Page 75 of The Mother-in-Law

‘Well,’ she says finally, ‘I think it might be a good idea to do some blood tests.’

Diana raises an eyebrow. ‘Blood tests for what?’

‘Several things. Anaemia. Thyroid. Plus the usual standard things.’ She types into her computer and a blue referral paper spits out of her printer. ‘But from what you’ve said, Diana, there’s no question in my mind that you’re suffering from depression. And so, I have to ask . . . have you had any thoughts about suicide?’

Diana doesn’t answer. After a moment, Dr Paisley’s eyes move to me.

‘Would you prefer if we talked without your daughter in the room, Diana? Sometimes it’s easier to be frank if—’

‘I don’t need to speak privately,’ Diana said. ‘No, I haven’t thought about killing myself.’

‘Good. Good.’

Dr Paisley prints out a referral for a good psychologist and prescribes some antidepressant medication, and we make an appointment to come back in a week. It’s not until we get out of there that it occurs to me that the doctor called me Diana’s daughter. And Diana didn’t correct her.

46

LUCY

The present . . .

‘Ollie,’ I say as the landline starts ringing. ‘The day your mother died. Were you at her house?’

He sits forward, resting his hands on his knees, and takes a deep breath. ‘I was.’

‘Why?’ I say, a moment before the more important question comes. ‘And why didn’t you tell me?’

‘I wanted to.’

‘Then why didn’t you?’

The phone keeps ringing, a loud, shrill interruption. I want to pull the damn thing out of the wall.

‘I’ll just answer it,’ Ollie says, walking over to the phone.

‘Ollie, no! Just leave—’

But he’s already snatching up the receiver. ‘Hello?’

I swear under my breath.

‘It’s Oliver,’ he says into the phone, then he’s quiet for a moment. His eyes find mine. ‘Yes. Just a minute.’ He holds the phone out to me. ‘It’s Jones.’

‘For me?’ I feel a pinch of worry as I take the phone. ‘Lucy speaking?’

‘Lucy, it’s Detective Jones. Housseini and I need to speak to you as a matter of urgency.’ Jones’s voice sounds clipped. ‘Do you think you could come down to the station?’

‘What for?’ I say. I want to say I’ve had enough of the police calling at ridiculous hours of the night, hauling me or Ollie down to the station. I want to tell Jones that we have little children who are asleep, and that unless I’m under arrest, she’ll have to wait until the morning. But I don’t say any of this. Because I have a feeling my ability to be outraged may just have been compromised.

‘We want to talk to you about an organisation called VEI. Voluntary Euthanasia International. We’ve received information that indicates your mother-in-law was a member of this organisation . . . and we have reason to believe that you have knowledge of this.’

I tell her I’ll be there as soon as I can.

47

LUCY

The past . . .