Bridget shook her head. “Gabrielle was here one more.”

“One more?” Val questioned.

“Mother brought her here the day before she brought Adam. Mother stayed with Adam at Gabrielle’s house. He came the next day after school.” Bridget focussed on Val and put out her hand to touch her arm. “They were both locked in the upstairs room you were in. Father never went up there, to the attic. Neither did Claudia. I don’t know if you tried to scream, but even if you did, as loud as you could, no one could hear you. Mother had me locked up there enough times. That’s how I know.”

“Did Gabrielle die upstairs?” Val asked.

“Yes, Mother had me help get Gabrielle and Adam to the church.” Bridget clutched her blanket. “She told Adam his mother was sleeping. He was crying. He didn’t want to go.”

“And you were okay to help her?” Val wondered how this woman was able to do that.

“When Mother didn’t give me too many pills or her special smoothies, I could do things. The night she killed Gabrielle and Adam she needed my help, so she didn’t give me anything at all.”

Val swallowed hard, trying to imagine the horrors Bridget endured in this house. “The yew tree branches, the long white gown? Why did your mother dress Gabrielle up?”

“Mother dressed Gabrielle in the gown for when Gabrielle met God. Mother didn’t know about the branches. I did that later. I didn’t have to tell her because it was never in the news.” Bridget smiled and looked at Val as if she had a secret, something she got away with. “Mother never knew,” she whispered.

“Bridget, you left the yew tree branches and seeds with Gabrielle?” Val asked as if she didn’t hear correctly.

“Yes. After we left Gabi and Adam, I went back.”

“How did you get there?” Val asked.

“Mother didn’t know I took the car.” Bridget cowered a little as if she just said something she was going to get in trouble for.

“You can drive?” Val said, dumbfounded.

“Claudia taught me. She was my friend.” Bridget tugged at the ends of her blanket, suddenly the pulling grew more forceful. “I’m sad she’s dead. That Mother killed her. But Mother was jealous of her.”

“Because your father…” Val tried to find the right words.

“Yes.” Bridget didn’t need help deciphering the question. “I wished Father would have left Mother for Claudia and Claudia would have been my mother. But then he started spending time with Bethany.” Bridget hissed the last word and scowled when she said Bethany.

Bridget’s implication was clear. “Who killed Bethany, Bridget?”

“That bitch is going to die!” Bridget stared straight ahead, appearing to have mimicked someone else’s words again.

“Did your mother kill Bethany?”

“Yes.” Bridget snapped to attention and focussed on Val again.