Page 40 of Guilty Mothers

She stood inside, not knowing where the kitchen was.

‘Sorry, follow me,’ he said.

The smell of bacon and scrambled eggs hung in the air, but the three plates on the table looked barely touched.

‘Sorry to intrude,’ Kim said, looking from one family member to the other.

‘No, please, come in,’ said the man she hadn’t yet met. ‘I’m Ben, Ben Shaw, Toyah’s dad.’

Bryant shook his hand and introduced them properly, but Kim’s attention was on Toyah. Her pale face, now devoid of any make-up beneath the shock of green hair, gave her a ghostly appearance.

‘I came back as soon as I heard the terrible news. Please tell us you’ve made progress.’

‘There’s little I can add at the minute, Mr Shaw, but we do need to ask Toyah some questions. May we?’

‘Of course. What am I thinking? Please sit. Can I get you anything?’

She shook her head as Tony sat down beside his sister.

Toyah turned and gave them her full attention.

Kim’s heart ached. The girl was exhausted, and she had the face of someone physically unable to cry any more tears.

‘We really are very sorry to intrude, Toyah, but can you think back to anything suspicious lately? Any unexpected phone calls your mum might have mentioned?’

Toyah shook her head.

‘Anything at all about anyone following her or any strange things happening when she was out?’

‘Nothing. Surely it was just some kind of psychopath who broke in and—’ She stopped speaking, unable to say anything that would make the current situation too real.

‘We think that’s unlikely.’

She didn’t want to use words like brutal or frenzied, but the attack was clearly targeted.

‘You think the killer knew Andrea?’ Ben asked, horrified.

‘It’s often the case.’

‘What about the kids? If this was personal, are they in any danger?’

Kim considered all the information she had that Ben did not. Their other victim was also a mother, but there’d been no opportunity to kill Katie as she’d been taken into custody immediately. Right now, she couldn’t say anything for certain.

‘I don’t think so, but I wouldn’t let them too far out of your sight for a little while.’

‘But who could have wanted to hurt mom like this?’ Toyah asked. ‘She was so sweet to everyone she met. She must have been terrified. Oh God, I can’t even think about it. Please just ask me your questions.’

‘Did your mom keep in touch with anyone from your old pageant days?’

‘My old—Are you joking?’ The question had taken Toyah by surprise. She clearly hadn’t thought about those days in a long time. ‘Why would you ask that? It was years ago.’

‘It’s just an avenue we’re exploring.’

Great, now the whole room was looking at her like she’d lost her mind. The minute she left, Ben Shaw would be ringing the station to ask for a competent officer to replace her.

‘We have our reasons for asking. Was she still in touch with anyone?’

Toyah shook her head. ‘I can’t imagine that she would be. It was so long ago, and I’m sure she would have mentioned it.’