Page 230 of Murder in the Family

ALAN CANNING

What about Amelie? She was younger – more easily manipulated. Was she the one he targeted? Wasthatwhy you both hated him so much?

MAURA HOWARD

(acidly)

Look, we just didn’t like him, OK? End of. Noteverythingis sodding child abuse, you know. Not that you’d know it from all the TV crime shit.

ALAN CANNING

What did you wear to the cinema?

MAURA HOWARD

(slightly struggling to keep up with all his changes of direction)

The same as at the party – jeans, a T-shirt, trainers—

ALAN CANNING

And a jacket, surely? I mean, it was cold, it’d rained earlier in the day and was forecast to do so again—

MAURA HOWARD

Right, sorry, I had that hoodie thing Mum got me as well.

ALAN CANNING

Just that? I can’t see that being much use in a downpour.

MAURA HOWARD

(smiling despite herself)

Yeah, that’s exactly what Mum said. But I didn’t have a coat I liked. Just my school thing which I wouldn’t have been seendeadin on a Friday night.

ALAN CANNING

And that hoodie was the same one the police collected later that night? Along with the rest of your clothes?

MAURA HOWARD

Right.

ALAN CANNING

All of which tested negative for blood.

MAURA HOWARD

(frowning again)

Yeah, so? Why wouldn’t they?

ALAN CANNING

You found the body – it wouldn’t be so very odd for there to be at leastsomeblood on you. Especially the hoodie.

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