by Adam Croft
‘So let’s get things straight,’ she said. ‘You suspect that Martin has been trying it on with your wife. You tell him you want to meet and talk to him. You don’t say why. You arrange to meet under the viaduct on Monday evening. You claim he never turned up and that you sent him an email calling him a coward for not turning up, but just a few hours later his body is found at that exact spot. You lied to us when you said you hadn’t left the house that evening. You lied when you said you hadn’t been in recent contact with Martin Forbes. And you lied when you said you didn’t kill him, didn’t you Gavin?’
‘No! I didn’t kill him. And I don’t know who did, either.’ He leaned forward, his elbows on the table. A mark of deliberate sincerity, whether acted or true. ‘Look at this from my point of view. I arranged to meet the guy, he didn’t turn up, then his body’s found right where I’d been. How do you think that looks from here? I know exactly how it looks from your side of things. So yeah, of course I didn’t bloody tell you I’d driven down there to meet him. And of course I didn’t tell you about the emails.’
Caroline scoffed. ‘Did you think we wouldn’t find out?’
‘No! I don’t know. I just… I don’t know. I thought maybe by then you’d have found who actually killed him. I guess part of me thought you’d have no real reason to suspect me because I didn’t do it, so there was no way I was just going to phone up and tell you all this, was there? And then when you started sniffing round, there was nothing I could do but hang on and hope you found whoever did it first. Jesus Christ, I’ve got kids. A family. A job. I’m not about to kill some bloke because he fancies my wife. I mean, come on. You’ve seen her. He’s not the first guy to try it on with her. Not by a long shot. Just think about it. This doesn’t make any sense.’
‘Not in isolation, no. But you’ve already protected Amie once, haven’t you? You were her alibi when Russell Speakman died.’
‘Of course I bloody was. I was with her! What else did you expect me to say? And of course I protect her. She’s my wife. But I don’t go murdering every bloke who looks at her, for crying out loud. What do you think I am?’
Caroline looked at Gavin, desperately trying to work out the answer to that question for herself.
40
After the interview, Caroline and Dexter sat down in her office and tried to process the fallout.
‘It’s bizarre,’ she said. ‘It’s almost like there are two instincts there. There’s the one that says of course he did it, he’s lied about being at the scene until we proved otherwise, he lied about not even leaving the house, he lied about not being in contact with Martin, so what else is he lying about? And that’s before we get onto the whole Russell Speakman thing. But then there’s that other instinct you get from spending time with him, and that tells me he didn’t do it.’
‘He could just be very convincing,’ Dexter said. ‘If we’re talking genuine psychopathy or something along those lines, they’re experts at pulling the wool over people’s eyes.’
‘True, but I don’t think so. I’ve met enough in my time to know when it’s being faked. He’s either telling us the truth or he’s another level entirely. And right now I don’t know which is scarier.’
Dexter sighed and nodded. ‘You’re right about the emails. It’s weird that Martin would delete that one and not the others.’
‘We’ll know soon enough. Not that it’ll explain anything either way.’
As if on cue, Dexter’s phone rang. He answered it, looking at Caroline and nodding as he listened to the caller.
‘That was them,’ he said a few moments later. ‘Gavin did send the email. It’s still in his sent items.’
‘So Martin deleted it?’
‘It seems so,’ Dexter replied. ‘Like you say, it doesn’t explain why.’
‘No. No, it doesn’t. Why would he want to remove all trace of that email, but not the others?’
‘Maybe he was angry or annoyed and deleted it because Gavin called him a coward.’
‘Do you think he’d be that bothered? It doesn’t quite ring true.’
‘Might’ve even been accidental.’
Caroline nodded slowly. It was a possibility, but she didn’t think it likely. There was something there — something that didn’t quite make sense — but it was just beyond her grasp.
