Page 72 of Fifty-Fifty

Facing your father’s killer was one thing – but the fact it was your sister added only more pain.

‘Alexandra, keep your eyes on the floor and walk with me. Don’t look at her.

Don’t speak to her,’ said Bloch.

They started walking.

‘You set this up,’ hissed Kate to Dreyer as they moved past him.

He said nothing. Alexandra’s bail conditions were the same as Sofia’s.

Neither of them were to have contact, direct or indirect, with any of the witnesses in the case or each other.

‘If you say one word to her, Dreyer will have you arrested and ask the court to revoke your bail. Don’t speak to her, don’t look at her, keep your head down,’

said Kate.

Eddie Flynn looked like he was having the same conversation with his client.

He found a door and stepped into it, Harper dragging Sofia in after her.

They were only ten feet away, Sofia was holding onto the doorway, Eddie shielding her from a view of the hallway. Sofia was telling them, ‘No, no, no …’

As they passed by, Kate caught Sofia peeking around Eddie’s body. The look on

her face was one Kate would never forget.

Sofia’s eyes looked like fire. The skin around them was red, they were blazing with tears, hatred and sadness. Sofia didn’t say anything more as they passed by.

Harry Ford pressed himself to the wall, and Kate nodded in greeting. He nodded

back, then looked at Kate’s client.

Alexandra shielded her eyes, as if her sister were an eclipse and the mere act of looking upon her would render Alexandra blind.

Neither sister spoke. Kate put her hand on Alexandra’s back, gently urging her to increase her pace. Kate felt a surge of tension – as if there was a toxic cloud emanating from that doorway.

They passed without incident, rounded the corner and made their way to the exit.

Bloch held open the door for them and then led the way to Alexandra’s Land Rover, parked in the lot. Fumbling in her purse, Alexandra dropped the keys.

Kate picked them up, opened the car and got Alexandra into the driver’s seat.

With the door still open, Kate waited while Alexandra cried.

‘I don’t know how I’m going to get through this,’ said Alexandra.

‘We’ll be right by your side, every step of the way. You’re stronger than you know,’ said Kate.

Alexandra let out a peal of nervous laughter, said, ‘I’m a mess. I can’t sit in the same room as Sofia – knowing what she did. I just can’t.’

‘You can. And you will,’ said Bloch.

No one spoke for a time. Alexandra nodded, blew her nose on a napkin and thanked Bloch and Kate. Kate said she would email the videos from the crime scene inspections later – see if Alexandra could spot anything useful. Kate closed the car door and watched Alexandra drive away.

‘Dreyer wanted to see how she would react, to the knife and the presence of her sister. Smart,’ said Bloch.

‘He’s not sure which one killed Frank Avellino. He’s gauging them. I get the impression he’s deliberately messing with their heads. He wants the sisters to tear each other apart, so he can mop up the blood and convict both of them. Let’s hope Sofia’s polygraph is a lot worse than Alexandra’s,’ said Kate.