constables doorknocking the area at this very moment.
Now, according to Constable Sutton, you were both up in the city yesterday
afternoon, correct?
Spring carnival, said Pedder.
Horse racing. Back any winners?
Pedder gave her a humourless smile. You
want to see our betting slips, right? To prove we were there?
Ellen went on. Katie has her own
key?
We work, except for Thursdays,
Pedder said. Katie always lets herself in.
She makes herself a snack, said
Donna, does her homework and watches TV until we get home. The TV goes off
then. Shes not allowed to watch it after dinner. Shes a good girl.
And were good parents, thought
Ellen. And last night?
Me and Donna like to do stuff
together on Thursdays, said Pedder. Shopping up at Southland. A movie. The
races. If were going to be late, we arrange for Katie to stay at a friends
house. Its like her second home.
Gets more love there than here,
thought Ellen. She referred to her notes. The friends name is Sarah Benton?
Yes.
And thats what youd arranged for
last night?
Yeah.
What time did you get home from the
races?
About seven.
Seven in the evening. And you didnt
call to see that she was all right?
They shrugged as if to say: Why
would we?
But you did call this morning?
Yes, said Donna, suddenly wailing,
her face damp and ravaged. Sarahs mum said Katie wasnt there and hadnt been
there and she didnt know anything about it.
But I thought youd arranged it?
Donna squirmed. Katie was supposed
to ask Sarah if she could stay. She must of forgot to.
Ellen liked to change tack swiftly. Do
you live here, Mr Pedder?
Me?
Ellen gazed about the room for other
Mr Pedders. Yes.
Sure.
But this is Donnas house?
He gazed at her bleakly. I get where
youre coming from. Yeah, Ive got a place of my own that no one knows about
and I took Katie there and did her in.
Justin! wailed Donna.
Aw, sorry, love, but its so
fucking typical. Blame the bloke.
We wouldnt be doing our job if we
didnt examine every avenue, Mr Pedder.
I know, I know, sorry I said what I
said. Look, I was renting a flat until I met Donna.
You always spend your nights here?
You interested in my sex life now?
Answer the question, Mr Pedder.
He lives here, asserted
Donna. Hes here every night.
Ellen turned her gaze to Donna. Did
that bother Katie?
No. Why should it? Justins good to
Katie, arent you, Jus? Never hits her or anything. No funny business, if thats
what youre on about.
They were both staring at her hotly
now. We have to ask these questions, Ellen said.
According to Scobie Suttons brief
preliminary investigation, the neighbours considered Donna to be a reasonably
good mother, but there had been a few boyfriends over the years. The police had
been called to noisy parties a couple of times. Sarah Bentons mother claimed
there was no point in trying to phone the Blasko household after about seven in
the evening, for Donna and Justin were probably getting quietly stoned and
never answered the phone. Youd leave messages but theyd never be returned. It
was a common picture, in Ellens experience. No real cruelty, just ignorance
and benign neglect and mothers putting their partners first, ahead of their
children, afraid of being single again.
Maybe Katies little sister knows
something?
Shelly? said Donna, amazed. Shelly
was next door, werent you, love?
The child continued to play. Ellen
said, Next door?
Mrs Lucas. She likes to baby-sit
Shell, but Katie cant stand her.
Ellen was watching Pedder.
Apparently struck by the cuteness of the child playing on the floor, he reached
out a flash running shoe and poked her tiny waist. The child battered his foot
away absently. No fear or submission, Ellen noted. The child hadnt been introduced
to her. Ellen had always introduced her own daughter, even when she was a
toddler. It was good manners. Had she been taught good manners by her own
parents? She couldnt recall. Then again, good manners were a matter of
commonsense,
Now, according to Constable Sutton, you were both up in the city yesterday
afternoon, correct?
Spring carnival, said Pedder.
Horse racing. Back any winners?
Pedder gave her a humourless smile. You
want to see our betting slips, right? To prove we were there?
