She and Bryant took a seat at the table.
Dan turned away from them and rested both hands on the counter as he stared down into the sink.
‘I said I’d come and fetch her, but she wouldn’t hear of Ava being disturbed. She always says that she likes the idea of us waiting for her.’ He paused. ‘I just can’t…’ His words trailed away as his back began to shake with sobs. There was little they could do except wait.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said, wiping at his eyes. ‘It’s just that the world seems like a very different place this morning.’
‘We understand, Mr… Sorry, Dan. It’s going to take a long time for it to feel real again.’
‘Longer for Ava, I imagine,’ he said, looking towards the ceiling.
‘Don’t rush her,’ Kim advised. ‘She’ll understand it when her mind is ready.’
‘I know,’ he said, taking a seat at the table. He took a deep breath. ‘The officer that came last night said you’d give me more details.’ He rubbed at his forehead. ‘I’ve been going out of my mind.’
The informing officer was always told to offer as little detail as possible.
‘So, was it a mugging?’ he asked.
Kim knew she had to get more information before revealing any more details. He was currently sitting with the shock of being told she was dead, but the whole truth would knock him right back to square one. She needed his focus before that happened.
‘Before I go into it, Dan, can I get some background?’ she asked.
‘Of course,’ he said, knitting his fingers together.
Kim wasn’t sure for whose benefit she was delaying the information, but as she asked the background questions, she was building a picture, taking in her surroundings, assessing his personality, considering him as a suspect and trying to get to know the woman who now lay in the morgue.
‘You’ve been married for how long?’ she asked.
‘Four years,’ he said, glancing at a wedding photo on the wall.
She did the same. The two of them beamed at each other in the picture. Kim felt as though the world could have ended at that minute and they wouldn’t have noticed.
To the left of that photo was one of Ashley, her long brown hair hanging free as she gazed adoringly at her newborn daughter.
To the right was a picture of the three of them. Ava as a toddler sat between them, laughter in all of their faces as the adults tickled the delighted child. It wasn’t a professional photo. It had been taken by someone who had just happened to catch a moment. They had obviously liked it enough to put it on the wall.
Kim pushed away the sadness rising within her as she imagined all the life events Ava would be forced to experience without her mother.
At that moment, she breezed into the room, dressed in her princess outfit. Kim didn’t react to the fact the girl was holding her artificial arm. Dan turned to the side, and Ava handed him the prosthetic before climbing onto his lap.
‘She can get it off,’ he said, pointing to the clasp that rested on her shoulder. ‘But it’s a bit tricky to put on.’
Once the prosthetic was attached, Ava turned on her dad’s lap to join the conversation.
Kim met Dan’s gaze and shook her head.
‘Hey, sweetie, you know that picture we started last night of Lilo and Stitch? Could you go finish it for me?’
She frowned.
‘You have a picture of Lilo and Stitch?’ Bryant asked to distract her, his eyes wide.
She nodded. ‘A whole colouring book.’
‘No way. Can I see it?’
Ava jumped from Dan’s lap, and Bryant followed, mumbling something about the evil Doctor Jookiba.
