Page 146 of Silent Scream

The panic was rising in her. Her movements were quick and frantic.

‘No, it can’t be ... I couldn’t have ...’

Nicola’s hands thumped down on the breakfast bar. She turned and started banging her fists into the wall units and then punching herself in the head.

Kim ran over and grabbed Nicola from behind, forcing her arms to her sides to prevent her from any further damage to her own body.

‘What did you tell Beth?’

Nicola struggled to free herself from Kim’s hold but she had interlocked her fingers and she wasn’t about to let go.

‘Please stop, I can’t ...’

Kim’s voice grew louder. ‘Nicola, you have to remember. What did you tell Beth?’

Nicola’s head thrashed from side to side. Kim craned her own neck back to avoid being struck.

Kim was shouting in her ear. ‘Tell me, Nicola. What did you tell your sister?’

‘I told her she could have the damned cardigan if it would make her happy,’ Nicola screamed.

Silence fell between them. Suddenly the fight left Nicola’s body and she fell to the ground, taking Kim with her.

Kim refused to let go. She sat on the floor, holding Nicola close. Kim knew the events of ten years ago were finally playing in her mind.

‘She took it, didn’t she?’

Nicola nodded and Kim could feel the tears dripping onto her hands.

‘So, they all thought she was you, didn’t they, because of the cardigan?’

Nicola nodded again. ‘One minute I looked outside and she was playing with the others and then I couldn’t find her. I kept asking people and they all told me she was somewhere else. In the end I went to my room to wait for her but she never came.

‘Later, just before the fire, I saw them out of the kitchen window. They were all standing around a hole and I knew. I didn’t know what to do. I was scared they were going to come back for me so when the fire started I was just relieved that they couldn’t get me anymore.’

Kim knew that Beth wouldn’t have been able to run away. Her knee wouldn’t have allowed it in that cold weather.

‘When did Beth come back, Nicola?’

‘About two weeks ago,’ she answered hoarsely.

When the announcement was made about the dig and once again Nicola felt frightened.

‘You know now that you brought her back, don’t you, Nicola?’

‘Noooooo ...’

The sound was that of a keening animal. A poor wounded soul that was writhing in pain. Kim held fast while Nicola tried to escape the events in her own head.

The knowledge of what she’d done as Beth was not to be shared now. It was a realisation Nicola would reach eventually in the care of a good psychiatrist.

As she sat rocking the young, broken girl whose guilt had gained control of her, Kim doubted that Nicola would ever be fit to stand trial for the murder of Teresa Wyatt, Tom Curtis and Arthur Connop.

After a few minutes, Kim gently eased herself backwards.

It was time to make the call.

Seventy-Seven