41
For all Caroline’s cautious confidence that they’d be able to ruffle Gavin Tanner’s feathers, it hadn’t worked. Even more disappointingly, their desperate search for evidence that might prove his guilt had been fruitless. In any case, they still had most of the day left before his twenty-four-hour custody clock ran out, and that was without seeking an extension.
Caroline’s minimum target at this point was to secure enough evidence — even if only circumstantial — to secure an extra few hours on the clock. That way, they’d maximise their chances of finally nailing him. If all else failed and they had to bail him, they at least had his interview under caution, which could be used at a later date once evidence came to light. Some cases were slow to charge at the best of times, but dealing with fifteen-year-old evidence made that task all the more arduous. Still, she’d remain hopeful and quietly confident that they were on the right track.
A little later that morning, Caroline went to the toilet, where she found Sara Henshaw leaning against the cold tiled wall.
‘Everything okay?’ she asked.
‘One of those days,’ Sara replied. ‘I just needed a few minutes. Hope that’s alright.’
‘Course. Are you okay? I don’t want to sound rude, but you look like shit.’ Sara had always been the calm, level-head of the team, a stable presence even when emotions ran high. To see her looking so brow-beaten was a shock to Caroline.
Sara smiled through one corner of her mouth. ‘Thanks. I think.’
‘Has something happened?’
Sara sighed. ‘Sort of. I mean, yes. But not something that should’ve affected me, really.’
‘Would it help to talk about it?’ Caroline asked, standing beside her and leaning back against the wall, mirroring her stance.
‘I dunno. Probably. But it’s not something I ever do talk about, really. I had a call first thing this morning to say my mum had died.’
‘Oh god, I’m so sorry.’
‘No, it’s okay. Not my real mum. I mean, yes, my real mum, but not my proper mum. I was adopted as a baby. My birth parents were drug addicts. Criminals. My birth dad died when I was a kid, but she hung on and caused as much havoc as she could for a few more years. Mum and Dad — the real ones, the ones who brought me up — called me this morning and told me she’d been found dead yesterday evening.’
‘Christ. I don’t know how you’d even go about processing something like that.’
Sara shrugged, her top rasping on the grouting of the tiled wall. ‘I dunno. I don’t even know how I feel, to be honest. There’s sadness, I guess. It’s always sad when a life ends like that, especially when it’s been wasted. But at the same time it’s the end of a chapter. I always knew who they were, but they never wanted to bother with me. They didn’t care. As far as they were concerned, I was an unfortunate accident. But there was always that worry, that fear she might want to get back in touch and that I’d have to get to know her. I already knew enough to know that wouldn’t be a good idea. But every time the phone rang, every time someone knocked on the door, there was always that fear at the back of my mind it might’ve been her. It’ll take some getting used to realising it won’t be.’
‘Is that a good thing, then?’ Caroline asked.
‘I guess it is. It’s sad I’ll never know her. But then I never did know her, did I? And I never really wanted to, after the things I’d been told. But I guess that question’ll never be answered now, will it?’
‘No, I suppose not.’
‘My parents were great. My real ones, I mean. Not my birth ones. They brought me up brilliantly, but it’s amazing the things that still linger. So much that happens in those firs
t few weeks and months goes on to shape your life for years. Decades. It’s quite worrying, really.’
‘What sort of things?’ Caroline asked.
‘Oh, I dunno really,’ Sara replied, through a deep exhalation of breath. ‘I don’t do well at getting close to people, I guess. I don’t trust easily. Maybe there’s a fear of rejection in there somewhere.’
‘I tell you what,’ Caroline said, stepping away from the wall. ‘How about we pop out for some fresh air for half an hour. Grab a coffee.’
Sara thought for a moment, then looked at her. ‘I’d like that.’
* * *
A few minutes later, they were sitting in The Daily Grind, a short walk from the police station, towards the town centre. They’d found a quiet corner, and sat down with their drinks.
‘Sometimes a change of scenery can help refresh the mind,’ Caroline said. ‘I mean, anything’s better than staring at a toilet cubicle in the police bogs.’
