At first, Jake had suspected Kelly was using the contract as a means of providing consistent employment for his daughter. But that wasn’t borne out by the records. Looking over previous years of invoicing, months went by when Evelyn was rarely engaged. The pattern of her engagement seemed almost random, and certainly not all of the crime-affected citizens of Dunton were offered the service—not even in cases of suicide or unexpected deaths, as Jake would have expected.

*

As Jake, Murphy and Evelyn approached Amelia’s ward, they came across Charlotte. She was also on her way to see Amelia with a large cappuccino and a grease-streaked white pastry bag from the hospital canteen in her hands.

‘You’re here early,’ Evelyn said.

Charlotte smiled at the three of them. ‘Work gave me some time off to spend with Amelia. I explained that we’re basically sisters and she needs me.’

‘That’s kind of you,’ Jake said when he realised the other two weren’t going to respond. ‘I’m sure she appreciates it.’

‘What sort of friend would I be if I didn’t?’ she said. ‘Why are you here?’

‘We’ve come to interview her again,’ Murphy said.

Charlotte’s face fell. ‘Oh, I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

‘But you said yesterday …’ Jake began.

‘She only wants to talk to you.’

‘The senior sergeant asked Ms Kelly to accompany Detective Hunter for the interview,’ Murphy said.

‘Evelyn,’ Charlotte said, obviously uncomfortable, ‘she really doesn’t want to see you. I like having you as my counsellor, but for whatever reason it doesn’t work for Amelia.’

‘Does she usually see a different counsellor in Dunton?’ Jake asked.

‘I’ve told you, I’m the only counsellor in Dunton.’

Jake didn’t appreciate the possessive tone of Evelyn’s voice.

‘Do you mean the only counsellor for Victim Services, or the only counsellor full stop?’

‘Full stop.’

He cocked his head to the side. ‘That’s a large population for just one counsellor to service. I wonder why no one else has set up in the area.’

She twiddled the gold cross on the chain around her neck. ‘They have occasionally, but they never seem to last longer than six months.’

‘Why?’

‘I’ve never spoke to any of them.’

They had reached Amelia’s door.

‘Charlotte, I know what I’m doing,’ she said.

Jake was beginning to doubt that.

‘It’s Amelia’s decision to make, though,’ Charlotte said. ‘She’s trying so hard to get better, but she said she can’t handle talking to any kind of psychologist or counsellor right now. She said just having one in the room makes her want to stop existing.’

‘I’m certain Senior Sergeant Kelly would want us to respect her wishes,’ Jake said, looking at both Murphy and Evelyn. ‘He wouldn’t want us to be responsible for Amelia attempting suicide again.’

‘Definitely not,’ Murphy said.