are holding her in custody in Brighton. They must think they have proof that she’s involved, otherwise they couldn’t have arrested her, but I’ve no idea what it is.’
Already I’m hurrying around my room, gathering a few clothes into a bag. ‘I have to go there. Oh my God … Poor Mum …’ After what Matt’s done to her, now this. ‘How can they even think that?’ Tears blur my eyes as I stare at Cath. ‘I need to go there. Now.’
She’s nodding. ‘I thought you would. And it’s OK. I’ll take you.’
‘You’re sure?’ I follow her gaze to where she’s staring across my room.
‘What are those?’
She’s looking at the montage of images I’ve printed off and crudely stuck on a section of wall. ‘I started looking into Matt’s past. I don’t trust him. I never did. There’s too much that doesn’t ring true.’
Cath frowns. ‘Like what?’
‘He never talked about his life before he met Mum – other than the woman he was with before her. I started going through his Facebook friends – and their friends. His Facebook is weird – it’s only been going about three years. He’s always with rich-looking women, but never for very long. I’m sure he was up to something. I need to find out to help Mum.’ A sense of urgency grips me. ‘Do you think we could leave now? I need to get to Mum.’ I glance around the room, checking I haven’t forgotten anything important. ‘Have you spoken to her?’
Cath nods. ‘Briefly. It was she who asked me to come here and tell you. I said that if you wanted me to, I’d take you home with me, but I thought you’d want to go to Sussex. There must have been a mistake. We have to believe that, Jess. I can’t believe she could have done anything wrong.’
‘But the police must think she has.’ My eyes are wide as I stare at her. ‘What has she actually been arrested for?’
‘I think in connection with his disappearance. Presumably that means they’re still investigating.’
Anguish fills me, as I think of everything she’s been through. ‘Mum hasn’t been herself. Not since she met Matt. He’s a shit. Sorry … But he is.’
‘I know he is.’ Cath shakes her head. ‘He had me fooled at the start, though. And he completely fooled your mum. She always told me how happy she was.’
‘I think they were happy – at the start.’ I stare at Cath. ‘Why else would they have been together? It’s why I put up with him. But he could be horrible to her. Cruel. And before he disappeared, it was like he hated her.’
‘I have an idea how these things work.’ Cath frowns. ‘After all, I stayed with Oliver, letting him drag me down, when I should have moved out months ago. But I never imagined it happening to your mum.’
‘There’s something else.’ I glance back to the montage of Facebook pictures stuck to my wall. ‘It’s creepy. All these friends of his – they’re connected. Each connection brought him closer to Mum – until that party where they met. By then, they knew a whole load of people in the same circle. I actually watched him make his move that day. And the rest is history.’
‘But why?’ Cath looks mystified.
I shake my head. ‘That’s the bit I haven’t been able to work out yet.’
*
As we leave Falmouth behind, the leaden skies lighten, but only slightly. It’s one of those days that knows only half-light, the drive seeming endless, while my brain tries to pull together the little I know and make sense of it. On the way, I text Rik, wanting him to know what I’m doing. Something’s going on with Mum. I’m on my way home. I’ll call you and fill you in later xxxx
The further east we drive, the busier the roads become. The closer we get to Brighton, the longer the journey seeming to take; my frustration building as roadworks mean the city centre is gridlocked.
Gazing out of the window, even the sea is different here, the same steel shade as the sky. Our speed reduced to a crawl, I wish none of this was happening; that Mum was at home and I was back in Cornwall – my hatred for Matt growing with every minute.
Eventually we reach the custody centre. As Cath turns into the car park, I’m nervous suddenly, my stomach knotting up as she finds a parking space. As we go inside, the custody sergeant looks