A Cry in the Night by Tom Grieves Page B

stepped into the small tent and Tim followed. It was cramped inside with the other officials there, and asSam followed them inside, a photographer’s flash blinded them all. Sam took a step back and came outside. He looked around and saw the wary, cool stares of the public. He went up close to Zoe and looked at her – What do you think?
    ‘If it’s a performance, it’s a very good one,’ she said, her hand covering her mouth so no one could catch her words.
    ‘Yeah, but why is she here?’ Sam asked, his eyes still scanning the crowd.
    ‘She needed to see him. I’d be the same.’
    Sarah’s scream roared out from inside the tent and silenced everyone. It was as though this primal, gut-wrenching howl was a biting wind, such was its effect – the way everyone turned away from it, their heads ducking down into their chests, birdlike, their eyes closing, wincing in its wake. While quieter sobs could then be heard from inside, outside no one moved or spoke.
    When Sarah eventually emerged, she needed Tim to help her walk. He practically carried her back up the path as someone ran over and offered to drive them the remaining distance. Tim thanked them with mournful politeness, but Sarah was engulfed in grief, unaware of anything around her.
    All eyes were on the car as it drove off. The cops walked away, further along the shoreline.
    ‘A bit spooky, eh? Him popping up out of the lake like that,’ said Zoe.
    ‘Not according to forensics. Apparently a couple of warm days is all you need – gets the bacteria going in his stomach and he pumps up like a balloon.’
    ‘Nice.’
    Zoe looked out at the water, towards the spot where he had appeared.
    ‘She sure does know how to make a scene,’ Sam said slowly, as though he was testing out the words. Zoe saw that he was staring at the forensics tent.
    ‘Go on,’ she said.
    ‘Those kids saw her down by the lake when she claimed she found the bike. She started screaming. She made sure they all saw her.’
    ‘She might just have been panicking – like any worried mother would.’
    ‘Yes, but she was seen by them, all the same. Just like today. You think anyone’s going to be accusing her of murder after that?’
    ‘I guess not,’ she said, making sure the lack of conviction was clear in her voice.
    ‘Just run with this for a second,’ Sam said, aware of her doubts. ‘Is there a reason why she made such a scene down there? Is there something she’s trying to distract us from?’
    ‘Or maybe she was trying to distract the teenagers? From something down at the lake at the time?’
    ‘Yes. Good. We should question them again.’
    One of the forensics team, all white in a paper suit, had come out of the tent and was waving to them. They walked back towards him. They knew he’d probably have little to offer – the water would have washed away the killer’s secrets and the temperature of the lake would make an exact time of death almost impossible to determine.
    ‘I should deal with him,’ Sam said. ‘You okay with the kids?’
    ‘Sure.’
    They were closer to the crowd now and their voices dropped.
    ‘Can I say something?’ Zoe asked.
    Sam stopped, and they turned their backs on the crowd so that they were shielded from them.
    ‘What about a motive? You’re acting like it’s her that’s done it.’
    ‘She’s a person of interest, yeah.’
    ‘But there’s no motive, no evidence, no link, nothing. And we still don’t know what’s happened to Lily. It’s not like you, boss.’
    ‘You think we’re barking up the wrong tree?’
    ‘No. Maybe. I don’t know.’ She shrugged, annoyed with herself. ‘I just don’t see why everyone’s looking at Sarah.’ She sighed. ‘I’ll go question the kids.’
    ‘Thanks. I’ll get divers organised – do a proper trawl of the lake.’
    They were too close to the crowd to say more. Zoe strode back towards the car. Sam wondered about her for a moment. She was right, things were drifting towards Sarah