‘May we come in?’ DCI Randolf asked.
‘Hello, yes, of course, officers. Mrs Harlow, can you bring us some tea?’
DS Birch’s eyes brightened, about to open her mouth to say yes when Randolf cut in, ‘No need for tea, thank you.’
We filed into the living room one by one.
‘So, officer, we know why you’ve come,’ Fergus drawled. Jeannie’s eyes flew open at him in warning.
‘You do?’ Randolf replied, eyebrows knitted.
‘Yes,’ Jeannie said quickly. ‘You said the other day that you would be returning to question us. But I did tell you over the phone that we require notice to ensure our legal aid is with us.’
‘Yes, Mrs Weiss. But I haven’t come about that.’
‘Oh?’ She said, eyebrows raised.
‘I have some tragic news regarding Mrs Miriam Weiss.’ His deep brown eyes held Jeannie’s as he added, ‘You might need to sit down, Mrs Weiss.’
‘I’m perfectly fine standing up, thank you.’ Jeannie jutted her chin out, readying herself for the news.
Randolf took a deep breath. ‘A body was found on the train tracks two days ago. After checking CCTV and dental records, we believe it to be Miriam Weiss.’
‘Mimi?’ I said hoarsely, my legs shaking underneath me. I felt behind me for the couch and sat down. ‘Two days ago?’
‘Yes. We won’t require a formal identification… I don’t think that would be advisable at this time. As I said, we have a positive ID on dental records and the CCTV of the incident, which we will share with you in due course. I’m very sorry for your loss.’
‘Oh myGod.’ I clamped my hand over my mouth, wanting to retch. Poor Mimi. Poor, stupid, selfish, ridiculous Mimi.
The room fell into a stunned silence. Jeannie’s face had gone pale, her usual composure cracking as she slowly sank into a nearby chair. Miles, who had been standing by the fireplace, stepped forward.
‘The girls…’ he said, his voice tight with emotion.
DCI Randolf nodded grimly, understanding that we would have to tell them that their mother and father were now both dead. ‘We later searched the scene and found personal effects that corroborate our identification. Again, I’m so very sorry for your loss.’
I felt numb, my mind reeling as I tried to process this latest tragedy. Mimi, gone. Another death in the family. It seemed impossible, unreal, that Mimi could be dead, too. At this rate, we’d need a group discount on coffins.
Birch cleared her throat softly. ‘We’ll need to ask some questions. We understand this is a difficult time, but it’s important we gather information as soon as possible.’
Suddenly I felt Miles’s hand on my shoulder, grounding me. The room seemed to spin as the implications of what DCI Randolf had said sank in.
Jeannie’s voice remained steady as she asked, ‘How… how did it happen?’
DCI Randolf’s expression was grim. ‘Based on the CCTV footage, it appears Mrs Weiss jumped in front of an oncoming train. We’re treating it as a suspected suicide at this time. However, the angle is slightly obscured, so we are asking for eyewitnesses to come forward.’
A choked sob escaped Jeannie’s throat, her composure finally cracking. Mrs Harlow quickly moved to her side, offering silent support.
‘There’s just no way,’ I began, ‘no way that Mimi would end her own life. She has two girls.’
‘We’re very sorry for your loss,’ DS Birch said softly.
I knew what that meant. That peopledidend their lives all the time, regardless of whether they had two children, ten children or no children. But they didn’t know Mimi; in fact, I think I knew Mimi better than any of the people in this room. She was egotistical and vainglorious as hell. It seemed to me that the only thing concerning her was how she was going to get back to her love affair, not the fact that her husband had died, or any maternal instinct to be there for her daughters. There was no way she was getting mashed up by a train voluntarily.
But then… what if she knew something that we didn’t. What if she was the killer and could no longer live with herself. What if one of thegirlswas the killer… Maybe then, just maybe.
‘Could she have fallen by accident?’ Jeannie’s voice sounded strangled.
‘We are still in the process of analysing the footage. It’s unclear at this moment.’
