Page 28 of High Season
She opened her eyes, the water white around her, stirred by the impact. She held her breath as it cleared, and there he was. Blake, illuminated by the pool lights, reaching his hands out toward her. It reminded her of last year, when she saw him beneath the ocean after they jumped from the cliffs. That fragile moment when it felt like they were the only people in the world.
This time, with the surface of the water too broken for anyone to see, he took her hand. Their lips met, as if they were exchanging oxygen.
As if he was breathing life into her lungs.
22 August 2004, 13:21
Interview subject: Nina Drayton
Interview type: First interview
Present is the interview subject’s mother,Evelyn Drayton, child support workerDelphine Simon,legal representative for the Drayton family,Florent Portier, and translatorFelicity Carmichael.
Leading the interview is lead investigatorMartine Allard.
We have confirmed that the interviewing officers have the appropriate level of training to conduct an interview with a minor, and will conduct the interview in English, where possible. For the purposes of this transcription, any translations have been omitted. For a full version in the original languages, please contact the appropriate records office.
M Allard:Can you tell me how old you are, Nina?
E Drayton:It’s OK, Nina, you can tell the lady.
Nina:I’m five.
M Allard:Five! Goodness. So grown up. And when will you be six?
Nina:September.
M Allard:That’s so soon. What are you going to get for your birthday?
Nina:New doll.
M Allard:A new doll. That’s what my little girl got for her birthday, too. She’s four.
That’s a nice doll that you have there with you. Did Mummy get that for you?
Nina:Mmmhmm.
M Allard:Does she have a name?
Nina:Tamara.
M Allard:Tamara. That’s your sister’s name, too, isn’t it? Do you know that we’re here to talk about Tamara today, Nina? About your sister, Tamara?
Can you say it out loud, Nina? You’re nodding your head now, and that means…
Nina:Yes.
M Allard:So you know we’re here to talk about your sister, Tamara, today?
Nina:Yes.
M Allard:Do you know what happened to Tamara, Nina?
Nina:She went in the pool.
M Allard:Yes. She did go in the pool, didn’t she? And your mummy’s told us that you saw what happened to Tamara in the pool. Do you remember telling your mummy that?
Out loud again, please, Nina.
