The Silent Suspect by Nell Pattison (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud .TXT) 📗

Sasha and I stepped back and left them to their argument.

I’m going to go in and talk to him, see what he needs, she told me.

Okay. Do you want me to wait here for you? I asked. She didn’t need me to interpret as she and Lukas were both sign language users, but I didn’t know if she’d want to speak to the nurses or the PC again.

She nodded. Just in case.

There wasn’t anywhere to sit, so I stood opposite the PC, my legs aching with fatigue after the day I’d had. I’d barely had any time to think about Max, let alone whether or not I wanted to move in with him, and I was quite glad of that. I’d only spent a few seconds mentally preparing myself for him to break up with me, but even that short time was enough to completely throw me when it turned out he wanted the opposite. It was gone midnight, too late to be trying to make any decisions right now, I told myself. I would be better sleeping on it, although I had a suspicion that thinking about it would keep me awake.

I yawned widely and rubbed my eyes. I’d have to drive home carefully. I was so tired. Checking my phone, I saw a message from my sister, Anna, asking when I would be home, so I let her know how I was getting on.

After about five minutes, Sasha emerged from Lukas’s room. I was surprised she hadn’t been in there longer. She looked pale, and gestured to me – she needed me to interpret so she could talk to the PC.

Do you know how long he’s going to be here? she asked him.

He shrugged, and addressed his response to me. ‘You’ll have to ask the doctor. Once he’s discharged, he’ll be moved to the station.’

Can someone please inform me when that happens? I could see that Sasha was fighting to stay polite and not say something she’d later regret.

The PC shrugged again. ‘Not my job to do things like that. You’ll have to speak to the detectives in charge of the case.’

I could see Sasha was considering responding, but she thought better of it and the two of us left the ward. We walked down to the car park without a word or sign passing between us; I was too tired for meaningful communication, and she was deep in thought.

When we got outside, Sasha paused and leant against a railing.

I think he must be in shock, she told me.

I nodded. That’s likely. What did he say?

Nothing, she replied, with a slow shake of her head as if she couldn’t quite believe it. He wouldn’t communicate with me at all, except to ask me to leave.

Nothing at all? I checked. I was surprised, assuming Lukas would be a lot more open with her than with me – maybe even tell her who he thought had killed Nadia – but she shook her head.

How could this have happened? she asked me. She looked almost dazed. This wasn’t the first time one of her clients had been arrested, I knew, but something about Nadia’s death had obviously knocked the wind out of her. Lukas had been her client for several years and she’d got to know Nadia in that time, too.

I don’t know, I replied. We’ll have to wait and see what statement he gives to the police.

I’m sure he didn’t do it, she told me firmly. They can’t hold him for long without any evidence.

I thought of what Lukas had told me, that he knew who was responsible, and wondered again why he hadn’t said the same to Sasha. As she’d said, maybe he was in shock, and was too busy trying to process it all to manage to have a conversation with anyone. But if he was deliberately withholding information, why would he do that?

He didn’t say anything about Nadia, or the fire? I tried to keep my confusion from my face but Sasha must have spotted it, because she paused, her head on one side.

No, why? Did he say something to you? she asked with a frown.

He told me he knew who was responsible.

Who? she asked, and I could see her eagerness to know written all over her face.

I’m sorry, I replied with a grimace. He wouldn’t tell me. That’s all he said.

Are you sure that’s what he said? You couldn’t have mistaken his signs for something else? Her eyes narrowed as she questioned me, and I felt I was seeing a side to Sasha I’d never seen before.

If you don’t think I can interpret accurately perhaps I should look for another job, I snapped. I was too tired for this; I just wanted to go home and sleep, and now Sasha was questioning my skills.

She put a hand on my shoulder, looking suitably chastised. You’re right. I’m sorry. I just don’t understand why he’d tell you that, but refuse to say anything to me.

I think he regretted telling me, to be honest, I told her. By the time you arrived, he’d had a chance to think about things. As I signed this I wondered just what it was he’d been reflecting on. Was he protecting himself, or someone else?

Yes, but … she signed, but then let her hands drop and shook her head. Whatever she’d been planning on saying, she decided to keep it to herself.

Sasha sighed deeply. This is a bloody mess. He won’t be able to afford a solicitor, so I hope the one he’s assigned has a bit of deaf awareness. She looked at me. Will you be able to interpret for the police interviews?

I doubt it, I told her with a shake of my head. I’m a witness to the fire. I think it’d be a conflict of interest.

She scowled, and I wondered why she wanted me to be present for the interviews. If she thought I’d give her inside information on the investigation she was