Chapter 68
SIXTY-EIGHT
I watch from the front door as DI Blake and PC Patel climb out of their car and walk towards the house.
I’m not sure why DI Blake is here, since we’ve already given our statements to the detective sergeant who arrived shortly after the ambulance.
Noting the woman’s inscrutable expression as she approaches, nerves tighten my stomach.
Natalia fell, as we’ve already explained, but the way she’d died…
Are they likely to believe that it was no more than a horrific accident?
I pray to God that they will. Jack is right about Evie.
She does need more help than he can give her.
More help than bereavement counselling can offer her.
I doubt she will get that help if she’s taken away from him.
‘Do you want to come through?’ I ask, standing back from the door to allow them in.
DI Blake steps into the hall, but makes no move to go any further. ‘Is Evie here?’ she asks.
‘She’s upstairs with Jack. Do you need to speak to her?’
She swaps glances with PC Patel, then nods shortly. ‘Could you call her down, please? Mr Conley too, if you wouldn’t mind.’
I search her face. Her expression gives nothing away. ‘Her mother fell.’ I repeat what I said in my statement. ‘She tried to grab hold of Evie at the top of the stairs. Evie pulled away from her and Natalia stumbled and fell.’
DI Blake narrows her eyes. It’s clear she’s sceptical, but with two witnesses, myself and Jemma, surely she has to accept my explanation? ‘Clumsy, wasn’t she?’ she comments, a satirical edge to her voice. ‘She would have to have been to have fallen to her death twice.’
I swallow back an uncomfortable lump in my throat. ‘She didn’t fall the first time,’ I correct her. ‘The conclusion was that she jumped.’
DI Blake arches her eyebrows, obviously unconvinced, and a chill of apprehension prickles icily over me.
‘We need to speak to Evie, Mrs Keenan,’ she says.
‘It’s just an informal interview, but we’d like to clarify a few things with her.
We’re happy for you and Mr Conley to be present to ensure her welfare and rights are protected, of course. ’
My stomach lurches. Why would they come separately to talk to Evie? ‘Can you tell me why you want to speak to her specifically?’ I ask. ‘She can’t offer you any more than she’s already told the other officer.’
‘If you wouldn’t mind fetching her?’ DI Blake avoids answering.
‘You know it was Natalia who forced my car off the road, don’t you?
’ I ask, wanting to reinforce that she was the one who’d acted criminally.
It happened fast, but I’d glimpsed a woman with raven hair at the wheel of the oncoming vehicle.
Given what happened afterwards, it could only have been her.
‘That she basically kidnapped me and brought me here under duress? That Jemma was also here under duress? Evie came in while she was holding both of us at knifepoint in the kitchen. She was confused and frightened. Her reaction at the top of the stairs was instinctive.’
‘If we could have a word with her, please, Mrs Keenan?’ DI Blake is insistent.
Realising she’s not going to budge, I pull my gaze away and head across the lounge.
This is something to do with Imogen. It has to be.
Sick trepidation gripping me, I hurry up the stairs.
I’m approaching Evie’s bedroom when I hear Jack’s voice from inside, and I pause outside the door.
‘Why did you tell your mother you pushed her, Evie?’ he asks, gently.
Evie doesn’t answer.
‘Evie, talk to me,’ he urges her. ‘It’s okay, I promise you. Whatever you say will stay between you and me.’
Still Evie doesn’t respond.
‘Evie?’ he presses her.
‘To protect you,’ she blurts – and my heart stalls.
Jack hesitates, then, ‘Do you remember what happened, Evie?’ he asks carefully.
‘Most of it.’ She sounds uncertain. ‘Not all of it. I saw you walk over to her. I saw her push you away. She was screaming at you, telling you that you would get custody of me over her dead body. You were angry, upset. Yelling at her to stop. I don’t remember much after that.
I just saw you standing there with the locket in your hand and… ’ She falters. ‘Will you be in trouble?
‘No.’ Jack’s voice is shocked. ‘I, er… No. I don’t think so. Not now. It might be best if we keep this to ourselves, though, rather than you having to answer more endless questions. What do you think?’
Oh God, no. My heart stops stone-cold dead in my chest.