Page 46 of Darling Girls

‘What about them?’ Jessica let go of the pills.

‘I understand Norah has issues with aggression. Did she ever hurt Miss Fairchild? Or talk about hurting her?’

‘Of course not,’ she said, instantly defensive. ‘She was just a child.’

Patel looked unconvinced. Jessica understood why. There were probably reams of files detailing Norah’s anger issues. She had a criminal record. If it turned out the body had been buried during their time at Wild Meadows, and they started looking for a murderer . . . well, Norah would have to be pretty high on their list.

‘From what I’ve read, she had a fairly colourful history of violent behaviour even back then.’ Patel referred to a document in front of her. ‘It says here that after you were removed from Wild Meadows, several areas of the home were found to have been damaged by your sister.’ She glanced at the sheet of paper. ‘The door underneath the stairs was splintered.’ She looked up at Jessica.

‘Who says Norah did it?’ Jessica asked.

Patel gestured to the document. ‘It says here that Norah admitted to it.’

Jessica cocked an eyebrow. ‘In that case, I imagine you must have been concerned to learn that a child was locked under the stairs?’

‘Yes,’ Patel said, frowning. ‘Very concerned.’

She seemed sincere, but it didn’t matter. They weren’t investigating child abuse. They were investigating the bones. A violent little girl who’d been locked under the stairs had good reason to lash out, which was why they were interested in Norah, no doubt.

‘Look,’ Jessica said, ‘you’re right. Norah has anger issues. Show me a person who grew up in foster care who doesn’t. But she has a good heart. She’s as harmless as these big stupid dogs.’

She looked at Couch, for the first time feeling something resembling affection.

Patel put down the pen. ‘Forgive me for asking, but you, Alicia and Norah aren’t biological sisters, are you?’

‘No,’ Jessica said. ‘But we’re sisters in every way that counts.’

Patel smiled. ‘I bet you’d do anything for them.’

It was a good try, but Jessica wasn’t falling for it. ‘I wouldn’t bury a body for them, if that’s what you’re asking.’ She gave an airy, appalled laugh for good measure.

But it was clear from Patel’s slow, unblinking nod that she wasn’t fooling anyone.

It was nearly five o’clock and they’d been talking for more than four hours when they were interrupted by a knock.

‘Come in,’ Patel said.

A police officer Jessica didn’t recognise stuck his head around the door. He wrinkled his nose; the room smelled rank, thanks in no small part to the so-called ‘support’ dog. ‘You got a minute?’ he said to the detective.

Patel nodded.

‘I’ll take the dog out for a wee,’ Jessica said.

‘There’s a fenced courtyard through the side door,’ Patel told her as she left the room.

Jessica followed the low-ceilinged corridor towards a glass door, through which she could see Patel with a few other police huddled around a computer screen. Halfway along she saw a brown door and pushed it open. It led to a small courtyard, bare apart from a lone tree and a ceramic dish full of cigarette butts.

Norah and Alicia were already there.

‘There you guys are!’

Jessica let Couch off the lead and the three dogs reunited with jubilant barks and leaps. Jessica and her sisters reunited with similar urgency, less enthusiasm. ‘How’s it going with the detectives? Are you hanging in there?’

Alicia looked tired. She held her phone in one hand and shielded her eyes from the afternoon sun with the other. ‘I’ve had better afternoons.’

‘I’d forgotten how much I hate her.’ Norah was squatting to let two of the dogs lick her face. The third dog was humping her leg.

‘I hadn’t,’ Alicia said. ‘That part always remains fresh for me.’