Page 64 of Their Burning Graves

‘Tim, he told me he heard his mum telling my dad that she wasn’t interested in him. That he was ruining their friendship. He said he was so embarrassed listening to it.’

‘How did your dad react; did Tim tell you that?’

‘He said he cried.’

‘He wasn’t angry?’

‘No, he was crying and apologising.’

‘Did your mum know about this?’

Ava rolled her eyes. ‘Of course, she knows everything. She was furious with him, told him he had to sleep in the spare room or move out.’

‘Does your mum have a bad temper?’

‘What, you think my mum was so angry that she went and killed them all? Are you mad?’

‘We have to look at every possibility or we wouldn’t be doing our job.’

‘No, she didn’t kill them. She wouldn’t do that even without her tablets.’

‘Thanks. Look, we don’t know how long your mum is going to be here. She has to be interviewed and it can take a while for the solicitor to turn up. Is there anyone I can contact to pick you up? What about your grandparents?’

‘They’re all dead.’

‘Have you got any friends’ houses you could go to?’

‘I could phone Lexie, I suppose, she usually comes to my house, but I could go to hers for a change.’

‘Lexie?’

‘Lexie White, her mum will probably pick me up.’

Another cog in Morgan’s brain slid into place, it was such a shame there were so many whizzing around in there, but Ava, Tim and Lexie were all friends. Sally thought she was being haunted; Natalie thinks she’s being watched or haunted.

‘Morgan, do you want me to message her?’

‘What?’

‘Lexie, to see if her mum can pick me up?’

‘Oh yes, please, that would be great I just need to check with your mum that she’s happy for you to go there.’

Tina came back carrying two mugs. ‘Did you want a brew, Morgan?’

‘No thanks, I’m going to ask Heather if it’s okay for Ava’s friend’s mum to pick her up. When she gets here can you let me know so I can have a word with her?’

Tina mouthed, ‘Thank God,’ to Morgan, who nodded.

‘Ava, I just have to go and file some paperwork, but I’ll come and see you before you go.’

She left Tina talking to Ava and rushed down to the custody suite to speak to Heather who had agreed that her daughter could go to Lexie’s house. Morgan went upstairs, back to her office. Somehow these three teenagers were connected, and she needed to figure out what connected them.

Back upstairs she rang the tech unit, to see if anyone was still around.

‘Evening, tech unit, Bev speaking.’

‘Amazing, it’s Morgan Brookes from—’