Annie wanted to focus on business. ‘So what are you two up to?’
‘We’ve got the original statement from Mr Moorcroft’s ex-wife and an address. We’re just running it through the computer to see if she still lives there.’
Ellison moved the mouse and clicked on the next page. ‘There you go – Linda Moorcroft. Her name’s the same, so it looks like she never remarried.’
Bronski made a note of the address. ‘Perhaps we’ll pay her a visit later. She’s not too far from here.’
‘Sounds good to me. Moorcroft gives me the creeps. I’ve also been wondering if we need to have another word with Jackie Winters. Maybe she’s incurring his wrath as well. Trouble will be getting her on her own. She works and lives with him, so it won’t be easy. Come to think of it, I didn’t see her there yesterday when we went into his section. Thought they both worked there.’
‘Maybe that section has more than one office. I might call her first. Ask her to come down here to speak to us. But now, let’s get ourselves some coffee and catch up on Captain Hegarty.’
29
‘Do you want to tell me about your brother first, get that off your mind?’ Annie and Bronski were sitting in the interview room, away from the noise of the office. The coffee tasted good for a change: someone in the office knew how to make decent coffee. Annie was never one to bring personal problems to work, but somehow this seemed different. Bronski was easy to talk to and she knew she could trust him not to think less of her for getting this out in the open.
‘Andrew is 35, has Down’s Syndrome and severe epilepsy, still lives with my mum. Last night he had a fit and fell out of bed and then had a second fit, so my mum telephoned for an ambulance. He had another seizure in the ambulance. Anyway, he’s regained consciousness but is being kept in the hospital. The doctors want to review his medication. The problem is he really can’t tell us how he is, as his speech is so limited. I’ll ring my mum later to get an update, but so far, the worst seems to be over.’
‘Is there anyone with your mother?’
‘My aunt Lil, mum’s sister and her husband Alasdair are there. They’re really close. They’ll look after her.’ Annie sipped her coffee, willing the coffee to wake her up some more.
‘You thinking of going back?’ Bronski sounded a bit concerned now.
‘No, there isn’t a lot I can do. Andrew’s had problems all his life, as you can imagine. I love him, but practically, I’m not as much use as my aunt will be. I just need to stay in touch with them, if that’s OK.’ Annie put her cup down. She wanted to go back to being a detective.
‘Fine by me. So, tell me about Captain Hegarty.’
‘He’s on leave for another six weeks and was going to split the time between Montana and here, staying with his sister. We obviously cut the Montana time down with our phone call. There’s quite an age gap between them. He was just a kid when she left home and joined the army herself. She was going to train as an army nurse, but he says that she came back home within two years. He never really understood why she left the service. They’ve never talked about it. Maybe we should do some digging, look into her army career.’
‘OK, we can do that. I presume she was Angela Hegarty then?’
‘That’s correct, I checked that out. They are brother and sister, same parents despite the age gap. I wondered at first if they may have had different fathers, but no, she was a Hegarty, like him. She married her first husband about six months later. He remembered the exact date, as his dad died a month later, so he and his mom were then left on their own. It sounds as if the mother never got over her husband’s death and Angela stayed close by and was there almost every day getting him ready for school, before she went off to work.’ Annie hesitated for a moment, remembering that the next piece of information had been difficult for Charlie to say.
‘He doesn’t know for sure, but thinks that that was probably what broke up her first marriage. It didn’t last two years at any rate. I got the name of the first husband, Dennis Cullen. Charlie says that Angela has never talked about him and he was too young when they got divorced to appreciate if they had any problems. Do you think we should check him out anyway? When you think back to the viciousness of the attack, it does make you wonder whether there has been a growing resentment for years, maybe something from the past that was never settled, going back even further than George Goodman. What do you think?’
Bronski had been nodding throughout. ‘I think you’ve got a point. Too bad Captain Hegarty was so young at the time, but this is good. Anything else?’
Annie had been going from memory so far, but she got her notebook out now. When she’d arrived home the previous night, she’d written everything down while it was still fresh in her mind, surprising herself at how much she and Charlie had talked about. What she hadn’t recorded was how fascinated she was with him.
‘Let me see. He was in high school when Angela met George Goodman. Charlie thought at first that they were good for each other. George was more outgoing, more confident apparently, than he remembers Dennis Cullen to have been. But again, Charlie was a lot younger when he knew Dennis Cullen, so those observations may have been clouded by a child’s view.’
‘So, had Hegarty changed his mind about Goodman?
‘I think so. At first Angela seemed really happy. He knew that she really wanted to get pregnant and had heard Angela and their mom discuss it from time to time. He then enlisted when he was 18 and went off for basic training. So he lost the day-to-day contact, but they kept in touch through their mom and directly. The mother died a few years ago. Charlie didn’t go into any detail and I got the feeling that it wasn’t straightforward. Maybe I will get some more if it seems relevant later on. I didn’t want to push things last night.’
‘But what was your impression?’
