Sir Alex Tomkins welcomed Evelyn Doyle to the Board meeting. Evelyn had been forced to reschedule two sessions at the unit to accommodate her attendance. Rescheduling was never something that she took lightly. She had spent a good part of her weekend preoccupied by the report she was to make, and she had taken the unusual step of calling off a date with her husband, Paul, on the Saturday evening. She was not in the mood for the cinema. Whether it was the prospect of crossing swords with Peter Archer again, or of having to make a report in a formal situation, or some other reason that had put her into a mood of mild depression, she didn’t know. All she knew was that, as the weekend progressed, she found herself thinking more and more about the probability of Tess being discharged and leaving Wellbridge House. She felt uncomfortable about this and she also knew that she was afraid of what might happen to her if she had to deal with a court case. If she succeeded in identifying the men responsible for the death of her brother then a prosecution would almost certainly follow and Tess would be exposed to the danger of being a witness to a killing like Stephen’s.
Several times she checked and cautioned herself against crossing bridges before she came to them, only to find that a few minutes later she would be doing the same thing again. By Sunday afternoon she realised that she was tying herself in knots, being bad company for Paul and she finally, on impulse, invited him out for a long walk with tea at The Fensham Tea Room. After a muddy and freezing walk, they adjourned to the tea room and spent over an hour in conversation in front of the fire. For the first time that weekend Evelyn relaxed, forgot about the report she had written on Friday for distribution by email to the Board, and began to retrieve her relationship from distance and withdrawal.
She enjoyed Paul’s company and missed his kind of nurturing. On Sunday night she slept deeply and well and by Monday morning had finally fought off her preoccupations. She found her equilibrium again, enough to trust that, one way or another, everything would work out. Over breakfast she spent some time thinking about her verbal report which, with the benefit of her new-found equilibrium, suddenly seemed straightforward. There was, in fact, very little to say. All she had to do was to report the facts and make her recommendations. In the car on the way to the unit she listened to Radio 4 and, over the voice of John Humphrys, reconnected to the patients she was seeing that morning.
By lunchtime, her afternoon sessions rescheduled, she spent an hour in the staff dining room having lunch and reading the paper. After the experience of her weekend she decided that the time had come to let go and trust that she knew what she was going to say.
When Sir Alex opened the door of the boardroom and ushered her in she felt she was amongst friends. In turn the Board members smiled and greeted her. Once seated, Sir Alex gave a succinct preamble, that new information had come to light and that the sentence given to Tess Dawson was to be reviewed. Mrs Doyle had come today to report on the new information which would be discussed by the members. “We already have Evelyn’s emailed report,” he said, “and Evelyn will speak to it and answer any questions which may aid the Board in making its recommendation to the Home Office.” He invited Evelyn to take the floor. She looked around the table and began:
“I’ve worked with Tess Dawson now for over six months and in that time she’s taken enormous strides in her therapy. As you’ll all remember, she was mute when she arrived here. I regard her mutism now as firstly the aftermath of trauma and as her way of taking stock of what had happened in West Wales during a violent encounter with her brother, Stephen; secondly, as a consequence of what had happened to her when her baby, Rachel, died at twelve weeks of age some seven years prior to the events in Wales. She had never come to terms with the loss nor, it seems to me, had she grieved. She had been retraumatised by the act of exhuming Rachel.
With regard to the former, she came under suspicion of being involved in her brother’s death but the police have now counted her out as a suspect. There’s no doubt that she was involved in an act of violence against Stephen Dawson but I am certain that the violence was self-defence on Tess’s part. She admits to giving him a blow to the head with a poker but he, in fact, died from a broken neck deliberately and expertly inflicted by a person as yet unknown. As we meet here Tess is helping Inspector Ann McKenzie with her enquiries, which may result in the identification of the men who killed her brother. She witnessed his beating prior to his murder.
The second issue that has come to light during her sessions with me is with regard to her baby, Rachel. It was never clear how Rachel died due to the desiccated condition of her body after Tess had interred her in the old cellar fireplace at the cottage where she lived. After seven years, at which time she gave up the body at her local police station, the cause of death could not be accurately enough determined to charge Tess with causing the death. Her behaviour immediately after the death – concealing the body and failing to report the death – led to a great deal of justified suspicion and that, combined with her mutism, gave the court little leeway and she was convicted on those two counts.
