Kat let out a loud groan as they reached Louise Millard’s house.
‘What was that for?’ Maggie asked.
‘Christ, have you ever met this woman? She gobs off at the police even when they’re trying to help her. Every second word out of her mouth is fucking this or bastard that … Couldn’t we have left this for someone else to do? We could just pass it over and head back to the station.’
Maggie stared at her.
‘What?’
‘It’s a bit rich that you of all people are talking first about Shell having a gob on her and now Mrs Millard – you can be very much the same!’ The conversation felt like déjà vu to Maggie.
‘Hey, I know when to be professional! Besides, if someone was helping me, I would be grateful for that.’
‘You have to remember what Louise has been through. And her experience with most police officers has probably been none too helpful or positive, especially years ago when the police did fuck all about domestic abuse.’
Kat looked embarrassed then. ‘OK. Point taken.’
Maggie and Kat locked the car and approached the house. Just as Maggie was about to knock, the door opened.
‘I saw you two sitting there laughing away in your car. You think this is all funny? Well … do you!?’
The officers apologized simultaneously and Maggie felt her face redden. She was aware that if she tried to explain it was a misunderstanding, it would probably anger Louise even more, so she left it.
‘Mrs Millard. My name is DC Maggie Jamieson, and this is my colleague, PC Kat Everett. We’re sorry about showing up unexpected, but we wondered whether we could speak to you about your ex-husband? We’re trying to piece together his last movements and gather details about anyone with a grudge against him.’
‘Ha! Are you serious? Hope you have a big fucking notepad. There are plenty of people who wanted Robert dead … including me!’ Louise Millard turned swiftly on her heel and walked towards the living room. Looking over her shoulder she shouted, ‘Well, what are you waiting for? Fucking neighbours will be gawping out their windows if you stand there any longer. Shut the door behind you.’
Maggie and Kat followed Louise into her living room and settled onto the sofa, both spotting the empty bottle of vodka partially hidden by the chair. Louise followed their eyes.
‘And what? It helps me sleep.’
Feeling slightly embarrassed at being judgemental after having a go at Kat outside for the exact same thing, Maggie passed Louise a card. ‘That is the Family Liaison Officer’s details if you need some help or support. Right now, we’re just going to ask you a few questions. Do you want a cup of tea or anything?’ She nudged Kat.
‘Uh, yeah – I can make us all a cuppa if you’d like, Louise?’
‘Like hell you will. Rummaging around my kitchen. Forget that shit! I’m fine, I’m not drunk if that’s what you’re thinking and if you wanted a cuppa, you should’ve stopped at the café first. Now, can we just get on with this? I only just found out he was dead and you’re already here pestering me. Pity you couldn’t be as quick when he was kicking the shit out of me.’
‘We’re so sorry, Louise. Shall we just start with the basic stuff? The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can leave you in peace.’ Looking over her notes, Maggie carried on, ‘I know you said a lot of people wanted him dead, but can you think of anyone who would actually kill him? Did he get into any arguments recently or disagreements with anyone that you’re aware of?’
‘Are you on crack? I had a restraining order out against Robert. Not that it did much good … but I stayed well away from him. The only thing we still had in common was The Smith’s Forge – the local pub. I avoided the place on the days when he’d be going there. He was a creature of habit, so it wasn’t too difficult.’
‘Did you hear anything unusual at the pub?’
‘Look. I just told you, I did everything I could to get that piece of shit out of my life. When I went to the pub, it was to catch up with my friends. To escape this shit, the bad memories, you know.’ She paused and shifted her position on the chair. ‘We may have chatted about Robert and, I’ll be honest, after the last kicking I got, I did mouth off. I wished he was dead – but those were just words. You get that, right?’ Tugging at her sleeves, Louise continued, ‘Ask Sharon Bairden; I met up with her for one of our sessions before I went over to the pub. Probably why I was all wound up. Sharon knows what I’m like, I was only messing about and even she jumped in saying she’d like to give him a good kicking, too. A lot of people didn’t like him.’ Louise leaned over and grabbed a tissue from the box on the table. ‘I hated Rob for what he did to me over the years. Fucking hated him. But we’d been married a long time. And there were some good times too, you know. And then … well, the baby.’ She stopped and grabbed for a tissue. Blew her nose angrily. ‘But that’s not a problem anymore … I had a miscarriage. So, I’m finding it hard whether to be happy or sad about this whole fucking mess.’
