DC Maggie Jamieson was getting ready to go home when the call came in. She threw her coat on and ran out of the door. She knew Lucy and, despite the discussions with Hooper and the team, she never really believed Lucy could murder anyone. Then again, although she had some suspicions, she’d not been sure of the domestic abuse in Lucy’s life. Lucy always appeared to be focused and together. She chaired the Domestic Abuse Forum meetings and was the probation Lead for Domestic Abuse. Maggie shook her head in dismay. You just never knew what people were capable of and what others might be hiding.
Maggie headed down to the custody suite first to see how Lucy was, but also to try to figure out what the hell was going on. When the cell door opened, Maggie felt saddened. Huddled on the bed, rocking herself, sat Lucy. Her face battered, and she had dried blood in her hair.
‘How are you doing, Lucy? Do you need anything?’
Lucy raised her head to see who had walked in and attempted to smile but looked completely bewildered and still in a lot of pain.
‘Oh, Maggie! What have I done? What have I done?’ The anguish and confusion in Lucy’s voice tugged at Maggie’s heart, but she knew she had to maintain her professionalism.
‘Look, Lucy, you’re still under caution. Anything you say to me won’t be kept between us, OK? I need you to know that. When I heard the news that you were here, I just had to see if you were OK.’
‘Does Mark know?’
Maggie’s eyes dropped to the floor. ‘I don’t know, Lucy, I can find out for you.’
Everyone in the team knew that Mark and Lucy’s friendship had grown since they’d been working so closely together. Maggie remembered Mark’s embarrassment in a recent briefing when Hooper had hinted at his fondness for Lucy. It was another question she’d have to ask though. A question she wasn’t looking forward to, because Mark may need to be questioned in relation to Patrick Quinn’s death.
Lucy began rocking again. ‘I don’t know what happened.’ She moved back and forth, staring blankly at the wall. ‘I can’t remember anything. He was just there … in the tub … with the kni … and the blood, all the blood …’ Lucy was shaking, could barely finish the sentence. ‘Is he dead?’ She suddenly stared straight at Maggie. ‘He’s dead, isn’t he? Did I do this? No … no … no …’ She leaned her head back against the wall, and Maggie took hold of her hand.
‘Hey, breathe, Lucy. By the look of your face, it looks like you took quite a beating. Have you seen the doctor yet?’
‘Doctor? No, not yet. I don’t need a doctor. I think I fainted when I got here. Everything went blank. I feel like I’m losing my mind! Why is this happening? Am I going to go to prison?’
‘I can’t answer that right now. I’m concerned about you. I’m going to find out when the doctor will be in to see you, OK? Are you sure you don’t want some water?’
‘Water would be great.’ Lucy seemed to be calming down. ‘If it’s no bother, of course. I don’t want to cause any trouble.’
Maggie squeezed Lucy’s hand. She looked at the battered woman before her. This wasn’t the Lucy Sherwood she knew. ‘It’s no bother at all. Hang tight and I’ll be back when I have some answers. PC Knightsbridge will bring you some water.’
Maggie left the cell and headed to the custody desk. ‘Any idea when the doctor will be in to see Lucy Sherwood?’
‘Sherwood? We have her down as Quinn. Regardless, DC Jamieson, the doc is making his rounds now and believe it or not – there are others worse off than that poor lass. Do you want me to let you know when she’s been seen?’
‘That would be great. I’m really concerned about her mental well-being. Make sure that someone checks on her regularly until the doctor has been to see her. He may have some ideas of what else we can be doing.’
‘Will do.’
Maggie needed to speak to DS Hooper and then Mark. She had never been faced with a colleague who was under arrest and knew that she’d need to tread carefully. Everyone was going to be on edge.
In her gut, she still didn’t believe Lucy had killed her husband, or any of the other men for that matter. If asked right now, she couldn’t explain why, but something didn’t feel right. She also didn’t believe Mark was capable of hurting Patrick, but she knew his views on men that beat women and about his friendship with Lucy. You never know what people can be capable of when pushed.
Although most solicitors these days don’t encourage a ‘no comment’ interview, Lucy’s solicitor had advised her to go ‘no comment’ throughout the police interview. Maggie guessed it had to do with the unanswered questions that still remained. Despite this, Lucy kept saying she must have killed her husband and deserved to be punished.
With Lucy’s lack of recall in terms of the assault on herself and the murder of her husband, she was returned to the cells and would appear in magistrates’ court at the earliest opportunity.
Maggie found it a very difficult interview. When she raised the deaths of the other men, Lucy looked blank, as if she had no idea what Maggie was asking or why. The team didn’t know what to think but Maggie was determined to find out the truth.