by A L Fraine
“Naomi reported that you were violent towards her, correct?”
“Yeah, she did,” Steve answered, a note of resignation in his voice.
“You hit her, didn’t you?”
Steve nodded.
“You hurt her.”
“I wouldn’t kill her,” Steve answered, clearly seeing where Nathan was going with this.
“Really? Now, why don’t I believe you?”
“I don’t know. But I wouldn’t. I love her. I couldn’t kill her.”
“But you could hit her,” Kate said, cutting in for the first time.
Steve turned to her, apparently a little surprised by her outburst. “I don’t mean to. I just get angry, you know? I don’t want to hurt her.”
“But you can’t stop yourself?”
“No. I mean, yeah, I can. I just…”
“You just what?” Kate asked.
“I lash out sometimes. I hate myself for doing it. But I couldn’t kill her. I couldn’t kill anyone.”
“How can we believe you?” Nathan asked. “If you can’t control yourself, then maybe you couldn’t control yourself last night.”
“No…”
“Where were you last night, Steve?” Kate asked.
“Home. I was at home.”
“Was that before or after you had your argument with Naomi at her flat?”
“Err, be-. I mean, both. But how do you…?”
“How do we know you were at Naomi’s last night? Because you were seen, Mr Brewster.”
Kate saw the dawning realisation of understanding as he apparently realised who’d seen him. “Oh,” he said.
“That’s right. So, you, her ex-husband with violent tendencies had a fight outside her flat last night, only for her to be discovered murdered this morning. You see how this looks, right?”
“But I didn’t do it…”
“How did you know where Naomi lived?” Kate asked. “Did you follow her home from somewhere?”
“No, I was tol-” He stopped then, and stared into the middle distance for a moment, frowning slightly as his mind worked. “I was told. I’ve been set up.”
“Told? By whom?”
“That bastard,” Steve said, his voice like cold steel.
“Who are you talking about?” Kate asked, getting a tingling sensation up her spine suddenly, as she got the feeling that they were onto something.
Steve took a couple of beats to himself, and then looked up at them. “Look, I know I’ve been violent towards Naomi, and no one regrets that more than I do. But you have to believe me when I say I would never kill her. I’ve not been violent towards her for months now.”
“So you say,” Kate answered him.
“Yes, I do say, but anyway. Like I was saying. I didn’t kill Naomi, but I think I know who did, or, who might have anyway.”
“Go on,” Nathan said.
“Wilson Hollins,” Steve replied with a hint of gravitas in his voice.
Kate raised an eyebrow and caught a glimpse of Nathan’s slightly surprised look. “You mean the property developer?”
“The one who owns Jordan Donaldson’s office?” Nathan asked.
“That’s him. He told me where Naomi was living.”
“He told you?” Nathan said.
“That’s right, but that’s not all. Shit, I knew he was up to something, but I never… Ugh,” he said, shaking his head.
“What’s up?”
“Look, I’ve seen him at that office, where Naomi works. I’ve seen him there, but I’ve known him for a long time. He looks different, though. Hardly recognised him at first, but it’s certainly him. I know it is. He’s changed his name too.”
“What are you talking about?” Nathan asked.
“He was at school with us. Wilson went to the same school as me and Jordan, but he was called Gary back then. He was always a bit of a weird one. He was bullied a lot, you know. Jordan and Naomi were terrible. Cruel, really.”
“But Naomi went to a different school,” Kate countered, but in her mind, the puzzle pieces were falling into place, and she could feel the adrenaline starting to pump through her system.
“Yeah,” Steve replied. But we still saw each other outside of school. It was at its worst when Jordan and Naomi were going out. They humiliated him.”
“So, Jordan and Naomi were at school with Wilson, and you?” Kate asked.
Steve nodded. “They used to wait for him outside of school and follow him around, call him names, hit him. You know, the usual. I didn’t see most of it, but I heard about it.”
“So, how did you first meet up with Wilson?” Nathan asked.
