Page 95 of Deadly Cry

‘She’s outside,’ the family liaison officer said as he opened the door.

‘How’s she doing, Craig?’

‘As you’d expect. She fell asleep on Archie’s bed once you’d left last night but was awake before six. She’s alternating between crying and wanting to get out there and search for Archie.’

Completely natural reactions, Kim thought.

‘Just one thing, though,’ he said, closing the door and dropping his voice to a whisper. ‘Her brother’s been here since sevenish and he’s err—’

‘Who is it, Craig?’ said a strong voice from the kitchen.

Kim said nothing and waited for the owner to come into view.

‘DI Stone, this is Robert Harvey,’ Craig said. ‘Robyn’s brother.’

Kim could see a vague resemblance, but the features of this man were harsher, sharper. He matched Bryant’s six-foot height but with an additional couple of inches’ width.

He stepped towards Bryant with his hand outstretched. ‘Inspector Stone, my sister—’

‘That’s DI Stone, but I’m still pleased to meet you,’ Bryant said, pointing her way before returning the handshake.

He glanced at her without offering an apology for his error. And already she didn’t expect one.

‘Do you have news?’ he asked, standing in a way that prevented her moving further into the house.

‘Mr Harvey, I’m here to speak with your sister,’ she said, stepping forward.

He didn’t move, meaning she was now very close to him and could smell the cause of the tidemarks at the armpit of his powder pink shirt.

‘And I would prefer you to share any news you have with me first.’

‘As you are not directly related either by marriage or blood to our victim, that is not going to happen, so please, stand aside.’

‘The vic… oh, you mean Louise. I assumed you were here with news of Archie, seeing as you can do nothing for Louise now. Any news would be better for my sister if it was delivered by me,’ he said, standing aside now that he felt he’d made himself clear and had had the last word.

Kim was surprised at the dismissive nature of his manner towards Louise, his sister’s wife.

‘Any information will be shared with your sister first,’ she said, edging past him and taking the last word for herself. ‘But she’ll be safe with us if you’d like to take the opportunity to freshen up.’

She continued walking to the rear of the house, choosing to ignore the fact he was following Bryant. The man did not take a hint.

Robyn sat outside on one half of a wooden companion set, with a single mug on the triangle piece that linked the two seats. The oversize cardigan appeared to swamp her slight frame, which was clad in the same clothes as the night before. Her long brown hair had been tied into a haphazard ponytail.

Kim was suddenly struck by the lonely figure who might be thinking that she would never share that seat with her wife again. Her gaze was fixed on the small playhouse at the end of the garden.

‘We knew he was too big for it,’ Robyn said softly as Kim approached. ‘But we didn’t have the heart to throw it away. We can’t throw anything away. You see, there’s a memory in everything. I have every piece of Archie’s clothing. Sounds crazy I know, but I remember something different for every single item. Just one small thing that stops me from being able to part with it.’

Kim lowered herself onto the seat beside the woman, who finally turned. Kim’s breath caught in her chest. Never had she seen a woman more haunted and bereft of emotion. It was as though every feeling had been sucked out of her.

‘I don’t want to be here, you know,’ she said, turning away again.

‘Robyn, I need—’

‘Please, let me gather myself for a moment, Inspector. I’m speaking because I’m terrified of what’s going to come out of your mouth if I stop, and I’m trying to prepare myself.’

‘I understand that…’

‘No, you don’t,’ she said with authority but without anger. ‘Everything I love in this world has been taken away from me; my wife is dead, my son is…’