Page 73 of The Rising Tide

‘You’re speaking to Beth McKaylin?’ she blurts, grimacing when she sees his expression. ‘Sorry. I realize you probably can’t talk about that. She was part of the crew that found theLazy Susan. I guess it makes sense that you’d interview her.’

He watches her a while before answering. ‘How’re you holding up, Lucy?’

‘A police officer came to the bar. Family liaison. Saidthere was no way Billie or Fin could have survived. But that’s … It’s not true.’

‘I just got off the phone with Sergeant Arnold. I’m very sorry if she upset you. I realize it’s an impossible situation. But I’m glad you’re here. I was just about to call. I need to speak to you about Daniel.’

‘I need to speak toyouabout Daniel. I just came from the hospital. He’s not there. Have you …’ She can’t get her words, nor her breath. ‘Is he here? If he is, I need to see him.’

‘I’m afraid that’s not possible, Lucy. Not right now, because—’

‘So heishere?’

‘Yes, but—’

‘Please,’ she says. ‘Pleasejust listen to me. Everyone lets me speak, but no one actually listens. I need answers, from Daniel. He’s my husband, they’re our children. All this is … It’s going round and round and I can’t make any sense of it. What’s he told you? What’s he saying?’

Lucy pauses, scrutinizes what she just said. Her emotions are so out of control that she’s speaking without engaging her brain. Right now, that’s not just dangerous. It’s lethal.

Abraham Rose leans forward, elbows resting on his knees. ‘Lucy,’ he says. His voice has changed; more solemn than it was. ‘We interviewed Daniel under caution earlier this morning. It’s very hard to tell you this, and it’s going to be very hard for you to understand, but I’m afraid that during that interview Daniel confessed to the murders of Billie and Fin.’

She blinks. His words reverberate around her skull for a long time before they settle. Even then she has to replaythem, try to extract some kind of meaning. Finally, she shakes her head. ‘No, that’s not right. It can’t be.’

People reap what they sow.

Hand pressed to her side, she climbs to her feet. There’s no room to pace about. She turns one way, then another. ‘That’s … It doesn’t make any sense. Look, let me speak to him. Let me—’

‘As I told you, we can’t allow you to see him at this time. Following a meeting with the CPS, Daniel was charged with two counts of murder. There’ll be a press conference in an hour, at which it’ll be announced.’

Lucy’s left leg gives out. She sinks to one knee. Abraham Rose reaches for her, but she waves him away.

‘If you’d like,’ he says, ‘I can get Jesse to drive you home.’

Sergeant Jesse Arnold is the last person she wants to see. Lucy shakes her head, knocks loose that nest of wasps. She grabs on to the chair, tries to stand. ‘He wouldn’t haveconfessed.’

‘Lucy—’

‘He wouldn’t have confessed because they’re not dead. They’re alive, both of them. I’mtellingyou.’ She feels a spike of pain from her ribs. Thinks, for a moment, that she might be sick. ‘What happens now?’

‘Now that he’s been charged, he’ll be remanded in custody here until his court hearing – likely first thing Monday. After that he’ll be taken to whichever prison has space. Exeter, probably, although Dartmoor’s possible. There’s a slim chance he’ll be sent somewhere further away.

‘Lucy, if you don’t want Jesse Arnold, how about I find another officer to take you home? If you want a familiar face, I’d be happy to—’

‘WhencanI see him?’

Abraham presses his palms together. ‘That depends on the prison. It’ll take a day or so for him to pop up on their system. Even then, Daniel will have to put you on his visitor list. If he does that – and it’s entirely his choice – you’ll be able to book a visit. Usually twenty-four to forty-eight hours in advance. Do youwantto see him?’

‘He’s my husband. Of course I do.’

People reap what they sow.

She can’t talk to the police. And she knows that Daniel won’t. Which means, until they let her see him, she’s Billie and Fin’s only hope.

2

An hour later, she’s back at home. Except Wild Ridge isn’t a home right now. It’s a museum. Walking through it, she feels like one of the artefacts. Everywhere she looks, she finds evidence of a family now lost.

In the living room, she finds Fin’s Spider-Man slippers discarded among the houseplants. A cardigan of Billie’s hangs over a chair.

---