‘—smoking a joint.’
‘Go on,’ I say as he pauses. I have no idea where he’s going with this.
‘I think they’re dealing drugs. Weed. They tried to flog some to Millie.’
‘Really? Where was this? Have you told Ian?’
‘It was in front of the Rowlands’ house. On the night of the party. When I went to fetch Iris. The Knoll boys were sitting on the garden wall, skinning up. Yeah, Roly knows they were there. I didn’t tell him they tried to sell Millie some weed, though. She didn’t buy any, so it didn’t seem important. Did you know she smoked?’
‘What, marijuana?’
‘No. Cigarettes.’
‘Oh. No, I didn’t. Why are you telling me this? Did you drive out all this way to share that with me?’
‘No.’ Ash runs his fingers through his hair and looks away.
I know my ex-husband. There’s something he’s not telling me. But he has clammed up for now. He’s probably been talking to Ian about Josh’s death. Oh God. Maybe the police already suspect our daughter. But I when I put this to Ash, he shakes his head.
‘Roly says they don’t have any suspects yet,’ he says.
I have to ask. ‘Ash, doyouthink Iris had anything to do with … Josh’s murder?’ The words are barely audible as they leave my mouth. I shouldn’t be asking myself that question, let alone Ash.
‘How can you ask that?’ Ash says.
He sounds shocked, which reassures me a little. Despite my best efforts, I haven’t been doing a very good job of silencing the voice in my head that keeps reminding me that everything points to Iris. First, the knife. Then Iris’s reactions when she came home from school that day – or rather, her lack of reaction. And the fact that no one wanted Joshua dead as much as Iris did. This can all be explained away. A) I was wrong about the knife – it was there all along. B) Iris was all cried out and utterly exhausted and in shock by the time she got home – understandably – so she didn’t cry in front of me and she fell asleep. C) Just because she had a motive and had repeatedly wished Josh dead out loud to me doesn’t mean she killed him.
But now there’s the bloody tissue and the necklace. I’ve come up with an explanation for that, too, and I try to hold on to it, even as I wonder if I’m clutching at straws. But I’m finding it harder to convince myself this time. Even though I’m her mother. I know in my heart that Iris is not capable of such violence. But I also believe that anyone –everyone– is capable of murder if pushed hard enough. And Iris was certainly pushed.
‘Do you?’ I insist, meeting Ash’s eyes.
‘No! No, of course not,’ he says. I believe him. Ash thinks Iris is incapable of doing anything wrong. She’s a daddy’s girl. She’s his blind spot, just as Olly is mine. ‘Listen, Carla, Joshua was probably killed by some grockle he had a run-in with. But you and I both know she’s likely to come under suspicion at some point. At the very least, she’s going to be questioned.’
‘Did Ian tell you that?’
‘Roly said they were talking to everyone who knew Josh well.’
I take a deep breath. I wasn’t going to admit this to Ash, but he deserves to know. Iris is his daughter, too, after all. And she and I both need his support. Again. ‘I found Josh’s necklace. You know, the one with the wolf pendant.’
‘Where?’
‘Wrapped up in a tissue in the pocket of Iris’s jeans.’
‘When?’
‘Just the other day.’
‘All right. Well, he may have given it back to her shortly before he died,’ Ash reasons. ‘She resented him wearing it after their break-up, didn’t she?’
‘Ash, the tissue was covered in blood.’ I can hear the panic in my voice. I don’t need to explain my thinking to Ash. The bloody tissue suggests Iris got the necklace back after Josh’s death, not shortly before it.
‘So you think it’s Josh’s blood?’ He sounds incredulous.
‘I don’t know what to think!’ I sound hysterical now. I’m on the verge of tears.
‘Carla, it’s probably Iris’s blood. I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.’ I can tell he believes what he’s saying. I wish I believed him. ‘Why don’t you ask Iris?’
‘I don’t know if I can now. I should have asked her at the time, but I threw out the necklace.’ I’m doing my best to get a grip, but a sob escapes. ‘And the tissue,’ I add.
