by Michael Wood
‘Who opened the door?’
‘The attacker.’
‘Did you get a good look at him?’
‘Yes.’
‘What did he look like?’
‘I mean, no. I saw him but he was wearing a mask.’
‘What kind of mask?’
‘I don’t know. It reminded me of one of those masks you see cyclists wear when they’re cycling through smog but it was more … I’m not sure … more elaborate.’
‘Did you see his eyes?’
‘No. He was wearing tinted glasses.’
‘Sunglasses?’
‘Not really. They sort of wrapped around his head. A bit like goggles, but not. With the mask, his whole face was covered.’
‘What about his hair?’
‘He had a hat on.’
‘Baseball cap?’
‘No. One of those woollen ones. He was literally dressed from head to toe in black. It was dark too so that didn’t help.’
‘Did he talk to you? What was his accent like?’
Lois looked down at her shaking hands. ‘He called me a few names. They were horrible. He sounded local. He had a Sheffield accent. I could smell cigarettes too. It was strong, like he was a heavy smoker.’
‘So what happened then?’
‘He just stood there, looking at me. Then he grabbed me and pulled me out of the car.’
‘Where did he grab you?’
‘He grabbed my collar,’ she said, gripping her own throat.
‘Then what?’
‘He threw me on to the ground. I looked up and I saw Kevin.’
‘Where was he?’
‘He was on the ground at the back of the car, close to the kerb,’ the tears were flowing down her face as she remembered the ordeal. This time she didn’t try to wipe them away.
‘Was he alive?’
Lois nodded. ‘He was covered in blood. I could hardly see his face. He looked like he was in so much pain. I tried to go to him but I was pulled back.’
The room fell silent. The atmosphere was heavy. Rory was making sporadic notes. At times he forgot to write down things at all as he was caught up in Lois’s story. At other times, he couldn’t write fast enough. On the other side of the bed Martin looked ashen. He looked like he was living through the same ordeal as his wife.
‘Would you like to take a break, Lois?’
‘No,’ she replied. ‘Just give me a minute.’
Martin stood up to stretch his legs. He paced around the room and took several deep breaths. He looked at the posters on the wall giving tips on how to wash your hands correctly, how to combat MRSA, and the importance of healthy eating. He looked everywhere except at his wife.
Rory and Matilda exchanged glances. She raised an eyebrow and nodded towards the DC, asking him if he was all right. He nodded back and blew out his cheeks. This was the most difficult interview any of them had endured.
‘He shot Kevin,’ Lois said suddenly. They all resumed their positions.
‘What happened?’
‘I tried to go to Kevin but he pulled me back. He lifted me up and slammed me against the car. I hit my head. I couldn’t take my eyes off Kevin. He looked like he was in so much pain. The man had a gun. He took it out of the back of his trousers and he pointed it in my face. I … I …’
‘Go on.’
‘I wet myself,’ Lois confessed through the tears. She helped herself to more water and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. ‘I’d never seen a gun before. I could see right down the barrel. I looked away, towards Kevin. I didn’t want to see the gun going off but he didn’t shoot me. He shot Kevin.’
‘Where?’
‘The first shot hit him in the chest. I screamed. I wanted to turn away but I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Then he shot him again. This time in the head and it was like his whole head exploded. He dropped to the ground and that was it. I knew he was dead.’
Matilda waited until this latest outburst of tears subsided before continuing. ‘Tell me what happened next.’
‘He pointed the gun in my face. It was hot. I could feel it burning into my skin. I asked him to leave us alone.’
‘Did he say anything back?’
‘No. He punched me in the stomach. I’ve never been hit before in my life. I thought I was going to vomit. I bent over to be sick but he pulled me back up and then hit me in the face. He started hitting me, harder and harder. I could feel his hands on me. I could hear him grunting but I couldn’t feel the pain. It was like I’d gone numb or something.’
Lois fell silent, and so did the entire room. The sounds of the ward outside went on as normal; nurses chatting, trolleys rattling, machines beeping, but inside the confines of this small private room, time seemed to stand still.
‘I’m not sure if I blacked out but it felt like one minute I was on the ground and the next I was back on my feet and against the car and he was … he was unbuttoning his trousers. Martin!’
Lois called out to her husband and held out her hand for him to hold. It was shaking. He looked up and his eyes were full of tears. At first he didn’t move and for a minute Matilda thought he was going to deny his wife comfort in her time of need. Yes, she had betrayed him, but she had paid the ultimate price. Right now, she needed his support more than ever. Surely he couldn’t sit there and watch her go through this alone?
