‘I was working at the hotel, and I was giving most of that money to Dan to help with the bills, and I was working for Rod for nothing. Almost everyone else has a habit. They get paid in junk, but I refused to get hooked. That made Rod uneasy.’

Heidi’s right eye was now covered with a soft pad, and the redness had cleared a little from her left eye.

‘So, getting back to what Detective Sterling was saying before the break,’ Ryder said, glancing at Sterling, ‘how did you feel when your brothers, Dan and Ethan that is, suggested you all sell the property?’

Heidi swallowed. ‘I felt like I’d been thrown a lifeline, like there was hope.’

‘You agreed to the sale?’

‘Yes. I was willing to go along with whatever they wanted to do. A quarter share of the property is still a shitload of money. With that, I could disappear, like my twin brother did.’

‘Did you tell Garrett about the sale?’ Ryder asked.

‘No. I knew he’d find out though. Everyone found out in time.’

‘How did he react?’

‘He became clingy, coming into the hotel when he never had before. I ended up telling him my share was tied up in a trust fund and that my brothers and the lawyers had full control of that. I told him the property was mortgaged to the hilt, and there wouldn’t be much left over after the sale, which was bullshit, but it got him off my back.’

Ryder opened the file he’d brought with him and took out a copy of the call log O’Day had emailed through. Two calls were highlighted in yellow.

‘Art rang you during the afternoon on the day of the accident, and again around seven-thirty that night. Why did he call you?’

Heidi froze.

Ryder pointed to the two calls. ‘Can you confirm that this is your mobile phone number?’

She nodded.

‘Could you please speak up for the record—’

‘Yes, it’s my number.’

‘He called to tell you he was flying in, didn’t he? I mean, someone had to get him from the airport. And he was furious with your brothers for going ahead and signing the contract to sell the property, so he wasn’t going to call them. He called you, his twin sister.’

Heidi looked at the call log. ‘He called to say he was coming in. But then the storm blew up.’

‘Did he say anything else during that call?’

‘No.’

‘He didn’t mention the sale of the property to you?’

Heidi shook her head. ‘No.’

‘And the second call?’

Heidi said nothing.

‘Okay.’ Ryder gave a heavy sigh. ‘Did you call in briefly to White Winter Station on the night of your brother’s accident?’

Heidi frowned, and Ryder could almost imagine the panicked thoughts going through her mind. ‘No, I didn’t.’