Where the Memories Lie

 

 

DS Khan said, ‘Chris has admitted he was working on the barn renovation with Tom at the time so he had access to the site.’

 

I opened my mouth to speak but my mouth felt rubbery.

 

‘But he saw her walking towards the barn and then he got on 193

 

Sibel Hodge

 

the bus to go to the gym. And lots of people must’ve had access to the site.’

 

‘That’s what he said, but we have no proof he went there or not. We spoke to his trainer, who still works there, but he can’t remember after all this time whether Chris actually showed up that day or not. They don’t keep any clocking in and out records there.

 

And we don’t know for certain she was even killed then. It could’ve happened any time after she was seen apparently walking towards the barn.’

 

‘Or maybe she never did walk towards the barn like Chris said,’

 

DS Khan threw in. ‘Maybe something else happened later.’ Her words hung in the air for a moment before I grasped the meaning.

 

‘You think Chris is lying?!’

 

DS Khan shrugged. ‘We’re not sure of anything at the moment.

 

That’s why we need to investigate. We’re trying to trace anyone else who remembers seeing her that day.’

 

I stared out of the window at a couple walking past with their dog, oblivious to the macabre conversation going on in the car. Oh, yes, don’t mind us. We’re just talking about a dead body here. Carry on about your business, folks.

 

‘Do you happen to remember seeing Tom the day Katie wrote the letter and left home?’ DI Spencer asked.

 

I shook my head. ‘No. After PC Cook came and asked me if I knew anything about where Katie had gone, I thought I’d try and look for her myself. I checked the pub, but she wasn’t there, and I borrowed Mum’s car and drove to Abbotsbury because she was last seen by Chris heading in that direction. Then I went to Dorchester.

 

We used to like hanging out in one of the parks there when the weather was nice. Just lying on the ground and staring at the sky, chatting, you know. Well, this was before she got upset about Chris breaking up with her. After that she didn’t want to hang out at all, really. But anyway, she wasn’t there, of course, so I drove to 194

 

Where the Memories Lie some other places that were our usual haunts over the years. Here,’

 

I pointed out to the beach, ‘and then on to Weymouth. It was get-ting dark by the time I got back and I went to Tom’s house to see Ethan. The other house, I mean, their old one on the other side of the village. At that time I just thought she’d come back in a few days’ time. I didn’t think she was serious about running away, even though PC Cook told me about the letter, so I wasn’t that worried at first. But . . .’ I trailed off, remembering how I’d followed Ethan up the stairs to go to his room and seen Chris coming out of the bathroom, obviously upset, with a flushed face and tear-stained cheeks.

 

‘She’s gone. Katie’s gone.’ Chris had gripped my arm so tight his fingernails had dug into my flesh. ‘PC Cook told me.’

 

‘I’m sure she’ll turn up soon. She’s probably had another row with Jack and Rose and she’s just gone to cool off. She’ll be back in a few days.’

 

I pulled my arm away. ‘Chris, that’s hurting.’

 

‘What?’ He looked at my arm with confusion. ‘Oh, sorry.’ He let go.

 

‘She’s just looking for attention.’ Ethan was sitting on the top step, folding his arms. ‘She’s a drama queen. She’s probably only done it so you go running back to her.’

 

Chris shook his head adamantly. ‘She’s gone. She’s gone and she’s not coming back.’

 

DS Khan’s voice brought me back to the present. ‘But, what?’

 

‘Pardon?’

 

She watched me carefully, her eyebrows pinched together. ‘You said you weren’t worried at first “but”.’

 

‘Oh, Ethan thought the same as me – that it would blow over and she’d come back soon. Chris was adamant she was already gone for good.’