There was another frown. ‘I think she’s a friend of Mrs Lomax. Came here a long time ago.’
‘But Mrs Lomax didn’t mention her more recently?’
‘In what way?’
‘Just talk about her,’ shrugged the barrister, refusing to lead.
‘No.’
‘What about illness? Was Mrs Lomax ever ill?’
‘Hardly ever caught a cold.’
Hall searched for a way to ask the most important question without doing so directly. ‘Did she ever complain about headaches?’
The girl shook her head. ‘Not that I can ever remember.’
‘Anything about her head at all?’
‘Has she gone mad?’ demanded the forthright girl.
‘It seems there’s an illness,’ said Perry.
‘Will she get better?’
‘She’s been examined by specialists,’ said Hall. ‘You didn’t answer my question.’
‘She never complained about anything to do with her head.’
‘Or behave strangely.’
Annabelle hesitated. ‘Only the day it happened.’
‘Tell me about it.’
‘There’s hardly anything to tell, really. She went to collect Emily from playschool: she usually did. They came home excited because Emily had learned a letter of the alphabet and Mrs Lomax said they were going to the zoo. There’s a zoological park nearby. We went into the kitchen and then almost at once Mrs Lomax walked out.’
‘Did she say anything?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Was she walking normally?’
‘I suppose so. I was sitting Emily up. I was scarcely aware of Mrs Lomax leaving.’
‘You didn’t see her take a knife?’
Annabelle shuddered, slightly. ‘No. I didn’t even know she’d left the house. I thought she’d forgotten something in the car or gone to the bathroom or something. It wasn’t until I went looking for her, when our lunch was ready, that I saw the car had gone.’
A woman in a black dress that also looked like a uniform appeared at the door and said, ‘I’ve let the people from the council in the gate.’
‘Mrs Jenkins, the housekeeper,’ identified Annabelle. ‘Can she help you at all?’
‘I don’t think so,’ said Hall. ‘Thank you.’
From the bureau by the window, Johnson said, ‘It’s difficult to believe, isn’t it?’
‘What?’ asked Perry.
The other solicitor waved several letters. ‘All from the charities Jennifer worked for and supported…’ He looked down at the topmost one. ‘“In view of recent circumstances we will, of course, have to ask you to stand down from the committee”,’ he quoted. ‘Charity certainly seems in short supply, doesn’t it?’
There were two cars carrying a total of five people, two of them women, one of the men in the uniform of a police inspector, that drew up outside. Annabelle met them at the door as she’d greeted Hall and Perry. The housekeeper directly followed the group into the drawing room with more coffee, which Annabelle distributed while everyone else exchanged cards.
‘I hope this preliminary meeting is useful,’ declared the county solicitor, Stewart Baxter. ‘You’ll agree our concern about the child is justified?’
‘No,’ said Hail. ‘I won’t.’
The man blinked. ‘In the circumstances-’
‘The only circumstances that need concern you is the welfare and safety of a four-year-old child,’ broke in Hall. ‘Emily Lomax is being cared for by a certificated nanny, living in a house with a full-time staff. It is her mother’s wish that she remains so…’ he looked towards the two women, a doctor named Maureen Snare and social worker Victoria Pryke. ‘… Emily is here, for you to see and speak to, if you wish.’
‘The local police were summoned to protect her,’ said the social worker.
‘Quite properly so,’ agreed Hall. ‘But not to protect her: to remove from the estate trespassing journalists who could have terrorized a child as young as Emily…’ He crossed demandingly to Johnson, hand outstretched for the appropriate letters. ‘These followed, when the journalists were expelled. And will be produced by me when I protest to the Press Complaints Commission. As I will protest about those blockading the gate and by whom you were doubtless confronted…’ The pause was perfectly timed. ‘I sincerely hope none of you co-operated to provide a headline about Emily being taken into care. Because she isn’t. And if any such stories appear I shall officially complain to your authorities and not only demand a full and public retraction but an explanation for why people in your position commented upon a matter that has sub judice implications…’ The second pause was as well timed as the first. ‘… But as you were accompanied by an inspector from the local force to which the press complaint was initially made it is, I’m sure, unnecessary for me to have that concern.’
