Maggie returned to Interview Room Three with a heavy heart. Looking around at the faces before her, a sadness could be felt. She plonked herself down with a sigh in the chair opposite Rory, his mother, and Dr Moloney.
Maggie took Rory through the preliminaries; he looked on the verge of tears and was struggling to get his words out. Maggie glanced at his mother. She’d been crying, her eyes redrimmed, and her nose raw from blowing into the wet, shrivelled tissue that lay limply on the interview room table. Rory was formally cautioned and the task of taking his statement began. Maggie asked Rory to start from the beginning and he leant back in his chair and began to talk.
‘How far back do you want me to start from?’
‘The day of the murder. What were you feeling that day?’
‘I was OK to start off with. I’d made plans to go and see my dad as I knew that Siobhan was going to her grandparents.’
‘Who’s Siobhan?’
‘My stepsister.’ Rory looked at his mother to see if that was the correct term.
‘Siobhan’s his half-sister, actually. Patrick is … was, her father too.’
‘OK, Rory. Go on.’
‘Lucy had given me a key to the house. Told me it was my home too, so when I got there, I let myself in. No one was downstairs.’ A shadow fell over Rory’s face as he talked and his hands fidgeted constantly on his lap. ‘I shouted from the landing but there was no answer.’
‘What did you do?’
‘I took off my muddy shoes, didn’t want to dirty the floors. I was going to sit in the living room and wait. Dad’s car was outside in the drive, so I thought maybe he’d just walked up to the shops.’ Rory swallowed. ‘Then I heard a weird noise upstairs.’
‘What kind of noise?’
‘It sounded like water dripping, and then a thump. Like someone had slipped in the bath.’ His mother sobbed but Rory carried on. ‘I listened a bit, but it was quiet again. About ten minutes later, dad still wasn’t back, so I went upstairs. Maybe he was asleep. He sometimes was.’ A gloomy look crept over Rory’s face again, and Maggie glanced over at Dr Moloney.
‘What happened when you went upstairs?’ Maggie could feel her heart racing. Normally she didn’t prompt people she was interviewing, but she could see that Rory was struggling.
‘When I got to the landing, I heard this weird, low groan from my dad’s bedroom. I tiptoed to the door and pushed it open. Lucy was on the floor. I could hardly … oh it was awful … her face was bloody.’ Rory ran a hand across his face. ‘I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to touch her in case I hurt her or in case she was … dying or something.’ Rory began to cry, and his mother rubbed his back as tears flowed down her face. She nodded as if she knew exactly what Rory was talking about.
‘I went to the bathroom and saw my dad in the tub. There was an open can of beer spilled on the floor and he was passed out … drunk … again.’ He choked back his anger. ‘I saw the cuts on his knuckles. I got mad, I just felt so … so … pissed off.’ He spat the words out. ‘Lucy was always kind to me. Mum left my dad because he did bad things.’ He glanced at his mum. ‘I didn’t believe her at first. But when I saw Lucy crumpled on the floor, the blood … so much blood … I thought of my mum … and I just snapped.’
‘Do you want to take a moment?’
Rory sniffed. ‘I’m OK.’ A strange cold glint appeared in his eyes. ‘It was like I was a robot or something. I went down to the kitchen and put on the rubber gloves that Lucy had left near the sink. I grabbed a knife from the wooden block on the counter and went back upstairs. Deep down I guess I always knew my dad was an arsehole.’
‘What do you mean by that, Rory?’
‘I saw him with another woman. They kissed. I also checked his phone once when he was passed out drunk. He’d obviously forgot to delete a message from someone named “Steve”. It said they loved him, but it was signed “Shell”, with a kiss by the name. I knew he was cheating on Lucy and I didn’t say anything at first. Another woman for him to beat I guess.’ He suppressed a shudder. ‘But then I knew I had to tell Lucy. It wasn’t fair, and I thought maybe then, if she knew, she’d leave him. My dad made me so angry sometimes. But I was afraid I was turning into him … and that made me even angrier.’
