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and your mother and I both believe that there is some kind of insanity at work. If we can build up a case of diminished responsibility–that you’re not in your right mind when you do these things–you might not have to go to prison.’
    ‘Please, Cal,’ my mother moaned, ‘just tell us what you’ve done with her. I’m begging you. She has done nothing to you except love you. Please stop punishing her and let her come home. She’s just a kid …’
    I was gutted. They genuinely thought I was mad. I glared at both of them in disbelief.
    ‘You think I’m crazy,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘But I’m not! You must know that I would never do anything to hurt Gabbi. I didn’t hurt her the first time and I sure haven’t done anything to her since. I don’t know what to say to make you believe me, Mum. Dad warned me danger couldbe coming, and he was right. But all I’ve been trying to do is stay alive and clear my name so we can all be together again. I haven’t seen Gabbi since that day in the ICU. And that was when I was trying to stop you from turning her life support off! Why would I hurt her? Why would I kidnap her?’
    ‘Stop lying to me,’ said Mum, turning tear-filled eyes on me. ‘The police confirmed that your DNA was found at the scene–on the window frame, on Gabbi’s bed, on the furniture in the room. Everywhere, Cal!’
    I remembered how I’d run through all the rooms at my uncle’s place, back in January, desperately searching for the drawings Dad had addressed to me. I’d touched so many drawers and cupboards, leaving DNA everywhere.
    ‘That’s because I went to Rafe’s place, back in January–’
    ‘You what?’ asked Rafe. ‘What were you doing at my place on your own? How did you get in?’ Rafe stared hard at me. ‘Well?’
    I’d already said too much. I should have kept my stupid mouth shut.
    ‘Oh, no,’ cried Mum, ‘don’t tell me you’ve broken into Rafe’s place before!’
    ‘It wasn’t like that, I swear!’ I pleaded. ‘You have to believe me, Mum! I’m innocent! The publiccan think what they want, but I need you to believe me!’
    ‘Oh, Cal, I always hoped and prayed you’d turn out OK. In spite–’
    ‘In spite of what? What happened to me, Mum, to make you think I could turn into a monster? Tell me! Tell me now! I have a right to know!’
    ‘What’s going on in here?’ barked McGrath, alerted by our raised voices. ‘Settle down, Ormond. You OK?’ he asked Rafe and my mum.
    ‘We’re fine, Sergeant,’ replied Rafe, through gritted teeth. ‘Perfectly fine.’
    McGrath nodded and backed out of the room slowly and suspiciously.
    Mum’s eyes were turned away from me again. I knew she was distressed, but I couldn’t forgive her for not believing me, and keeping me in the dark about my mysterious past. She was my mum. She was supposed to stick by me.
    I jumped off the bed. They both flinched but I didn’t care. I turned to face them.
    ‘I’ve heard of serial killers whose mothers still support them.’
    I tried to read the expression in Mum’s eyes, but they seemed strangely foreign to me. It was a peculiar sensation–as if she wasn’t really there behind them, but was trying, unsuccessfully, to connect with me.
    ‘Why can’t I get through to you, Mum? Stop wasting your time chasing me, when the real crims are on the loose out there! Why won’t you believe me when I tell you that I had nothing to do with the bad things that have happened to Gab? What has happened to you ?’
    ‘That’s quite enough,’ snapped Rafe. ‘Don’t speak to your mother like that. If you really cared for her, you would answer her question. She feels like she’s already lost you. Don’t be responsible for her losing Gabbi as well.’
    I studied my mum’s face. There was definitely something different about her. Like something had broken in her mind.
    ‘Please Cal. Please tell us what you’ve done with Gabbi,’ said Rafe. ‘Please, we just want her back home,