Humphrey Perry guessed immediately there had been co-operation at the gate from the look that passed between Victoria Pryke, the fair-haired man described as a member of the same division named Eric Pringle and the hot-faced police inspector, Paul Hughes. It was a passing realization. Perry was far more interested in Jeremy Hall. On this showing he wasn’t by any means the cheeky bugger of the previous night’s judgement: he was an extremely aggressive advocate who appeared to possess another essential weapon in a lawyer’s armoury, the ability to seize a weakness and hammer it into defeat.
‘This isn’t at all the sort of meeting I’d hoped it would be,’ said Baxter. He was a large, self-satisfied man accustomed to deference and was disorientated at not getting it now.
‘How, then, can we help you?’ smiled Hall.
‘We have to take into account the fact of Mrs Lomax’s arrest. And the reasons for it,’ insisted Baxter. He was red faced too, although from irritation, not guilt, at what had happened at the gate.
Hall made much of examining the exchanged cards before coming up to the man. ‘You’re a lawyer?’
‘You know I am!’
‘I accept that criminal law may not be your field, but we can surely agree the principle of innocence until the proof of guilt?’
‘Yes,’ said the man, tightly.
‘Then aren’t you acting prematurely?’
‘Our only concern is Emily’s welfare,’ persisted Victoria Pryke, a prim, cardigan-and-pearls woman.
‘Then we’re all on common ground,’ said Hall. ‘You’ve seen the circumstances in which Emily is living…’ He gestured towards Annabelle. ‘And you’ve met the nanny in whose care she is: I’m sure Ms Parkes will be only too pleased to show you her certificated qualifications and diplomas…’
He hadn’t expected it but Annabelle returned at once to the bureau in which she’d kept the media offers and came back with several documents, offering them generally to the group. Victoria Pryke took them, passing them one by one to the doctor who in turn offered them to Baxter.
‘You have a nursing qualification?’ queried Maureen Snare, looking up.
‘Specifically in paediatrics,’ elaborated Annabelle, triumphantly.
‘… and we’d be pleased to assure you of Emily’s care and well being in any other way we can,’ finished Hall, finally.
‘We’d like to see Emily herself,’ said the fair-haired social worker.
As Annabelle left the room Baxter said, ‘This is obviously a matter that will have to be considered after Mrs Lomax’s trial.’
‘ After,’ stressed Hall. ‘At which time it will be most vigorously opposed by me, for the same reasons you’ve been made aware of today.’
Emily was holding Annabelle’s hand when they entered but confronted with a room full of strangers she took her hand away and wrapped her arm around Annabelle’s leg. The nanny put a comforting hand around the child’s shoulders. Emily was wearing jeans and a Thomas the Tank Engine T-shirt. Her hair, bubbled in curls at the front, was plaited at the back, secured by ribbon with the same cartoon motif.
Both the woman social worker and the doctor hunched down,
to Emily’s level.
‘Hello,’ said the social worker.
‘Hello.’
‘How are you?’ asked the doctor.
‘All right.’ At Annabelle’s touch against her shoulder, Emily added, ‘Thank you,’ and looked up apologetically at her nanny.
‘That’s why we’ve come to see you,’ said the doctor. ‘To see that you’re all right.’
Again the child frowned up at Annabelle. ‘Why?’
‘That’s our job,’ said Victoria Pryke.
The child stood, regarding the council group steadily.
‘Do you like it here?’ asked the social worker.
Emily’s face crumpled although more in bewilderment than at the hint of tears. ‘I live here!’
‘With Annabelle?’ persisted the woman.
There was a smile. ‘She’s my friend.’
‘Like your mummy is your friend?’ persisted the social worker.
Emily’s bewilderment became more obvious. ‘My mummy is my mummy! But she’s not very well. My daddy’s away.’
‘I won’t let this continue indefinitely,’ warned Hall.
