Chapter 64
‘I’m not sure if your mother will see you,’ Cathy said when she opened the door at Kilmore.
Issy ignored her and stepped inside. Felix followed. Neither of them had spoken to Heather since the chaos had unfolded the day before. Steady drizzle fell beyond the kitchen windows.
‘Where is she?’ Issy asked.
Cathy gestured towards the formal lounge.
Heather lay flat on the sofa like a corpse. She didn’t move when they entered. Newspapers covered the coffee table, bold front-page headlines telling of corruption, intimidation, abduction. And death.
‘Mum?’ Issy said softly.
Heather didn’t stir.
‘Is she asleep?’ Felix asked Cathy.
She shook her head.
‘Where’s Dad?’ Issy asked.
Cathy glanced at Heather, who didn’t speak.
‘He went to Sydney to meet with his lawyers,’ Cathy said.
They sat down. Issy reached for The Times. Oversized black letters dominated the page. ASHWORTH EXECUTIVE HUGH THORBURN DEAD: SPENCER ASHWORTH ARRESTED FOLLOWING LIVE-STREAMED ALTERCATION.
By Megan Hunter, it said underneath. She must have written all night, after she left the police station where they’d both been interviewed for hours, along with Georgie and Pete.
Issy skimmed the article, then a second one at the bottom of the page.
ASHWORTH SHAME: PROPERTY BUSINESS CORRUPTION EXPOSED.
‘I hope you’re happy, Isobel.’ Heather’s voice was flat, low.
Issy looked up. Her mother’s eyes were still closed, as though she couldn’t bear to face this new world, one where the Ashworths no longer reigned supreme.
Happy? Issy frowned, tears filling her eyes. Hugh was dead. She didn’t know how she felt about that, if she was honest, but she wasn’t happy.
‘You’ve destroyed this family,’ Heather said.
Issy shook her head. ‘No, I haven’t. I’ve set this family free.’
Her mother let out a strange, unhinged laugh. ‘Tell that to Spencer.’
There was a moment of silence, then the doorbell rang.
Heather sat up. ‘Who’s that?’