As you know, prison was not regarded as a useful option for her. She was clearly in crisis and it was thought that Wellbridge House would help her to find her voice again and that eventually she might give an account of what had happened to her daughter. And that’s what has happened. Tess has disclosed to me, and I have her consent in disclosing to you, that Rachel tragically died a natural death, probably through what is termed cot death.
After getting to know her I have every reason to believe that this is the truth and that, in the light of this new information, I think she is approaching the point where she can be considered for release and begin to resume a normal life in the outside world. My only concern is with regard to the possibility that she may be able to identify the men responsible for the murder of Stephen. She saw the perpetrators and if she does identify them then potentially she is going to be exposed to the kind of violence that is their stock-in-trade. I think, in ordinary circumstances, Tess would be capable of resuming life beyond these walls but this additional factors make me consider the worst-case scenario and what could happen to her. I think she should go straight into a witness protection programme as soon as she’s released. So my recommendation comes with a major condition: Tess should be released but into a witness protection programme.”
Evelyn paused, glad that her deposition was complete and ready for the ensuing discussion.
“Thank you very much, Evelyn,” Sir Alex replied on behalf of the Board. “You’ve been very clear and succinct. Peter, do you have anything to add from your perspective?” He half-turned to face Peter Archer, inviting him to add his thoughts and analysis.
“Yes, well…” he began, “I appreciate having an up-to-date report on Tess Dawson. I’m pleased that we’re moving towards some resolution in this difficult case. As you know, I never thought she should be here in the first place.”
The Board seemed to wince with discomfort in unison at Peter Archer’s characteristic churlishness. In their collective response, a sigh here, a shuffle there, a wave of irritation, frustration and disappointment rippled round the group and came to rest with Sir Alex. He could no longer contain his own frustration with the Director.
“Really, Peter. You do yourself no favours behaving in this way.”
He was telling off a minion in the Ministry, chiding a junior for pettiness and childishness. There was no mistaking this direct, simple put-down, conveyed in a tone of voice and a chiding demeanour. Peter Archer blushed like a teenager, duly admonished by the intervention. He was silent, his mouth slightly open, stopped in his tracks by a single, brief blow. The Board as one turned to face Sir Alex in both admiration and relief. Evelyn felt the muscles in her shoulders slacken as she took in a deep, even breath, held it and then exhaled in a luxurious release of all her dealings in the past with this man. He was deflated. Evelyn experienced a renewed conviction that his day had nearly gone. She made a wager with herself that he would be gone by summer, and then reconnected to the silent transactions buzzing around the circle. Simon Cooper spoke next.
“Thank you for your report, Evelyn. You’ve made your points with clarity. There’s always been a doubt surrounding Tess Dawson and now, as far as I can see, that doubt has been removed. And it’s worth saying at this point, Peter, that you know as well as I that Evelyn could not disclose anything to the Board or to you until she had sufficient confidence in the information herself, and until she had permission from the patient. She came to us as soon as she had both and, I believe, she kept you as fully informed as she could in the process. She couldn’t and shouldn’t have done any more.”
Peter Archer sat tight lipped then replied: “Yes, of course.”
He said no more, occupied within himself with the business of regrouping and finding his balance. His stomach was churning, rumbling and gurgling. He felt humiliated. He sat still and stiff, waiting for the next intervention. The Board was now mobilised for another come-uppance. Angela Norman spoke next. She had been watching Peter Archer and could see the turmoil that had overtaken him. She was kind but, like everyone else, had a store of frustration that had come to fruition in the past half hour. She was doubly annoyed that the Director appeared to have learnt nothing from the last meeting. She said, controlled:
“I’m so glad that this might mean that Tess Dawson can be released. I’m equally glad for her that it seems she didn’t kill her child. If what she’s told you is true, and I personally have no doubt that it is,” she continued, turning to Evelyn, “then we can also reassess her mutism and pay some attention to the fact that she must have been devastated by the loss of her baby and that no one really took that into account. That’s very sad, I think. And it must have been very hard for her. That makes this a very tragic case. And I can’t imagine what this occurrence in Wales must have been like for her and what she may now have to face if she’s released. I so agree with your recommendation and this must be taken up with the police as soon as possible.”
Hazel Simmonds joined the conversation.
“I agree with what’s been said so far. Just one point. Miss Dawson still has a sentence for concealing a body and failing to report a death that was given by the Court. Are we assuming that that sentence will have been served since she came here and that, if she’s completely cleared of any suspicion of killing her child, she will have served enough of the sentence for those two offences to be eligible for release?”
