‘What’s this about?’ Rob interrupts, putting his arm around me protectively.
‘We have questions for your wife. Detective Reza will meet us there.’
‘I’ve answered everything I possibly can already,’ I protest. ‘I’ve told you everything I know. If you need to talk to anyone it should be those two men I told you about. Have you found them yet? Are you even looking? They’re the ones who saw her last!’
Nunes glances between us. ‘Now it’s become a murder inquiry, we need to get new statement.’
His expression remains neutral but his eyes tell a different story – there’s a suspicious glint to them. Shit. A cold weight settles on my shoulders. Do the police think I had something to do with Kate’s dying? They can’t. That’s ludicrous. Why on earth would I hurt her or want her dead? If only I could remember more about that night.
I look to Rob who gives me a confused, worried shrug, like he doesn’t know what to make of it either, but what other choice do I have except to go with them? I don’t think I’m being given an option.
‘I’ll get my things,’ I say, and head to the bedroom, past Sebastian who shrinks away from me as I pass, as though I’m contagious.
In the bedroom I run a comb quickly through my hair, change my top, and brush my teeth. I could use a shower, as I still feel grimy and dishevelled from drinking too much. The tequila fumes coming off me could ignite a small blaze. Rob has followed me into the bedroom. I’m worried but try to hide it from him by forcing a smile. It feels silly to give my fears a voice. Of course, they can’t be looking at me as a suspect.
‘It’ll be OK,’ Rob tells me, trying to sound reassuring. ‘Don’t worry. They probably just want to go over your statement and see if they missed anything.’
I nod absently, trying to convince myself he’s right, but the cold weight on my shoulders has seeped into my limbs and is weighing me down.
Rob pulls me in for a hug, whispering in my ear that everything will be OK. I clutch at him, pressing my forehead into his broad chest, trying to fight panic. I want to burrow into him and hide. I wish I’d got on a plane already and headed home. I want to see Marlow, but leaving would only have made me look guiltier.
Rob kisses the top of my head. ‘It’s going to be OK,’ he says.
Over Rob’s shoulder I notice Kate’s Birkin handbag sitting on the floor. Out of the fog of my mind an idea starts to emerge.
‘Do you think they’ll let me see her?’ I ask, pulling away from Rob.
Rob stares at me in bewilderment. ‘Kate? You want to see her?’
He looks horrified by the idea and, honestly, I am too, but I nod all the same. ‘Yes, before they cremate her.’
Rob shrugs, still looking aghast. ‘Maybe. Ask them. But why?’
I shrug. I don’t tell Rob what my idea is because I’m not sure if it’s a good one or if it will work. It’s something that might offer a clue to who killed her though, and it’s the only idea I’ve got. I pick up Kate’s bag and root inside it for her phone, sliding it into my own bag.
When we enter the living room I force another smile. ‘OK, I’m ready.’
I turn and give Rob a quick, awkward hug, feeling like we’re on display. ‘Kiss Marlow for me,’ I say, fighting back tears.
He nods, though he can’t disguise the look of worry on his face, or is it suspicion? ‘See you soon,’ he says.
Chapter Twenty-Four
I follow Nunes down the stairs to his waiting car. It’s a proper police car this time and when he opens the back passenger door to let me in, my face starts to burn. I duck my head to avoid the stares of the shopkeeper over the road and the pedestrians who pause to watch. I look like a criminal being arrested.
‘Would it be possible to stop first so I can see the body, before they cremate her?’ I ask, once he has started driving.
Nunes glances at me in the rear-view mirror. I meet his stare, pleading silently with him for this one small favour. He frowns, obviously not wanting to deviate from his orders to bring me in for questioning and probably wondering why on earth I’d want to look at the body, given