He clears his throat. ‘As I have already explained to both Mrs and Miss Pearson, extra officers will be arriving this evening, and will be carrying out enquiries on the island. We will also be taking the fingerprints of everyone staying here at Villa Paradiso.’
‘I say,’ Barney exclaims. ‘Is that really necessary?’
‘It is routine in a case like this,’ Demetriou says mildly. ‘Only when we have everyone’s prints on record can we eliminate them from our enquiries.’ His gaze sweeps the room, making sure he has everyone’s attention. He needn’t bother – we’re all staring at him like he’s Christ returned from the dead. ‘Using the initial statements you provided for Sergeant Griva, I will be drawing up a timeline for Mr Pearson’s last known movements. I will also be talking to you individually, but if there is anything you want me to know now, please speak to me or one of my team. There is a killer on the loose and the sooner we catch him the better, yes?’
He glances down at his notebook, then closes it. ‘To that end, there will be an officer stationed outside Villa Paradiso around the clock until the culprit is found. Please rest assured we are doing everything in our power to bring Mr Pearson’s killer to justice. And now, any questions for me?’
‘Will you be speaking to the guy who owns the villa down the road?’ Barney asks, jabbing his thumb towards Villa Olympus.
Victoria nods vigorously. ‘Everyone knows Felix had issues with the building works. He went down there to complain about noise just this week.’
‘The guy could have put a hit out on him. You hear stories about men like that all the time. The type that think normalrules don’t apply,’ Barney adds with a generous helping of self-righteousness.
‘We will be speaking to everyone we believe is integral to the investigation,’ Demetriou says, slipping the notebook back into his pocket. ‘I must go now but, please, call me if you think of anything that might help our investigation. Mrs Pearson has my number.’
The moment he has gone, Barney swings round to Simone.
‘You need to tell us exactly what he said.’
She glares at him. ‘Actually, I don’t have to tell you anything.’
‘Seriously, Simone. I need to know where this is going, because if he finds out about the Wapping development going tits up and the argument Felix and I had at the restaurant I’m up shit creek without a paddle.’
‘Perhaps you should have thought about that before you laid into him,’ she says icily.
‘He’s got a point, though,’ Dominic says, running his hand through his hair. ‘If the police speak to anyone who was at the taverna they’re going to know I punched his lights out. I’ll be their prime suspect.’ He sinks onto the nearest armchair and buries his head in his hands.
Simone is by his side in a flash. ‘Everything will be all right, Dom. I promise.’
No one has noticed Willow, who has risen out of her chair, her expression as murderous as a spitting cobra.
‘All right?’ she shrieks. ‘Dad isdead! Nothing will be “all right” ever again. Not that you care. You’ll inherit the lot now he’s gone, won’t you?’ She waves her hands wildly. ‘This place, the Surrey Hills house, the business. He was worth more to you dead than alive.’
‘Willow!’ Victoria cries. ‘I don’t think that’s approp?—’
But the teenager is on a roll, her eyes glittering and her whole body shaking with an emotion I can’t quite place. Grief? Frustration?Rage?
‘You can’t hide anymore because I see you for who you really are,Simone. I know the real you and you are a fucking hypocrite. Don’t think you’re going to get away with it.’ Even though she spits the words out, Simone doesn’t flinch. She is an ice queen. But Victoria can’t let it go.
‘That’s enough, Willow. I understand you’re upset but you can’t talk to Simone like that. She’s your stepmother.’
Willow’s thunderous glare sweeps from Simone to Victoria. ‘Not now Dad’s gone she isn’t. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have to have anything to do with her. She is nothing to me. Nothing!’
Dominic steps forwards, his hands raised in supplication, but Willow brushes them away and storms out of the room. Moments later, a door slams upstairs.
‘Well, that was quite the tantrum,’ Barney observes. ‘That girl needs a firm hand, if you ask me.’
‘No one is asking you, Barney,’ Simone says tightly. ‘She’s lashing out. It’s understandable. She’s just lost her father.’
The unexpected empathy from Simone earns my grudging respect. And she’s right. I was the same when Gran passed away. I’d lost my mum, I’d never known my dad, and then, as if the gods hadn’t punished me enough, the one person I had left went and died. I was soangry. My social worker Lisa bore the brunt of my fury, listening in silent compassion as I railed against the unfairness of it all, that while most kids had two parents, siblings, grandparents and a small army of aunts, uncles and cousins, I had nothing. When my fury was spent, she’d hugged me tightly and told me everything would be all right.
‘How can you say that?’ I cried.
‘You are a strong, resourceful, clever young woman, Amber. And you’re a survivor. You will get through this.’
Lisa was right. I did. But will Willow?
‘I can try to talk to her if you like,’ I offer now.
