Deep Wate - Sarah Epstein Page 0,109

the excavation of the mudslide site on Cutler Bend. I’m grateful he was there to hold me when Sergeant Doherty called to inform us Henry’s body had been found in the ravine. Tom provided a full confession, and walked the police through everything that happened.

And still, none of this seems real.

‘I’ll be okay,’ I tell Dad. ‘Will you wait here for me?’

‘Of course, chook.’ He leans over and kisses the top of my head.

I take a deep breath and make the short walk to the police station on wobbly legs. Once again I find myself standing at the reception counter and staring through the glass, only this time I don’t have to wait. The red-headed police officer jumps up and ushers me straight through the security door, and Sergeant Doherty meets me on the other side.

‘You okay with this?’ he asks me gently, his gaze searching my face.

My eyes are bloodshot and my nose is pink from blowing it, but I nod firmly. ‘Yes.’

‘Just because he asked to speak to you doesn’t mean you have to do it.’

‘I know,’ I assure him.

Doherty’s furrowed brow softens slightly. Dark shadows circle his eyes and I wonder how much sleep he’s been getting, especially in the last day or so since media crews descended on the town.

‘All right,’ he says. ‘As you know, he’s already given us a detailed statement. However, there is a camera in the room and it will be recording in case he reveals any other relevant details. He’s requested that his lawyer not be present for this because he wants to speak with you alone. I won’t come into the room unless you ask me to.’

‘Mm-hmm. I understand.’

He glances through the glass at the reception area. ‘I take it Mason’s not joining you?’

I shake my head. ‘He can’t do it. Not yet.’

Doherty’s voice is quiet. ‘That’s understandable.’

He leads me towards an interview room with the blinds drawn and the door closed, gesturing for me to enter whenever I’m ready. I grip the doorhandle and release a long breath before easing the door open and stepping inside.

Tom is sitting with his elbows on the table and his head in his hands. His glasses are resting on the tabletop off to one side. His head snaps up as I enter. He appears pale and drawn, like he’s suffering from the flu, but he has no obvious injuries from the car crash. The airbags in Mason’s car did their job.

Taking the seat opposite, I realise I have no idea what I want to say to him. Tom’s the one who requested this meeting, so I wait for him to talk.

‘Is Mason coming?’ he asks. His voice is husky and he quickly clears his throat.

‘No.’

Tom’s expression wilts. He presses his lips together in a grim line and reaches for his glasses, shoving them on.

‘I just …’ he starts. His eyes well up. ‘I need you to know how sorry I am. For all of it. For Henry, for all the lies, for trying to run. It all spiralled out of control.’ He runs a trembling hand through his hair. ‘I’d give anything to change it. I’d do anything to bring Henry back.’

I’m quiet for a moment, unsure how to respond. It’s still inconceivable to me that I’m having this conversation with Tom. How long did he think he could get away with it? At some point in the future the mudslide would have been cleared so the road could be rebuilt. No wonder he was supporting Jack Doherty’s efforts to keep Cutler Bend closed – it was buying him time. Maybe making sure his grandparents were taken care of with the fire insurance was part of a larger plan to disappear before work ever started on that road.

So many questions. But only one that really matters.

‘Why didn’t you help him?’ I ask, my voice breaking.

Tom gulps as his tears spill over. ‘I don’t know. I don’t know.’ He shakes his head and pulls off his glasses again, pressing his fingers into his eye sockets. ‘I panicked. I didn’t know what to do. He wasn’t moving, and there was so much water on the road. I—’

‘You drove away and left him there?’ My tone is disbelief and anger all rolled into one.

‘I had to get Mason away!’ he cries. ‘I didn’t want him to know. I didn’t want anyone to know. My grandparents … how could I do that to them?’

‘So you let the water take Henry.’

Tom wipes his nose with his sleeve. ‘I