He found me outside the Estate Agents a while back,” Steve said with a sigh. “I’d been following Naomi. I’d seen her working for Jordan and remembered their relationship from back in school. I was jealous. I couldn’t help it. I had to make sure she was alright. Anyway, he just kind of bumped into me. I didn’t recognise him at first. He’s not the scrawny wimp he once was. Maybe Jordan wasn’t aware of who Wilson was. I figured it out a little while ago, but kept it to myself.”
“You mean to say, you didn’t recognise an old school friend?”
“He’s changed. Wilson doesn’t look like he did back then. He was a bit of a dork and a loner with messy hair and glasses. Skinny too. He had terrible acne. I mean, there was a resemblance there, for sure, but it wasn’t obvious at all. Have you seen him? He’s tall, muscled, bald, and I’m guessing he wears contacts now. The name change threw me, too. Anyway, he told me yesterday where Naomi was living now. So, I went to have a look.”
“I take it she didn’t like you knowing where she lived?” Kate asked.
“No, not really,” Steve replied unhappily. “Look, you have to believe me. I know it was him. Why else would he tell me where Naomi lived?”
As he spoke, a thought suddenly occurred to Kate. She pulled out her phone and quickly found a webpage with the correct news report on it with a photo of the victim.
“What’s up?” Nathan asked her.
“One moment,” Kate answered. “I want to check something.” She made the image fill the screen and showed it to Steve. “Do you recognise this man?”
“Err, oh, yeah. He was at the same school as me and Jordan. A year or so older, though. He was another one who bullied Wilson.”
Kate smiled and turned her phone to Nathan.
“Mark Summers,” Nathan muttered.
“That’s him, that’s his name,” Steve replied. “Yeah, he and some of his mates picked on Wilson as well. Mark was bad, though. He used to beat him up. Piece of work, that one.”
Nathan’s eyes flicked between her and her phone, and then he nodded. Kate put the phone away as Nathan stood up. “Thank you for your time, Mr Brewster, but we’re going to have to cut this interview short. We’ll be back to talk to you again shortly, mind.”
Kate got up and nodded to Steve before following Nathan out of the interview room. He was moving quickly, but she caught him up.
“Are we going after Wilson Hollins?” Kate asked.
“Damn right we are,” Nathan muttered. “I have some questions I want to ask him.”
CHAPTER 25
“Do you think he’s telling the truth?” Kate asked, as they sped into the outskirts of Guildford, blues and twos going to clear the way and get there as quick as they could.
Nathan nodded. “I think so. It all fits.”
“How did he do it, though?” Kate asked. “How did he kidnap and kill Jordan?”
“He’s the owner of the building, so I’m guessing he has a key and just let himself in. He’d probably already taken Jordan by the time Naomi got there that night. Why, don’t you believe him?”
“No, I do. I was playing devil's advocate. Like you say, it all feels right.”
“Doesn’t quite fit with the family man image he presented to us, though, does it?”
“I bet he’s leading a double life,” Kate suggested, as memories of stories she’d read c
ame back to her about Mobsters who were violent serial murderers, but also doting fathers.
Was Wilson, or Gary, the same kind of man?
“Probably. I’d put money on his wife having no idea about all this, if it’s true,” Nathan agreed.
Kate sighed. “Shit, that poor kid. That’s horrendous.”
“Nothing we can do. We’ll tread carefully, though. No need to cause too much upset if we can avoid it.”
“Yeah,” Kate agreed, thinking troubling thoughts as she stared out the window. She hated it when innocent parties were caught up in the actions of one of these criminals and had their lives shattered when the truth came to light.
There was nothing for it, though. They had broken the law, and more innocent lives would be at risk if they delayed.
Turning the siren off a couple of streets before they reached the Hollins’ household, they soon pulled up outside Wilson’s attractive home and made their way up to the front gate, and the intercom that was beside it.
Nathan pressed the buzzer, and a moment later, a female voice sounded from the speaker.
