Page 147 of The Guilty Girl

‘Where were you the night Jake took your car to go to the McAllister party?’

‘Okay, you got me. I wasn’t at work. I was with someone. Met him two months ago and kept the relationship secret. I didn’t want to upset my children.’ Liz’s face was streaked with tears. ‘Now it looks like I might be about to lose them one after the other. This is what I get for moving on too soon after their daddy died. I was lonely. I needed a shoulder to cry on. And he isn’t even here now. I should have spent my time with Jake and Shaz and maybe they’d still be okay. I’m being punished for my selfishness.’

‘No you’re not, Liz. You’re entitled to live your own life. Don’t feel guilty. I promise Sharon will be fine.’

The swing doors opened and a woman dressed in blue scrubs approached.

‘Mrs Flood?’

Liz put down her cup and stood quickly. ‘That’s me.’

‘I’m Dr Rasheed. I was assisting on your daughter’s operation. Can I have a word in private?’

‘Please just tell me she’s okay.’

The doctor pulled down her face mask and Lottie saw that the sadness in her eyes went all the way to her mouth. God, no, she prayed.

‘Sit down for a minute, Mrs Flood,’ Dr Rasheed said.

‘It’s Liz.’ She sat, her frame rigid on the chair.

‘Will I leave?’ Lottie asked.

Liz shook her head, put out her hand. Lottie held it. ‘Please stay.’

Dr Rasheed sat on the chair on the other side of Liz. ‘The operation was very complex. Your daughter had suffered internal injuries. She lost a lot of blood …’

Lottie closed her eyes. She knew what was coming next and she pitied the young doctor having to deliver the bad news. Her heart broke into a million pieces for Liz.

‘Is she in recovery?’ Liz asked. ‘Can I see her?’

‘I’m so very sorry. There’s no easy way to say this … Your little girl died a few minutes ago on the operating table. She went into cardiac arrest. We were unable to revive her. I really am very sorry.’

Liz’s hand tightened on Lottie’s.

Stealing a glance at the bereft woman, Lottie saw tears rolling slowly down her face, one after the other, like a death march.

The doctor continued. ‘Once we complete the required protocol, you can see your daughter’s body.’ She stood, pressed Liz’s shoulder and disappeared back through the double doors.

‘What’s happening?’ Liz cried. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘Is there someone I can call to come and be with you?’ Lottie asked.

‘I have no one. No one in the world.’

‘What about your friend? Can I call him for you?’

‘Don’t. No. If I hadn’t been with him, my children might still be alive. You can go now. I want to be alone. Please. Just leave me alone.’

Lottie didn’t want to abandon the distressed woman, but now she had another murder to investigate. She stood and looked around, distracted. What was she to do?

‘Just go,’ Liz cried. ‘And don’t ever make promises you can’t keep.’

69

The garage across the road from the hospital had a forecourt sign advertising coffee. In a daze, Lottie crossed the road to the shop. Once she found the coffee machine, she poured the black liquid into a disposable cup. Her hands shook terribly and she couldn’t fix the plastic lid on properly.

The assistant looked bored as he lifted the cup and wiped the counter with a cloth. ‘Wrong-size lid. Large lid for a large coffee.’

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