I’m not sure what it depends on and I don’t like to ask. I just want him out of the house.
I wrap my arms around myself. I’m so cold. I wonder if I’m going into shock.
What will this do for the business?It’s a selfish thought and I instantly hate myself for it. Just then Susie Greyson walks into the room led by an exasperated-looking PC Avebury. ‘We’re trying to keep the scene clean,’ he says, almost pushing her into the room and closing the door behind her.
She stares at us all in bewilderment. ‘What’s going on? I only came back because I had a headache. There’re police everywhere.’
DS Middleton stands up. He’s going. Thank goodness.
Nathan offers Susie a seat next to him and she sinks into it, eyeing the detective warily.
‘A family liaison officer will be with you shortly,’ says DS Middleton. I must look perplexed because he adds, ‘Because of Selena Perry’s daughter. And we’re going to have to contact Mr Perry. He’s the child’s father, after all.’
‘You’re going to contact Nigel?’ I cry. ‘He’s violent. She was scared of him – Ruby can’t go back to him.’
‘Kirsty.’ Mum’s voice is a warning. I glare at her. Why is she trying to stop me talking about it?
DS Middleton’s expression remains impassive.
As I’m showing him to the door I spot Janice hovering in the garden, Horace under her arm, his little legs wiggling.
She ignores the detective and he walks away without saying goodbye.
Janice says, ‘Oh, my love. I had to take Horace out for a walk. I wasn’t allowed to come back through the front door. The police have just told me what’s happened. I’m so sorry.’
I let her into the kitchen. She puts Horace on the floor and I try not to grimace. We’re not supposed to have dogs in the kitchen, according to Environmental Health. His paws are filthy, and I ferret in the drawers trying to find a towel so that she can dry him. I hand her one. ‘You said this place has a bad energy,’ I mumble. ‘Maybe you’re right.’
She smiles regretfully, and takes the towel. She rubs Horace vigorously. He seems to be enjoying it. Then she stands up, her face serious. ‘She was murdered, dear. You know that, don’t you?’
‘It was an accident,’ I say again, annoyed that I have to keep repeating it. None of it feels real. I keep expecting Selena to walk through the door and tell me that this was all just one big joke. A game.
Janice picks up Horace, still wrapped in the towel, and I lead her out of the kitchen and into the dining room. Mum, Susie and Nathan have been joined by Adrian, Julia and the girls. She’s still wearing the bloodstained jumper and I realize she’s not been allowed upstairs to change. Susie has her head in her hands. I offer to bring her some paracetamol and she nods gratefully.
Adrian follows me to the kitchen. ‘Sweetheart,’ he says, as I reach up to one of the cupboards to retrieve the pills, ‘how are you holding up?’
I grab the packet and sigh, turning to face him. ‘The house already feels too empty without her.’ He pulls me into his arms and, I can’t help it, I cry against his chest. ‘I feel like I’ve let her down. In so many ways.’
He strokes the hair back from my face. ‘You gave her a place to stay when she needed it. A refuge.’
I look up at him. ‘Yeah … reluctantly.’
‘At first, maybe. But you made amends. And you healed a seventeen-year rift.’
We’re interrupted by Nathan. He clears his throat. ‘Thought you should know. The police have said we’re allowed in the hallway now and upstairs. But they’re still in Selena’s room. Mum’s gone to get changed and Susie’s gone to bed.’
I hold up the paracetamol. ‘I’ll take this up to her. She didn’t bring any with her.’
I leave the room, Adrian following me. When we’re on the stairs I turn to him. ‘Where are you going?’ I hope he’s not planning to shut himself away to write again. Not now. The girls need him and so do I.
‘We should check Dean’s room.’ He holds up a spare key. ‘I haven’t seen him all day. He was supposed to check out at ten and it’s nearly two.’
‘Let me just give these to Susie.’ I knock on her door. When there’s no answer, I call to her.
‘Thanks, but I’ve found some in my suitcase,’ she calls back. She sounds groggy, so I leave her to it, slipping the packet into the back pocket of my jeans.
I head to Dean’s room. Adrian’s already turning the key and the door swings open.
The room is empty. I walk in slowly, as though expecting Dean to be hiding down the side of the bed or in the wardrobe. I scan the room. The bed has been made but his rucksack has gone. I pop my head around the door to the bathroom. His toothbrush and toothpaste are no longer sitting by the sink. I open the mirrored cabinet but it’s empty.