“Hello?”
Nathan looked a little surprised. “Hi. Sorry, it’s Detectives Kate O’Connell and Nathan Halliwell here to see Wilson Hollins?”
“Oh. Well sure, come in,” the voice answered. Moments later, the gates parted, allowing them into the driveway where they parked. An attractive woman in her mid-thirties stood waiting for them at the door, her sandy blonde hair falling loosely over her shoulders. The little girl they had met on their previous visit hugged her leg, looking up at them as they walked from the car. She caught Kate's eye and smiled. Kate returned the expression but knew it probably looked a little fake, not that the girl would pick up on that subtlety.
“They’re police people, mommy,” the girl said as they crossed the last few metres towards the door.
“I know sweetheart.”
“Secret police people. They’re good at hiding.”
“Is that right? Hi, I’m Mary, Wilson’s wife. I don’t think we met before.”
“No, we haven’t. Nice to meet you,” Kate replied.
“Hi,” Nathan said.
“I’m afraid Wilson isn’t here right now. He’s at work. Can I help you with anything?”
“We need to speak to Wilson urgently regarding the investigation into Jordan Donaldson’s murder. We have some questions to ask him,” Kate explained, sensing that Nathan wanted her to take the lead in dealing with Mary.
“Well, he should be at his office,” Mary answered.
“You’re sure he’s not here?” Nathan asked. Kate could hear the suspicious tone in his voice and wondered if Mary had picked up on it.
Mary frowned at him. “Quite sure,” she replied defensively. She’d noticed it, Kate thought.
“Do you mind if we confirm that for ourselves?” Nathan pressed.
“Sorry, Mrs Hollins, but this really is quite urgent, and we need to be sure,” Kate added in an attempt to keep her calm.
Mary looked between both of them, clearly very suspicious about what this was all about. She shrugged. “Sure, go ahead,” she said.
“Wait here,” Nathan said, and moved quickly inside. Kate watched him go, and looked up at Mrs Hollins, giving her a tense smile.
“What is this all about?” Mary asked.
“I’m sorry, but we’re really not at liberty to say. The investigation is still ongoing, and we really can’t discuss it.”
“Is daddy in trouble?” the girl asked.
“No, Daisy. Everything’s fine, don’t worry,” Mary said to her daughter.
Part of Kate hoped Steve was lying if only to save Daisy from the heartbreak that would follow if Wilson turned out to be the man that Steve said he was.
“He’s not, is he? In any trouble, I mean?” Mary asked her as if sensing the tension in Kate’s body.
“We just need to speak to him, that’s all,” Kate answered, hoping that nothing in her body language gave anything away. She felt like she was broadcasting half-truths and subterfuge for all to see as she stood there, doing her best to keep a calm and composed demeanour.
Mary nodded, giving Kate a half smile, but there wasn’t any warmth in it at all.
“Do you mind me asking where Wilson was last night?”
“Working late,” Mary replied. “He was out early again today. He works incredibly hard to provide for this family, you know. We only live here because of his dedication to his work.”
Kate gave Mary a half-hearted smile. “And can anyone confirm that he was working late?”
“His secretary,” Mary suggested. “She’ll be at his office today as well.”
“Okay, thank you,” Kate replied.
Moments later, Nathan stepped back outside with a nod. “So, he’s at his office, is he?” Kate asked.
“That’s right,” Mary replied, still clearly suspicious as she recited the address.
Kate wrote it down and then eyed the top line on her notepad and glanced up at Nathan, who met her gaze. He didn’t need to say anything. He was clearly thinking the same thing she was on finding out where Wilson’s office was located.
“Thank you, Mrs Hollins, you’ve been most helpful,” Kate said as they walked off the property and returned to their car in silence.
The instant both doors had closed, Kate turned to Nathan. “I’m right, aren’t I? That address is just around the corner from the Estate Agents, isn’t it?”
Nathan nodded. “In the same parade of shops, yeah.”
