Page 181 of One in Three

What for?

POLICE

Well, that’s what we’re trying to find out. [Pause.] The thing is, Mr Roberts. Less than forty-eight hours after that rather surprising phone call to your wife, Andrew Page was dead.

Chapter 38

Caz

If you didn’t know her, you might think my mother deserves a little joy, stuck all day in that wheelchair and parked in a miserable beige prison smelling of damp biscuits and disappointment. No friends or family to visit, except me, and we both know I don’t come to brighten her day. I don’t blame her for taking her pleasure where she can find it, spilling her guts to my worst enemy out of sheer malice and boredom. But that’s not going to stop me bursting her little revenge fantasy bubble.

‘No one’s going to believe it,’ I say, almost fondly. ‘You can tell them whatever you want. The more terrible it is, the crazier you’ll seem.’

Her black eyes are sharp as knives. ‘That so? Why d’you come rushing over here, then?’

‘I find you amusing. Tell me,’ I add conversationally, ‘how did it go with Louise?’

‘Now we get to it,’ she says, with relish.

‘She must be pretty desperate, coming to you.’

‘Youmust be pretty desperate, coming to me.’

I take a seat opposite her wheelchair as we both regroup, sizing each other up. I don’t fool myself my mother loves me; although perhaps, in her wizened walnut of a heart, something flickers. But I amknown, and I’m constantly surprised by how much that matters. There is no pretence between us, no shame. She has seen my worst and I have seen hers.

‘Come on,’ I say after a moment. ‘Tell me about it. You know you want to. What did you think of her?’

‘Not as pretty as you, of course. Not as smart.’ She pauses, reconsidering. ‘No. She’s smart. Smarter than you. But not as cunning.’

‘Thank you.’

‘It wasn’t a compliment.’

‘Yes, it was.’

‘I can see why she’s a good journalist. She makes you want to talk to her. I liked her.’

I smile coldly. ‘You don’t like anyone.’

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