Free Tell the Truth by Katherine Howell Page B

said.
    â€˜I told you, at work,’ Rowan said. ‘We were partnered together and became friends. As I’ve said numerous times now.’
    â€˜Then what?’
    â€˜Then what what? I don’t know what you’re expecting me to say.’
    â€˜When did you meet?’
    â€˜I told you before. Eight or nine years ago.’
    â€˜And you introduced her to James.’
    â€˜Again like I said before, I was friends with him already. We had a party at our place. They both came and they hit it off.’
    â€˜Were you jealous?’ Murray asked.
    â€˜Are you kidding? I was married. They were – they are – my friends. I was delighted for them.’
    â€˜Do you ever see her outside work?’
    â€˜Now and then. Sometimes she comes to Playland with Em and me. Occasionally we have dinner at their place, or they come to ours.’
    â€˜When was the last time that happened?’ Ella said. ‘The dinner?’
    Rowan frowned. ‘It’d have to be a few months.’
    â€˜Why so long?’
    He shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’
    â€˜Who stopped inviting who?’ Murray asked.
    Rowan paused. ‘They did. I think. Or we both did. I don’t know. Life’s been busy.’
    Murray wrote something else.
    â€˜What are you writing?’ Rowan asked.
    Ella said, ‘How do you and James get on?’
    â€˜Fine. Why?’
    â€˜He ever have a problem with you and Stacey working together?’
    â€˜What? Did he say that?’
    â€˜I’m just asking a question,’ Ella said.
    â€˜If he did, he never said so to me. And Stacey never told me either. It’s a ridiculous idea, anyway.’
    â€˜All right,’ Ella said. ‘You happened to notice her car, you happened to glance inside it. You’re talking to her friends before we do. Is there a reason you’re so intent on helping us find her?’
    â€˜I’m her friend,’ he said. ‘Isn’t that enough?’
    Ella waited.
    â€˜Look,’ he said. ‘If you really must know, I have a son who’s semi-missing. So a sign that something might’ve happened to someone I care about gets my attention. Okay?’
    â€˜I’ve never heard of someone being semi-missing,’ Ella said.
    â€˜He left home five years ago and I haven’t spoken to him since. But he sends postcards now and again, from different places in western New South Wales, so I know he’s okay, but I’ve never been able to get in touch with him.’
    â€˜What’s his name?’ she asked.
    â€˜Angus. He’s twenty-four.’
    Ella wondered if this was some kind of convenient cover, an effort to mask his attempts at involvement in the case. She’d look into it later, but right now they had to get on with the case.
    â€˜That’s all for now. Ask Ms Russell to come in now, and don’t leave until we’ve spoken to you again.’ That should keep him stewing in his juices.
    Aimee Russell hurried in. ‘So there’s no news? You really don’t know what’s happened to her?’
    â€˜We’re trying to put that together,’ Ella said. ‘Can we start with your full name and date of birth, please?’
    When they had all her particulars, Ella said, ‘When did you last have any contact with Stacey?’
    â€˜On Friday.’ Aimee described how she’d rung her to go out for a coffee, but Stacey had said she was busy.
    â€˜Doing what?’ Murray asked.
    â€˜She didn’t say.’
    â€˜How did she sound?’ Ella asked.
    â€˜A bit flat, like she was tired.’
    â€˜Did that seem strange?’
    Aimee nodded. ‘She’s usually pretty perky unless she’s coming off nights, and I know she wasn’t that day. You can hear her smile when she answers the phone, that sort of thing.’
    â€˜And on Friday she wasn’t smiling?’ Murray said.
    â€˜Definitely not.’
    â€˜Did she ever