“Now, I discussed this with Peter before the meeting because the same point occurred to both of us and to Evelyn,” Sir Alex replied. “It’s really quite simple. She was only convicted of those two offences but there was the additional issue of the child. She was sent to Wellbridge House to both serve her sentence for concealment and failure to report a death and for psychiatric treatment for an indeterminate time, but not exceeding three years. In the light of this new information she will be deemed to have served her sentence for the two more minor offences.
We think that a disclosure made in a therapy session is a convincing disclosure in this case, as there is no evidence that she actually killed the child. Tess Dawson is not regarded as manipulative, she has no symptoms of being a borderline personality, I’m told. It will be up to Peter, with Evelyn’s help, to make his report to the Ministry making these points. That should not take too long. But there is the matter of a possible court case concerning the death of Stephen Dawson where Tess might have to appear as a witness. We’ll know more about that when this meeting ends and Miss Dawson has completed her identification process with Inspector McKenzie. What remains for us to decide is whether we’re adopting Evelyn’s recommendation. Could we decide on that, please?”
Richard Rowntree began to speak:
“I think that this is a very good outcome for Tess Dawson. She was obviously a troubled young woman and it seems to me that Mrs Doyle has done a very good job. I think we should accept Mrs Doyle’s recommendation and, in the light of the investigation into her brother’s death, which I understand is drugs related, we should reiterate her point about a witness protection programme. We must do whatever we can to rehabilitate her in safety. These people are mad and violent from what I hear and she could be facing their madness and violence on her own as soon as she leaves here. A trial will be an ordeal for her and I want her to know that we understand that and that we want to safeguard her security.”
His head moved round the table to address everyone in turn, including the Director who continued to avert his eyes and gaze into the middle distance. It would be his job to arrange for the Board’s recommendations to be negotiated and, if agreed, implemented.
The Board endorsed her recommendations and the Director was charged with the negotiation which he accepted without argument or comment. He left the meeting before tea and the usual social time that the Board members shared when meetings ended. Evelyn Doyle remained there, unusually, to chat. The members stood with cups and saucers in hands, firstly in silence and then with the quiet chatter of those who have been thrown together by circumstance and who found that they shared more with each other than they had thought. There was a subdued aura of responsibility that hung over the gathering. Sir Alex boomed as the late afternoon came, reassuring everyone by the manner of his bonhomie that what had happened had been just. Evelyn thought to herself that by Summer the Director could be gone, his days now numbered by the growing antipathy and frustration of the Board towards him.
*
Tess’s morning was taken up with her meeting with Inspector McKenzie, which was late in starting and Ann McKenzie was apologetic. Matters at the police station had held her up and, although she had phoned ahead to alert Tess of her late arrival, Tess had become fretful and anxious, trying to read the paper in the common room but failing. Instead she’d finally resorted to going to the office, enquiring whether someone could phone the Inspector and find out what was happening. In the end Ann McKenzie was over an hour late and Tess was at her wits’ end, angry and in tears, her anxiety elevated to breaking point. An apology came and went almost unnoticed by her, meaning little to Tess. By this time she was completely distracted. It took half an hour for Ann to talk her down and by then she was afraid that Tess would be unable to concentrate on the task in hand. Eventually Tess came back to earth and began to engage in the process, but it was not until after lunch that she could concentrate again and that her distress finally dissipated. It was evident to Ann McKenzie that Tess was fragile and that this encounter with the world outside the unit had pushed her towards the limits of her resources. She almost wished that Tess would not be able to identify her brother’s killers from the file of photos she had brought with her on the laptop. If she did she had to be given witness protection.
After lunch the two women began the delayed process of the electronic identity parade. They sat together in a small room at the top of the house where they would not be disturbed and where no one would see them. Concentration and discretion were both important. A veil of secrecy was already beginning to fall over Tess and she felt reassured by it. She felt oddly at home in the attic room, sitting to attention in front of a laptop looking at pictures of unknown men in the dimly lit space. She had grown to trust the Inspector to some extent, but she was cautious and guarded with her now. She knew that Ann was not like Evelyn or the members of staff at the unit. Her motivation was different. Tess felt that she cared about her but that she had a job to do and here, today, people to be recognised as one image was followed by another.
