Silent Fear by Katherine Howell

Author:Katherine Howell [Howell, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery
ISBN: 9781742610726
Publisher: Bolinda Audio
Published: 2012-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Ella slowed before she reached the cafe in Lidcombe where Trina had said she’d wait for them. She wanted to spot her before Trina spotted them, check how she looked, see whether she was watchful or fearful or calm. There. Sitting at an outdoor table in the shade of a Cinzano umbrella, big dark sunglasses covering half her face, coffee cup hiding the other half. Her right arm was in a sling.

Ella parked and got out. Trina acknowledged their approach with a nod, then put down the cup. No smile, but no fear either.

Ella sat directly opposite her. The shade from the umbrella didn’t reach that far but it was the best place for watching. Murray stayed on his feet.

‘If you want coffee you better go in,’ Trina said. ‘Service’s terrible.’

‘When did you find out about Paul’s death?’ Ella said.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Exactly what I just said.’ Ella stared at her. ‘And take off your glasses, please.’

Trina removed them, folded them and placed them on the table. She adjusted the position of her cup. Stalling, Ella thought. Trying to figure out what we know.

‘Actually, I’m glad you asked that,’ Trina said. ‘I might’ve made a mistake when we were talking about that before.’

‘Mistake how?’ Murray said.

‘I believe I told you that I found out when Carl came over, but he actually phoned me earlier to let me know Paul had collapsed. I was in shock. I didn’t know what to do. He said he’d let me know once he knew more. I had Darcy, I couldn’t have gone out there and let her see something like that, her dad on the ground.’

‘He called you on your mobile?’

Trina nodded.

‘Can you check that timing now?’

She pressed buttons on her phone. ‘Quarter past twelve.’

‘And all he told you was that Paul’d collapsed?’ Murray said.

‘I think – well, no. He may have said more than that. Like I said, I went into shock. Everything was a blur.’

‘It’d help us if you can remember correctly,’ Ella said.

Trina stared into the distance, then her eyes filled with tears.

Ella folded her arms and leaned on the table. The sun was burning her scalp and she was hot and sweaty and getting annoyed. ‘What happened after Carl phoned and told you whatever it was he told you?’

‘I cried, of course,’ she said. ‘And tried not to let Darcy see that something was wrong. No point upsetting her until I knew for sure.’

‘Did you phone your mother?’

‘Again, I didn’t know for certain what was happening.’

‘Paul’s parents?’

‘Same thing. What’s with –’

‘Who did you phone?’ Murray said.

‘Nobody.’

‘Who phoned you?’

‘Nobody,’ she said. ‘No, wait. Some guy from Paul’s work called, almost immediately after I got off the phone with Carl. He wanted to talk to Paul. I don’t really know what I said but I remember I just wanted him to go away because I needed to try to absorb what was going on, and I think in the end I said something about Paul being hurt.’

‘You told this man that Paul had been shot and was dead.

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