Page 5 of What Have You Done?

‘Investigation?’ comes a voice from the back of the room.

Principal Kelly seems at a loss for words, and Shepherd steps forward. ‘There’s no easy way to say this,’ he says, gravely surveying the students in the room. ‘Diana was murdered. We’re going to need your help.’

Edward Farrell arrives at the Fairhill Police Station at the same time as his wife – his truck follows her car in. They each left work to be here for their son, Cameron. It’s a terrible thing – his girlfriend has been murdered. It’s hard to take in. Such a lovely girl. Their son will need all their support through this.

In the parking lot, Edward hugs his wife, Shelby, tightly. She’s been crying. She has a tissue clutched in her hand and her mascara is running. Her blonde hair is in disarray.

‘I can’t believe it,’ she says to him, finally pulling back from his embrace, her face a mask of shock.

‘I can’t either,’ he says.

‘And Cameron – how will he cope with this?’ she asks in distress.

‘I don’t know.’

Finally, they brace themselves and turn toward the steps of the small police station. Their son is in there. He needs them.

Inside the redbrick building they are quickly escorted to an interview room, where their son is hunched in a chair. At the sight of him, Edward’s heart almost breaks.

Cameron jumps up when he sees them, falls into his mother’s arms, and sobs. Edward swallows, watching them. It takes effort not to break down himself, but he wants to be strong for his son. He knows Cameron was serious about Diana. First love. What a way for it to end.

The door opens behind them, and two people appear, distracting Edward from the sight of his son and wife. A tall, well-built man enters – he looks to be in his mid forties, and is dressed in a smart suit and a white shirt open at the neck, and no tie. His brown hair is short and starting to go grey. He’s clean-shaven. He carries himself with quiet authority.

‘I’m Detective Stone, from Major Crimes, Vermont State Police, and this is Detective Godfrey,’ he says, introducing another detective, a woman. She’s petite, with dark hair cut short, in a navy trouser suit. ‘I’m so sorry for your loss,’ Detective Stone says to the three of them. He seems sincere, respectful. ‘Please, have a seat.’

They all sit down. ‘We’d like to talk to your son about Diana, see if he can help us find out who did this,’ Stone explains. ‘But as he’s a minor, we need to have a parent present. You can both stay.’

Edward nods. ‘Okay.’ He glances at his wife.

Stone turns to Cameron. ‘This is purely voluntary, son. You don’t have to answer our questions, but it might be helpful to us. And the sooner we talk, the better.’

Edward watches Cameron nod. His athletic, good-looking son is unusually pale, his face tear-streaked, but he is calm enough now, after his crying jag. He seems relieved that his parents have come.

‘My officers said you saw Diana last night. Can we go over that again?’

Cameron glances briefly at his mother and says, ‘Okay.’ He begins. ‘I drove over to her place around ten o’clock. I often go see her around then. Her mom leaves for work just before ten. She works as a nurse on the night shift at the hospital in Windsor.’

‘What car did you drive?’

Edward notices that Cameron looks startled at this. Edward is a little taken aback as well. What the hell difference does it make what car he drove?

Cameron says, ‘My dad’s pickup. He always lets me use it if he doesn’t need it, and he was already home for the night.’ Edward nods in agreement. ‘So I went over to her place and picked her up and we went for a drive.’

‘Why did you go for a drive?’ Stone asks casually.

Edward sees his son flush crimson, and he knows.

‘Sometimes we go for a drive, and park somewhere …’ He leaves that hanging, as if he doesn’t want to spell it out.

‘I see. Did you have sex with her last night?’ Stone asks. He adds, ‘I’m sorry, I have to ask.’

Cameron studiously avoids looking at his parents, looks down at the table instead. ‘Yes.’

‘Okay. Did you use a condom?’

‘Yes.’

‘If you don’t mind my asking, why didn’t you stay in the house?’ Stone asks.

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