Like This, for Ever

7




THE DOOR OF the terraced house was opened by the Family Liaison Officer. She took one look at Dana’s face and stepped back quickly so that the two of them could get inside, away from the reporters who’d been positioned outside the Barlow family home for the past two days. Inside the house, Dana could hear voices on a television programme and music upstairs.

‘Where are they?’ she asked.

‘Lounge,’ replied the FLO. She knew. They always did.

Dana let the FLO lead the way along the hall and through a door on the right. The room was long and narrow, running almost the full length of the house. The family was sitting on easy chairs, pretending to watch television. The mother, father and one of the mother’s sisters, who seemed to have worked out a rota between them, and the twins’ fourteen-year-old brother, Jonathan. Their sixteen-year-old sister was in her room, if the music drifting down the stairs was anything to judge by.

Seeing Dana, Mr Barlow rose and turned off the television set. He stood by its side, waiting. His wife seemed to have frozen in place on the sofa.

‘I have news,’ said Dana, her eyes flicking from the mother to the father. ‘Would you like me to speak to you alone?’ Her eyes wandered to their son. He caught her meaning instantly and moved across the sofa to sit next to his mum. He took hold of her hand, looking frightened and much younger than fourteen.

‘Go on,’ said the dad. He knew, too. They all did. ‘Get on with it.’

‘I’m very sorry, but we found the bodies of two young boys this evening. We believe they’re Jason and Joshua. I’m so very sorry.’

‘Two?’ he said. ‘Both of them?’

Dana wondered whether, if she listened to the mother’s howl for long enough, it might actually drill a hole in her head.