Page 142 of The Jealous Girl

‘That’s the assumption.’

‘But she was thrown off the ridge?’

‘It seems likely that something startled Atlas. His reactive state and the more difficult terrain may have made it harder for Charlotte to regain control, resulting in her being thrown and falling onto the rocks below.’

I winced at the thought of falling that distance. Of those being her final moments.

‘A different location, exposed terrain, a reactive horse… It could all be a series of unfortunate circumstances.’

Could.

The way DC Goodday stressed the word made the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

‘But,’ I said slowly, ‘you don’t think it was?’

DC Goodday pulled a sealed plastic bag from a folder in front of him and slid it across the table towards me. ‘This was found in Charlotte’s pocket.’

I leaned forward, staring at writing on the slip of paper inside.

I have information you want.

Ballard Down.

2pm.

Ride Atlas.

‘Who was she meeting?’ I asked, my gaze lifting to DC Goodday’s face.

He didn’t answer.

‘Why were you following her, Kirsty?’ DC Portman asked.

My gaze shifted to her as I shook my head.

How could she know that?

DC Goodday pulled a photograph from the folder. ‘This was taken from a speed camera on Monday morning,’ he said, sliding it in front of me.

I stared at the woman in the photograph. A short bob. Full fringe. Oversized sunglasses.

Bile rose in my throat.

It was me.

‘We’ve identified the vehicle as a hire car rented in your name,’ he continued. ‘We also have a statement from David Harcourt, that you admitted to following Charlotte.’

My palms felt hot and sweaty and I wiped them against my black skirt.

‘Denise Blackwater has also stated that Charlotte told her you had been stalking both her and Ryan.’ He glanced at his notes. ‘We have CCTV from the Purbeck Sports Centre car park to support that.’

I couldn’t breathe.

They were twisting everything. Using it all against me.

‘It’s not yet clear how Charlotte came into possession of the note instructing her to ride Atlas to Ballard Down,’ DC Goodday said. ‘But you had opportunity to pass it to her during your altercation on Wednesday morning.’

‘You had knowledge of the supplements being used to treat Atlas,’ DC Portman added. ‘And you’ve demonstrated a familiarity with the horse. One that contradicts previous statements of your fear of horses.’