‘He didn’t say it, or I guess even really imply it. It was more what he didn’t say. If I had to guess, I would say she committed suicide, but don’t quote me on that. Let’s see, what else?’ Annie was scanning her notes again as her cellphone rang. She looked at the caller ID, then at Bronski. ‘It’s Captain Hegarty.’
‘Take it, let’s see what he has to say.’ Bronski sat quietly, while Annie answered.
‘I’m really sorry to hear that. When will they decide? I see, so you will be there the rest of the day, you think. Hmm ... I can ask about that, I’m not sure. I will check with Detective Bronski. If you are going to be there we may come by the hospital later … OK, we’ll find you.’ Annie clicked to end the call.
Bronski was waiting for the gist of the call to be relayed. Annie looked pensive. ‘Angela Goodman has taken a turn for the worse. There is swelling in her brain. The doctors are deciding whether to operate later today. They want to do a few more tests first. Charlie is staying put at the hospital as he will have to sign as next of kin for the surgery.’
‘Sounds bad, my guess is that this woman isn’t going to make it and that we will soon be investigating a murder. What was it you were saying you need to check with me?’
‘Charlie wants to know when he can stay in the house. He’s asking if we have searched it enough for evidence, whether it is still a crime scene.’
Bronski looked quizzically at Annie. ‘Strange that he wants to stay there, don’t you think? Can’t be short of money. I wouldn’t think a few days in a motel would be out of his price range.’
‘I don’t think it’s that. He strikes me as one of life’s natural problem solvers. He wants his sister to pull through and the most practical thing he can do is to get the house back in order for her. My guess is that he’ll want to repaint those walls.’
‘You really think that’s all there is to it?’
Annie nodded.
‘OK, I’ll check with Glen Heaviley and with Franconi. Meanwhile, write up your notes and then we’ll pay the ex-M
rs Moorcroft a visit and then circle around to the hospital. I’d like to touch base with Captain Hegarty myself. I see that you are already on first name terms with him.’
Annie wondered if she should have referred to Charlie as Captain Hegarty as she was reporting back to Bronski. But he had asked her to address him as ‘Charlie’. Perhaps she should have told Bronski that, but then decided not to make an issue of it.
30
He recognised the caller ID, the one they’d agreed on.
‘Hi.’
‘This waiting is getting to me.’
‘I know, me too. I thought I’d got it right to start with. I should have used the knife. It’s not like I don’t know how to.’
‘So, what’s next? Keep waiting or what?’
‘I’ve been doing some reconnaissance.’
‘And?’
‘Surprisingly easy to play being a priest and the hospital are pretty gullible. Meet your new Catholic chaplain.’
‘A priest, eh? Never quite pictured you as that, I must admit.’
‘Best way of getting past the cop outside the door. They must all be Catholics. Never even checked my ID. Just saw the collar and waved me through. I was tempted to bless the young officer, and you’ll love this next part.’
‘What’s that?’
‘I gave her a blessing while I was in there. You know, like the one Father O’ Brien used to give after confession. I got it down pat. Impressed myself.’
‘Too bad your audience didn’t appreciate it.’
‘Maybe she will the next time.’
‘So that’s the new plan, is it?’
‘I know it will work, just have to be sure to go when it’s not visiting time. Wouldn’t do to run into any visitors now, would it? Might ask me questions.’
‘Guess not.’
‘Let them all have another few days, she’s not going anywhere.’
‘As long as you have a plan, I can wait a little longer.’
‘Besides, He might do it for me and save me the trouble.’
‘He?’
‘God, of course, my new boss. I wish you could see me in the outfit.’
31
Surprisingly, the ex-Mrs Moorcroft hadn’t changed her name, which Annie found a bit strange. Seemed that most women were going back to their maiden names after a divorce, at least most of the women she knew. Maybe it wasn’t the same in the States. The woman who answered the door was pretty much as Annie had expected of a woman who had lived with an abuser. Her long brown hair looked as if it could do with a shampoo and her eyes narrowed as she opened the door. Her frame was willowy and even from the restricted view Annie had of her, she wondered whether this woman suffered from an eating disorder.
Although she’d been expecting them, she wouldn’t open the door fully until she’d checked out both of their IDs. Annie thought she noticed a bit of a shake as she passed the IDs back and carefully opened the door to let them in. Without shaking hands or offering a drink, she led them into the living room of the house and motioned to them to take the two over-stuffed single chairs while she sat alone on the couch. She tucked her legs underneath her before she spoke a word and Annie thought she really just wanted to curl up in the foetal position and let the couch envelop her.
‘So, you didn’t explain a lot on the telephone, Detective Bronski, what do you want to know from me that isn’t already on the record?’
Annie knew she might warm more to a woman asking the questions, but it was Bronski’s turn.
‘We appreciate that you might find it difficult talking about your ex-husband, Mrs Moorcroft.’
‘Linda, please. I use the Mrs as little as possible.’
