Page 144 of Don't Believe A Word

CRISTY: ‘Please ask him if he was with Sadie at the villa earlier.’

DAVID: ‘Will do.’

As the call ended Cristy and Connor stared at one another, processing all that had been said, all it could mean, all that might or might not have happened earlier that evening. For the moment it was difficult to get their heads around anything, although a standout for Cristy was the fact that Mia had thrown herself to the very same sort of end that had been inflicted on Janina, and she could see from his expression that Connor had very probably zeroed in on that too.

*

It was late on Saturday afternoon before the events of Thursday evening began to come clear. By then Cristy and Connor had shared all relevant material with the Guernsey police and had also spoken to Gabe and Lukas. Both men were clearly badly shaken up, they could see that on the video link as well as hear it in their voices.

LUKAS: ‘No, I didn’t go down there with Sasha. I wanted to, so did Gabe … We just weren’t sure how stable the woman was, or why she was so insistent that Sasha should go alone. I had a bad feeling about it from the moment she left our hotel to drive back there. We all did. I only wish we’dignored her instructions and gone with her anyway. Or at least followed.’

CRISTY: ‘How long was she there before you heard what had happened? Actually,howdid you hear?’

LUKAS: ‘Sasha rang me … She was so distraught I could hardly make out what she was saying … Obviously we jumped in the car and went straight there. Jasper let us in the gates. She’d called him too, so he came to the villa with us, but none of us knew until we got inside what had actually happened.’

CRISTY: ‘And what had happened?’

LUKAS: ‘We found Sadie curled up in a ball on the floor of Lottie’s study. She pointed at the open doors and kept saying, “I tried to stop her, I tried to stop her.” I went to look, but it was too dark to see anything. Jasper got straight on the phone to the police, while Gabe and I did our best to comfort Sasha. She could hardly catch her breath she was so upset. She told us she hadn’t realized what was happening until it was too late. She asked us to stay with her until the police arrived, so of course we did. Evie drove over as well, as frantic as we were. By the time the police came … They must have already called out the lifeboat and helicopters because we could hear them, the noise, blinding lights on the water … We were asked to wait in another room while Sadie talked them through what had happened. They wouldn’t even let Gabe be with her. It was very hard for her, but I think they treated her well.’

CRISTY: ‘Where is she now?’

LUKAS: ‘At the lodge with Jasper. Obviously we’ve cancelled our flights to Florida. We’ll be here for as long as she needs us.’

CRISTY: ‘Do you think there’s any chance she’ll speak to us?’

LUKAS: ‘Yes, yes. She’s told us everything she told the police, and she says she wants to share it with you when she’s ready. I’m not sure when that will be. She’s been a little calmer since the body was recovered this morning, but I’m sure you understand this is still a very difficult time for her. So much to process … The trauma of it all. How could her aunt have done such a terrible thing to her? Thank God we’re all here.’

After the call was over Cristy and Connor, at the office now, continued to record, while Jacks and Clove joined in the discussion of what they’d just heard, and how their initial thoughts were playing out.

CRISTY: ‘The first question I’m asking myself is, did Mia get Sadie down there with the sole purpose of making her witness her suicide?’

CONNOR: ‘It’s the kind of mad and cruel thing she’d do.’

CLOVE: ‘Do we know if Mia contacted Sadie by text, or did she call her? I’m bringing it up because a text will show whether or not Mia asked her to go down there, whereas a call won’t.’

CRISTY: ‘Are you thinking Sadie might have gone, uninvited?’

CLOVE: ‘I’m just saying, it’ll look a lot better for her if there is a text asking her to go there.’

CONNOR: ‘Unless it’s found that Mia died before she went off the balcony, I can’t see how they’ll be able to pin anything on Sadie, if anyone’s actually thinking that way.’

JACKS: ‘Do you believe that neither Lukas nor Gabe were at the villa with her when it happened?’

CRISTY: ‘I did, but now you’re asking … The police will no doubt establish how their movements corresponded with Sadie’s, presuming their phones were on.’

CONNOR: ‘Hey guys, do any of us actually believe that Sadie would have pushed her over?’

JACKS: ‘Yes, but no. I mean, what would be in it for her? Why create all this fuss and put herself in danger of going to prison when a whole new life is just starting to open up for her?’

CRISTY: ‘It doesn’t make sense for her to do that, but it’s true, her being there alone with her aunt before it happened, especially with everything that’s come to light lately … But no one knows about the most incriminating parts of the journals so why would they suspect her of anything?’

CONNOR: ‘Actually, the police do know. Remember, Sadie tipped them off herself about what could be coming down the line.’

JACKS: ‘If she’d taken someone to the villa with her, like Lukas or Gabe, she’d have an alibi of sorts … Actually, it’s unlikely they’d be considered reliable witnesses when their revenge motive is, arguably, as strong as Sadie’s.’

CRISTY: ‘And I don’t think any of us believe that Sadie did want revenge. She just wanted her aunt straightened out – as if that were ever possible – so she could move on with her life.’

CONNOR: ‘I’m not arguing with that, but I think from hereon, we’re going to have to record two ways – one taking the view that Sadie was the victim of her aunt’s madness and guilt, i.e. suicide. The other asking, did she punish Mia for what was done to her mother? OK, I get we’re not really believing in that, but the police are almost definitely going to open an investigation, and I’m sure once they delve into the detail the similarity of the two deaths – Janina and Mia – won’t pass them by.’

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