Page 36 of Guilty Mothers

‘Reason?’

‘Unusual behaviour following arrest.’

‘For?’

‘Murder.’

‘Thanks for your patience, Inspector. Wait there and I’ll have someone escort you to her room.’

‘No, bring her out. We’ll sit at that table over there,’ she said, pointing beyond the second set of doors.

‘No problem,’ he said, buzzing the door open.

The nurse spoke to another member of staff and then approached them. ‘She’ll be with you soon.’

‘How’s she been?’ Kim asked.

‘Hasn’t left her room. Hasn’t spoken. Hasn’t eaten or even drunk a glass of water.’

‘Okay, thanks,’ she said, taking a seat.

‘Why out here?’ Bryant asked, sitting beside her.

‘Her world is alien right now. Her only safe space is that room down there, and we’re not going to take it away from her.’

‘Got it,’ he said.

‘You know what else you’ve got? Or will have once you’ve fetched them from that vending machine over there?’

‘What?’ he asked, following her gaze.

‘Three bottles of water.’

‘You don’t drink bottled?—’

‘Just get ’em,’ she said as Katie appeared from the corridor.

She was pleased to see that more suitable clothing had been found for her, even if the jeans were a bit big and the cardigan sleeves too short. It was neither a ballgown nor a boiler suit, so she finally looked the age she was.

As the nurse guided Katie to the remaining chair, Kim caught her eye. ‘Any meds?’

‘Light sedative last night.’

Kim thanked her as Bryant returned to the table with three bottles of water.

‘How are you feeling?’ Kim asked.

Katie said nothing and stared at her fingertips.

Still the silent treatment, which was confusing. She could understand it when Katie thought she might say something to incriminate herself, but now Kim knew that she hadn’t murdered her mother, and Katie had known that all along.

‘Why didn’t you just tell us that you didn’t kill your mother?’

Katie’s head shot up. Kim was stunned by the confusion on her face. What the hell was going on?

‘I didn’t kill her?’ Katie asked disbelievingly.

‘Do you remember killing her?’