Nicki
At my desk, I go through everything we have. Rather than solving anything, it seems the knot of unanswered questions grows ever more tangled. Carefully, I try to unravel the case, compiling a list of credible suspects to discuss with the DI.
“The first is Andrew Buckley, sir. His cast-iron reputation as a GP has been shot to pieces now that I know what he’s done to his wife. If he were pushed, it’s easy to believe that he could kill.”
The DI frowns. “We need a motive, May. Do you have one?”
“There is a link with Hollie—as you know, she was in love with his son, Dylan. But from what Dr. Buckley said, it was Hollie ending it that triggered Dylan to take his own life.”
“Go on.”
“It’s possible Hollie found out about Dr. Buckley’s involvement with Stephanie and tried to protect her father. Maybe she challenged Andrew. Maybe he lost his temper.” Looking at him, I shrug.
“Too many maybes.” He shakes his head. “We need something more concrete.”
I know he’s right. “There’s James Hampton, though I’m not sure he could kill anyone. But you couldn’t imagine him buying into child porn, either. He doesn’t seem the type.”
The DI’s silent for a moment. “Anyone else?”
“Only two more credible suspects. The first is Mason. What if Hollie realized he was blackmailing her father? She could have gone to see him and threatened to expose him to the police. Mason clearly has no scruples. Maybe he arranged to meet her in the Penns’ garden, knowing that they were away, so the two of them could talk without being observed by any of the villagers. When she refused to be quiet, maybe he killed her, then pushed her body into the pool, where it lay submerged under leaves until we found it.”
This time, the DI looks thoughtful. “We really do need to talk to Mason. You said you had one more?”
“Yes.” I watch him closely. “Elise Buckley.”
The DI looks surprised. “I wasn’t expecting you to say that. Why?”
“She and Hollie were often seen together in the churchyard. It may just be because Dylan’s buried there and they were both drawn to his grave...” I hesitate.
“But?” The DI’s watching me.
“I’m not sure, sir. Not yet. I think Hollie knew something about Elise. Or maybe her husband. Elise is fiercely protective of her family.”
“You’ve only just got through telling me he abuses her.” The DI frowns.
“I know. But that’s the point, sir. The behavior of abused women can’t be understood the way most relationships can. I would imagine that until now, Elise has normalized her abusive relationship with her husband—it’s what happens. So far, she’s kept his dirty little secret about what he does to her. Who knows what else she isn’t saying?”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” he says firmly.
“Oh, but it does.” I stare at him, then drop the pretense. “People normalize dysfunction all the time. I was in an abusive relationship, sir. For five years. My husband used to regularly beat me when he was drunk or if something didn’t go his way. I never told anyone. I had this misguided loyalty to him—but also, I was scared of being without him. That relationship came to define who I was. He’d completely suckered me in, then undermined me constantly, destroying my self-esteem, until I didn’t believe I was capable of surviving on my own.”
“I had no idea,” he says quietly.
“I don’t shout about it.” I give him a warning look. “I’m only telling you because I understand how these relationships work. Right now, I don’t suppose Elise can see a way out.”
“Are you planning to talk to her again?”
“I’ll try. I’m going to suggest she calls a domestic abuse hotline. There are several and if she seriously wants help, they’re good. But...” I hesitate. “If Hollie knew something that threatened the Buckleys, I do wonder what Elise might have been capable of. Her husband’s assessment of her is that she’s fragile and unstable. But I don’t think she is. I think she’s desperate, too. To be perfectly honest, I’m not inclined to believe a word Andrew Buckley says.” I give the DI a moment. “I suppose the missing piece in all this is Philip Mason.”
He nods. “Bloody tangled web, isn’t it?”
I nod. “You could say.”
“What about the connection between Hampton and Calder? Or Buckley?”
“We have nothing, sir. Maybe forensics will come up with something from Mason’s house. Shouldn’t we have a report soon?”
Getting up, he nods. “I’ll chase them up. In fact, I’ll do that right now. I’ll let you know what they say.”
Before I leave the office late that afternoon, I call the practice where Andrew Buckley works, saying I need to speak to him. When they tell me he’s busy with patients until at least seven, I tell them I’ll call back tomorrow. But knowing he’s occupied for a couple of hours gives me a window to go and see Elise.
When I get to the hospital this time, she’s sitting up. Even though she’s alone, she doesn’t look pleased to see me. Pulling up a chair, I sit down near the end of her bed. “How are you feeling today?”
“Sore.” Her words bear more of her usual no-nonsense manner. “You shouldn’t be here. If Andrew sees you, he’ll be furious.”
“He’s with patients until seven. I checked with his practice. Is that how he was yesterday when I left here? Furious?” When she nods, I add, “I know how it feels.”
Her eyes glisten as she turns away. “So you said.”
“Look...” I pause. “I haven’t come here on police business. I’ve come here as another woman who knows what it’s like to be physically abused.” I watch her take in my words before asking quietly, “How are you?”
Shaking her head, she sighs. “Honestly? You have no idea. I’d found a house to move into. I paid the deposit and three months’ rent out of my savings. When he found out, he went ballistic. That was the night I ended up in here. He constantly threatens me. He thinks he can bring me down, just like that. But I have to try to be strong for Niamh.”
I frown. “He can’t do that, Elise—bring you down. What does he mean?”
“Oh,” she says softly, “he can. If he wants to, in a few words he can bring the mighty weight of the medical profession crashing down on me. He’s told me he’ll get me declared insane, an unfit mother. I’ll lose my job, my daughter...” As she says daughter, her voice cracks.
“It’s a bluff, Elise,” I tell her quietly. “He doesn’t fool anyone. The police know what he’s capable of. I can’t tell you much, but we’re watching him.”
“Really?” There’s a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
“How did he find out about your moving out?”
Her eyes are troubled. “Niamh told him. I don’t really understand why.”
I frown. “She’s probably just as frightened of him as you are. She probably thought it would be worse if he found out later.”
“I know.” Elise nods. “That’s what I thought. I have to get her away from him. It’s terrible that she knows what he’s doing to me. I need to get both of us away. But I don’t know how.”
Her distress is obvious. Getting out my phone, I bring up the number I found earlier. “If I gave you someone to talk to, would you call them?”
I wait for her to nod. “I’ll text the number to your mobile—if that’s safe?” When she nods, I add, “Why don’t you call them before you leave here? You never know—they may be able to help.”
“I doubt it.” She sounds defeated.
“Elise.” I wait for her to look at me. “For Niamh’s sake—you have to try.”
As I walk back to my car, I have a flashback to the lowest point in my marriage, when my husband’s abuse had been daily. The future had been utterly bleak, without hope. I can remember the feeling like it was yesterday, just as I remember wishing with all my heart that he was dead. At one point I’d imagined killing him. It wouldn’t have taken much at that point to push me over the edge.