Ellen went on. Katie has her own
key?
We work, except for Thursdays,
Pedder said. Katie always lets herself in.
She makes herself a snack, said
Donna, does her homework and watches TV until we get home. The TV goes off
then. Shes not allowed to watch it after dinner. Shes a good girl.
And were good parents, thought
Ellen. And last night?
Me and Donna like to do stuff
together on Thursdays, said Pedder. Shopping up at Southland. A movie. The
races. If were going to be late, we arrange for Katie to stay at a friends
house. Its like her second home.
Gets more love there than here,
thought Ellen. She referred to her notes. The friends name is Sarah Benton?
Yes.
And thats what youd arranged for
last night?
Yeah.
What time did you get home from the
races?
About seven.
Seven in the evening. And you didnt
call to see that she was all right?
They shrugged as if to say: Why
would we?
But you did call this morning?
Yes, said Donna, suddenly wailing,
her face damp and ravaged. Sarahs mum said Katie wasnt there and hadnt been
there and she didnt know anything about it.
But I thought youd arranged it?
Donna squirmed. Katie was supposed
to ask Sarah if she could stay. She must of forgot to.
Ellen liked to change tack swiftly. Do
you live here, Mr Pedder?
Me?
Ellen gazed about the room for other
Mr Pedders. Yes.
Sure.
But this is Donnas house?
He gazed at her bleakly. I get where
youre coming from. Yeah, Ive got a place of my own that no one knows about
and I took Katie there and did her in.
Justin! wailed Donna.
Aw, sorry, love, but its so
fucking typical. Blame the bloke.
We wouldnt be doing our job if we
didnt examine every avenue, Mr Pedder.
I know, I know, sorry I said what I
said. Look, I was renting a flat until I met Donna.
You always spend your nights here?
You interested in my sex life now?
Answer the question, Mr Pedder.
He lives here, asserted
Donna. Hes here every night.
Ellen turned her gaze to Donna. Did
that bother Katie?
No. Why should it? Justins good to
Katie, arent you, Jus? Never hits her or anything. No funny business, if thats
what youre on about.
They were both staring at her hotly
now. We have to ask these questions, Ellen said.
According to Scobie Suttons brief
preliminary investigation, the neighbours considered Donna to be a reasonably
good mother, but there had been a few boyfriends over the years. The police had
been called to noisy parties a couple of times. Sarah Bentons mother claimed
there was no point in trying to phone the Blasko household after about seven in
the evening, for Donna and Justin were probably getting quietly stoned and
never answered the phone. Youd leave messages but theyd never be returned. It
was a common picture, in Ellens experience. No real cruelty, just ignorance
and benign neglect and mothers putting their partners first, ahead of their
children, afraid of being single again.
Maybe Katies little sister knows
something?
Shelly? said Donna, amazed. Shelly
was next door, werent you, love?
The child continued to play. Ellen
said, Next door?
Mrs Lucas. She likes to baby-sit
Shell, but Katie cant stand her.
Ellen was watching Pedder.
Apparently struck by the cuteness of the child playing on the floor, he reached
out a flash running shoe and poked her tiny waist. The child battered his foot
away absently. No fear or submission, Ellen noted. The child hadnt been introduced
to her. Ellen had always introduced her own daughter, even when she was a
toddler. It was good manners. Had she been taught good manners by her own
parents? She couldnt recall. Then again, good manners were a matter of
commonsense,
Similar Books
Taken by the Enemy
Jennifer Bene
Posh and Prejudice
Grace Dent
The Journal: Cracked Earth
Deborah D. Moore
Owned by the Badman (Russian Bratva #1)
Hayley Faiman
On His Terms
Rachel Masters
Playing the Game
Stephanie Queen
Special Forces Savior
Janie Crouch
Corruption (Grumpy Old Wizards Book 2)
John O'Riley
The Left Behind Collection: All 12 Books
Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
The Last of the Wise Lovers
Amnon Jackont