WHIRLPOOL 

Maelstrom Mud
By Tessa Harvey


    The police traced Helen's aunt. She was not happy to see them. The house looked small but tidy. "I suppose it's about Helen. Well, she is handicapped, retarded. I don't know how she got out of the house. Anyway, my son is dead and my daughter-in-law, so could you go away and leave me in peace to grieve."
    She tried to close the door, but the older policeman put his foot in the way. Mrs. Ridgeway, Pauline, we need to talk to you. Do you want us to do this on the doorstep?"     
    Pauline glanced around, catching sight of Meryl opposite, watching. Reluctantly the door was opened wider. The police followed her into the lounge room. Pauline tried to cry. "I can't cope. I don't want the girl or her baby. She was registered to Ralph and Brianna Matthews, their child Katie. It was to protect Helen...." The young constable thought rather it was all about them, their reputation, but said nothing. After all, two people had died, side-swiped by a drunk driver accelerating at a junction instead of braking. The woman's screams had been heard far down the road at a local doctors' surgery.


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