Chapter 47
FORTY-SEVEN
Victoria
Reese seems unable to say anything at all but she stands next to me, nodding as I talk, telling them about how Lawrence was engaged to Reese a long time ago and that the wedding didn’t go ahead.
I provide the details that he has been married three times, that he has lost his fortune, that he was angry and filled with bitter jealousy.
I tell them about the pictures, which they can see on all the walls in that bedroom. I’m so glad they can see them. And as I’m speaking a phrase keeps repeating in my mind. I killed a man. I killed a man. I killed a man.
I use the phrase ‘self-defence’ over and over again and Reese nods in agreement.
I don’t tell the police that Reese had the gun and that it was behind her back. I make sure to say clearly that Lawrence lunged towards us with the gun in his hand and I somehow managed to grab it from him. He was going to kill us.
Reese nods again and I move a little closer to her, letting our shoulders touch, letting her know that this is the story she must stick with.
She will. I know she will because we are best friends and I have always protected her.
All I want is to go home but instead Reese and I are given white paper suits to put over our clothes and then we are put into separate police cars just as we see a stretcher being wheeled out of the house. Lawrence in a body bag.
The policeman turns to look and a paramedic catches his eye and shakes her head. It’s over. He’s dead. But it was self-defence.
Truth?
Lie?
Does it matter?