Silent Scream

Forty-Six

‘May I help you?’ Kim asked, at the front desk.

The woman turned and Kim was immediately taken aback. Not by how much the woman resembled Nicola; they were identical twins. The surprise was in how little alike they looked.

The woman didn’t offer her hand. ‘My name is Bethany Adamson and I wanna talk to you.’

Kim stepped back into the corridor and motioned for Bethany Adamson to follow.

A regular kerthunk sounded behind her as she headed for interview room two. Kim hit the key code and held the door open. The woman stepped right past her, using a walking stick in her right hand.

Kim noted that Bethany’s boots were flat and functional and rose up to her knees. Beneath were black jeans that hung loose from the knees to the thighs. A bulky winter jacket swamped the slender frame that appeared more frail than that of her sister.

‘I don’t have much time, Miss Adamson.’

‘What I got to say won't take very long, Detective.’

Kim was surprised by the broadness of the Black Country accent.

Kim nodded for her to continue while she appraised the woman’s appearance. Had she not known she would have thought that Bethany was the sister of Nicola, albeit much older.

The blonde hair was tied back tightly in a ponytail, with roots that were unwashed and greasy. The face, although identical in structure, appeared thinner, harsher than that of her sister.

The apportionment of vitality and charisma had definitely not been divided in the favour of this twin.

Kim noted that the woman seemed to be resting her entire weight on the walking aid. Kim motioned towards the chair but Bethany shook her head.

Kim remained standing also. They faced each other across the metal interview table.

‘Yer spoke to me sister yesterday.’

Kim was shocked at the harshness she saw in the woman’s face. Her lips were thin and a frown brought her eyebrows closer together.

Kim nodded. ‘Both of your names came up during a current investigation.’

‘There's nothing we got to tell yer.’

Kim was intrigued. ‘How would you know that?’

Bethany Adamson sought Kim’s gaze and their eyes locked. The portals were cold and emotionless. Not even angry or passionate. Just dead and unyielding. If the sum of the face was formed of its individual features, then this woman had never experienced a moment of joy in her life.

‘I just know.’

Kim crossed her arms. ‘Your sister was a little more accommodating.’

‘Well, she don't understand, does she?’

‘Understand what?’

Beth sighed heavily. ‘Our early years was hard. We was born to a crack whore who checked us in and out of care like library books. As we gor older our chances for any kind of life disappeared ‘cos we weren't wanted. All we ‘ad was each other.’

‘I understand that, Miss Adamson, but ...’

‘Our years at Crestwood weren't the happiest times and yer can't possibly understand how it feels to be born to a mother that wants yer only for the child allowance.’

The woman’s gaze had Kim and wouldn’t let her go.

‘Our childhood didn't ‘ave any love or stability and we don't wanna keep remembering it. Neither of us.’

Kim understood more than she would ever care to admit. Despite the woman’s demeanour, Kim had the urge to try and reach out. She understood where the defensiveness came from, but she had bodies both old and new piling up around her.

‘What went on at that place, Beth?’ she asked, quietly.

‘It's Miss Adamson if yer don't mind, and that's for you to find out, Detective, but don't involve me or me sister. It won't be good for either of us.’

‘Not even if it would help catch a killer?’

No emotion registered on the dead face. ‘Not even that. Me sister's too polite to ask but I ain't. So leave us alone.’

‘If this investigation dictates that I need to speak with either of you again ...’

‘I really wouldn't if I was you. If yer don't leave us be, I promise yer will be sorry.’

With surprising speed Bethany Adamson travelled the distance to the door. She was gone before Kim realised she’d just been threatened.

Rather than warning her off, the woman’s words had induced the polar opposite.

Now another question burned within Kim.

Nicola and Beth had experienced the exact same childhood but were like opposing seasons of the year. So, what the hell had happened to make Bethany Adamson such a hostile, hateful individual?