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 protectyou,’ she blurts – and my heart stalls.
Jack hesitates, then, ‘Doyou 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.
SIXTY-NINE
‘Why the second visit?’ Jack asks, eyeing DI Blake quizzically as he walks across the lounge towards her, Evie a step behind him.
‘We’d just like to have a chat with your daughter – if that’s okay with you, Evie?’ DI Blake’s gaze travels to her.
Evie glances at me uncertainly and I give her a small smile of encouragement, though inside I’m screaming. Hedidn’tpush her. He would never have lied about that, tried to blame Evie. He justwouldn’t. Try as I might, though, I can’t convince myself I didn’t hear him asking her to lie for him. He had the locket. My breath catches as the image from my nightmare flashes starkly into my mind: Jack standing immobile, a gold chain dangling from his hand as he stares down at his wife being swallowed by the sea. Natalia had told him he would have custody of Evie over her dead body. Had that been like a red rag to a bull?
‘Would you like to sit down, Evie?’ DI Blake asks, snapping my attention back to her. ‘I realise you’ll be feeling extremely upset, but I have a couple of things I’d like you to help me clear up, if you could. It shouldn’t take long.’
Evie does as she suggests. Sitting on the edge of the sofa, her body tense, her hands tucked under her thighs, she beginsrocking to and fro, something I’ve noticed she does whenever she’s overemotional.
DI Blake sits in the armchair opposite her. ‘It’s about Imogen,’ she says, looking at her thoughtfully.
Evie’s gaze shoots to her dad.
He shakes his head almost imperceptibly, his eyes cautioning her to be careful. I don’t want to think it, but isn’t this subtle coercion? Is he trying to protect Evie? Or himself? My hand strays to my tummy and the child I know I would instinctively kill to protect if I had to. Was that what Jack had done? Had he acted impulsively? Or was he as cold and calculated as Natalia had insisted?
‘So, Evie,’ DI Blake says, ‘can I ask if you understand what CCTV footage is?’
Evie nods. ‘Video recordings taken by overhead cameras, like road cameras and stuff,’ she answers.
‘That’s right.’ DI Blake gives her a brief smile. ‘The cameras are used for monitoring and security purposes, often in public places.’
Evie answers with another small nod.
‘We have such footage of you and Imogen in Worcester on the evening she died,’ DI Blake goes on, all the while studying her carefully. ‘From the animated body language it would appear that you were arguing.’
Jack steps forward. ‘What’s this about exactly?’ he asks, his tone agitated. ‘Are you accusing my daughter of something?’
DI Blake keeps her gaze fixed on Evie. ‘Were you arguing?’
