by K. L. Slater
As Chloe had pointed out to Juliet many times, it was hardly the same thing that had happened to Corey, but Beth’s sob story obviously struck a chord with her sister, and whatever Chloe had to say about the woman always fell on deaf ears.
Their mother’s opinion was that Juliet had turned into an irritating people-pleaser, and the car journey bore witness to this. Her eyes were silently pleading with Chloe not to make a fuss, so as not to offend the police officers.
Good old Jules, maintaining the status quo, keeping everybody happy whilst everything fell down around her ears. She seemed to notice nothing unless it actually slapped her in the face.
A big part of Chloe wanted to tell Juliet everything, without censoring it. Her sister would either cope or not. Period. Life was sometimes unpalatable and you just had to find the strength to deal with it or go under. She of all people understood that.
Still, for now they had to pull together to sort out whatever mix-up had occurred with the girls. Once they arrived at the police station, Chloe was determined to get the facts. She wasn’t going to be put off by small talk or more of the officers’ irritating vagueness.
* * *
One of the policemen opened her car door and Chloe emerged silently, her face still dark with everything she was suppressing.
‘Are you OK, Chloe?’ Juliet asked nervously when she clocked her sister’s sour expression.
‘I’ll be OK once I know exactly what’s happening around here, instead of having to make do with a load of senseless answers from Dumb and Dumber,’ Chloe seethed.
Juliet gulped and glanced at the glowering officers, who had clearly overheard the comment.
The police station foyer was thankfully almost empty save for a pockmarked teenager in a baseball cap and hoodie, who didn’t glance up from the game he was playing on his phone as they walked past. The only other person in the vicinity was the duty officer, who sat watching their arrival from behind a Perspex security screen, her fingers poised above a keyboard in anticipation.
‘We’re bringing in Juliet Fletcher and Chloe Voce… they’re the mothers of the two girls,’ one of the officers told her in a quiet voice.
The duty officer hesitated, glancing up at Chloe and then at Juliet. Was it Chloe’s imagination, or did her eyebrow rise just a fraction in apparent disapproval before she began to tap at the keys?
Christ, she was almost starting to feel like a criminal herself.
They were led through a keypad-protected door into a long, stark corridor lined with linoleum and glossy white walls. Scuffed unmarked wooden doors led off to rooms every few yards.
The leading officer slowed his pace before stopping and opening a door on the left. The small, airless room was sparse inside, furnished only with four hard plastic chairs and a small table holding a withered pot plant and a dusty-looking jug of water.
‘If you wait here, someone will be with you very shortly,’ the officer told them.
‘But how long will it be?’ Juliet pleaded, her face pale and drawn. ‘We still don’t know what’s happened.’
‘Where are Brianna and Maddy?’ Chloe’s tone was steely in comparison. ‘We have a right to see them without any further delay.’
‘Someone will be with you shortly,’ the officer repeated, closing the door behind him.
‘Damn. I meant to remind them to check that someone has contacted Mum.’ Chloe’s nostrils flared. ‘I hope she’s listened to her answerphone messages.’
Juliet picked up the dusty jug and poured the water into the parched soil of the plant pot.
Chloe watched her closely. Mum was right: Juliet never seemed in the least bit concerned about her. Joan was in her mid sixties now, and it took next to nothing to spark off her anxiety. This whole misunderstanding with the girls could set her back big-time unless it was handled properly.
And then they’d all suffer.
Four
The door of the small, stuffy room opened unexpectedly and both women sat up straight as Tom appeared with an accompanying officer.
‘I came as soon as I could,’ he gasped, rushing over to Juliet. ‘What’s happened? Where is she?’
Chloe watched as they embraced, Tom’s broad shoulders and biceps straining against the material of his navy suit jacket. He glanced over at her, nodding an acknowledgement.
Juliet pressed her face against his chest in such an intimate way, Chloe felt like she ought to look away.
