Slaughter in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope

happened. ‘Or did they let you drive yourself there?’
    Emily heaved a dramatic sigh. ‘That was another thing – there was endless discussion about it. In the end they drove me, because I was “emotionally disturbed” – and covered in yuck. I didn’t really want to get it all over my seats. They brought me back again later.’
    ‘Did they keep your clothes?’
    Emily nodded. ‘They want to do tests on them.’
    ‘You’re their only witness,’ Thea said, as if this fact had only just dawned on her. ‘Whatever you tell them has to be vitally important. Especially your description of the killer.’
    ‘Killer,’ Emily echoed. ‘Yes. Except I’m a lousy witness. I never even glimpsed his face.’
    For the tenth time, Thea tried to visualise the precise details – the shouts and shadowy figures; the rain and mud and sense of unreality. ‘It’s like a nightmare,’ she said.
    ‘I know it is.’ Emily was suddenly forceful. ‘A total bloody nightmare.’
    It was a signal to shut up, but Thea still had niggling questions. ‘So tell me again,’ she insisted, ‘why you came back here, instead of going straight home?’
    ‘I told you. It seemed too far to drive. I was so shaky and confused. And Bruce would have made such a fuss . Plus the boys would have woken up and demanded to know what was going on. Besides you needed to know everything that hadhappened, and it was much easier to tell you face to face.’
    ‘Right.’ It made good sense, and Thea felt vaguely flattered that she had been given such a prominent status by her big sister.
    Emily had helped herself to a long-sleeved top and cotton trousers from Thea’s meagre collection of clothes. ‘Will you ever get yours back?’ Thea wondered. ‘And what about shoes? I haven’t got any I can spare.’
    Emily shuddered. ‘I don’t want them,’ she said. ‘But there’s a pair of sandals in the car somewhere, luckily. I drove in bare feet last night,’ she added wonderingly. ‘I’ve never done that before, but I didn’t want to waste time looking for the sandals.’
    ‘Well, it was only half a mile or so, as far as I can work it out.’
    They found the sandals on the floor in the back, and Emily got into the driving seat. She was pale and frowning. ‘Well, I’ll be off then,’ she said, making no move to start the engine. ‘I’m really sorry about all this. If only I hadn’t been such a fool, turning the wrong way like that. I wasn’t really thinking, you see. Not about roads and stuff. And now look at the trouble I’m in.’
    ‘You’re not in trouble,’ said Thea. ‘You were just the innocent bystander.’
    ‘Right. Yes. But all those questions…they’renot going to leave it alone, are they?’
    ‘Obviously not. Until they catch him, of course.’
    Emily sighed. ‘Oh, well…’ she shook her head with an effort.
    ‘Take it easy,’ Thea said kindly. ‘It’s been a ghastly shock for you. You must have actually seen him die.’
    Emily shook her head more vigorously. ‘So please don’t go on about it. I don’t know exactly what I saw. It was dark . And pouring with rain.’ She looked more miserable than Thea ever remembered seeing her. ‘I’ve got to go. Thank God it’s Sunday. At least I don’t have to get myself to work.’
    ‘Take some days off,’ Thea advised. ‘Compassionate leave – on two counts. Don’t try to be brave and British about it.’
    ‘And sit about at home obsessing instead? I don’t think so.’
    ‘OK. Well, they’ll probably have it all sorted out in a day or two, anyway. Even without a description from you, this bloke’s liable to give himself away. As we agreed last night, he’s sure to be covered in blood and not behaving normally.’
    ‘For heaven’s sake, stop sounding like a detective,’ Emily snapped.
    ‘Sorry.’ Thea felt a need to justify herself,leaning down to speak through the open car door. ‘It’s just – the cases that Phil and I have come across up to now have all