Free Here We Lie by Sophie McKenzie Page A

baby.’ Jed sucks in his breath. ‘The police have gone back to the pharmacy where Lish bought the powders: they’re testing all the
stocks. The ones Martin brought back, too.’
    ‘But how did . . . how do they think the potassium cyanide got into the ExAche?’
    ‘Either deliberately by an angry worker on the production line, which the manufacturers should have protected against, or because the manufacturers were careless, cutting corners on health
and safety. Either way they’re going to pay.’
    ‘Pay?’ I echo his words. He sounds furious and yet focused. Better than he has done all week.
    ‘They’ll have to close down the plant where they make the powders, get all stocks withdrawn. Then the French government will prosecute them for criminal negligence. At least I hope
they will. Benecke Tricorp – that’s the manufacturers – they’re huge. Powerful. But . . .’ He hesitates.
    ‘But what?’
    ‘If we can’t get a criminal case going then Zoe and I will take legal action ourselves, a civil case. Whatever it takes.’
    ‘Jed, I feel awful about the powders. I mean I
gave
them to her.’
    ‘Listen to me, baby, it’s not your fault. It’s the manufacturer. And I know this is going to mean a court case and me and Zoe spending time on it together, but I need you more
than ever. I can’t get through this without you.’ He lowers his voice. ‘You are with me, baby? Aren’t you? Whatever it takes? With this court case or whatever?’
    ‘Of course I’m with you,’ I say. ‘I’m right here. Whatever happens. Always.’
    We ring off and I stumble back downstairs and into the living room.
    ‘What is it?’ Rose is on her feet immediately, hurrying over. ‘Jesus, you’re white as a sheet, Emily.’
    She sits me down in the armchair and perches beside me. I stare at the blank, dark TV screen opposite, unseeing. Dee Dee was poisoned from the powders I gave her, because I told her to drink
them.
    It’s unbearable.
    ‘What’s happened?’ Martin crouches at my feet, trying to catch my eye.
    I take his hand, then turn to my sister and take hers. Thank goodness I have them.
    The others are as shocked as I am, though they refuse to accept that I’m guilty in any way. Rationally I know they are right, but I still feel terrible. I take myself off to the bathroom
and weep. It’s like the ten days or so since Dee Dee’s death have been swallowed up. Her loss feels as raw right now as when it first happened.
    I’m just blowing my nose and splashing some water on my face when my phone beeps. I glance down at the screen.
    This is your fault. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU, WHORE.
    I stare at the shouty capitals, fear tightening my throat.
    Zoe. It
has
to be.
    IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU, WHORE.
    Part of me wants to call Jed straightaway, but what good would that do? Zoe must have just received the post mortem news too and be beside herself with fury. I open the bathroom door, intending
to show my brother and sister. But as I cross the landing I realize that all that will achieve is to upset them – in Rose’s case, probably make her worry that Zoe is planning another
rant at me, an escalation of her car park performance from last month.
    I look at the message again. It’s the angry hurt of a devastated mother. I delete it and head downstairs, hoping that will be an end to it.
    Little do I know, this moment is just the beginning.

PART TWO

November 1992
    Rose felt like she had been thrown out of a plane with no parachute. The world seemed to be reeling around her. A car crash, the doctors were saying. Your father killed
outright . . . your mother unconscious at the scene, passing away in the ambulance on the way to the hospital . . . we did everything we could . . . truly sorry for your loss . . . A nurse was
still sitting beside her, her hand resting on Rose’s arm. She had asked Rose who they needed to call. Rose gave her the number of Mum’s friend Sally, then explained which school Martin
and Emily