The Things You Didn't See(73)
Daniel turns to me, his face is ashen with rage and regret. I shout across to him, ‘It’s okay, just get out of here.’
I reach for Victoria and for once she allows my arm to circle her, pressing against me. Then Holly is with us, guiding us both away from the crowd. I have never felt more grateful.
33
Holly
Daniel drove away at speed, so fast his tyres screeched on the road. Holly watched the car go, and turned to Cassandra, who was holding Victoria close.
‘Can you take us home, please, Holly?’ she said.
It was Alfie who’d provoked this reaction with his jibe about Maya’s cancer, and Holly had given him that tidbit, revealing confidential information from the hospital files. Daniel had shown his sore spot, and hadn’t Alfie said his own wife had been one of Daniel’s patients? There was something there, she knew it, but she also knew she was overstepping her remit and risking her career to seek it out.
They arrived at the house and Cass remained seated in the car, staring out of the window.
‘Come on, Mum,’ said Victoria, jumping out of the back seat. Cassandra began to move, as if going inside her home was the last thing she wanted to do. Holly sensed it was because of Hector, the tension between them was palpable, but Cass had been deceived by both of the men. And Daniel had just revealed his violent side.
When they were inside, Hector and Daniel were nowhere to be seen, and Victoria disappeared upstairs; she could already be heard talking on her phone. Holly followed Cass to the front room, where she sat on the sofa like a soldier returned from battle. She looked tired but elegant in her court outfit of a simple cream blouse and navy trousers. She’d pulled off her heels so her feet were bare, and Holly noticed that her toenails had newly been painted pale pink. Her blonde hair had been swept up and clipped out of her face, enhancing her even features, her mouth was slightly pulled down, and her eyes looked bruised with fatigue and grief. Even so, anyone could see that, like her mother whose picture had been on the front page of the Evening Star every night that week, Cassandra was beautiful.
Holly reached out to touch her arm, squeezing it in a gesture of comfort. ‘Are you okay? That moment outside the court was a bit tense.’
She could feel relief seeping into Cassandra’s marrow that the ordeal was over. ‘I will be. I don’t know about you, but I need a drink. Bourbon?’
Like a stunned animal Cass stood, staggered slightly, then made her way towards the kitchen. Holly followed, leaning against the kitchen counter as Cass found some glasses and poured from a bottle of Wild Turkey.
Victoria came back downstairs and grabbed an apple. ‘Are you hungry, love?’ asked Cass, but the girl just shrugged. What an ordeal for a fourteen-year-old. Holly had the impression of a young rabbit who’d just made it across a very busy road. The decision to let her attend the court hearing seemed strange to Holly.
‘Do you want some juice?’ Cass asked her.
‘Please.’
Cass busied herself at the fridge and Holly took a moment to study the daughter. Victoria had a similar beauty to her mother, except she had dark hair like Maya. When she left the room, she took ninety per cent of its energy. Cassandra looked ready to collapse, she leaned on the kitchen table as she downed her bourbon in one smooth belt.
‘Was it a hard decision, Cass, to let Hector come back here?’
‘It’s the right thing to do, and what Mum would’ve wanted. Besides, I think he’s innocent.’
She reached for the bottle of Wild Turkey, poured another shot. Holly wished she’d sit down, relax, talk. She wanted to help, and it seemed that in order to do so she’d have to probe.
‘Even though he says he’s responsible?’
‘He says he was asleep. Holly, you interviewed him in the prison. Do you believe him?’
Holly waited a beat, and in that moment she heard movement upstairs, quick but heavy footsteps that she knew must be Daniel’s. Her mistrust surfaced like the scent of sulphur in her nostrils. Unpleasant, a warning: tread carefully. ‘No, I don’t. But the police do, and a court date has been set. So that’s it.’
‘Not for me,’ said Cassandra. She seemed to have grown in resilience, as if her mother’s death had forced her to take a stronger role within the family. Holly saw how, since that first morning at the farm, Cass had gained confidence. Warmth spread through her, maybe the bourbon, maybe friendship, and she reached to clasp her hand.
‘You’re coping so well, Cass.’
‘Not everyone thinks so,’ Cass said drily. ‘Daniel suggested I take time off work, compassionate leave.’
Daniel, again, telling Cass she was ill. Gaslighting her. Once again, Holly had the sensation of smelling burning matches, her senses alerting her.
‘I think he’s wrong, Cass. Some people would be struggling to get out of bed after all you’ve had to deal with. And you’ve still got the energy to want to solve this.’
‘Yes, but I have other things to do too. Victoria is home, and I still have the details of the funeral to organise. I’ve booked a humanist to do the service – Mum didn’t believe in God so it seems appropriate. To be honest, having so much going on around me helps me get through this. I have to get through this, but Daniel says I’m not strong.’
Holly thought that the person coping least well was Daniel, whose calm demeanour had broken when he raised a fist to the reporter. This was the person she most wanted to know about; being in the same room as him would give her senses a chance to work. ‘What do you think Daniel and Hector are doing?’