Finally, the door opens, and Maxwell enters.
‘Good. Let’s get going then, shall we?’ DI Manning says, straightening himself up in his chair and shuffling the papers in the file on the table.
‘You holding up?’ Maxwell asks me as he takes his jacket off and hangs it on the back of his chair. I shrug. I’m not, but I don’t want to say as much. Being arrested and having my DNA samples taken along with my fingerprints was a shock last night. Made all of this very real. I didn’t sleep – not just because of the uncomfortable bed and the bleak surroundings, but because my mind wouldn’t settle. Images of Katie’s face when I last saw her, muddled with Beth’s. I haven’t been able to speak with Beth, but Maxwell told me he’d go and see her later today – we’ve come to an agreement about how much he should tell her; the detectives aren’t the only ones who can hold back information. I hope she’s all right.
And my little Poppy. What will Beth have told her?
I’ve never been away from them this long. What if I’m taken away from them for good? How will they cope? I’m all they’ve got.
I’m losing control of my breathing. I must focus on this moment; this room. Breathe slowly. I’ve gone over and over the questions I think they’ll ask. Dredged my memories from eight years ago and rehearsed the story I need to tell.
Don’t let them rush you, get you flustered.
Stay calm. Give considered answers.
Or say no comment.
That option is still one I want to avoid taking, though, despite Maxwell’s advice. Guilty people stay silent.
The innocent – and the clever – answer with confidence.
The recording starts. Introductions are made.
The questioning begins.
Chapter 12
KATIE
Eight years ago
‘Come on, Katie. We’ve talked about this,’ Tom said.
Katie wanted to point out that no, they hadn’t. He had spoken about it, told her his feelings about it. Said what they were going to do and what they weren’t. None of it had been a discussion in which Katie had been an active participant.
As had become usual.
They’d been together almost four months, and everything had been perfect to begin with. Tom was infatuated with her, and she revelled in the attention. Couldn’t believe her luck that she, Katie Williams, got to be the girlfriend of drop-dead gorgeous Tom Hardcastle. The shiny new relationship was beginning to lose its sheen, though. Lately, he’d become quite the bore – always wanting her to himself; not wanting Katie to socialise with her friends.
‘Tom, babe – if you remember, I didn’t agree to your plan. It’s a tradition that I go out with my friends to celebrate May Day—’
‘Oh, come on – we all know no one cares about May Day. They just want an excuse to meet up and get hammered like they used to. You’ve got me now. Wouldn’t you rather spend your bank holiday in my company than with your old uni mates? I’ve got it all planned: a picnic in the park – with champagne no less – a romantic stroll along Regent’s Canal … and a special surprise …’ He took Katie’s hand and swirled her around, laughing. ‘Really, babe, you’re going to love it. I can’t wait to give it to you.’
Katie relinquished.
‘All right, all right,’ she said. ‘I’ll text and explain that my amazing boyfriend has sprung a surprise on me and that we’ll arrange to meet up another time.’
‘That’s my girl,’ he smiled.
Katie pulled her mobile from her handbag and began messaging. Tom sat beside her, watching intently. She turned slightly, uncomfortable that he was looking over her shoulder as though he didn’t trust her to text the right thing. She hit ‘send’, popped her phone in her pocket and Tom moved away. Katie’s shoulders slumped. She’d been looking forward to catching up with her mates.
‘Coffee?’ he asked.
‘Sure.’ She watched him disappear into the kitchen before slipping her phone back out and sending another quick text to Isaac, apologising for dropping out of their usual plans. Before Tom, he’d been the one person she always confided in. But apparently she didn’t need him any longer.
According to Tom, he was all she’d ever need again.
***
TOM
I’d been longing to spend some quality time with Katie. Just her and me; not her immature friends. Why she still wanted to spend time with them was beyond me. I’d taken such a long time organising the perfect, romantic day for her. Not some rowdy, drunken party like some idiotic teenagers. They weren’t at uni any more – how long were they going to act like it?
I wasn’t lying when I told her I had a surprise. I was going to show her friends just how things were going to be from here on in.
Chapter 13
BETH
Now
They can’t hide the whispers behind their hands. We might be in a nursery, but we’re adults; I know they’re talking about me. About Tom. I must decide right now how I’m going to play this. I could pretend it’s not happening – that would be preferable. And this whole thing could blow over really soon. Maxwell said the police can hold Tom without charge for a twenty-four-hour period, which is up at eight tonight, but Maxwell thinks they’ll apply to have it extended. He wasn’t forthcoming on the finer details, I noted, and my mind was too numb to question him. My only knowledge of these things comes from watching 24 Hours in Police Custody. I know that, if it’s a serious crime, they can hold people for longer if they’ve got good grounds. The upshot from my one-sided conversation with Maxwell – and the only snippet of hope – was that even if the police manage to get the maximum ninety-six hours window to charge Tom, if they don’t have enough evidence at the end of that, then they have to release him.
As much as Maxwell is hopeful this will be the outcome, what if he’s wrong
