‘In what way?’
‘I struggled to get pregnant. We used up all our savings on IVF. Maggie had Felix by then and I felt like such a failure. I didn’t have a career and I couldn’t have a baby.’
‘What happened?’
She glances towards the sitting room. ‘Aiden came along like a gift from God. I was so relieved. Sometimes at parties when women ask me what I do, I feel guilty about being a stay-at-home mum and not having had a career. But I’m good at this. It’s all I ever wanted. It’s enough.’
The fridge rattles to life, as though punctuating the statement.
‘I was hoping to ask you about Jodie,’ I say.
‘I thought the police had arrested someone.’
‘They still have to prepare a case.’
Felicity nods.
‘You watched her grow up,’ I say.
‘I was like her second mum.’
‘What was she like?’
‘Precious.’
I struggle with terms like precious, or treasure, or princess, because they tell me nothing. I need more. Was she flirtatious, brash, self-assured, or was she quiet, withdrawn or self-conscious?
‘She was very good to our Tasmin,’ says Felicity.
‘In what way?’
‘Teenage girls can be very cruel. Tasmin has been bullied since Year Six. Don’t ask me why? I know she’s not the prettiest girl and she isn’t sporty or coordinated – her dance teachers used to hide her in the back row whenever they did recitals – but my girl has a good heart.’
Her voice has grown thick and she looks at her tea as though she’s forgotten whether she’s sugared it or not.
‘Jodie stood up to the bullies. She made sure Tasmin was included.’
‘Can I talk to Tasmin?’
Felicity glances at the ceiling. ‘She’s upstairs now. Some girls from school dropped round. They brought flowers.’ I notice a ragged bunch of carnations in a vase. ‘It’s ironic really.’
‘What is?’
‘The same girls who used to exclude Tasmin now want to be her best friend. I’m not stupid. I know they’re up there now, pumping her for details, wanting to be involved.’
As if summoned by a bell, I hear running above my head and jostling on the stairs. Three teenage girls appear.
‘We’re hungry,’ says Tasmin, reaching for the biscuits. Felicity slaps her hand away. ‘They’re for guests.’
‘I got guests.’
‘I could toast some crumpets.’
Tasmin looks at her friends hopefully, but the signals aren’t good.
Felicity points to a fruit bowl. ‘We have apples and a sad-looking banana.’
‘It’s brown,’ says Tasmin.
‘It tastes the same.’
The taller of her friends is wearing a clingy top and a short denim skirt. Loitering in the doorway, she’s trying to catch Aiden’s attention, but he doesn’t look up.
‘Hi, Aiden,’ she says finally.
‘Hi, Brianna,’ he replies, glancing at her briefly before going back to his guitar.
The girl on the sofa glares at Brianna in response.
‘This is Dr Haven,’ says Felicity. ‘He’s working with the police. He wants to ask you some questions about Jodie.’
Brianna immediately forgets Aiden and focuses on me.
‘Are you a detective?’
‘A psychologist.’
‘I’m Olive,’ says the other girl, not wanting to be left out. She has doll-like eyes and blond hair that curls in ringlets to her shoulders. They’re both prettier than Tasmin and she’s self-conscious around them.
‘Did Jodie have lots of friends, or just a few close ones?’ I ask.
‘We were her best friends,’ replies Brianna, who is clearly the queen bee.
‘Was she a leader or a follower?’ I ask.
The girls look perplexed. I haven’t framed the question well. I try again. ‘When the latest must-have fashion came out, who would get it first?’
‘Me,’ says Brianna.
‘OK. And if someone dared you to do something crazy, who’s most likely to take up the dare?’
‘Jodie,’ says Tasmin, speaking for the first time.
‘And if you were deciding what to do on the weekend, who came up with the ideas?’
‘Jodie,’ she says again.
‘What sort of things did she like to do?’
‘She was a really good figure skater,’ says Olive, wanting to add something.
‘Duh! Everybody knows that,’ says Brianna.
‘What else?’
‘She liked dancing,’ says Olive, looking hurt.
‘Yes, dancing,’ says Brianna. ‘She took classes, didn’t she?’ They look at Tasmin, who nods.
‘What kind of foods did she like?’ I ask.
‘Pizza and chocolate brownies and fruit smoothies,’ says Brianna, clearly making things up.
‘She wasn’t allowed to eat pizza,’ says Felicity. ‘Maggie kept her on a strict diet.’
‘She ate pizza sometimes,’ counters Tasmin. ‘When Aunt Maggie wasn’t around.’
‘What else did she do in secret?’ I ask.
They glance at each other, less sure of the conversation.
‘Did she have a boyfriend?’
‘Toby Leith,’ replies Brianna. ‘He’s in Year Twelve.’
Tasmin shakes her head. ‘Jodie thinks he’s an F-boy.’
‘A what?’ Felicity asks.
Tasmin blushes and looks at the floor.
‘A guy who only wants one thing,’ explains Brianna, nudging Olive.
‘Were Jodie and Toby seeing each other?’
‘They used to hook up.’
‘It was one time,’ protests Tasmin.
‘It was more than once . . . first at Shelley Pollard’s party, then at the Goose Fair.’
‘And at the movies,’ adds Olive. ‘That day we saw Infinity War.’
‘Was Toby at the fireworks?’ I ask.
All the girls nod.
‘Did Jodie talk to him?’
Tasmin hesitates. ‘Toby was teasing her. He snatched her tote bag and wouldn’t give it back.’
‘What did Jodie do?’
‘She slapped him in the face, but he just laughed. That’s when Father Patrick showed up.’
‘Father Patrick?’
‘Our parish priest,’ explains Felicity.
‘He made Toby give the bag back,’ says Tasmin.
‘Did Jodie talk to anyone else?’
‘Loads of people. They were coming up to her all night.’
‘Why?’
Tasmin shrugs.
Brianna grins at Olive and I sense an in-joke.
I focus on Tasmin. ‘Why did Jodie leave the fireworks?’
‘Someone sent her a text and she said she had to go.’
‘Who?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Did you know that Jodie was carrying a second phone?’
‘No.’
‘You told the police that Jodie went to get fish and chips.’
‘That’s what she told me.’
‘Did you know that she had a second mobile phone?’
Tasmin doesn’t answer.