Page 30 of Dying Truth
Kim sat back in her chair. ‘I’m starting to get a picture here of a young teenage girl largely ignored by everyone to the point of invisibility.’
Kim thought about the pile of ironing in her spare room at home. She had ignored it for so long she didn’t even see it any more.
‘If that’s how it was then that’s exactly how she wanted it,’ Saffie answered, glancing at her watch.
Kim really had little else to ask her at this point.
‘Okay, Saffie, thank you for your time, and if we need anything further we’ll come and find you.’
‘I’ll be here,’ she answered.
Kim tipped her head. ‘You don’t plan on going home to spend time with your parents?’
‘No, Inspector. They’ll be fine. They have each other.’
Again, there was no emotion. Just statement of fact.
Saffie nodded at them both and then left the room.
Kim heard voices on the other side of the door before Principal Thorpe’s head appeared. He dangled his set of keys.
‘Are you finished for the evening, only we lock this room…’
‘Of course,’ Kim said, standing. It was almost six.
‘Strange, don’t you think, that she hasn’t chosen to go home at a time like this, Principal Thorpe?’
He smiled with sadness and a hint of pride.
‘We tried to insist but she wouldn’t hear of it. She didn’t want to let us down.’
Kim was confused. ‘How would going home and grieving for her sister in any way be letting you or the school down?’
‘Saturday night, Inspector, is our annual gala night, and Saffron Winters is the star of the show.’
Twenty
Despite having little to report Kim found herself knocking on Woody’s door at ten minutes to seven, as instructed.
The day had been frustrating and had not proven as fruitful as she’d hoped. And now she had to admit that she’d been wrong to ask for the murder announcement to be delayed. It had earned her nothing.
‘Sir, I don’t have a great deal to tell you,’ she said, taking the seat he pointed to.
He nodded for her to continue.
‘We’ve spoken to Sadie’s friends, teachers, her sister and the picture that’s emerging is of a lonely, emotional young girl who appeared to have retreated from everyone around her. She was not a mean kid and had no issues with anyone.’
‘Well, clearly she did judging by those injuries,’ he said, nodding towards his computer screen. Obviously he had studied the post-mortem report.
‘Nothing that stands out,’ she clarified.
‘No suspects at all?’ he asked, frowning.
A picture of Saffie floated into her head but she shook it away. ‘No, sir.’
‘You hesitated,’ he said, narrowing his gaze.
‘Her sister is a bit strange is all. They didn’t get on, which is nothing unusual. I’d be stretching to call her a person of interest.’
