Page 113 of The Jealous Girl

All I had to say was yes to a few questions they’d already asked before, and then I could go home.

Ben was sitting in his car outside, waiting for me. I could put this whole experience behind me in no time.

‘We’re curious then—’ PC Day joined in ‘—as, when we visited the stables yesterday, you seemed at ease with Atlas.’

My throat tightened.

‘He’s Ryan’s horse,’ I replied, as though that was an explanation.

‘So, you’ve spent more time with him, then?’

I hesitated.

The answer was yes. But how could I tell them that?

Everyone at the stables knew I’d avoided all the horses, even Atlas.

The only time I’d spent around him was when I’d broken in.

‘Ryan trusts him,’ I said finally. ‘And I trust Ryan.’

‘Charlotte probably thought she could trust Atlas too,’ PC Day said evenly. ‘Until he threw her.’

‘I was stroking him,’ I pointed out. ‘That doesn’t mean I was about to ride him.’

‘It seems strange, though, that you would suddenly be more comfortable with him the day after everyone had reported him acting out of character.’ PC Grove glanced at his notes. ‘Agitated, restless and even uncontrollable was how the yard hands described his behaviour.’

‘I didn’t know about that.’

‘You still seemed apprehensive of the other horses, though.’

‘Like I said, Atlas is Ryan’s horse.’

Silence fell between us.

I waited hopefully. Was that it? Had they finished? Could I go?

‘Let’s talk about Charlotte, then.’

My stomach plummeted.

‘What exactly did you and she talk about on Wednesday morning?’

‘She came to tell me to stay away from Ryan.’

‘You were seen arguing outside your block of flats. The witness says your conversation was heated. In fact, you pushed her so hard, Charlotte was in pain.’

‘It wasn’t like that.’

Kirsty just gets a bit overwhelmed sometimes.

Charlotte’s words to my neighbour repeated through my brain.

‘Did you and Charlotte spend much time together?’

‘No.’

‘But she has been to your flat. Your work. And even joined you for Sunday lunch.’