Chapter 4 #3
“No, no. I don’t want a family liaison officer.
It will draw attention to me and if people connect me with Amanda Goodhew, they may find out who I am, and that would destroy my business and everything I’ve worked for.
” There was a tone to her voice that was a brick wall.
Reasoning with her wasn’t going to get me anywhere, I could see that already.
“That’s fine. If you feel you do need some support, we can send someone at a later date.” I accepted the tea that Tabitha brought in from the kitchen.
“Here, Lily, I made you a hot chocolate, I know you prefer that anyway.” Tabitha handed her a mug, one with lilies painted on it.
She took hold of it, wrapping her hands around it and reminding me of a child from a fairy tale. She was the same age as me, but seemed younger somehow.
“Lily, I have to ask, where - ”
She interrupted. “Was I when the fire happened? When did it happen, Detective?”
“Last night.” I didn’t apologise for the question. At this point, she was a viable suspect.
“I was here all night last night. You can check my security cameras at the front and back. They’ll show you that I got home from work at seven-thirty and then left again at seven this morning. You’ll see me putting the bins out.” Her voice was emotionless, as if she was going through the motions.
“Are you okay if I send someone over to collect the footage? They’ll be here within the hour.” I’d call Verity and ask her to attend; she could then check the footage before she finished.
Lily nodded, clearly holding back what she wanted to say. “Will it be an unmarked car? I really don’t want to be associated with the police in any way.”
“I understand.” The ground between her current life and her previous one was fragile, but that begged the question as to why she hadn’t started over somewhere else in the country.
“Thank you. If you’re asking me for my whereabouts, does that mean Amanda’s death is suspicious?” There was a shift in tone, steel now in every word.
“We don’t believe the fire could’ve started accidentally.” Not unless the wind had blown a trail of accelerant across two floors of a house.
“Oh.” She covered her face in her hands. “That’s not good.” Her words were muffled.
“I’m sorry about your mother, Lily. If there’s anything you can tell us about her, it could help us build up a picture of her life.” I pushed a little more, watching Tabitha gently pat Lily’s shoulder, not a woman who was used to giving touch, it seemed.
Lily looked back up, rubbing her hands over her jean covered legs.
“I haven’t seen her since I was accused of setting the fire that killed my dad and brothers.
I wanted nothing to do with her, and I suspect it was the same for her.
” She took a deep controlled breath. “I didn’t start that fire all those years ago, Detectives. ”
“Who do you think did?” Lachy leaned forward, his words spoken quietly. “If it wasn’t you, then who?”
She put the mug of hot chocolate onto a coaster on the table next to her and sat back in the chair, still shaking slightly.
“I don’t know. My parents were heavily involved in their community and I don’t know if they had enemies.
In our house, children were seen and not heard.
That was the way my father liked it, although their friends and colleagues would’ve seen a different picture, like with many families.
” She looked at Tabitha. “I’m happy for my files to be shared if it will help the investigation. ”
“The notes from our sessions?” Tabitha nodded.
“And any other. I know a solicitor would suggest they’d need a warrant and a reason for it, but there’s nothing in there that incriminates me.” She spoke directly to the probation officer, but it was meant for us.
I knew very little about the fire that killed most of her family, other than what Wrigley had told me and the brief snippets I’d read before coming here.
“We may not need them, but they could be helpful in future. If we do think they’ll be useful, we’ll let you know.
” I wasn’t sure of anything in this small living room with the four of us crammed in.
Tabitha was clearly taken in with Lily and wouldn’t be a reliable unbiased source.
Accepting information here and now without due process could lead to accusations that we’d bullied her into handing it over.
I stood up, putting my half-drunk cup of tea down on the side table, no spare coaster available and I bet that as soon as I’d left, that mug would be in the dishwasher.
“I think we need to leave you to process what’s happened.
We will need to speak with you again in the next few days and one of my colleagues will be around shortly to take a copy of your CCTV. ”
Lachlan followed my lead as we headed for the front door, Lily on her feet to see us out.
I knew the probation officer would stay; I also knew that I’d be doing a bit more digging about her.
Having the same probation officer for years was unheard of now, so how had Tabitha Smithson managed to hold on to Lily Mayhew and why?
We left, saying nothing until we got to Lachy’s car. “Meet in the Red Lion car park round the corner,” I told him. “I’ll call Verity.”
“No worries.” He slid into his car and gave me a wave. I got into mine, a few drops of rain starting to fall, the sunny day over.