“Shit. We should have picked up on that earlier,” Kate answered as Nathan gunned the engine, and they accelerated away from Wilson’s home.
“Maybe,” Nathan replied, half agreeing with her.
“Mary said that Wilson was working late last night,” Kate said.
“Makes sense. Killing someone is a lot of work.”
Kate let her eyebrows bob up and down. “Know that from experience, do you?”
“Didn’t you know? I’m the Guildford strangler,” Nathan joked.
“I thought there was something odd about you,” Kate replied.
“Well, now you know.”
They drove into town and parked illegally a short distance from the office. Nathan popped a police ID card in the front window, and they both got out.
“It’s up there,” Nathan said, pointing to an office above a nearby shop.
“Hang on,” Kate said and started up the street towards the corner, two shops up. “I wanna check something.”
“What?” Nathan asked following along behind her.
Fifteen metres later, Kate stood on the corner and looked along the road up to where the Estate Agents was located towards the far end of this parade of shops. “It’s close,” Kate commented. Nathan stepped up beside her and silently agreed.
“Too close. Come on,” Nathan said and led her back towards the door that led up to the office. As he reached it, he paused, looking up the road. He then walked up past the office to a cut-through between two other stores, to a loading area at the back. He looked at Kate with a raised eyebrow.
“I’ll put money on this linking up with the loading area behind the Estate Agents,” Kate said.
“Let’s find out,” Nathan said and walked up it. Sure enough, the loading area, which was maybe three car widths across, followed the parade of shops around and linked up to the area behind the Estate Agents.
“So, we now have means to add to opportunity and motive,” Kate stated as they moved back to the office door, and scanned over the intercom unit on the wall.
Nathan stabbed the button beside the Hollins Holdings Ltd label and held it until the speaker clicked, and a digitised female voice sounded through it.
“Hello, can I help you?”
Nathan held his warrant card up for the tiny camera set into the intercom unit. “DC’s Halliwell and O’Connell, can we speak to you please?”
“Oh, sure. Come in,” the voice answered, and the door unlocked. Nathan wasted
no time in stomping up the steps, and Kate followed behind. She spotted the striking blonde girl stood in a doorway on the first floor, smiling brightly at them.
“Hi, come in,” she said, sounding far happier than Kate thought she had any right to be and led them into the small, cosy office. Kate guessed this was Stacy Lee, Wilson’s secretary who DC Arthur had spoken to for them the other day. Kate also got a certain impression from the girl, and about why Wilson might hire someone like her. She was young, maybe just into her twenties, and wore a very tight, fitted skirt and a blouse that could have done with having a few more buttons fastened on it. She was a beautiful young lady, that was for sure, and it made Kate wonder if Wilson had chosen her for her skills as a receptionist, or lack of those very same skills.
“Can I help you? I spoke to one of you detective people the day before yesterday.”
“We know. We’re looking for your boss, Wilson,” Nathan said, looking around the room which housed a single desk with a computer on it. There were a couple of doors leading off from this room.
“Oh, well, he was here earlier. He’s gone out though, to one of his commercial properties.”
“Do you know which one?” Kate asked.
“Yep,” she answered with a smile, apparently pleased with her answer and not elaborating further.
Kate gave her a look. “Can you tell us?”
“Oh, yes. Of course. Hold on, let me get the address,” she said, turning to her desk and bending over to grab something off it. She bent at the waist, her skirt riding up and nearly showing off her underwear. Kate looked away before the girl mooned her, and spotted Nathan doing the same. Their eyes met, and Nathan rolled his eyes at her. Clearly, they were on the same wavelength on this.
Stacy stood up straight again and began riffling through an address book. “Hang on, I have it here somewhere.”
“Were you working late with Wilson last night?” Kate asked while she waited.
“No,” Stacy replied with a smile.
“But you were working late with Wilson on the seventh?”
Stacy paused and made a show of thinking about her question for a moment. “Erm, was that the night that Mr Donaldson was murdered?”