Maggie nodded. ‘We’re so sorry for your loss and we understand, Louise. I’m sorry to sound insensitive, but can you tell me specifically who you were speaking with, or who you met, at the pub?’
‘Hang on. Am I a fucking suspect here?’ Louise shifted again in her seat and half-reached automatically for the empty bottle of vodka.
‘No, we’re not saying that. We have to question everyone. Right now, we know very little about Robert’s movements and we’re trying to piece them together to establish when he died. We just need to be sure we have all the information.’
Kat had been noting down everything that Maggie and Louise were saying, and before Maggie could stop her, she butted in. ‘Those tears dried up pretty quick when you thought you were being accused of something, Louise.’
Maggie shot Kat an angry look.
Louise bolted from her seat, waving her arms furiously. ‘That’s it. Try to fucking help you pigs and this is how I get treated? I’m fucking grieving you know! Get out. Get out!’
Furious with Kat, Maggie tried to calm the situation. ‘Louise, I can only apologize for the way my colleague spoke to you. We really do appreciate your help. Can we carry on this conversation if I ask Kat to wait outside?’
‘But …’ Kat wasn’t pleased at her colleague’s decision.
‘Kat, could you do me a favour and wait in the car until we’re finished here?’
If looks could kill, Maggie would have been arrested at that very moment. She momentarily felt bad for being so harsh, as Kat stomped out of the house like a petulant child.
‘Like I said, Louise. I’m really sorry about that. Kat is new to this team and I think the whole case is getting the best of everyone.’ Maggie hoped that her pitiful excuse would help calm Louise down. She’d deal with Kat later.
Taking her seat again, and another handful of tissues, Louise agreed to answer the rest of Maggie’s questions. ‘OK then. So, can you tell me who you normally meet up with at the pub?’
‘I don’t have that many friends. Robert made sure of that. Mainly Shell Baker. She’s a great support and knows what I’ve been through. She let me rant, get it all out of my system – it helped.’
‘And does Shell know Robert?’
‘Of course. Shell and I are cousins. I don’t hide anything from her.’
Maggie noted this down and circled ‘cousins’.
‘Can you think of anyone else? You mentioned Sharon?’
‘Sharon is one of those advocacy workers. You should fucking know that, she works with you guys. I never met her at the pub; it was beforehand – you know the old magistrates’ courts that were turned into a community centre? We have group sessions there, or sometimes she’d see me on my own.’
‘And did she ever talk about hurting Robert?’ Maggie asked.
Louise laughed. ‘Not seriously. I jokingly said what I’d love to do to guys like Robert – you know, a good kicking – and she threw in her two cents’ worth. The way these pricks did it to us and got away with it, it’s just shocking. No wonder women like me find it hard to leave.’
Interesting. ‘OK, Louise. That’s great. Sorry to have taken up so much of your time. I can see myself out.’
After finishing up with Louise, Maggie returned to the car. Getting in and slamming the door, she turned to Kat. ‘What the hell is wrong with you? You could have screwed up that whole thing!’
‘Sorry, Maggie. It just pisses me off when people play the victim.’
‘Kat, she is a victim. Her husband systematically abused her – physically and emotionally – for years. She just miscarried a child and now her husband has been murdered. No wonder her feelings are all over the place! You have to hold your personal views back, Kat.’ Maggie did up her seat belt with a snap. Kat stared moodily out of the window.
‘It just so happens, after you left I learnt that Shell Baker is Louise Millard’s cousin. She never mentioned that when we questioned her. Also Sharon has been a bit unprofessional about her clients.’
‘Maybe Shell didn’t feel it was important … and we’ve all said things off the cuff, Maggie. I wouldn’t read too much into either of those things.’ Kat twisted the key and started the engine.
‘Yeah … maybe. Shit! Look at the time. We need to get back to the station.’ Maggie tapped her nose. ‘We also need to speak to Sharon, and Shell Baker again at some point.’