‘Oh, there are definitely some places round here that aren’t,’ Sara replied, smiling.
‘How are your parents? I imagine it must be pretty weird for them hearing that news, not to mention having to pass it on to you.’
‘Yeah. They’re okay, I think. Like you say, weird situation. I got the sense they were relieved, in a way, but that their main concern was for me. It always has been.’
‘They sound like good people,’ Caroline said.
Sara smiled. ‘They are. I’ve been very lucky. Just got to take that next step now, I guess. Not easy in this line of work, but hey.’
‘You mean a partner?’
Sara nodded. ‘Yeah. I know they always say coppers’ relationships fall apart. The job owns you. Things like that. Sometimes I can see how true that is. But then again, other times I wonder how much the job has already taken over and stopped me from finding someone. It’s not like I get much spare time.’
‘I hope this isn’t you telling me you’re thinking of leaving.’
‘Oh no. No, don’t worry. Nothing like that. I just mean… Well, it’s what I’ve always done. It’s what I’ve always known. Seeking a sense of order and justice, maybe. Helping people and trying to give them the second chance I was given. I dunno. Between you and me, I’ve never really had a boyfriend. Not a proper one, anyway. Sometimes I look forward a few years and wonder how long I’ve got left before it’s too late.’
‘I dunno,’ Caroline replied. ‘I don’t think it’s ever too late.’
‘It is for some things.’
‘Kids?’
‘Well, yeah.’
Caroline tried to rein in her thoughts. Concentrating on her own stresses in that area wouldn’t help Sara in the slightest. Besides which, she already had two wonderful kids — the only two she’d ever wanted, she told herself. ‘I’m sure it won’t take you long to find someone. There are websites and apps and all sorts these days. You don’t need to spend half as long at work as you do, either. You put far more in than you need to. I mean, maybe wait until we’ve charged on Operation Cruickshank, though.’
Sara laughed. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t start knocking off early just yet.’
‘I wouldn’t blame you. You’ve earned it.’
‘Besides, I still wonder whether the best option might be right under my nose.’
‘Aidan?’
Sara nodded. ‘Yeah. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.’
Caroline bit her lip and tried to find the right words. She couldn’t break the girl’s heart by telling her Aidan was gay. But, then again, wasn’t it worse to keep stringing her along with false hope? ‘I… I’m really not sure he’s interested in that way,’ she said, finally.
‘Oh. Oh. Okay. Has he said something to you?’
Caroline sighed. ‘Sort of. I brought the subject up with him. Maybe it’ll just take him time. I don’t know. But I don’t think it’ll happen. Sorry.’
Sara looked at her. ‘He’s gay, isn’t he?’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘I’ve had my suspicions for a while. A sixth sense, maybe. And I can see the way you’re floundering about now, trying not to tell me.’
‘Well, I…’
Caroline was saved by the ringing of her phone. She took it out of her pocket and looked at the screen. It was Dexter.
‘Dex. What’s up?’
‘Guv, we’ve had a breakthrough on the Russell Speakman thing. You were right. He didn’t fall down the stairs alone. We’ve just had a confession.’
42
Caroline stepped into the incident room with renewed energy and enthusiasm, Sara Henshaw trailing a few steps behind her.
‘Dex,’ she said, trying to catch her failing breath.
‘You okay?’ Dexter asked.
‘Fine. Come on. Tell me.’
‘Come here, sit down,’ he said, giving her his seat. ‘Okay. We had a woman come in at the front desk while you were out. Name of Ruby Clifford. She says she was there when Russell Speakman died. Said she’s been racked with guilt for years, but managed to hide it. But she saw some stuff in one of the local Facebook groups about Martin’s death and Amie being arrested.’
‘Are you serious? We didn’t release her name.’
‘I know. It’ll be the usual routine — nosy neighbour sees her being bundled into a police car, someone mentions it in passing to the local busybody, next thing you know there’s some idiot gobbing off on social media thinking they’re Roger Cook. Either way, it descended into the usual pile of dung, and someone mentioned she’d been linked with Russell Speakman’s death a few years earlier.’
