on the back of his neck bristling, his back arching like a cat. He’s not good with authority, hates anyone telling him what to do. If he’s not careful, he’ll accidentally incriminate himself.
She tries to send him telepathic thoughts: Stay calm and tell the truth.
‘I’ve been studying the witness statement you gave,’ says Benedict, turning to nod at DS Ali Smart, who is already taking notes. ‘I’d like to go over it again, just in case anything else comes to mind, something you forgot first time around.’
‘Okay. Yeah, I’m happy to do that.’
‘But first, I’d like to hear a bit more about your relationship with your family. To fill in the background.’
‘What do you mean exactly?’ Ruby picks up a plastic cup of scalding tea. It sloshes and a drop splashes onto her thumb, making her flinch. It’s obviously too hot to drink, so she puts it back down immediately.
‘Well, how would you describe your relationship with your sister?’
She shrugs. ‘Um … okay. A bit weird, if I’m honest. I mean, we were never close as kids, there’s a big age gap and, um … we’re very different personalities. We still don’t have much in common, but we get on better these days.’
‘Do you socialise together much? As a foursome, I mean.’
‘Not really. We tried it a few times, but it didn’t work very well.’ She casts her mind back to a few awkward evenings neither side wanted to repeat. ‘George and Amber wanted to go to smart, super-cool places we didn’t much like and definitely couldn’t afford. Amber would insist on paying and Lewis found it embarrassing. It was like we were the kids and they were the parents.’
‘I see.’
‘And we have different politics, which never helps.’
‘But apart from that, the four of you get along?’
‘Yeah, as long as you don’t scratch the surface.’
Benedict seems to think about this for a few moments. ‘Has Lewis ever fallen out with Amber or George?’
‘No. Not that I can remember.’ She tries the tea again, taking the opportunity to gather her thoughts. It’s true that Lewis keeps coming up with excuses for not going around to number 74, particularly recently. She’d hoped Mabel’s arrival would make things better, but if anything, it made them worse. If only he’d agreed to join her last weekend. Somehow, she’s certain that if there’d been two of them on duty, the abductor wouldn’t have dared enter the house.
‘Would you say you’ve been closer or further apart since Mabel was born?’ asks Benedict.
‘Oh, closer, for sure. It’s made a huge difference.’ Tears start to clog in her throat.
‘How did you feel when you heard you were going to be an aunt?’
‘I was really excited. I love kids … Sorry.’ She takes a tissue from her sleeve and presses it against her damp eyes. She adores Mabel, but even if her niece is found safe and well – and she’s clinging to the belief that she will be – she’ll probably never be allowed anywhere near her again. That relationship is broken forever.
‘You okay?’ DI Benedict is studying her face closely.
‘I can’t bear it. I just want you to find her and bring her home.’
‘That’s what everyone wants,’ says Ali Smart.
Ruby removes the tissue, now soaked with tears, and, not having anywhere else to put it, tucks it back up her sleeve, where it clings damply to her skin.
‘Sorry.’
‘Nothing to apologise for.’ Benedict lets a brief silence descend on the room, then resumes. ‘How do you think Amber felt about becoming pregnant?’
‘She was thrilled.’
‘Was it planned – as far as you know?’
‘Oh yes, absolutely. Everything Amber does is planned. She’s an achievement junkie.’ Ruby gives them a rueful smile. ‘That’s the main difference between us. She’s the success, I’m the failure.’
‘Do you feel in competition with her?’
‘Not any more, but yes, when I was a kid. Our mother used to compare us all the time and I was always way behind. I suppose I was jealous.’
DI Benedict grabs the word out of the air. ‘Jealous?’
Ruby curses silently. She’s thrown them a line and now they’re going to wind it around her, tying her in knots. ‘Yes, but I grew up and realised that it didn’t matter what anyone else thought, as long as I was true to my own values.’
‘And how do you feel about Amber right now?’
‘I feel extremely sorry for her. She’s going through hell. We all are.’
‘Is there any reason why you might feel angry with her?’