‘Talk me through it again,’ said Alex tersely. ‘Step by step.’
Talia gulped. ‘We got to your house, but no one was home, so we went across to Cara’s to wait in her back garden. Then Poppy said she wanted to play hairdressers, so I got some scissors out of the shed and gave them to the boys. I made them swear on their lives that they wouldn’t actually cut any hair. They were just supposed to pretend. I’m so, so sorry.’
‘Then what happened?’ Alex demanded.
‘I went back into the shed because the kids were hungry and I thought there might be some food. When I came back out, Poppy’s ponytail was on the ground, so I just picked it up, grabbed the scissors and ran home.’ The stricken girl looked at the boys, sitting on the couch with their feet dangling six inches off the floor.
‘So you didn’t actually see who did it?’
‘All right, Talia, you should probably go home now.’
‘I think I’ll go check on Poppy. Make sure she’s okay.’ The girl slipped out Alex’s front door and into the arms of her mother waiting outside, grim-faced. Talia gestured in the direction of Cara’s house. Charlie shook her head.
Alex’s stomach heaved. What must Cara think of her? The twins? She turned to the boys, who sat still and stony-faced.
‘Noah, Jasper.’ Her voice was steely. ‘I’m going to give you one chance and one chance only to tell me the truth. Which one of you cut Poppy’s hair?’
The boys looked at each other and spoke in unison. ‘I did.’