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‘It’s Georgia, isn’t it?’ I whisper.
I feel the twins’ eyes on me. They’re sitting on dining chairs, swivelled away from the table to face the fire. Mother is behind them, the other side of the table, and behind her Father sits in the bay window.
‘You think Miss Smith has, like, kidnapped her?’ asks Ava.
I open my mouth but Father raises his palm and Ash pushes his sister’s leg.
‘I don’t know,’ says Mina.
‘Ladies,’ says my father in a warning tone.
‘What did Miss Smith do?’ Ava asks. ‘Why are you all so freaked out about her?’
My father stares at the ceiling. Is he more bothered by Ava pressing for the truth or her colloquial language?
Tristan looks pale. ‘I hope to never have to tell you,’ he says.
I squeeze his arm.
‘But you do have to,’ says Ava.
‘It’s ancient history, dear girl,’ says Father.
My mother bobs her head. ‘Sometimes it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.’ Which earns her a pat from Father.
Ava’s pretty face fixes in annoyance.
‘While we wait for this lawyer,’ says Bevan, coming back in, ‘Frances, you can show us around. The rest of you, stay here.’
‘All of us?’ asks Ash, stretching.
‘No one has to stay,’ says my father.
‘I’d prefer it if you all stayed,’ says Bevan.
I realise she doesn’t want those waiting for the lawyer to be alone before interviewing them. Because it seems suspicious, doesn’t it? She’s probably never met a family like mine.
Theo smiles at me apologetically. He’s only waiting for the lawyer because that’s basically his job, or religion. If he had something important to tell the police, he’d break his own rules and tell them.
‘We’re not going anywhere,’ says Tristan. ‘If Detective Bevan says stay, we’ll stay.’
I smile a thank you.
Father raises his eyebrows. Why is he being so difficult? Because he thinks Jenna is making a scene?
Because one doesn’t allow oneself to be interviewed without legal representation?
Because it’s his nature?
Or because he’s hiding something?
39
NOW
Bevan stands in Jenna’s bathroom, looking at the hair on the floor, the velvet spider, and I know what she’s thinking.
It looks odd, doesn’t it? She thinks Jenna is odd.