‘Are you Mummy and Daddy’s friends?’ asked the child, unexpectedly.
‘No,’ admitted Victoria Pryke. ‘We want to be your friends. To make sure you’re all right while they’re away.’
‘Annabelle does that,’ said Emily and Hall decided every lawyer should be blessed with witnesses like the child.
‘Do you want a more specific answer than that!’ he demanded.
‘No,’ said the doctor, straightening.
The other woman briefly remained crouched, then she stood. ‘No,’ she agreed.
As Annabelle led the child from the room Victoria Pryke said, ‘There was no way we could prevent our photographs being taken at the gate. It was done before we knew what was happening.’
‘We were approached by a man with a tape recorder. We didn’t speak into it,’ said Perry, seizing the opportunity to enter the conversation. ‘Focusing publicity upon a child would be the last thing you’d welcome, as a social worker, wouldn’t it?’
The woman was the first to leave the room, ahead of the rest of the group. The three lawyers stood at the window, watching the departing cars. Perry said, ‘You mean it, about complaining to their departments?’
‘Of course, if the reason for their being here is published. It would be monstrous if Emily were brought into it because some bloody social worker wanted her picture in the papers.’
They turned, at Annabelle’s re-entry.
‘They’ve gone?’ she said, surprised.
‘It’s over, at least until after the trial,’ promised Johnson.
‘She’ll be found guilty, won’t she?’ demanded the girl, forthright again.
‘There could be mitigating circumstances,’ said Hall.
‘But she’ll go to jail?’
‘Probably a special one, for treatment.’
‘Broadmoor!’
‘There are others.’
‘Poor Mrs Lomax.’
‘What have you told Emily, about her mother not being here?’ asked Perry.
‘Just that she’d had to go away, at first. Then I said she’s ill and needs special doctors. And that her daddy’s away, working. He often was.’
Hall nodded. ‘She wants to see Emily. Before she’s transferred from a proper hospital. You’ll have actually been telling the truth.’
Annabelle frowned. ‘Is it…?’
‘… Safe? There’ll be doctors there. But it would be quite safe anyway.’
‘Will she frighten Emily? With her illness, I mean?’
‘She might appear odd. Say things she wouldn’t ordinarily say.’
‘Is there any way I can explain it to Emily in advance, so she won’t be frightened?’
Hall shrugged, helplessly. ‘You could say it’s the medicine she’s taking.’
‘When?’
‘Tomorrow,’ said Johnson. ‘I’ll collect you by car.’
Annabelle nodded. ‘Use the tradesmen’s gate. They don’t watch that so much.’
There was a remote control beam in the drive which automatically opened the main gate when it was broken by departing vehicles, lessening the need to slow, but at Hall’s insistence the surprised Perry stopped the car as soon as they emerged. There were three cars and a television van outside now. At once men disgorged from all of them: a television strobe burst on before the running cameraman got to them. The man with the tape recorder who’d been there when they arrived said, ‘Can we have your name, as Mrs Lomax’s lawyer? Is Emily being taken into care?’
‘There were some offers we’d like to consider,’ said Hall. ‘Can you give me some cards?’
There was a confetti of pasteboard as identification was thrust through the open window at him.
‘What can you tell us?’ demanded the man with the recorder.
‘That there will be a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission about everyone whose card I have here, as well as their organizations, for harassment and totally unwarranted intrusion. I will also complain in open court, at an appropriate time, and invite comment from a judge.’
As Perry swept the car out on to the London road Hall said, ‘We’ll be back in London by early afternoon. You’ll be able to file the complaints today, won’t you?’
‘Yes,’ said the solicitor, tightly.
‘Don’t forget the authorities here, either. We know now that they gave interviews.’
‘We won’t forget,’ promised Perry.
‘Perhaps you’d drop me off at the hospital, on your way past?’
‘Relax. Don’t fight against me…’
‘ I’ll fight him. He won’t be able to do it! ’
‘… Just listen to me, nothing else. No-one else. There’s a lot to talk about. To get you well.’ Mason’s voice was even, monotone. He’d unstrapped his plain-faced wrist-watch and was holding it towards her: it moved back and forth very slightly.