Each new face was scrutinised and left an impression on her. There was an accumulated effect and after the first twenty or so images she was beginning to feel burdened by the growing weight of human failings and despair that was paraded before her. Most of the men seemed unwashed, with shadowed faces and blank, belligerent or defeated eyes. They seemed unkempt and wild, unloved and wasted. She began to wonder whether these were her projections onto them because she knew that every one of them had a criminal record. She began to feel depressed by the procession of lives and faces scarred and imprinted with misery, defiance and lack of fulfilment. At times she had to look away to ward off the gazes of these sad and empty men. She saw one or two who reminded her of Stephen and grimaced to herself. He could have been here in this gallery of hopelessness, she thought. And then, suddenly, as she pressed the space key, a face flashed up in front of her and she saw what she had half-hoped she wouldn’t see: one of the men who had beaten and then probably killed her brother. She flinched and gasped and, like a child, pointed at the picture, speechless and suddenly breathless. She knew instinctively at that moment that her life had taken a new turn, so radical and so unwished-for that it took her a moment to focus her eyes and to say to the Inspector:
“He’s one. Not the main one, but one of the ones who beat Stephen.”
“Thank you, Tess.” She noted the reference number in her notebook and said:
“Let’s carry on and see if you can identify anyone else. Is that OK?”
“Yes. I’ve come this far.”
Tess pressed the space key and continued. There was no going back. She called up more faces and stopped again, less alarmed this time but still affected by the sudden recognition. She knew that she was dealing with a world that she feared and that was shocking. Stephen could have been among these faces. There was no difference between victim and perpetrator. She felt suddenly angry at the suffering that these men had inflicted and at their failure to understand themselves. Like Stephen they didn’t want to. It was easier to inflict pain on others and put off the moment when they would feel it for themselves. On impulse she pulled down the screen to blot out the images and said:
“I’d like a break. The last one I looked at. That was the other one who did the beating.”
Ann McKenzie pulled up the screen and said: “This one, Tess?”
“Yes. That one.”
“Thank you. Let’s take that break. Would you like to go down to the common room or shall I fetch you some tea and you can have it here?”
She suddenly needed to get away from the small room into a different space. She wanted some air and daylight. She stood with the Inspector and walked to the door, grabbing the handle and propelling herself through the opening into the spaciousness of the landing and the stairs, catching the rays from the skylight above. They walked together down the two flights of stairs in the direction of the common room.
*
Later, Tess resumed her search but found no other faces that fitted her image of the other man, the boss, the cold, taunting one who gave the orders. That meant, she thought, that he probably didn’t have a police record. She felt a little cheated, that he would go scot-free and only his henchmen would be caught and punished. She could feel the contempt rising in her chest, anger making her face hot and she said to the Inspector:
“The one who was the boss isn’t here. Only his two henchmen, the ones who followed orders. I suppose they count for something. He had to have someone to do his dirty work. I hope you find them and lock them up.”
“We can only do that with your help. They’re a start. We’ll know who they’re associated with and there’s every possibility that when we catch the third man you’ll be able to identify him too.”
“I’ve come this far,” she said again, as if she felt impelled by the inevitability of her role in the drama. “I can’t really stop here. It frightens me and I don’t look forward to what it all means. But I can’t stop now.”
“If this does go to Court and you are able to give evidence then we’ll do what we can to protect you. You know these people are dangerous. You saw it for yourself. We will offer you the witness protection programme.”
Tess turned to look at her and said: “I’m sure it’ll all be alright.”
She felt suddenly dreamy and centred. She felt certain that, if she did this thing that she feared, everything would turn out for the best. She had no rationale for the feeling, only a gathering sense of wellbeing that had come, unprompted, into her body. She was beginning to feel that these unexplained and spontaneous feelings were part of her now. This, she had concluded only recently, was the new order of things, her new identity that embraced qualities she had never even imagined before. Her one real anxiety about leaving the unit and, more particularly, Evelyn, was that she would lose the ability to live in this new way and she would lose everything she’d gained.
For a long moment she knew that, come what may, this new way of being was more important than any danger in the outside world. She had come to value these sensations and her new knowledge far more than threats to her life or the menaces of the mean and violent nightmare world that now impinged upon her. She knew she was vulnerable and that her life could be easily extinguished. And still that core of her and a sense of being unshakeable continued as she sat in silence with Ann McKenzie. In the end she said:
“I mean, it’ll be OK and I sort of trust you and Wellbridge House to look after me until this bad thing is over. I must do this.”
Her conviction took root in her as she spoke. She was sealing her own fate and seemed determined. She said:
“I hope you find the other man, the boss.”