Page 242 of Murder in the Family

MAURA HOWARD

But you’re letting everyone believe that – the police, the lawyer—

AMELIE HOWARD

Like, duh? Of course I am. It’s what they all want to hear – they’re practically gagging for it—

MAURA HOWARD

But if Luke wasn’t abusing you then why? Why did you – you know—

AMELIE HOWARD

Bludgeon him to death? Beat his face till his brain exploded?

MAURA HOWARD

Shit, Am – really?

AMELIE HOWARD

Oh come on – you know as well as I do I had nothing to do with it—

MAURA HOWARD

I don’t know that – I don’t know that at all—

AMELIE HOWARD

You’re shitting me, right?

MAURA HOWARD

Of course I’m not – all these years – I thought – I thought I was protecting you.

AMELIE HOWARD

(barely audible now)

You thought you were protecting me?

MAURA HOWARD

(whispering, almost hissing)

What the fuck else did you think I was doing? I saw you – the blood in the sink, that thing with the washing machine. And then when I went out and found him I just – I just – assumed—

AMELIE HOWARD

Jesus, Maurie, why the hell didn’t you say something?

MAURA HOWARD

What the fuck was I supposed to say? When I told you Luke was dead you didn’t look surprised at all, and when I said we had to tell the police we’d been at the cinema all night you just bloody agreed. You didn’t even ask why.

Why the fuck would you do that if it wasn’t you?

AMELIE HOWARD

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