‘Can you see the numbers?’
‘ Don’t look! ’
‘Yes, I can see them.’
‘What’s before twelve?’
‘ Don’t play games! ’
‘Eleven.’ It was hard, so very hard. Jennifer tried to make rigid her entire body, to hold it stiff so there couldn’t be any movement she didn’t want: to keep her lips stiff, too, so that only her words would come out, not Jane’s.
‘What’s after?’
‘One.’
‘ Stop it! ’
‘Eleven to one, one to eleven, eleven to one, one to eleven,’ incanted Mason, like a mantra. ‘Like a clock, back and forth, back and forth.’
Fosdyke and Lloyd stood motionless against the wall by the window. Hall intentionally stood half obscuring the window, the only unrehearsed part. He felt uncomfortable: intrusive. Was Mason right that strong-minded people were more easily hypnotized than the weak-willed; the mentally ill? He supposed the psychiatrist had to be. That was his job.
‘ Shut up! Don’t listen.’
‘Count the numbers to me the right way: your right way…’
‘… One, two…’ picked up Jennifer. ‘Three… four…’
‘ Stop. Don’t do it! ’
‘… five, six…’ Jennifer’s voice faded.
‘Good,’ said Mason, soothingly. ‘Very good… five…?’
‘… six…’
‘ No! ’ Jennifer’s legs jerked, but not as fiercely as before, little more than an exaggerated twitch.
Hall thought she looked so much better, in her own clothes, into which she’d insisted upon changing the moment he’d entered with the suitcases. Jeans and a sweater, her legs actually crossed at the ankle as she lay back on the bed.
‘No need to do that,’ warned Mason. ‘You can stop jerking your body about. You’re in control, not Jane. And you can close your eyes if they feel heavy. That’s it. Relax…’
The next leg twitch was hardly noticeable.
‘There…’
Unhurriedly, Mason restrapped the watch. ‘You know you’re not asleep, dreaming, don’t you?’
‘Yes.’
‘That we’ve got a lot to talk about?’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you want to talk to me, Jennifer?’
‘Yes.’
‘So you won’t lie to me?’
‘No.’
‘Promise?’
‘I promise.’
‘What’s the most important oath you could swear on, to keep that promise?’
Jennifer’s brow furrowed. ‘Emily’s life.’
‘Will you promise on Emily’s life to tell me the truth, all the time?’
‘Yes.’
‘What about Gerald’s life?’
‘Gerald’s dead.’
‘How did he die?’
‘Stabbed. Cut.’
‘Who stabbed and cut him?’
‘Jane.’
‘ Wake up! Don’t listen.’
‘Don’t want to listen.’
‘Yes you do, Jennifer. Is Jane telling you not to listen?’
‘Yes.’
‘ Listen to me. Not to him.’
‘Let’s stop her, Jennifer. Drive her out.’
‘ Can’t! ’
‘Can’t.’
‘Yes, we can. I want you to do what I tell you. I want you to stop hearing the voice.’
‘ Can’t! ’
‘She won’t stop.’
‘Go away, Jane! We don’t want you!’ said Mason. He didn’t raise his voice.
Hall was suffused with a feeling of unreality: this sounded more insane than when Jennifer was spouting the words supposedly from someone else.
‘ You can’t stop me! ’
‘Can’t stop her.’
‘Let’s put her in another room then. Close the door. Think of Jane in another room, with the door closed. A very thick door, closing out the sound. Go on, close the door. Can you do that, close the door?’
‘Yes.’
‘ No! ’
‘Shut her out, Jennifer. It’s easy to shut her out, from another room… the door’s very thick…’
‘ No! ’
‘Yes.’
‘Have you closed her out?’
‘Yes.’
‘She’s not so loud now, is she? Put in another room, like a naughty child.’
‘ Who the fuck’s he calling a naughty child? ’
A Mind to Kill Page 12