Page 96 of Dying Truth

‘Just one, Stace. Do you still love me even though I’m thick?’ he asked, with a grin.

‘Bloody hell, Kev, just crack on, will yer and get looking?’

Following her instruction, he put his head down and began to search. Except he’d had a different idea of where to look.

Sixty-Six

Kim followed Mrs Winters through to the informal lounge. Mr Winters placed his laptop beside him on the sofa.

Her stomach was still reacting to what they’d found on Joanna’s phone, but for now, she had to let Stacey and Dawson do their job. She needed answers right here.

Mrs Winters moved the laptop and took a seat beside her husband, reaching for his hand.

Kim sat opposite in a chair next to an ornate fireplace filled with cards of condolence, best wishes at this time and sorry for your loss. The wall to the left was filled with family photos displayed in a descending chronology.

‘Mr Winters, Mrs Winters, we need to ask you a couple of questions about Sadie and the medication she was taking,’ Kim said, gently but firmly.

Mrs Winters coloured and looked to the floor.

A few seconds passed before Mr Winters answered.

‘She needed help,’ he said, simply.

‘With what?’ Kim asked.

They were not going to get off that lightly.

‘Mood swings, feelings of depression, anxiety.’

‘So, you gave her your own medication?’ Kim asked, looking to Mrs Winters.

She did not raise her head, letting her husband do all the talking.

‘Did you try to get her any help?’ Kim asked. ‘Like an appointment with her GP or a counsellor?’

‘There’s no better counsellor than the one at Heathcrest but she wouldn’t talk to anyone. She just clammed up, and I suppose we just wanted to help make her feel better.’

It seemed clear they’d made no effort to get to the bottom of her withdrawal. Had it not occurred to them that Sadie’s problems had started when her sister had become the superstar of the family?

‘That’s why we weren’t surprised at the news of her—’

‘Murder,’ Kim interrupted. This couple seemed determined to believe that their child had taken her own life.

‘And you asked Saffron to hide the pills from us?’ Kim asked.

Mr Winters nodded. ‘We didn’t want anyone to know,’ he said, honestly.

‘I understand that, Mr Winters, but with all due respect you have done little to aid the investigation into the death of your daughter. You have removed evidence and withheld important information. I understand that reputation and appearances are important but is there anything else you’re not sharing with us?’

Despite her neutral tone it was clear by his face that he did not appreciate the chastisement but, grieving parents or not, it was not their prerogative to judge what was relevant and what was not.

‘There is nothing more,’ he said, glancing away. ‘And you’re right. We shouldn’t ever have asked Saffie to touch her things.’

Slightly mollified that he at least understood the gravity of what they’d done she continued. ‘And how is Saffron coping?’ Kim asked. ‘She’s still not come home?’

Mr Winters shook his head. ‘She’s busy at school. It helps to keep her mind off it. Too many reminders here,’ he said, glancing at the photo wall.

Kim wondered if these parents could see the irony in the display. The photos at the top of the wall were portraits of them all. Below were photos of the two girls together. One so dark and one so light but laughing and close. And then two lines, one of each girl vertically travelling down the wall, separate.