‘We still haven’t seen the girls,’ she wailed.
Tom kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes briefly, and Chloe remembered when Jason used to do the same to her if she got upset. It was a long time since she’d had a man show her such soothing, reassuring concern.
‘You OK, Chloe?’ Tom asked when Juliet led him to the seating area.
‘Oh yeah, I’m champion, Tom,’ she replied sourly.
Tom and Juliet exchanged what they thought was a discreet glance, but Chloe caught it anyway.
Juliet touched her husband’s cheek. ‘How did the interview go?’
‘Really well. But we can talk about all that later, when we’ve sorted this mess out.’ He looked at both women. ‘What exactly happened before—’
He broke off mid sentence when the door opened and a well-built middle-aged man with swept-back sandy hair walked in. He wore a slightly crumpled brown suit and a tired mustard tie, and had an easy confidence about him, his florid cheeks making him seem jollier than his serious expression suggested.
Behind him was a bird-like young woman in her mid twenties, dressed in a black trouser suit and white blouse with flat black pumps. Her movements were precise but nervy, and from the second she stepped into the room, her eyes darted backwards and forwards between Chloe and her sister as if she was trying to get the measure of them.
‘DI Conor Neary,’ stated the man in a thick Irish accent and held out his hand. Chloe felt glad of his directness after the ambiguous manner of the two uniformed officers who’d driven them here. ‘And this is my DS, Rachel March.’
They all shook hands and the detectives sat down opposite them. DI Neary glanced at a piece of paper in his hand and established who were the parents of which child.
‘So what’s happened?’ Tom said briskly. ‘Where are the girls?’
‘Brianna and Madeleine are with a specially trained female officer right now,’ March said officiously. ‘They’re quite safe and you’ll be able to see them very soon.’
‘Maddy,’ Juliet said. ‘We call her Maddy.’
Neary leaned forward, elbows on his knees. He laced his fingers together and Chloe spotted faint nicotine stains. When he spoke, his voice was heavy with a grave regret.
‘Mr and Mrs Fletcher, Ms Voce. I’m sorry to tell you that your daughters are here because we believe they were involved in a very serious assault that took place this afternoon on Conmore Road in Annesley.’
‘Oh God, are they OK?’ Juliet stood up abruptly and Tom touched her arm to still her.
‘The girls are safe, yes. They are both physically unhurt.’
She sat down again, her posture stiff.
Chloe spoke next, making an effort to keep her voice steady. She didn’t want to show any weakness.
‘Our mother, Joan Voce, was looking after the girls today, as it was a school staff training day. Does she know what’s happened? That the girls are here?’
‘Your mother and father have been informed and will make their way here soon. Apparently your mother is feeling unwell and needs to rest first.’
Chloe and Juliet glanced at each other. If Joan was in bed with one of her migraines and making her usual demands, then it might’ve been far easier for the girls to slip away without Ray noticing.
‘Our priority was to contact you, as the girls’ parents,’ DS March continued, referring to her notes. ‘May I ask if you have spoken to Brianna’s father?’
‘Brianna’s father is not in touch with her,’ Chloe said sharply.
‘I see.’ March mad
e a note before looking up again. ‘It seems the girls were quite a way from your mother’s address at the time they were apprehended; about a ten-minute walk, we’ve estimated.’
‘They wouldn’t stray that far from Mum’s,’ Juliet offered limply.
‘So who was assaulted, and why are Maddy and Brianna being held here?’ Chloe asked bluntly, thinking about the police incident tape they’d seen as they passed the end of Conmore Street.
‘What happened exactly?’ Tom added.
Chloe locked her back teeth, feeling her nostrils flare as she renewed the pledge she had made to herself. She would not veer from her intention now she was finally here. All the other problems in her life had paled into insignificance, at least for now.
