Page 94 of Stolen Ones

Claire allowed herself to be ushered into the room and took a seat on the two-seater sofa. Kim took the single chair, and Bryant stood just outside the doorway.

Kim turned towards Claire and leaned forward in the most open and non-judgemental stance she could think of.

‘Claire, we need to ask you a couple of questions about your relationship with Grace.’

She looked genuinely perplexed, which gave Kim no comfort in having to press on.

‘I know the two of you are close but is there any time you’ve lost your temper with her?’

‘Absolutely. There are times when I snap. I’m a single parent, still grieving and I’m only human.’

Kim felt the unease grow in her stomach.

‘Have you ever lashed out or pushed—?’

‘Get out,’ Claire said, standing up and pointing towards the door.

Kim ignored her and remained seated.

‘How dare you try and twist my words? When I said snapped, I meant verbally. Sometimes I’ve shouted when it wasn’t necessary. I may have overreacted occasionally.’

‘But never physically?’ Kim asked evenly.

‘Never,’ Claire said, sitting back down.

‘I’m sorry we have to ask, but Grace has this bruise – it’s a big one – on her left arm.’

Claire appeared confused for a second until the fog in her memory cleared.

Kim raised an eyebrow as Claire lifted her T-shirt as high as her lowest rib. ‘Does it look a bit like this one?’

‘Similar,’ Kim said, and waited.

‘Paintballing, last week – and before you ask if Grace is too young, they do special days for kids’ events. It was a classmate’s birthday. They take extra precautions but nothing can defend against a twelve-year-old little shit who wants to break the rules. Got us both.’

Kim was both relieved and curious in equal measure.

‘You thought I’d done that to her?’ Claire asked.

‘We had to ask. We hope you understand.’

Claire looked as though she wanted to argue the point but didn’t have the energy.

‘Claire, has Grace ever had such bruising visible before?’

She shook her head. ‘Not that I can think of. Why?’

Because that means Steven Harte had to have seen Grace some time since the paintballing event to feel that she was being mistreated.

‘Claire, there’s something I need you to do for me and it may be very important.’

Her earlier defensiveness was forgotten as her eyes lit up with the prospect of doing something to help.

‘I need a list of every place the two of you have been since the day that Grace got the bruise. I need the day and the times as close as you can get them.’

‘Okay, I can do that but…’

‘Trust me, it’ll help,’ Kim said, standing.