When Stephanie got home from the morgue, she knew she had to phone Kate’s parents to tell them their daughter was dead. Stephanie was slumped in her favourite armchair with a cup of tea. She’d already drank half it without noticing. She’d been in a daze all day.
Kate was gone.
It seemed impossible. Her things were all around. A hairband sat on the table next to Stephanie’s cup. So did a tube of lipstick, a packet of gum, and some headshots Kate had got taken by a portrait photographer last month.
Stephanie steeled herself before picking up the phone and dialling the number for Mina, Kate’s mother.
As it rang, Stephanie tried to remember the last time she had phoned her. She’d done it maybe once or twice, but definitely not more, and never without a good reason.
Mina answered. Stephanie heard music in the background, and laughter. It sounded like she was in the middle of a party.
“Hello?”
“Hi Mina.” It always felt weird using her first name, but the woman was her mother-in-law.
“Who is this?”
“It’s Stephanie.” No. Better to give her one shock at a time. “Stephen. It’s Stephen.”
“Stephen? Is everything alright?”
There was a lot of background noise.
“Are you at home, Mina?”
“What?”
“Are you at home?”
“On Friday evening? Of course not.”
Mina was a lot like her daughter. Both of them thought weekdays were for surviving and weekends were for living. Being in her fifties hadn’t slowed Mina down.
“I have some bad news. Perhaps you could go somewhere quiet?”
“What is it?”
“Are you with James? Is James there?”
Stephanie pictured Kate’s bellicose father.
“He’s gone to buy another round. We’re in a bar. What is it you want? The band is about to start playing.”
“Could you leave?”
“For god’s sake, Stephen. What happened? Spit it out.”
Stephanie cleared her throat. “Like I said, I have some bad news. You might want to sit down before you hear this.”
“Has something happened to Kate?”
“She’s... there’s been an—”
“What? What happened? Where’s my daughter?”
“She’s - I’m sorry, Mina. I’m sorry but—”
“What happened?”
“Kate’s dead.”
A long pause.
“What did you say?”
“Kate is dead.”
“What? No… You’re lying.” When she spoke again, Mina’s voice had gone low and mournful. “What did you do to my girl?”
“Nothing!”
“I never liked you.”
“Look, I know it’s hard to hear this—”
Mina wailed. “You killed my baby girl.”
“I didn’t. I swear.”
“She told me you were up to something.”
“What?”
“She said you were distracted all the time. You’re going to rot in jail. So help me god, I’ll make sure of it, you little creep.”
Stephanie ended the call. She leaned back in the couch and sighed.
Great.
That was one job done.