‘What happened in the bathroom?’
‘I stood over him with the knife in my hand. Wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I wanted to scare him. He was still passed out, so I nudged him. He didn’t move. I kicked his arm and he sort of woke up. This weird glazed look in his eyes.’ Rory stared at the wall as if he was watching the scene again. ‘He saw the knife in my hand. He asked me what I was doing. Or at least I think that’s what he said; his words were slurred. I told him he had to stop hurting Lucy. And do you know what he did?’ Rory shut his eyes and paused. ‘He laughed at me. I lost it then. I stabbed him right in the chest.’ Rory put his hands over his eyes, and his mother gasped.
‘You’re doing great, Rory. We’re nearly finished here. Did you get him another drink before you stabbed him?’ Maggie asked Rory if he’d given his father anymore of the medication.
Rory shook his head. ‘Lucy was always warning him to be careful with his medication. He sometimes forgot if he’d taken them and double dosed. I don’t think you’re supposed to mix them with alcohol either.’
Maggie nodded. She’d have to speak with the pathologist and see whether the high levels could be down to Patrick accidently overdosing. Not that it mattered. Cause of death was the knife wound to the chest.
‘Can you tell me what you did after you stabbed your father?’
He sniffed and reached for a tissue, wiping his nose. ‘I stared at him for a bit. He didn’t move. I thought he might try to grab me or something. But he just lay there. I think it hit me then. What I’d done. I stared at the knife in his chest and then I went and looked in on Lucy, still lying on the floor. She raised her head, and I thought I saw her eyes flutter … I closed the door and left. Dumped the gloves in the bin by the shops and went home. Never thought Lucy would end up in prison. I mean, she didn’t do it.’
‘Why do you think Lucy confessed, Rory?’
‘I dunno. I think at first she thought she did it … I told her it was me, though.’
‘You did?’ Maggie’s eyes widened.
‘When we first spoke on the phone, not long after she was put in prison. She said she didn’t want to see me ruin my life. Said she would have probably killed him or ended up dead herself anyway – she made me promise to keep it a secret.’
‘OK. If Lucy was going to take the blame, why are you here now?’
‘I did something bad.’
‘Yes, we know. You murdered your father.’
‘No. Something else. I hurt my girlfriend.’ Rory looked broken as he wiped a tear from his eyes. ‘I was afraid I was turning into my father and I don’t want to. I took my girlfriend with me to visit Lucy, and she knew. Lucy knew. And do you know what I said as I left?’ Rory began to cry uncontrollably.
‘What did you say?’
‘I looked at Lucy …’ Rory struggled to get his words out. He gulped, ‘“like father, like son”.’ The last words were said through gritted teeth.
‘Oh God. Rory … no …’ his mother turned away.
‘I’m sorry. I need help. I don’t want to hurt the people I love. That’s why I knew I had to confess.’
Rory was charged with the murder of his father and the interview ended. Maggie left the room with Dr Moloney, while Rory stayed and spoke to his solicitor. He grabbed his mother in a tight hug, sobbing goodbye. He’d be remanded into custody later that day.
Dr Moloney stopped just outside the door. ‘How do you do it, Maggie?’
‘Do what?’
‘How do you deal with a child coming in and saying all that? My heart was breaking.’
‘Mine too … But it’s all part of the job. Hopefully Rory will get the help he needs. But even if he doesn’t that’s one less woman … for the time being … who will not be a victim.’
The prospect of returning to her old team was already on Maggie’s mind; this case had played havoc with her emotions. All murders were difficult, but there was something about domestic abuse cases that just got to her. So many people affected. So many hurt. Maybe Rutherford knew that when she suggested the secondment. She had wanted her to forget about the last case she worked on. Now she wished that she could go back. This case, working so close with Dr Moloney and the feelings that brought about. Her brother coming to live with her. She rubbed her temples to relive the pressure she was feeling. Then she remembered why she agreed to the secondment – Raven, and she shook her head.
Be careful what you wish for, Maggie.