‘Officers were called by a neighbour to a house in Annesley, where they found an elderly woman who had been assaulted.’ DI Neary locked his fingers tightly together. ‘We don’t yet know the severity of her injuries and we’re still waiting for an update from King’s Mill Hospital. Suffice to say she’s being treated in intensive care as we speak.’
‘Who is this old lady?’ Tom asked.
‘A Mrs Bessie Wilford,’ March answered, consulting her notes. ‘She’s eighty-one years old.’
‘Remember Dad’s friend, Charlie Wilford, who died?’ Juliet frowned and looked at Chloe. ‘Wasn’t his wife called Bessie?’
‘I think so,’ Chloe murmured. ‘I know Bessie went round to Mum’s house a few times after Charlie died, but not for a while now, as far as I’m aware. The girls might have met her there.’
DS March scribbled something down on her pad.
‘Were our girls witnesses to the assault?’ Tom edged forward on his seat.
The senior detective cleared his throat and DS March began jiggling her foot.
‘We have reason to believe your daughters had just left the house when the officers arrived,’ Neary said simply, unclasping his fingers and looking at them all in turn. ‘It’s possible one or both of them may have assaulted the victim.’
‘Now hang on a minute!’ Tom said forcefully.
‘That’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard!’ Juliet let out a strained laugh. ‘Why on earth would they attack an old lady they barely even know?’
‘There must be some mistake,’ Chloe echoed. ‘They’re just ten years old, for God’s sake. It’s not possible. You need to—’
‘There is strong evidence to suggest they were involved in the assault.’ DS March frowned.
‘What evidence exactly?’ Tom snapped.
‘First things first, Mr Fletcher. There’s something else we must address urgently to ensure we deal with this in the best interests of the girls.’ He hesitated. ‘Something I hope you’ll all be able to assist us with.’
The three of them stared at the detective.
Neary cleared his throat, a guttural sound that seemed to fill the small room.
‘Both girls are refusing to speak,’ he said. ‘They haven’t yet uttered a single word.’
Five
The detectives left the room, but not before emphasising their concern.
‘We’ll give you a few minutes to process what’s happened,’ March said, as if that was how long it might take for the horror to sink in.
‘Then we’ll talk about the girls’ self-imposed silence,’ Neary added. ‘It’s vital we break through that as soon as possible. It can only hamper their defence.’
The sisters looked at each other. Juliet began to weep quietly and reached for Chloe’s hand. They held onto each other, saying nothing, while Tom hung his head wretchedly.
A hard, sour nut had wedged itself in Chloe’s throat the way it always did when something bad happened to her. It meant she couldn’t feel or articulate any emotion that sat below it, and that suited her just fine.
‘What are we going to do?’ Juliet whispered. ‘This could ruin their entire lives.’
‘We fight,’ Chloe murmured, pulling her hand away. ‘We fight with everything we have to get them out of here.’
‘I agree,’ Tom said grimly. ‘These things have a habit of getting out of control very quickly when they’re looking for a scapegoat.’
‘It makes no sense whatsoever.’ Chloe stamped her foot in frustration. ‘Let’s not forget we don’t have to accept everything those detectives tell us. They’re obviously mistaken.’
‘But I don’t get how the girls came to be there, at Bessie Wilford’s house… on that street even.’ Tom frowned. ‘And where were your mum and dad while all this was happening?’
‘We’ve still got a lot of unanswered questions,’ Juliet agreed. ‘Mum and Dad should be on their way here soon, so hopefully they’ll be able to shed some light on it all.’
The detectives returned with lukewarm tea in soft-walled polystyrene beakers. Neary handed out the drinks.
‘We’ll need to interview the girls,’ March said. ‘But before you see them, we’ll have to remove their clothing for forensic examination. We can give them something else to wear until you bring some of their own clothes in. Is that OK with you?’
‘I suppose so. Yes.’ Juliet sounded dazed; Tom simply nodded.
