Page 32 of Glasshouses

“Okay, push your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Good.” I went through a routine used to stimulate the Vagus nerve, trying to keep her attention on me, while Lachy got started with the two cops who’d turned up.

Her hands looked steadier; her eyes less wild.

“One of the therapists in hospital used to do that with me.” Her words were slower, her movements less.

I nodded, curious. “I understand this is stressful. I would be stressed if that happened to me. Do you feel up to going inside?” I was aware that neighbours were twitching their curtains, but no one had come out to see what had happened.

She looked at her house, shoulders stiffening again. “Will you come in with me?”

“Of course.”

She let me lead the way, no speed to her step, as if she was a child who wasn’t entirely sure where they should be or if they wanted to be there.

A car pulled up outside as we got to the front door, Lily freezing as if she was expecting another brick to come in her direction.

“Who’s that?” She looked at me, too jumpy.

“Jenna Osei. She’s a crime scene technician.” I hadn’t expected Jenna; I’d figured she’d send one of her junior CSIs. “She’ll check the garden and behind it and see if she could work out where it was thrown from. The camera that covers the back of your house should’ve picked it up.”

“It’s not working.”

“How come?”

“I tried re angling it after your visit and I’ve done something to it. I’ve booked someone in to fit a proper system – could that be it? The owner of the firm knows if you haven’t got cameras and targets your house?” Her gestures became excitable again.

“We’ll look into it. I can still allocate you a FLO who can stay over. That might make you feel safer tonight, unless you want to stay somewhere else?”

“I don’t have anywhere else to stay. I don’t really have friends. I don’t like the idea of someone I don’t know staying in my house either.” She wrapped her arms around herself, something I’d noticed she did a lot. I really wanted a conversation with her therapist now.

Jenna got out of her car with her kit bag and came over to us. “Hi,” she acknowledged Lily. “DS McAllister. Am I okay to go through?”

“Sure. This is Lily Mayhew. The brick was thrown through the kitchen window. CCTV camera isn’t working, unfortunately.” We followed Jenna into the house and into the living room.

“Are we okay to look at your security cameras?” Jenna asked Lily. “We might be able to pick something up.”

Lily looked flummoxed, nodding rapidly. “That would be fine. Do you need me in the kitchen? I don’t think I want to go in there at the moment.”

“You wait here. I’ll take some photos and check for fingerprints outside. I shouldn’t be too long.” She disappeared, leaving the door open.

“Shall we both sit down?” I nodded to the chair Lily had taken the previous times.

She did, holding onto the arms, sinking into the cushions. “Do you think this is connected to what happened to Amanda?”

“I don’t know yet. Who would know that you’re Lily Goodhew? Because they’d have to know that for the two events to be connected.”

“Only my probation officer and people from Millbrook.” She mentioned the secure hospital she’d been in as an adult. “I have an appointment with the psychiatrist every three months and I’ve carried on seeing a psychotherapist, so they both know, but no one apart from that. I don’t want anyone to know what happened.”

“I understand. What time did you hear the brick come through?”

She looked at the clock on the sideboard. “About a quarter to six.” It was now twenty-five past.

“Where were you in the house?”

“Upstairs, in my bedroom. I’d just had a shower because I’d been gardening all day and was getting dressed. I’m meant to be meeting a gardening friend tonight to talk through a new project. I heard a smash and ran downstairs.” She looked at the door to the small hallway and then at the kitchen. “I need to message them and let them know I won’t be making it.”

“Where’s your phone? Message them now if you want.”

She reached around her as if she expected her phone to be next to her. “I called you and I think I put it down. It could be in the hall.”