I think of how Ciara stared at me. Does she think I did it? Did she think I was capable of killing someone? Maybe I need some air, too. Am I allowed to leave the room? Will DI Bradley have to escort me?

‘As I’ve said, the state pathologist is a very experienced professional. We expect that further results will corroborate his hypothesis.’

Big words with a big impact. I see Kathleen look up from her prayers. Her brow furrows. She looks at me and I wonder, is she thinking I’m responsible? Has Ciara been whispering in her ear? Am I being judged for the messed-up teenager I was?

‘We fully appreciate this must be a terrible shock,’ DI Bradley says.

It seems such a bizarre thing to say. So completely understated.

‘A terrible shock? You’re telling us one of us might be a killer and the best you can say is that “this must be a terrible shock”.’

I feel Alex’s arm on mine, steadying me. He is trying to ground me. I shake it off. I don’t want to be grounded. I’m scared. I’m scared that someone in this room might be a murderer and I’m terrified that most of the people in this room seem to think that the murderer is me.

‘What happens now?’ Alex asks. ‘Are we all under arrest? How does this work?’

Under arrest? No. That can’t be …

DI Bradley shakes his head. ‘No. We are still gathering evidence, which is why we need to speak to you all. There isn’t sufficient evidence to arrest anyone at this time. You may, if you wish, have a solicitor present while we talk, but I want to make it clear that we are examining all possibilities and no one person is under direct suspicion at this time. What we do need to do is have forensics come in and look around the house, in particular Mr McKee’s bedroom, where we believe he died. Can I ask, has anyone been in that room since this morning?’

‘We’ve all been in it,’ Kathleen says. ‘The girls tidied and stripped the bed. I’ve just put new bed sheets on. I was going to sleep there. Alex, you were in too, weren’t you?’

He nods. ‘I think so, earlier. Yes, I brought some laundry up, put it in his chest of drawers.’

‘Okay,’ DI Bradley says with a slight shake of his head. ‘We’ll still need SOCO to come in and look around, although the scene has been compromised. The bed linen? Has that been washed yet?’

Ciara comes back into the room, her face sheet-white, and answers, ‘Yes. Washed and dried. It’s still in the dryer, though.’

DI Bradley sucks in air through his teeth. ‘That’s unfortunate. We’ll take it anyway, just in case. Detective Constable Black will be staying here with you until SOCO arrive. We’ll appoint a family liaison officer. It might be less distressing for you all if you have somewhere else you can go while the team examine the house.’