Page 96 of Guilty Mothers

‘That’s a mole,’ Katie said with a smile. ‘There’s no brushing that away.’

Kim continued to leaf through another couple of pages, for appearance’s sake, but she needed nothing further.

She’d found what she’d been looking for.

SIXTY-THREE

Penn reread the caution to Olivia to ensure that she understood.

‘To be clear, you’ve waived your right to legal representation?’

‘I have,’ Olivia said.

‘And you’ve had sufficient refreshment and rest?’ Tiff asked.

‘I’ve been treated very well, thank you.’

Penn couldn’t remember a time they’d ever been thanked for a night in the cells.

‘Olivia, when we arrived yesterday, it seemed like Logan was forcing you back into the house,’ Penn said.

Horror appeared on her face. ‘Why would he be forcing me? I fell over. I hurt my ankle. He was helping me back home. I went to post a letter. It was those flip-flops.’

Penn hid his surprise at her response and also at her demeanour. He knew she was lying, but apart from that, he felt he was looking at a different woman. She seemed taller than he’d first thought, and her face was relaxed and open. This was not the woman they’d been seeing all week, and she didn’t look like someone under arrest for murder.

‘It’s been difficult to get a moment alone with you. Logan seems very protective.’

‘I think you mean supportive. Logan is a wonderful son who takes excellent care of me. Ask the neighbours.’

‘We have. We were told about an incident where you were trying to escape over the back fence.’

‘Escape?’ she asked as her face contorted in confusion. ‘Why would I be trying to escape my own home? I think there was a time when I saw a cat stranded in a tree, but I’d just started my antidepressants so it could have been anything.’

Every word caused him to believe her less. Her body language was completely at odds with her statements. Whenever she spoke, her eyes darted everywhere except meeting his gaze. She was squeezing her hands together tightly with every new sentence. Lying didn’t sit easy with her.

‘Olivia, we believe your son has been keeping you prisoner in your own home.’

Pause.

‘Ridiculous. Absolute nonsense,’ she said, forcing a light laugh from her lips. ‘Why on earth would you think that? Logan does everything for me. I’m sorry but you have it completely wrong. Please move on to the reason for my arrest.’

‘Olivia, we wanted an opportunity to speak to you alone. What you say about Logan isn’t convincing us?—’

‘I did it,’ Olivia blurted out.

‘Did what?’

‘Killed James. It was me. I did it.’

‘Wh-What?’ Penn spluttered.

‘He was cheating on me. I found out. I was angry. I killed him.’

Penn recovered quickly, despite a confession from Olivia not even being in his top ten of possibilities during this interview.

‘Okay, Olivia. I’m probably going to need a bit more detail.’

‘I followed him that day. I pretended there was nothing wrong. I knew roughly where he fished. There were trees that I could easily hide behind. There was a chopped-down log. I sat and waited.’