Sean turns his attention back to the detectives and asks if they have any evidence other than the word of some distant acquaintance. My body feels numb. What is Faye playing at? I need to speak to her. Behind the buzzing in my brain I hear Sean asking the detectives if they have a definite time of death because as things stand there isn’t even any proof that I was living in the house at the time.

The room is getting stuffy. It feels like it’s closing in on me. Detective Lee looks at the file in front of her. The last banking transaction made by Avril Ryan took place the day before she disappeared. The last phone call she made was that same day… to me. Lee lifts her eyes and looks at me when saying this. I look away. I’ve already told her I didn’t receive that call. Then Lee says the day I got the call is the presumed date of death, as there was no activity from her after that day. I was living at Huntley at the time; no one is denying that.

Detective Lee’s voice is drilling a hole in my brain. She continues to leave no reasonable doubt about the date of death. Sean is telling her that Avril Ryan could have been dumped there any time after she was killed. My head is spinning. The detective agrees and listens as Sean tells her that his client was not involved in the death of Avril Ryan. He suggests the detectives cease any contact with me unless they have some definitive proof that I was involved in Avril Ryan’s death.

And that’s when the detective drops the bomb.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Faye

It’s been a bitch of a day. Barely time for a coffee between appointments. I’ve missed two calls from Tara so I guess the detective has been to see her. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that but maybe she shouldn’t have slept with Andriu.

Now I have to convince Tara that the detective misinterpreted what I said, because I need her to tell me where Andriu is staying. The phone rings, once, twice.

‘Hello.’

‘Tara, it’s Faye. Sorry I missed your calls, I’ve been busy. How are you?’

‘Did you tell that detective I knew Avril Ryan?’

She really is pissed off.

‘God, Tara, relax there a minute, it wasn’t like that.’

‘What was it like, then? Either you told her or you didn’t.’

I’m almost proud of Tara, she’s not holding back. The girl seems to have grown a pair since I last met her. The, yes Faye, no Faye, whatever you want Faye, has been replaced with what the fuck, Faye.