Sisters - Michelle Frances Page 0,111

sirens squealing, tyres screeching to a halt. Both girls looked back to see several police cars blocking the road, dust rising into the air. Doors flung open and police officers exited at speed, crouching down behind their vehicles, guns raised.

‘Oh my God,’ said Abby.

‘Are they pointing those things at us?’ asked Ellie in shock.

‘I don’t think it’s the seagulls,’ said Abby.

‘Step away from the car with your hands above your head,’ ordered Baroni, through a loudspeaker. She crouched down behind the door of the police car, watching intently, alert for any sudden moves. Santini was in another vehicle to her left. He got out, raised his weapon.

Susanna was sitting in the back of the car. She’d had strict instructions to remain there, whatever happened. She looked through the windscreen, could see her two daughters up ahead on the cliff edge. Suddenly she didn’t want to do as she was told. She opened the car door and, getting out, she stood tall.

‘Get back in the car,’ snapped Baroni, but Susanna ignored her. She could see Matteo standing by another one of the police cars, but this was her moment, her children. She stepped forward, disregarding Baroni’s increasingly furious demands.

Abby blinked, unable to take in what she was seeing. ‘Oh my God,’ she faltered. She looked over at Ellie, saw her guilty face.

‘That’s what I was about to tell you,’ said Ellie, biting her lip. ‘Mum’s not dead.’

‘Are you joking me?’ said Abby. ‘How . . .?’ Lost for words, she just stared at her mother, who was slowly moving towards them.

‘This is your last warning,’ said Baroni. ‘Move away from the vehicle with your hands raised in the air!’

‘I think we’d better do as she says,’ said Ellie. She slowly stepped away from the car. Abby had no choice but to do the same.

‘Move further away from the vehicle,’ ordered Baroni and both girls started to walk away from their car, towards the police, their hands above their heads. The police edged towards them, their weapons still raised.

‘You need to arrest her,’ said Susanna, pointing. ‘Abby. She’s the one who’s dangerous.’

Abby’s mouth dropped open.

‘She’s been saying it’s you,’ said Ellie quickly. ‘The whole time. You’re the one who hurt me as a kid. She’s been saying you’ve tried to poison me on this trip. Hiding stuff in my food.’ It pained her to admit to this, to see her mother again. She had loved her so much. Ellie felt the ground spin. She stopped still, regained her balance.

Abby looked at her mother and was shocked to see the distance in her eyes. It was as if Susanna was looking at a stranger, someone she had no connection with. Abby was suddenly filled with an incredible anger. She had tried so hard to make her mother love her. She hadn’t deserved any of this. She dropped her arms by her sides, started to walk towards Susanna, slowly at first, then faster.

‘Stop right there!’ yelled Baroni but Abby kept on going.

Susanna stood absolutely still.

‘Has she got the gun?’ Baroni asked her colleagues urgently. ‘Can anyone see if the suspect is armed?’

‘Can’t see,’ said an officer agitatedly, his gun aloft.

Santini stayed conspicuously quiet. He raised his weapon, holding Abby in his sight-line.

‘Abby!’ Matteo stepped forward in desperation but was immediately held back by another officer.

Susanna didn’t move, waiting for the inevitable to happen. Just a few more seconds, then Abby would be cut down by the police and order would be restored.

EIGHTY-SEVEN

Abby’s eyes blazed as she approached Susanna. ‘You gave her something, didn’t you? That night at my house when you helped cook. She’s been ill ever since we left.’

‘I swear I didn’t,’ said Susanna, innocence cast across her face. ‘It’s not true,’ she insisted loudly to the police.

‘You’re lying.’

‘It wasn’t her,’ cried out Ellie but her voice was weak and got lost in the wind.

Susanna stood in front of her eldest daughter and held her head high. ‘If I had, it would have worn off by now,’ she said, ‘and if anything, Ellie’s been getting worse.’

Matteo saw his wife falter. Jesus, he thought, she’s right. His mother-in-law was right. Which meant . . . He looked at Abby.

‘You know it’s true,’ continued Susanna. She lowered her voice. ‘And you know you were always jealous of her.’

‘Get your hands up!’ shouted Baroni to Abby.

‘With good reason,’ said Abby to Susanna. ‘You ignored me. Ellie was always your favourite. Why did you do that, Mum?’ She looked at her mother, searching her face for an