Page 61 of 36 Hours
‘Thank you,’ Kim said as though she hadn’t had to subtly threaten the woman with public humiliation.
‘Wait in there,’ she said, pointing to the lounge and entering the kitchen.
Kim followed her instead, realising the house was awfully quiet for a property with two lads.
‘Sons playing video games?’ Kim asked.
Mrs Lane turned, her face contorted with horror. Kim first thought it was due to not realising she was being followed to the kitchen instead of leaving her visitors in the lounge as instructed.
‘My boys don’t play idle video games. Derren uses technology only for his college work, and Boyce has no interest in the internet.’
Kim didn’t believe either one of those statements.
‘They’re very quiet, aren’t they?’
‘Derren is at a friend’s house studying, and Boyce is already in bed.’
And the delusion about her younger son continued. Though after meeting Boyce, she could believe he was safely tucked up by 10p.m.
‘Mrs Lane, while we wait for your husband, would you mind telling us about your family’s relationship with Joanne Deary?’
If Kim had thought the woman looked sour-faced before then, a whole jug of pure lemon juice had been added. The look in her eyes spat venom.
‘There is no relationship with that woman.’
The plot was thickening, Kim thought, stealing a glance at Bryant, who had followed them to the kitchen.
‘Well, there is according to her Instagram post of a birthday party almost a year ago. Is she not your niece?’
‘She’s not related to me by blood. That’s my husband’s side.’
‘You’re not close then?’ Kim asked.
Her face contorted as though there were many responses dying to break free from those pursed lips, but instead, for safety, she just shook her head.
‘But you were at your great-nephew’s sixth birthday party?’
Mrs Lane was saved from answering as the front door opened and Eric Lane appeared.
He pointedly looked at his watch as he approached them. ‘Please explain the meaning of this.’
‘They’re asking about Joanne,’ Mrs Lane blurted out.
Kim remained silent, hoping the man would say something that might offer an answer to the discord in the Lane family.
Joanne had mentioned that she’d been put onto the Seekers site by a relative. Kim had just had no clue that the relative concerned was the purist Eric Lane. Penn had redeemed himself for his earlier outburst after digging up that little nugget.
‘What about her?’ Eric asked, giving away nothing in his words or tone.
‘She has come to our attention as part of the same case that brought us to your door. A bit coincidental, don’t you think?’
‘Not if it’s anything to do with the Seekers site. I suggested she use it during the pandemic. She needed fun things to do with the kids.’
In her peripheral vision, Kim could see Mrs Lane’s expression growing more and more twisted.
Interesting.
‘Well, that was nice of you,’ she said as he removed his jacket.