The Silent Suspect by Nell Pattison (epub e ink reader .TXT) 📕

done, he grabbed his bike and raced home, refusing to look back at the house.

Chapter 34

Thursday 25th April

Despite what Singh had said about not driving for a few more days, I knew I had to get out of the flat. There were things I needed to do, and say, and I couldn’t do them by sitting alone at home, brooding. Anna fussed around me before she went to work, asking if I needed anything or if I wanted her to finish work early, but I managed to get her out of the door on time.

When I arrived at the social work offices, I sat outside for a few minutes, working out exactly what I wanted to say. I enjoyed interpreting for Sasha, and it had given me some much-needed stability in my working life over the last six months, but my trust in her had been destroyed. I had to talk to her and hear her side of things.

Her car was in the car park, so I knew she was in. At first, she didn’t notice me when I walked into the office, because she was absorbed in something on her computer. I didn’t know how she’d react to seeing me, after she’d walked out of my hospital room yesterday, so I waited for a moment rather than interrupt her.

She looked up, and the first emotion on her face was surprise, with a brief flicker of something else – was it guilt? Eventually she gave me a quick smile.

Paige, I wasn’t expecting to see you today. How are you feeling?

I’m okay, I told her, my hand automatically finding the tender spot on the side of my head. Can we talk?

Sasha looked around at the busy desks surrounding hers, then nodded towards the door. Let’s see if there’s a meeting room free.

There was, which was a relief, because I didn’t want to have this conversation in front of any of her colleagues, even if none of them could understand what we were signing. She settled herself in a chair opposite me, keeping an eye on the door, then looked at me. I couldn’t quite read her expression – was she still angry with me for suggesting Lukas was keeping secrets? I knew now that that anger had only been covering up what she herself was hiding.

What do you want to talk about? she asked, her smile bright, making it look more than a little fake.

I know, I told her.

She paused. What do you know?

I know about you and Lukas.

She blinked rapidly, then swallowed. What are you talking about?

Don’t try that, Sasha. Just don’t. I can’t believe you’ve been lying to me this entire time.

I don’t know what you’re talking about, she signed again. I could see the tightness of the muscles in her jaw.

You have been having an affair with Lukas Nowak, I signed, slowly and clearly to emphasise the fact that I was happy to spell it out for her, and I wouldn’t be fobbed off with her lies or protestations of innocence.

I thought she was going to try and deny it, but she didn’t.

How did you find out?

That doesn’t matter, I replied. I wasn’t going to drop Singh in it, because I had no doubt Sasha would put in a complaint against him if she could. What matters is that I know exactly why you’ve been so desperate to get him out of jail. It wasn’t for his sake, it was so you could be with him, and so nobody would find out what you’ve been doing.

She sat and stared at a poster on the wall for a moment before turning back to me. I knew if he was held for long enough, the police would get access to his phone records. I’d thought we’d been discreet, but if someone could read our text messages then … She shrugged. Obviously I was right. I assume that’s how you know? Your DS friend told you?

I kept my face neutral, refusing to rise to it, and she scowled at me.

Of course it was him, it must have been. I can report him for giving you information, you know. She waved a hand dismissively. Anyway, I’m sorry I lied to you, but you wouldn’t have understood.

I shook my head. You’re right, I don’t understand. One of the reasons I like working with you is that you’re so good at what you do. You always seem to strike just the right balance between professionalism and caring for your clients. But then it turns out you’ve crossed this line, and I feel like I don’t know you at all now.

Who are you to judge me? she snapped. You have no idea what my relationship is like with Lukas. And you don’t know what it’s like to do my job, either. You’re my interpreter; you’re not a social worker.

You’re right, I don’t, and I’m not. But a big part of your defence of Lukas has been that he loved Nadia so deeply he could never have hurt her. How can I believe that now, when I know he was cheating on her with you?

Sasha’s expression changed, and I could now see the sadness in her eyes. I wasn’t lying about that, Paige. Lukas did love Nadia, far more than he ever could have loved me. She sighed, and I was reminded of a love-struck teenager. He’s the sort of man who will always struggle to commit himself to one woman. He likes the attention, and he likes having people to spoil, to romance. With me, I think he enjoyed the clandestine nature of our relationship.

The rueful smile on her face made me feel sorry for her at first. It was clear she’d been hoping for more from Lukas, but had settled for what she could get. Maybe since he’d been released from prison he’d decided he couldn’t be with her any more, or maybe he was just grieving too deeply for Nadia, but I got the feeling she hadn’t received the reaction