Page 43 of The Vow
PC Page shrugs. ‘It can be unconscious. A defence strategy, to prevent emotional intimacy. But given what we know about Matt, I’d say he was up to something.’
‘I think it was deliberate. There’s more you may not know,’ I tell her quickly. ‘I’ve been looking at his Facebook profile. To start with, I thought he was targeting women who had money. I’ve been reading about men who do that kind of thing. Anyway, right from the start, he’s tried to persuade my mother to sell her house and she really doesn’t want to. It’s caused so many rows between them. Sometimes, he wouldn’t speak to her for days. But he never gave up.’
PC Page looks confused. ‘Do you know why she was so determined to hang on to it?’
‘It was her home.’ I shrug. ‘It’s taken years to get the garden the way she needs it – for work. I think Matt wanted to get his hands on her money. I’ve been studying his Facebook friends and the way they’re connected. I’m fairly sure that for some time before they were together, he was building a network, making it easy for them to meet.’
PC Page frowns again. ‘That sounds incredibly contrived. Can you prove anything?’
It does sound unlikely, unless you’ve seen what I’ve seen. ‘I can show you what I’ve found, but that’s the trouble.’ I fold my arms. ‘I’m still looking, but so far, other than money, I can’t find any other reason.’
PC Page looks thoughtful. ‘Where are you going when you leave here?’
‘Home. Cath said she’d stay tonight.’
PC Page shakes her head. ‘I’m afraid you won’t be able to go back to the house. It’s been taped off. Sorry, Jess, but it’s a potential crime scene.’
It’s a blow I hadn’t been expecting. ‘Where do I go?’ I look at her helplessly. It was the thought of home that kept me going as we were driving here. I don’t have anywhere else.
‘Maybe Cath will know somewhere you can stay. I’ll come with you and explain to her.’ She pauses. ‘Jess, can we talk again tomorrow? I’d be interested to see what it is you’ve found on Facebook.’
‘OK.’ I hesitate, then blurt it out, the only question that really matters. ‘When are you letting her go? My mother? She hasn’t done anything.’
‘I’m sorry, but right now, I don’t have the answer to that. It depends on all kinds of things.’
But I need to know how they can go on holding her. ‘You must think you have evidence. You need to tell me what it is.’
‘I’m afraid I can’t discuss any more with you.’ She sounds brusque suddenly. ‘We’ll talk tomorrow. Come on. I’ll walk with you back to Cath, then we’ll find someone to take you to see your mother.’
*
After finding out about the house being taped off, Cath doesn’t seem surprised. ‘I had wondered. Don’t worry. I’ve a friend wecan stay with, Jess. I’ll call her while you’re talking to your mum.’
‘OK, Jess?’ PC Page looks at me. When I nod, she adds, ‘I’ll find someone to take you to see her.’
A few minutes later, we’re approached by a uniformed officer who doesn’t look much older than I am. Then at last I get to talk to my mother. After following him through double doors, he leads me along a different corridor into another small room, where I wait a couple of minutes, until my mother comes in.
She looks grey, defeated, her eyes anxious. As I hug her, tears fill my eyes, a new determination gripping me to do whatever it takes to prove her innocence. ‘Mum … it will be OK. I know you haven’t done anything. We’ll get you out of here.’ As we sit at the small table, seeing her eyes fill with tears, I lean forward, lowering my voice. ‘Matt was after something. I thought it was your house, so that he could sell it, but I’m not sure now. But I’ve told the police.’
As I mention the police, her expression changes to one of alarm. ‘No,’ she whispers. ‘I don’t want them to start digging around.’
‘It will be OK.’ I try to reassure her, wondering why she’s so agitated. ‘Try not to worry.’
Clearly upset, she bites her lip. ‘Is Cath with you?’
I nod. ‘She’s waiting outside. Mum, I’m just trying to think why anyone would want to hurt you – or Matt. Is there anything you can think of that’s happened? Anything at all?’ I pause. ‘There has to be someone from his past – or maybe this other woman? It could be, couldn’t it? If she was jealous enough?’
For a moment I think she’s going to say something, but then what little colour her face has drains away, leaving her swamped with an air of hopelessness. Resting her hand on my arm, sheshakes her head. ‘You shouldn’t have come here, Jess. I can’t bear you seeing me like this. You should go and find Cath.’
As she speaks, instinct tells me she’s hiding something. Then a terrifying thought occurs to me, that maybe she knows what happened to Matt. But before I can protest, she gets up and walks over to the officer at the back of the room, waiting for him to open the door and close it behind her, leaving me alone.
Amy
Chapter Twenty-Five
Seeing Jess leaves me stricken with pain and heartache, hating that she’s been dragged into a place where common criminals are held. She should be carefree, living her own life at uni, studying the subject she’s passionate about, being with her friends. She belongs outside, by the sea, the wind in her hair, her lungs filled with salty air.
My heart bursts to see her, the same heart that breaks when she goes. It’s me who asks to go back to my cell, imagining Jess leaving with Cath. Grateful that she has someone supportive rather than her father, who wouldn’t be able to give her what she needs.
