Page 81 of Guilty Mothers

‘I think it’s the best course of action. Not everyone listens, of course, to their own detriment. Some people continue to think there’s hope to be?—’

‘Just how many girls have received your guidance?’ Kim asked.

‘My name gets passed around in certain circles, but I’m not prepared to give names.’

Around the pageant circle?Kim wondered.

‘Have you ever advised Carly Spencer?’

She shook her head, but there was clearly a flicker of recognition at the name.

She knew that the woman was lying. What she didn’t know was why.

FIFTY-TWO

‘Bloody hell, you two, if the wind changes, you’ll stick like that,’ Stacey said, noting her colleagues’ miserable faces.

Both Penn and Tiff were nursing a cuppa with pensive expressions.

‘Dead end,’ Penn said, and Tiff nodded her agreement.

Stacey put aside her matrix for a minute. She was looking for certain information the boss had requested, but these two looked like they needed some kind of life support.

‘So, what’s up?’ she asked.

‘No suspects; nothing,’ Penn said. ‘No witnesses, no forensics, no enemies, no evidence, no lines of enquiry.’

Tiff nodded again.

‘And in the hands of lesser detectives that would be a problem, but not you, Penn,’ Stacey offered.

‘Not this time. All we’ve found is a weird dynamic between James’s girlfriend and her son.’

Stacey felt for them. Trying to piece together the events of two years ago was difficult.

‘So, what’s with the family then?’ Stacey asked.

Penn nodded for Tiff to expand.

‘Nothing I can put my finger on. Neighbour says Olivia’s got emotional problems and that the son is a saint for taking care of her. She went through a lot with her husband and his illness so it’d be understandable if she was unwell, but the mental breakdown happened long after he’d died. Timeline doesn’t quite work.’

‘Mental illness doesn’t follow a script,’ Stacey said. ‘Have you asked her about it?’

‘Can’t get bloody close enough,’ Penn said.

‘But you’ve been there twice?’ Stacey asked.

‘Yeah, but Logan always finds a way to stay in the room,’ Penn explained.

‘Oh, come on, there’s lots of tricks for?—’

‘Doesn’t work, Stace. We’ve tried them. That kid will not leave his mother alone with us.’

‘Can’t you grab her at the front door?’ Stacey asked. There had to be some way of having a private conversation with a grown adult.

‘She doesn’t answer. Logan always unlocks the door – eventually.’

‘She doesn’t even say a word without glancing his way,’ Tiff said.