‘Who the hell would do that?’
Dexter shrugged. ‘We haven’t looked into the details yet.’
‘We’ll need to. That stuff needs to be removed. I know they think they’re being helpful, but if a defence brief gets wind of it, that’s everything finished.’
‘I know. We’re on it.’
Caroline felt an unnatural rage boiling inside her. ‘Do these people not realise their inability to keep their gobs shut can literally cause murderers to walk free?’
‘I don’t think they care about anything other than scoring internet points. But don’t worry. We’ll sort it. Either way, there might be a diamond buried in that steaming dog turd. Ruby Clifford says what she read brought it up to the surface and she wants to tell all.’
‘Christ. Did she seem authentic?’
‘Very. But she wants to deal directly with you.’
Caroline nodded, her breathing starting to return to normal. ‘Okay. She still here?’
‘Waiting in our finest suite as we speak.’
‘Alright. Bring her through to an interview room.’
* * *
Having taken a few minutes to regain herself, Caroline made her way down to the interview room with Dexter. As they opened the door and stepped inside, they got their first look at Ruby Clifford. To Caroline, she seemed like a woman who was nervous, but looking forward to getting a huge weight off her shoulders.
‘Hi, Ruby. I’m Detective Inspector Caroline Hills. This is my colleague, Detective Sergeant Dexter Antoine. We understand you wanted to speak to us with regards to the investigation into the death of Russell Speakman, is that right?’
Ruby dug her fingernails into the back of her hand. ‘Yes. Christ, I don’t even know where to begin. I was a girlfriend of Russell’s. One of many. I… I was round at his that evening. We had an argument, because I’d found out he’d been cheating on me. My friend, Layla, had seen him kissing another girl in town. It… God, it sounds so bad saying it like this. It was Amie Murray who she saw him with, so when I heard the police had been on to her and brought her in, I thought, Good. Let her have it. I thought she deserved to suffer for what she’d done. Obviously now I know that’s not really a rational thing to think, but by the time things had died down there was no way I could just call the police and admit what happened. And then the more time that passes… it just becomes impossible.’
‘Okay. Can you talk us through what happened?’ Caroline asked.
‘I can try. There are bits I remember like it was yesterday, but other things are just blank.’
‘Do your best.’
Ruby thought for a moment, and seemed to be composing herself. Caroline watched her adam’s apple bob as she swallowed, then spoke. As she did, she stared at the floor in the corner of the room, visions and memories playing in her mind.
‘He invited me over. Fairly last minute. I think he’d probably had an argument with another girl of his and I was the only one who was free. I wanted to bring it up with him — what my friend had seen — but I didn’t know what to say. And eventually I told him. I told him what Layla saw. He said I was crazy. He’d gone upstairs. He always tried running away from problems. Never wanted to face up to them. I told him to look me in the eye and tell me it wasn’t true, but he couldn’t. His phone was charging in his bedroom, and I knew there’d be texts on it from his other girls. He was always so secretive with it. So I went to go into his room and get it, to prove what he’d been up to, and he grabbed me. I thought… I don’t know what I thought. I’ve played this moment over in my head so many times over the years. So many times. Maybe I thought he was going to hit me. Maybe I wanted to… I don’t know. But I swung my arm round and hit him. I don’t know if it was just the angle, or where it caught him, or what, but he lost his balance. He was at the top of the stairs and he lost his balance. It all seemed to happen so slowly, but I couldn’t do anything about it. I can still hear the sound of him falling. By the time I realised what was happening it was too late. I could tell, just by looking at him. You can sort of tell, can’t you? When someone’s dead. You can tell.’
The silence in the room was heavy. Caroline and Dexter could feel the weight of the secret Ruby had been carrying with her for fifteen years. It wouldn’t do anyone any good to tell her Russell had still been alive at that point.