Bronski shifted slightly, and then continued. ‘We need to find out more about Mr Moorcroft’s background. What he was like with you, the marriage …’
The woman didn’t let him finish before she cut in. ‘So if I just say that he was a bastard and if I never saw him again it would be too soon, is that sufficient for you?’ Linda Moorcroft folded her arms as she spoke and looked at Bronski with an intensity that was frightening. It appeared that she’d learned to be aggressive, after years of having aggression thrust upon her.
Women should judge whom they needed to direct that aggression at, rather than targeting the male population in general, thought Annie.
Bronski didn’t acknowledge the question with an answer. ‘The assault he was arrested for, was this out of character for him?’
Linda didn’t answer him, instead turning directly toward Annie and fixing her with a stare. ‘What do you think, Detective?’
Annie knew what Linda’s game was. ‘I expect it was a repeated pattern,’ she found herself saying, more to lessen the hostility against Bronski, but also because in her experience these situations were never a single isolated event, no matter what the guy said. She thought back to the interview with Moorcroft and his indignation when the arrest was brought up. Annie knew then that this guy would make it a habit to abuse a woman like Linda Moorcroft. Had she detected any such signs with Jackie Winters? That would need to be explored further.
Linda unfolded her legs and leaned forward. Her elbows were resting on her knees, her hand rubbing her face, coming to rest over her mouth, as if she were willing her lips not to move, but at the same time wanting to get the words out, wanting desperately to purge herself of the memories.
‘It started the first day of our honeymoon. The lovely sweet husband of the day and the night before, the man I had been engaged to, the man who was the love of my life, woke up as if he were a different person. Nothing was right, not with the motel room, with the food, with the sights we were seeing, or with me. Yes, mostly with me. I couldn’t work out what I had done wrong. Of course, I convinced myself that it would be OK once we got back to our own apartment, once we started our married life, but it wasn’t that different. Some days were OK while others were a nightmare. The abuse started in subtle ways: nothing physical at first, just me constantly trying to please him. Anticipating anything that could go wrong and trying not to let that happen, just so he would be in a good mood. It was as if I was on a tightrope with very little room to manoeuvre. I had to have everything so carefully balanced or something disastrous would happen, and there was no safety net, believe me, nothing to catch me.’
She looked at the two of them and smiled. ‘Actually when I think back on it now, that subtle abuse was worse than the physical abuse. When he started to hit me that felt better. It was more out in the open. It seemed logical somehow, like I really deserved it. Once I got a good slap, it would then be OK. I was punished and it was over for a while. There were longer good periods in between the abuse, longer good periods than when the abuse had been more subtle. It was as if the physical abuse gave him a break and I convinced myself that if I could just get things right for him, it would all stop.’ Linda hesitated for a moment, lost in thought. ‘Once he went six months without hitting me and I got complacent.’
Annie knew how difficult this was for her. ‘Can I get you a glass of water or anything?’
But it was as if Linda Moorcroft didn’t hear the question. ‘I should be OK with this by now. It’s been nearly eight years. Just when I think I’ve moved on, it all comes back.’ Linda Moorcroft buried her head in her hands and started to whimper gently.
Annie got up and went into the kitchen, coming back with a glass of water and a box of tissues she’d found on the side. She placed the water and tissues on the coffee table and sat down next to Linda Moorcroft, placing her arm on the woman’s shoulder. It was the right thing to do in the circumstances and Linda Moorcroft didn’t flinch.
It took another half hour to hear the rest of the marital history and how in the end Linda Moorcroft summoned up the courage to report her husband. Bronski was careful with his questions, but a
lso thorough. Eventually, he extracted an admission of repeated marital rapes, which hadn’t been reported before, and for which Jim Moorcroft had never been charged. But Linda Moorcroft wasn’t about to press charges now, just as she hadn’t all those years ago. Tearfully she admitted that her husband had found her in bed with another man, just as he had told them. But unlike in his version, the adultery made sense, after a long history of abuse. Of course he had left all of that out. She’d taken the option of dropping the charges, as she knew Moorcroft would play the victim and more than likely get away with it. At least she’d had the courage to defy him and finally leave the marriage.
Annie and Bronski stopped for a sandwich on the way back to the station and decided to eat in the car, neither wanting to take the time to wait to be served.
‘I don’t know about you, but that bastard is certainly in my sights as Angela’s attacker. It would explain the lack of a forced entry, the fingerprints on the glass, the attentive visiting, maybe even the destructiveness. He sounds like a man who’s filled with rage against women. The attack on Angela could be a repeated, much more destructive and violent part of his pattern,’ Bronski offered.
Annie looked out the window. ‘I see all that and I have seen it before. Men who move on to victim after victim, but something doesn’t seem right for me, and I’m not even sure what that is.’
Bronski looked over at Annie. ‘So you don’t think it’s Moorcroft, then?’
She turned back to face him. ‘Don’t get me wrong, not that I don’t think he’s capable of it, but in this case it just seems too convenient. If he did it, he’d know we’d be able to trace his record and find out about the previous. I don’t know, I just don’t see him doing it. They were friends: there’s no suggestion that there was anything more to it. What would be the motive?’
Det Annie Macpherson 01 - Primed By The Past Page 12
