‘Not really,’ I say. ‘I’m not past my best. Fit as a fiddle, me. Fit as a flea.’
A ghost of a smile.
Jack makes some toast and I put the kettle on again.
Kay arrives, commenting about the weather and the disruption. There’s been an accident on the M60 with a lorry gone over. Trees have blocked roads and some of the rail networks have been closed where the overhead lines are down.
Almost immediately her phone goes and she leaves us to take the call in the living room.
I’m mixing a banana milkshake for Florence, whizzing the fruit with milk and a spoonful of honey, when there is a knocking at the front door, just audible above the liquidizer.
Florence has her hands pointedly over her ears.
‘Let Kay get it,’ I say to Jack when he moves to go.
We hear voices, male, more than one. Not Tony, I can tell his voice anywhere.
I pour the frothy yellow drink into a plastic cup.
‘Can I have a straw?’ Florence says.
‘The bits might clog it up,’ I say, ‘but you can try.’
The visitors come into the kitchen with Kay. Police officers. Jackets wet with raindrops.
‘Mr Jack Tennyson,’ one of them says.
‘Yes,’ Jack says, looking to see what they want.
They both hold up their ID cards. And the one who spoke, plump, fair-haired, introduces them. PC Curtis and PC Simmons.
They must have news! Have they found you? I lean against the worktop to steady myself, intent on whatever is coming next. I’m waiting, eager, poised, holding my breath. The men move further into the room past Florence to Jack at the end of the table. Then PC Curtis speaks again. ‘Jack Tennyson, I am arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Lizzie Tennyson, on the twelfth of September 2009…’
Shock jolts through me, stealing my breath.
Jack jumps to his feet, his face white with shock, shouting, ‘No!’
Florence flies to reach him, knocking her drink over as she drops from her chair.
‘… you do not have to say anything…’ Jack lunges along the side of the table, knocking over a chair. PC Simmons charges after him, blocks him in. Jack wrestles, still trying to get away. But Simmons has a set of handcuffs and he grabs for Jack’s arms.
PC Curtis keeps talking as he moves after Jack, ‘… but anything you do say may be given in evidence and…’
Jack is struggling, shouting, ‘This is crazy! I didn’t do it. I didn’t do anything.’ Lunging to try and break free. He kicks out with his legs, knocking a chair over, wrenches away but Simmons holds him fast.
