‘Where’s Mr Whale?’ he asked, craning his neck to glance worriedly around as she straightened up.
Damn, she’d forgotten about the cuddly toy. Would that Ollie would, she thought, possibly a bit childishly. ‘In your bag, I think. Hold on, I’ll fetch him.’
Going across to his bag, which she’d dropped by the door, she delved inside to fish for Mr Whale – and froze. ‘Ollie …’ Her heart leapt into her mouth as she drew out a pair of scissors. ‘Where did you get these?’ she asked, walking back towards him. They were obviously safety scissors, but what in God’s name were Laura and Steve thinking, letting him carry them around?
‘Laura gave me them.’ Ollie blinked sleepily. ‘To cut up the animals.’
The hairs on Sarah’s skin rose at the image that conjured up, but she bit hard on her tongue, humming softly to him instead until he’d drifted off, his whale tucked under his arm in place of his maimed bunny. Creeping quietly out, she pulled the door to behind her. Her heart was still thumping as she went downstairs, taking the scissors with her. Was she gettingthisout of proportion too? Should she be glibly sayingokey-dokeyto everything Laura did? Even allowing Ollie to carry scissors around in his bag? They were obviously in there so he could bring them home with him, but why would she put them in there without telling Sarah? More worryingly, what on earth was Ollie talking about when he’d said they were ‘to cut up the animals’?
‘All good?’ Joe asked as she went into the lounge to be greeted by the aroma of coffee and Cointreau.
‘I’m not sure,’ she prevaricated, feeling slightly nauseous now. Whether with nerves at the prospect of what Joe’s reaction might be when she voiced her very real concerns, or with worry about a situation that seemed to be growing more ominous, she wasn’t sure, but she definitely felt shaky. ‘I found these in Ollie’s bag,’ she said, holding the scissors out.
Joe glanced at them from where he was sitting on the sofa and then pulled himself to his feet. ‘Scissors?’ he asked, his forehead creasing into a frown as he walked across to her.
‘They were right there in his bag, on top of his clothes under that whale toy she bought him. It’s as if she wanted me to find them.’
A flicker of doubt crossed Joe’s face. Sarah didn’t miss it.
‘Why would she put them there without telling me?’
‘I’ve no idea.’ He took them from her. ‘They’re children’s scissors, I take it.’ He studied them, noting the bee motif and the yellow and black striped handles, as Sarah had.
‘Yes, but they’re still quite sharp,’ she pointed out. ‘Ollie said they were for cutting up animals.’
‘Ah.’ Joe nodded thoughtfully. ‘That might explain the cut-off bunny ear then.’
‘Not that sharp.’ Sarah buried a sigh of frustration. ‘His bunny’s ear was surgically removed. Trust me, Ollie didn’t do that. I’m positive he didn’t.’
The furrow in Joe’s brow deepened. ‘And you really think Laura did?’
She splayed her hands. ‘Who else?’
‘But why would she? Out of spite?’ He was looking at her dubiously, Sarah noted.
‘Yes!’ Her frustration surfaced, despite her best efforts. ‘No.’ She glanced away, her heart plummeting. He thought she was overreacting – again. It was obvious he did. ‘I don’t know. I don’t know her. And that’s the point here. Idon’tknow her. You don’t. Steve doesn’t know her that well; he can’t possibly. All I do know is that she appears to be manipulating my son in some way and also managing to come between you and me.’
‘Manipulating’s a bit harsh, isn’t it?’ Joe ventured.
Shaking her head, Sarah smiled sardonically. ‘I rest my case,’ she said. ‘You’re doing it again, Joe. Accusing me of getting things out of perspective.’
His expression was now one of surprise. ‘I didn’t say that, Sarah. I just … Look, sit down, have your drink and we’ll talk this through. I honestly think your best bet is to leave it until tomorrow and call her. There’s bound to—’
‘I don’t want to sit down. I don’twantto call her. She’ll just lie,’ Sarah said exasperatedly. ‘Those scissors were planted there. Iknowthey were. She’s probably realised I discovered his bunny and is trying to convince me that Ollie is responsible. What she’s actually doing is convincing everyone around me that I’m mad!’
Joe said nothing, glancing down instead, which spoke volumes.
Sarah swallowed back her hurt. ‘You’re missing the point here a bit, Joe,’ she went on, working hard to speak calmly. ‘Ollie shouldn’t be carrying scissors around. It’s irresponsible to let him. I wouldn’t. Would you?’
He looked at her uncomfortably. ‘No,’ he admitted. ‘No, I wouldn’t.’
She nodded. That was something, at least. Not enough, though, she thought, her heart aching. She was losing him. Because her natural instinct was to protect her son from threat, no matter how small or how insignificant other people thought it might be, she was losing Joe.
‘Whatever her explanation, she shouldn’t have put them in his bag without mentioning it,’ she said, for clarification’s sake. ‘They are safety scissors, yes, but to allow a child Ollie’s age to use them unsupervised …’ She stopped, a tight lump rising in her throat that she couldn’t seem to swallow. She’d said enough. Joe was a policeman, for goodness’ sake. He knew what the consequences could be.
He ran his hand over his neck. ‘I do see what you mean,’ he said awkwardly.
‘Do you, Joe?’ she challenged him. ‘Do you really?’ He was trying to appease her. She didn’t want appeasing. She didn’t need appeasing. She simply wanted him on her side.
