Page 26 of Deadly Cry

‘Sorry?’

‘I think happy and healthy are two totally separate things. So yes, they were probably happy despite it being a totally unequal and dysfunctional relationship.’

Kim was quickly realising that Ella viewed her own opinion as a gift she was happy to give over and over again.

She needed no prompt to continue.

‘Andrew showed her unqualified levels of patience. They had few friends, as Katrina struggled to maintain relationships outside of her marriage. They didn’t mix socially with many people at all.’

‘They preferred each other’s company?’ Kim clarified, not finding the picture dysfunctional if it worked for them.

‘I suppose that’s one way of putting it,’ she said with the slightest hint of huff in her voice. Clearly, once shared her opinion was to be accepted by all.

‘He didn’t get frustrated with her?’ Kim asked. Andrew Nock was beginning to sound like a saint.

‘Of course. Who wouldn’t? The constant care-taking was getting him down, wearing away at him: always worrying about her and then about Mia. He never showed her though.’

‘Did he confide in you?’

She frowned. ‘Of course. I’m his sister. He told me everything. I told him to put her away for a bit. Give her and him a rest, but he wouldn’t hear of it.’

She was growing to like Andrew Nock more and Ella Nock less every time this woman opened her mouth.

‘You wanted him to have her sectioned?’ Kim clarified.

‘Yes, but he was convinced they could get through it. Things seemed to improve a little after Mia came along, although I still think she was hugely irresponsible in getting pregnant. The child wasn’t planned. I mean, who needs a child to look after when you can barely get dressed in a morning?’

Kim wondered if there was anything for which Katrina didn’t get the blame because, of course, Andrew hadn’t contributed to the pregnancy one little bit.

‘But like I said, she improved after Mia came along, which only proved my point that she’d needed more to do.’

Kim swallowed down her irritation. She was pretty sure that wasn’t how it worked. It was her understanding that busy people suffered from depression too.

‘When Mia turned two, it started up again: new medication, days spent in bed. I don’t know how Andy kept his patience.’

‘And yesterday he called you when he couldn’t find her?’

‘Of course. He was beside himself. He was terrified she’d done something stupid and—’

‘Done something stupid? Had she ever tried to harm herself before?’

Ella hesitated before nodding. ‘Not what I’d call serious attempts. More like cries for attention, but still Andy wouldn’t put her away.’

That phrase was starting to grate on Kim’s nerves. The woman had not been an embarrassing inconvenience to be shoved out of sight while she came to her senses.

‘So she was never hospitalised?’

Ella shook her head. ‘I’ve told you—’

‘Andrew wouldn’t hear of it,’ Kim finished as Ella once again held up her left arm for an obvious look at her watch.

‘You must have been quite frustrated on your brother’s behalf?’ Kim asked, ignoring the gesture. It was clear to Kim the siblings were close.

‘Obviously, but he wouldn’t listen, so I had no choice but to just put up with it.’

‘Can you think of anyone who might have wanted to hurt your sister-in-law?’

Ella shook her head. ‘Officer, I have no idea and I don’t really care.’