Page 88 of 36 Hours

‘Yes,’ Joanne said, giving nothing away.

‘You were close once?’

‘I suppose so,’ she said, checking to make sure her boy wasn’t walking too far ahead. ‘He kind of stepped in when I lost my parents in a car accident. I was nineteen, so it’s not like I needed full-time care or anything, but he just checked on me and stuff.’

‘Yeah, I’ve seen photos of you all celebrating the little one’s birthday.’

Joanne seemed surprised, as though she couldn’t think how that would have happened.

‘Instagram,’ Kim clarified. ‘Nothing recent though,’ she added.

‘Not seen them for a while,’ Joanne said, stopping to wait at a crossing.

‘Why’s that then?’

‘Just busy, I suppose,’ she said as they reached the other side of the road.

‘I’m gonna be honest here, Joanne, and stop you before you tell me any more lies.’

‘I’m not tell?—’

‘Your aunt’s expression says otherwise. I won’t even tell you what she called you.’

‘I can imagine. She’s never liked me. She’s strange. Her whole focus is on people related to her by blood. She tries to rule that family with an iron fist.’

‘Still not buying it,’ Kim said. ‘Not liking you is out of proportion for how she reacted when I mentioned your name.’

‘Okay, if you must know, I got a bit too close to one of her precious sons.’

‘Your cousin?’

Joanne coloured as she nodded.

Kim tried to picture the young mother and studious twenty-something Boyce together. It wasn’t so much the age difference but more that they appeared to be at such different stages of their lives.

‘That’s why she hates me. Now please just leave me alone.’

Joanne rushed away as Kim’s phone began to ring.

Having established it had nothing to do with the case, Kim felt there was no point running after her.

She was surprised to see it was the station calling.

‘Go ahead, Jack,’ she said, heading back towards the car.

‘Just heard something you might be interested in.’

‘Go on.’

‘Request to attend an address in Hagley for a woman who hasn’t turned in for work.’

Kim’s hopes faded. She could think of a hundred reasons for the late arrival.

‘Thanks, Jack, but that’s not quite?—’

‘Had I finished yet?’

‘Go on,’ she said, rolling her eyes.