Gardner asked.
Abby paused before shaking her head. How much longer would she have to sit there? What else could she tell them?
‘Okay. So you were going to see your friend Jen?’ Gardner said.
‘Yes. Jen. Jennifer Harvey.’
Gardner asked for her address and made a note as Abby dictated.
‘Was it planned?’ he asked.
Abby looked confused for a moment. ‘What?’
‘Had you and Jen arranged the visit in advance or did you just decide this morning to go out there? Did Jen know you were coming?’
Abby nodded. ‘It was planned. We arranged it last week, I think.’
‘So apart from yourself and Jen, who else knew you were going?’
Abby ran her fingers through her hair, flinching as she did so. ‘Paul, obviously.’ She shook her head. ‘I think that’s it.’
‘You told no one else, no other family members?’
‘We don’t have any other family.’
Gardner looked at her. ‘None at all?’
Abby shook her head. ‘My parents died in a car crash when I was eighteen. I’ve got an aunt but I haven’t seen her for a long time. She lives in America. Both mine and Paul’s parents are dead.’ She paused. ‘Paul’s mum killed herself.’
Gardner waited but Abby didn’t continue. ‘And his dad?’ he asked eventually.
‘He died,’ Abby said.
Gardner looked like he was about to query this but just nodded again and moved on. ‘Okay, no other family? Brothers, sisters?’
‘No,’ Abby said.
Gardner nodded again. ‘No other friends who might’ve known? Nobody from work you could’ve told?’
Abby shook her head. ‘I’m on maternity leave.’
‘What about Jen? Would she have told anyone?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe.’
‘But as far as you know no one else knew you’d be going out there today except you, your husband, and your friend Jen?’
‘Right,’ Abby sighed.
‘How long have you known Ms Harvey?’
Abby thought about it. How long had they been friends? It seemed like a long time but that was an illusion created by Jen’s knowledge of her past, or at least her husband’s past. ‘About four years,’ she said. Gardner remained silent, compelling Abby to continue. ‘We met at a work party.’
‘So you know her through work. Would you say you were close?’
‘Yes.’ Abby paused. ‘What’s this got to do with finding Beth?’ Gardner said nothing. ‘You can’t think Jen had anything to do with this? Why would she?’
Gardner cleared his throat again. ‘I just need to fill in as much background as I can. I’m not suggesting your friend had anything to do with what happened but I need to know as much as possible. The details are usually what help the most.’
Abby sighed again, her mind racing. Should she tell him? She looked down at her raw hands as she spoke. ‘I’ve known Jen for four years but Paul has known her a lot longer.’ She sensed Gardner shift in his seat. ‘Paul and Jen were at university together. They used to be together.’ She looked back at Gardner who didn’t even try to conceal his surprise. Abby suddenly felt embarrassed, wondering what Gardner and Lawton were thinking.
Was this some kind of love-triangle, Mrs Henshaw?
‘Is there any chance that your husband and Ms Harvey...?’ Gardner made a gesture with his hand.
Abby stared at him for a few seconds. ‘Paul and Jen?’ She looked at Lawton who sat with her Mona Lisa smile. ‘Believe me that would never happen.’
‘They didn’t get on?’
‘No. Well, yes. Sometimes they’d bitch about each other but not seriously. I think it made Paul uncomfortable knowing his wife and ex-girlfriend were friends.’
‘So Paul wasn’t keen on Jen being around. What about her?’
Abby shrugged. ‘She just, I don’t know. She likes to tease him. She knows she can always get a rise out of him.’
Lawton shot Gardner a quick glance before looking back to Abby. ‘Did you ever get the feeling that Jen was jealous? Maybe still had feelings for Paul?’
‘No,’ Abby said. ‘She didn’t