Chapter 59

‘Can you just hang on a sec, please, Dad?' Georgia covers the mouthpiece. ‘Daisy's dad used to give her Chinese burns for misbehaving and pull her ears until they bled if she burnt the Sunday roast. You'd run upstairs and lock yourself in your bedroom, blood pouring. Init, Daisy? The sight of the red stuff makes her panic now.'

Daisy's eyes harden, her look depicting traitor. ‘Sorry, Daisy, but they've got to know why you freaked out. Otherwise, they might think you're doolally and lock you up in a funny farm.' Georgia giggles. ‘Oh, and her mum used to lock her in the cupboard under the stairs for being naughty. Yeah, Dad, what's up?'

‘Daisy, is this true?' Mum gulps, to the backdrop of Georgia's footsteps clattering in the hallway, her voice fading with each step.

‘Why didn't you say something, love?' I ask, the fear of Tom grassing me to Georgia taking a backseat to Daisy's wellbeing.

Zelda runs a hand over her face, looking contrite. ‘Shit, no wonder you're traumatised.'

‘Daddy couldn't hold his drink – didn't know what he was doing, and Mammy was only trying to teach me a lesson.' Daisy picks at a loose thread of her bandage. ‘That's how parents disciplined their kids back in the day, wasn't it?' Zelda and I look at each other.

‘Well, no, I never did that to my kids.' Mum shakes her head. ‘I mean, they got the odd clip around the ear, but nothing more.'

‘That's abuse,' Zelda croaks, clearly shaken by Daisy's revelation. ‘You must be suffering from PTSD.'

‘PT what?' Mum quizzes, curling her sleek white hair behind her ear.

‘Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,' Zelda clarifies. ‘It's a condition caused by a traumatic experience.'

‘Right. I see. Well, you should get some professional help for that, love.'

‘I haven't got PTSD. I'm fine.'

I disagree. I think Zelda's spot on. That, together with the hemophobia, will explain her outburst today. ‘The system should've taken care of you,' I say. ‘Honestly, some people shouldn't have kids.' Mum murmurs in agreement when I say this. ‘But hey, you've got us now, right?'

Daisy's head snaps up. ‘Why are you chucking me out, then?'

Heat gushes my face. ‘I'm not,' I protest, suddenly feeling defensive. ‘You can stay as long as you like. I'm sorry Tom was a bit short with you this morning. He's got a lot on his plate.' I laugh lightly, eyes flicking from Mum to Zelda who are looking at me as if I'm a monster who's throwing a homeless, abused girl onto the streets. ‘Georgia said the flats you saw today weren't very good, but there'll be others – no rush,' I say, feeling as if I'm sitting in a witness box being scrutinised by a harsh jury. ‘Maggie said she's ready to come back to work. I mean, if I could keep you both on, I would.' A drill goes off and I look at the wall. Mum rolls her eyes, flicks a hand out and says she's got new neighbours, moved in while she was away. ‘Look, I'll talk to Tom, see if we can arrange something for you. How's that?'

‘That control freak?'

‘What do you mean?' I'm taken aback by her feralness. Tom is a stingy arsehole, but he's been good to her for most of her stay.

‘I mean, he calls all the shots, holds the purse strings. Manipulates you.'

‘Of course he doesn't.' I give a little mirthless laugh, looking from Zelda to Mum for backup, but they're wearing their harsh jury expressions again. ‘I do what I like with my money.' This isn't strictly true. Tom has taken to opening my credit card and bank statements since I omitted to tell him I'd hired Frank, and then pretends he opened them by accident.

‘Actually, she's right, Bells,' Zelda looks at Mum. ‘We've thought it for years.'

‘Oh, come off it,' I protest. ‘He's not that bad.'

‘He's old-fashioned.' Mum waves a hand. ‘That's all.' At least Tom has one supporter. ‘Your father was the same.'

‘It's coercive behaviour, Sandra,' Daisy points out. ‘It's criminal. Anyway, I don't want your charity, Bella. I know when I'm not wanted. Funny how you weren't so eager to get shot of me when you needed my help to hide the weapon.'

Needles pierce into my guts. ‘Excuse me?' I utter. Zelda looks at me, face reddening.

‘Weapon?' Mum asks, with fake laughter.

‘It's not funny, Sandra,' Daisy rages, blood rushing to her cheeks. She has got a short fuse, after all. ‘Your precious baking-genius daughter stabbed her boyfriend and your expert veg-cutting eldest was going to help her cover it up.' I feel the room swirl, the sensation making me bilious. There's only one way she could know all this – she was standing outside Zelda's door that night for a lot longer than she let on. ‘It's been all over the news,' Daisy adds for good measure. Right, she thinks Frank is the Limes Park victim. But why this sudden anger? Tom rudely asked her to leave this morning and I suppose I went along with it. But is she really that vindictive?

‘No, that's complete bollocks,' Zelda gulps. ‘Look, Mum, I'm gonna level with you.' Mum folds her arms in readiness, lips pursed. ‘While you were in Portugal, I dated a guy, Bella's ex-personal trainer, who turned out to be a bastard. We had a fight and he disappeared, that's all. Did me for two thousand quid.'

‘Two thousand pounds? Oh, you idiot,' Mum barks and Zelda reddens, humiliated, hurt.

‘Disappeared?' Daisy scoffs. ‘Dead more like.'

‘No, Daisy, he's very much alive. In fact, I got a text from him this morning.'

‘Where from, the morgue? We all know he's the Limes Park victim. That's why the police came round to Bella's fishing for information.'

Mum looks as if she's about to have a heart attack. ‘Is this true?'

Closing my eyes, I run a hand through my hair. ‘No,' I say, ‘Frank isn't the Limes Park guy.' Daisy opens her mouth to protest when I blurt, ‘They've identified the body. It's Liam Cooper. Look it up on your phone, Daisy.' Daisy's face pales. She didn't know.