Matt Whyman - The Savages

‘I’m missing something,’ she decided, and sat up to place her head in her hands. ‘Something bad.’

Sasha sat quite still for a moment, reflecting on things at home and in her love life, and that was when the doorbell sounded.

Angelica Savage was in the garden at that moment. Katya was sitting on a rug on the lawn. She played happily with daisies while her mother worked her way around the roses, deadheading every bloom that showed the first sign of decay. As a result, the garden looked like a patch of paradise. A world away from the reality surrounding them.

‘Who is that?’ she asked, on hearing the doorbell, and made sure to place the secateurs out of reach from her youngest daughter.

It was only as she made her way back into the house that she heard Ivan and then Sasha descending the stairs, bickering as they went.

‘It won’t be for you,’ said Sasha, who was keen to get there first. ‘Nobody has called to see you since the community midwife after you were born.’

‘Then let’s hope it’s for you,’ Ivan replied, several steps ahead of her. ‘It might even be Jack!’

Through the front door’s frosted glass pane, Angelica recognised the visitors immediately. Unfortunately, it was too late to stop Ivan and caution him to be careful before he opened up. She stopped, midway along the hall, and quickly checked her composure.

‘Hello, kids,’ said one of the two police officers. ‘I’m sure you know why we’re here.’

Angelica watched Sasha turn and look at her. She responded by not blinking, silently imploring her daughter to just stay calm while she handled this. Aware that the officers were awaiting an answer, she then pressed her lips together and nodded.

‘The agency called me with the sad news,’ said Angelica. ‘That poor soul. Had any of us known there was a woman in despair downstairs during the shoot, we would’ve done everything to talk her out of the fate she chose for herself.’

She saw Sasha glance at her brother now, seeking some explanation still, while Ivan just stared at his shoes.

‘May we come in?’ asked the other officer, a policewoman who was notably taller than her male colleague.

‘Yes, of course.’ Angelica gestured for her children to stand aside, her heart rate starting to stir. ‘Would you like some tea? Coffee? Juice… water?

The male officer responded by pulling out a notebook from his pocket.

‘When was the last time you saw Lulabelle Hart?’ he asked, and clicked the top of his ballpoint pen. ‘It’s important that we piece together her final hours before the suicide.’

Angelica noted how Sasha closed her eyes in resignation at this. Her daughter needed no further explanation. That much was clear to her. Fortunately, both officers were waiting for Angelica to answer and didn’t catch the look on Sasha’s face. Even to an outsider, it betrayed the fact that she knew full well that her family would be involved.

‘I’m afraid we didn’t see Ms Hart at all,’ Angelica told the officers. ‘During a shoot we take ourselves upstairs and that’s where we stay, don’t we, kids?’

Both Sasha and Ivan nodded dutifully when the officer turned briefly in their direction.

‘This is just routine,’ said the female officer, as if mindful that their presence in this matter might upset the two minors. ‘For the report.’

‘Did you hear anything untoward downstairs?’ asked her colleague, addressing Sasha and Ivan this time.

‘Nothing.’ Ivan didn’t even blink.

‘It was just another shoot,’ echoed Sasha after a moment and then caught her mother’s eye. ‘We never laid eyes on her.’

The male officer closed his notebook, having written down what looked like their home address, and nothing more.

‘Well, we’re grateful for your time,’ he said, before drawing Angelica’s attention. ‘You understand we have to go through the motions,’ he said to her quietly. ‘Even with a clear-cut suicide.’

‘Of course,’ said Angelica, well aware that Sasha had just heard every word. ‘If there’s anything more we can do, you only have to ask.’

Sasha held the door open for the officers, smiling sweetly. It was only once they’d left the house that she turned and ushered her mother and brother into the kitchen.

‘Was it Beachy Head?’ she asked, straining not to shout in case the police were still outside. ‘That’s where Dad goes if the kill isn’t fit for the table.’

‘Honey,’ said Angelica, but Sasha hadn’t finished.

‘I can’t believe you’d pick off someone working on a shoot downstairs. That takes fast food to a whole new level! When have we ever taken such a risk?’

‘It wasn’t like that,’ Angelica tried to reason. ‘Lulabelle was an accident.’

‘Is this why Dad was in such a strange mood when I came home? I fully expected to be grounded for being late. Instead, he hugs me like I’ve been missing for months.’

‘It’s just made him aware how precious his family is to him.’ Angelica gripped her daughter by the shoulders in a bid to calm her down. ‘This wasn’t about a feast. It was just a prank that went wrong.’

‘A prank.’ Without hesitating, Sasha swung around to face Ivan. ‘So, you killed her.’

‘Not on purpose,’ he said, shrugging at the same time. ‘It was meant for you.’

‘Oh, great!’ Sasha rolled her eyes and returned her attention to Angelica. ‘You know, since meeting Jack I’ve begun to feel like a normal, average teenager. It’s a first for me and I like it. Now, Jack certainly isn’t perfect, but he does manage to resist an urge to murder for the lols !’

‘Now that’s enough!’ Angelica pulled back and glared at her daughter. ‘As a family, we stick together. What happened was unfortunate, but your father has dealt with it. As a result of his efforts, there’s no evidence in this house that could link us to the death of Lulabelle Hart. So relax, Sasha. As far as you and Ivan are concerned, you can continue with your lives as normal.’

‘But, Mum,’ said Sasha. ‘We eat people. That’s not normal.’

‘Tastes good, though,’ Ivan pointed out, only to shrink from his mother’s attention.

Angelica let a moment pass before beginning again.

‘One single aspect of our lives is… different, and that difference is down to your dad. He’s just trying to give you the best start in life, as it was for him as a boy. Everything else marks us out as a typical family, and if we’re going to get through this without attracting attention then it’s vital that we all carry on just being ourselves.’

‘With the exception of Ivan,’ Sasha pointed out. ‘He’s out of control, Mum.’

‘Well, yes, your brother really ought to call a halt to the body count,’ agreed Angelica, ‘and then we all just need to move on. In fact, now would be a great time for your father to meet Jack.’

‘Please don’t bring him into this,’ said Sasha. ‘It won’t end well.’

‘It’s perfect,’ she insisted. ‘An everyday kind of event that happens in households with nothing to hide.’

‘Mum.’

‘You know he genuinely wants to meet this boy now,’ Angelica continued. ‘Inviting Jack just shows your father is keen to bring him into the fold.’

‘Better in than out, eh?’ said Ivan, who seemed very pleased not to be the centre of his mother’s attention now.

Sasha’s eyes opened wide before she blinked.

‘But he’s vegetarian,’ she said, and seemed prepared to spell it out for her if necessary.

‘We all have our faults,’ said Angelica, who had anticipated her eldest leaping to the wrong conclusion, ‘which is one more reason why your dad is keen to find out what you see in him.’