re moving and I’m so busy now. To be honest, I always thought the nickname was childish.”

“Ugh,” Nell says. “Can we keep going?”

Colette closes the video and opens the third one on the list. “Yuko,” Colette says, quickly closing it and going to the next: Gemma sitting at a dining table. A man is standing behind her, holding their son. “I got there close to eight twenty, I think. I can look at my phone. I texted James when I arrived to check on the baby.”

Colette’s stomach sinks. Is her interview with Mark Hoyt on here? Does Teb already know she was there that night? She clicks on the final file in the list, bracing to see herself. She hears Nell’s gasp.

It’s Winnie. She’s at home, sitting in the corner of the sectional couch. Her hair hangs limp at her shoulders, and her eyes are swollen. She stares vacantly at the camera.

“Did you get any sleep?” It’s the voice of a woman this time.

“Some.”

“Good. Glad to hear it.” The woman appears from behind the camera. She wears black pants and a pink sleeveless blouse. “I have just a few follow-up questions and then I’ll be on my way. First, I understand you’ve been seeing a psychiatrist.”

The woman pulls up an ottoman and takes a seat across from Winnie.

“That doesn’t sound like a question.”

The woman softens her voice. “You mentioned it to Detective Hoyt last night.”

“Did I?”

“You don’t remember?”

“You’re all asking me so many questions. It’s hard to keep everything straight.”

“How long have you been seeing this doctor?”

“A long time.”

“For?”

“Depression.” She shrugs. “Camaraderie. My father sort of forced me to do it, after my mother died.”

“And when was the last time he treated you?”

“A few months ago.”

The woman raises her eyebrows. “Not since giving birth?”

“No.” The detective begins to speak, but Winnie cuts her off. “I was feeling good after Midas was born. Better than I felt in years.”

“Okay. I want to also ask you a little bit about Daniel.”

Winnie shifts in her seat. “Daniel? Why?”

“You dated in high school. Why did you break up?”

A cloud crosses Winnie’s face. “I couldn’t deal with anything at the time. Including Daniel.”

“But you stayed close?”

“Yes. He was my first love.”

“After he got married. Did you ever have an affair?”

“An affair?”

“I know this is uncomfortable, but I have to—”

“No, we never had an affair. I’m not really sure what—”

Colette hears the sound of a key being inserted into the apartment door.

“Who is that?” Nell whispers.

The door opens and Charlie walks in, balancing two coffees in a carryout tray and a white paper bag.

“Oh, hey,” he says, removing his earbuds.

Colette closes her laptop. “Baby, hi.” She tries to keep her voice from faltering. “You’re back early.”

“Turns out they’re doing a sing-along at the coffee shop now. I got run out by babies and nannies.” He peeks inside the stroller at Poppy, and then back at Colette. “What are you guys watching?”

Colette unclenches her hands in her lap. “A video. About sleep training.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yes, you know,” Nell says. “Put the kid in his cot with a can of soup. Lock the door. Come back in a few weeks.”

Charlie laughs. “After the night we had, I’ll buy the soup.” He walks to the kitchen island and sets the coffee and bag on the counter next to Colette’s laptop. “I got you an almond croissant and a coffee. And Nell, if I knew you’d be here—”

“I’m fine. Have to leave for work now, actually.”

Charlie kisses Colette’s forehead. “So do I. See you later.”

Colette waits until Charlie closes the door to his office. When she hears jazz coming from the room, she reduces the volume and hits play.

“No, we never had an affair. I’m not really sure what you’re getting at with that question.”

“I’m sorry, Winnie. I know this is difficult, but we have to ask you these questions in order to get a full picture of the situation.”

Tears leak slowly from Winnie’s eyes. “Daniel has been nothing but a good friend to me.”

“I understand.” The detective hands Winnie a Kleenex and then leans forward in her chair, her notebook dangling from her hand. “Let’s talk about something else. Tell me, if you don’t mind, about where you were last night. After you left the bar.”

“I’ve already told you.”

“Well, you told Detective Hoyt. But I’d like to hear it myself.”

Winnie closes her eyes. “I went to the park.”

“The park.”

“Yes. It was my first time alone since giving birth. And that bar—it wasn’t where I wanted to be. I went outside and decided to keep walking. I ended up at the park.”