Chapter 63

Penn reread the caution to Olivia to ensure that she understood.

‘To be clear, you've waived your right to legal representation?'

‘I have,' Olivia said.

‘And you've had sufficient refreshment and rest?' Tiff asked.

‘I've been treated very well, thank you.'

Penn couldn't remember a time they'd ever been thanked for a night in the cells.

‘Olivia, when we arrived yesterday, it seemed like Logan was forcing you back into the house,' Penn said.

Horror appeared on her face. ‘Why would he be forcing me? I fell over. I hurt my ankle. He was helping me back home. I went to post a letter. It was those flip-flops.'

Penn hid his surprise at her response and also at her demeanour. He knew she was lying, but apart from that, he felt he was looking at a different woman. She seemed taller than he'd first thought, and her face was relaxed and open. This was not the woman they'd been seeing all week, and she didn't look like someone under arrest for murder.

‘It's been difficult to get a moment alone with you. Logan seems very protective.'

‘I think you mean supportive. Logan is a wonderful son who takes excellent care of me. Ask the neighbours.'

‘We have. We were told about an incident where you were trying to escape over the back fence.'

‘Escape?' she asked as her face contorted in confusion. ‘Why would I be trying to escape my own home? I think there was a time when I saw a cat stranded in a tree, but I'd just started my antidepressants so it could have been anything.'

Every word caused him to believe her less. Her body language was completely at odds with her statements. Whenever she spoke, her eyes darted everywhere except meeting his gaze. She was squeezing her hands together tightly with every new sentence. Lying didn't sit easy with her.

‘Olivia, we believe your son has been keeping you prisoner in your own home.'

Pause.

‘Ridiculous. Absolute nonsense,' she said, forcing a light laugh from her lips. ‘Why on earth would you think that? Logan does everything for me. I'm sorry but you have it completely wrong. Please move on to the reason for my arrest.'

‘Olivia, we wanted an opportunity to speak to you alone. What you say about Logan isn't convincing us?—'

‘I did it,' Olivia blurted out.

‘Did what?'

‘Killed James. It was me. I did it.'

‘Wh-What?' Penn spluttered.

‘He was cheating on me. I found out. I was angry. I killed him.'

Penn recovered quickly, despite a confession from Olivia not even being in his top ten of possibilities during this interview.

‘Okay, Olivia. I'm probably going to need a bit more detail.'

‘I followed him that day. I pretended there was nothing wrong. I knew roughly where he fished. There were trees that I could easily hide behind. There was a chopped-down log. I sat and waited.'

‘For what?'

‘For the guy fishing over the other side to go. He talked on the phone, and then he packed up and left. There was a man with a black Labrador too. I waited for him to leave and then I did it.'

He himself had seen a man with a black Labrador at the fishing pool the day before when he'd been talking to Ahab. Presumably he was a regular there. But how could Olivia have known that?

‘What did you do?' he asked.

‘I sneaked forward a bit at a time and then I pushed him in. I pushed him hard. He struggled, and I kept my hand on his head. He tried to reach out. I stamped on his hand. He went limp and then just disappeared. I went home and reported him missing a few hours later.'

The level of detail in her story was compelling, given what they already knew to be true. But could Olivia really have held James's head underwater? Pushing someone was one thing, but this was someone she professed to have loved. Could she really have held him down until the breath left his body? Could she have stamped on a hand that was reaching out for help?

Despite the questions in his mind, she was offering a convincing account of what had happened.

Except for one thing.

‘What did you do with his stuff?'

‘His wh-what?'

‘The fishing equipment. What did you do with it?'

Panic flashed across her features. ‘I threw it in. I picked it all up and threw it in after he'd disappeared from view.'

‘I'm sorry, Olivia, but I don't think that's what happened at all,' Penn said. Why would she be admitting to something that they knew was totally incorrect? Only the murderer knew where the fishing gear had really gone.

‘It is. I've told you the truth. I've confessed. I'm not going to change my story, and now I'd like to speak to my lawyer.'