Page 94 of Child's Play

‘Okay, folks, where are we?’ Kim asked, entering the squad room.

She’d sent Bryant on ahead to catch the team up with what they’d learned about Beth Nixon while she’d briefed Woody and given him her unconventional request. After a frown and a few questions, he’d agreed and made a phone call.

She’d share with the team later.

In her absence Bryant had brewed fresh coffee and poured her a mug.

She raised it in a salute to him and perched her bottom on Penn’s empty desk.

Stacey proceeded to update her on what they’d discovered so far about the sisters. Kim drank as she listened.

‘Good work, Stace,’ Kim said.

‘It was mainly Tiff, to be fair.’

‘Well done, Tink, show me the clip.’

Tiffany loaded it, and Kim stood behind. She watched it three times with the sound on.

‘Turn the sound off and go frame by frame.’

Stacey’s smile told her the constable had done the exact same thing.

Kim pulled Penn’s chair across the room and watched again.

No one spoke.

First question. Belinda’s face remained composed, relaxed but focussed. Kim could almost see the movements of her eyelids reflecting the workings of her brain.

Second question. Same response.

Third question. The blinking began before the question was even asked. Glazed eyes as her mind wrestled with the calculation.

‘I think you’re right. I think she answered that question wrong on purpose, and you’re dead right about Dad’s expression too, but there’s something else,’ she said, scooting closer to the computer screen.

‘Watch Veronica’s face this time,’ Kim said, once everyone was gathered around.

‘Look, see that slight lift at the corners of her mouth,’ she said. ‘She’s pleased but also triumphant.’

Everyone nodded their agreement.

‘What the hell happened to these two girls?’ Kim asked, moving back to Penn’s desk.

‘Spent a lot of time just the four of them,’ Tiffany offered. ‘No friends, no boyfriends…’

‘Although Belinda certainly made up in later life,’ Stacey remarked, glancing at her notes. ‘She’s on plenty of dating sites under the name of Linda Loftus.’

‘Sounds a bit porny,’ Tiffany said, screwing up her nose.

‘Okay, what do we know about Freddie Compton?’

Kim still wanted to know more about the sisters but it’s relevance to finding the murderer was now questionable in her mind.

‘He’s fifty-eight years old, no kids but ran the Brainboxes event for twelve years from 2004 to 2016 when his wife was diagnosed with cancer. He was a primary school teacher who had attended the event with one of his pupils the year before he took over. Never made a lot of money out of it and took early retirement to care for his wife.’

‘Enemies?’ Kim asked without any real hope.

Stacey shook her head. ‘Not so far.’