Page 30 of No Safe Place
Cal had a flair for the dramatic. A knack for being impulsive in the midst of self-destruction. When they were younger, finding Callum contemplating an open bay window like it held the meaning of life would have left Lily feeling inspired, by his depth and capacity to feel. She had been slightly in awe of him once, of his ability to blow up his life and make it look like a lifestyle choice.
Now, it all left her slightly sad.
‘David phoned yesterday,’ he said. ‘They’re taking my disability living allowance away again.’
She didn’t say anything.
‘You knew?’ he asked, still looking dead ahead.
‘I spoke to him on Monday.’ Lily sighed. ‘We can appeal it. I’ve got all the paperwork. There’s that bloke at the helpline that we used last year.’
‘David will write me a statement, won’t he?’ Callum asked.
‘He’s already sent it over.’
Cal nodded. ‘They think I’m fit to go and look for work, apparently. Proper work, they mean.’
Lily reached across the gap between their chairs and took his hand. The skin of his palms was rough, and her hand felt tiny in his. The tips of her fingers barely reached his knuckles when they were palm to palm.
‘We’ll appeal it, Cal,’ she said again. ‘It’ll be fine.’
‘Lil?’ He squeezed her hand and then let it drop. ‘Shall we get really fucking drunk?’
Chapter 16
Wednesday | Evening
Field
Field pulled up at the Moores’ house a little after six, after a detour through a McDonald’s drive-thru for a large fries. She was running on fumes.
She’d phoned Simon Dawes on the way, but he was still at the hospital. Field wondered if he was avoiding her.
Penny answered the door, still looking dry-eyed and composed. Her hair was pulled back into a small ponytail, and she’d taken off her make-up. Her feet were bare, her toenails painted pink.
Field noted that she wore her watch on her right wrist.
‘I’m sorry to turn up again so soon,’ Field said. ‘I have a few more questions.’
Penny led Field through to the garden. She’d have preferred to have Ayres with her. It helped a family to bond to the FLO, when they were there throughout the process, and usuallyfamilies clung to their liaison for far longer than the officer was supposed to stay.
Field let out a soft “oh” at the patio doors. The walled garden was small but bursting with colour. Around the edge of the cobbled patio were raised beds, planted with poppies, wildflowers and luscious green shrubbery. Ivy and jasmine climbed the walls – the latter giving the garden its heavy perfume.
‘This was David’s pride and joy,’ Penny said, flatly.
Penny took a seat at the wrought-iron table in the centre of the garden. She was still wearing the same floaty summer dress, and it clashed with her shock.
Field took a seat opposite Penny, steeling herself for the questions she needed to ask. ‘Firstly. Are you sure there’s no one who can confirm you were home last night, Penny?’
Penny shook her head. She was spaced out, like she’d taken something. A beta blocker, or maybe diazepam. Field would ask Zara to have a discreet look in the bathroom cabinets next time she was at the house.
‘And are you sure you’re okay to be on your own? Simon Dawes said he could come and stay with you.’
Penny reached out and pulled a dead flowerhead from its stem, with her left hand.
‘Well, it would be good, if he could come over,’ Field said, keen to press the idea. Penny’s ambivalence was hard to read. ‘Now – I know this is the last thing you want to talk about, but I’d like to ask you about your relationship with David. When did you separate?’
Penny’s voice was flat. ‘Six months ago. He stayed in the spare room for a few weeks, before he found his flat and left.’