‘When can we see them?’ Chloe said, her voice a little shaky despite her best efforts. ‘We have a right to make sure they’re OK.’ How long were the girls likely to be here if the detective was talking about their parents going home to get clothes for them?
‘And a lawyer,’ Juliet added. ‘We’ll need to contact a lawyer.’
‘Of course. We can arrange for you to make phone calls in a private office.’
Chloe’s stomach roiled. She found herself silently praying that Brianna continued to keep her mouth shut if there was anything that could be used against them, although the thought that they were actually involved in a crime like this was ridiculous.
There must be some other explanation as to how they’d become tangled up in this appalling mess.
Chloe knew her daughter could sometimes speak without thinking. Maddy was the smarter of the pair when it came to words… more calculating. She did better in school assessments, which you might expect given that she had both her parents around, spending lots of time with her. Brianna didn’t have that luxury.
Chloe felt a mixture of emotions about this. She was furious with Jason, who had simply turned his back on Brianna when he left for a new life abroad. Their daughter had been just five years old at the time and yet he had never tried to get in touch again. She was angry with herself for picking such unsuitable father material. But often, although she’d never admit it to anyone, she also felt jealous of Juliet’s neat little family.
‘Pending your arrival, the girls have been in the care of DC Carol Hall, who specialises in the care of juveniles in custody. She confirms that they seem to have made some sort of vow of silence between themselves. Not only are they refusing to speak to officers, they’re not communicating with each other.’
Chloe frowned. That didn’t sound like Brianna at all. She was a gregarious girl, who wore her heart on her sleeve. It was getting her to quieten down that was the problem in class, according to her teacher.
Neary continued. ‘We’re in the process of collating the notes from the attending officers, but as I mentioned earlier, we know both girls were at the house. Hopefully, once they begin to talk, we’ll be able to establish further details and find out precisely what happened. In the meantime, collection of forensic evidence is paramount.’
‘Are we going to be able to take them home after the interview?’ Juliet asked.
‘I’m afraid not. We’re entitled to hold them for twenty-four hours, and a further twelve hours can be added to this if the crime committed is of a serious nature.’
Tom folded his arms. ‘I think we want to call our lawyer now.’
* * *
Twenty minutes later, they followed an officer deeper into the bowels of the building.
Juliet had contacted Bryan, the solicitor they used for business purposes. Bryan, in turn
, had contacted a criminal lawyer he knew of. It was preferable to simply googling a suitable local legal firm.
‘The lawyer is on her way. Don’t let them interview the girls before she gets there,’ Bryan advised her. ‘Don’t you tell the police anything, either.’
Chloe felt like she was in one of those police dramas on TV, but there was nothing fictionalised about the awful mess Brianna was in right now. She could feel concern bubbling away in her guts, but she pushed the emotion down again.
She glanced sideways at her sister and brother-in-law walking beside her and felt a familiar pang, wishing she had someone special to share her worries with. She’d suffered a massive drain of confidence when Jason had left her. It might have been five years ago now, but sometimes it still felt as raw as if it were only yesterday. He’d broken her heart, and although there had been other men – a handful even lasting for a few dates – she hadn’t found with anyone else what she’d had with Jason. That depth of passion and understanding.
Tom had always been a man of few words, but to Chloe, Juliet seemed uncharacteristically quiet, already beaten. Yet this was the very time they needed to show strength and not compromise one iota.
All siblings had their irritations with each other, but right now, Chloe felt protective towards Juliet, like she used to when they were kids. She leaned in and squeezed her arm as they walked, and Juliet pressed her lips together in a grateful but sad little smile.
They’d get through this, Chloe felt confident of it. And once they had, perhaps it would be easier for her to find a way to finally sit her sister down and tell her the awful truth.
The officer slowed and stopped at a door on the right, tapping before pushing it open.
He stepped aside to reveal Brianna and Maddy sitting side by side. A plump woman in casual civilian clothing with glasses and permed brown hair stood up and smiled.