He moved his chair closer to the bed, took her hand in both of his and kissed it. She smiled a painful smile and more tears fell.
‘I don’t know whether it was because I’d been so badly beaten or what I’d seen happen to Kevin but I don’t remember reacting when I saw him unbutton his trousers. It seemed inevitable that this was going to happen. He held me by the throat, pinning me to the car, and he just did his thing. It was like I knew what was happening but I wasn’t a part of it. Does that make sense?’
‘Like an out-of-body experience?’ Matilda guessed.
‘Yes. That’s exactly it. It’s like I was watching it happen to myself but it wasn’t me. When he finished he let go of my throat and I just dropped to the ground. I thought maybe it was all over. I just lay there.’
‘How long was it before you were shot?’
‘I’ve no idea. It could have been minutes; it could have been months. I was just lying on the ground and I’ve no idea what was going through my mind. I heard the gunfire and I felt my body jerk but I didn’t feel any pain.’
‘Did you scream?’
‘I don’t think so. I think I accepted that I was going to die there.’
‘You were shot two more times. What happened after that?’
‘I waited. I could hear footsteps. I think he was walking around the car. I was looking over to where Kevin was, the car was behind me. I’ve no idea what he was doing. After a while, his feet came into view. He stopped right in front of me.’
‘What did you do?’
‘I pretended I was dead.’
‘How did you do that?’
‘I kept my eyes open and I held my breath for as long as I could. He must have been convinced because I saw him walk away. I heard the sound of him walking through the grass in the field. He was leaving and he thought I was dead.’
‘How long did you stay in that position?’
‘Long after I stopped hearing his footsteps.’
‘Then you decided to call for help?’
‘I looked down and I saw that I’d lost so much blood. I tried to stand up but I couldn’t so I dragged myself around to the car.’
‘Did you think you could drive away?’
‘No I don’t think so. It took me ages. I was dragging myself with my arms and my legs weren’t helping at all. When I got to the car I thought that if I kept pressing the horn someone would hear me and come running.’
‘Did you know you were beeping the SOS distress signal in Morse code?’
‘Yes,’ she gave a half-smile. ‘I remembered it from the film Titanic. It’s my favourite film. At least, it used to be.’
‘I just beeped, and beeped, and beeped, and hoped someone would help me.’
‘Did you see the person who came to help you?’
‘No. Did someone come?’
‘Yes. A man who lives close by.’
‘Did he save me?’
‘Yes he did.’
‘Will you thank him for me?’
Matilda nodded. ‘I think we should leave it there for now. Can you remember anything else about the man who attacked you?’
Lois closed her eyes tightly shut, as if straining hard to conjure up an image. ‘He was tall. About six foot, maybe an inch or two taller. He was very well built, not fat, but solid. He had broad shoulders. He was … powerful.’ Her bottom lip quivered but there were no more tears left for her to cry. ‘Wait. He had a tattoo. While he was … his neck was close to me. I could see he had a tattoo. It looked like a snake or something on the side of his neck.’
Matilda turned off the digital recorder and put it back in her pocket. Rory closed his notebook and quickly stood up. He obviously couldn’t get out of this room fast enough.
‘Thank you, Lois. I’m sorry to put you through this but we need to know all the details if we’re going to catch this man. We will need to speak to you again at some point. If there’s anything you remember in the meantime, please let me know. No matter how small the detail, it could all help. I’ll see if someone can bring you both a cup of tea.’
Lois turned her head on the pillow to face the wall. Martin, who’d had his head leaning on the bed since his wife asked for his hand, finally looked up and smiled at Matilda. The sheet was stained with his tears and his face was red.
Matilda stood in the doorway of the hospital room and looked back at the couple. ‘I swear I will find the man responsible for this.’ She knew she shouldn’t promise, but she felt she needed to add something.
TWENTY-FOUR
Matilda and Rory walked slowly down the corridor. They felt physically drained by what they had heard. The oppressive heat in the hospital didn’t help either. They only just made it to the door when Matilda heard her name being called. She turned to see Martin Craven heading towards her.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly. ‘For what I said in there. I’m trying to be supportive but at the end of the day she’s betrayed me and the children. It’s hard to get past that.’
‘I do understand, Mr Craven,’ Matilda said.
‘You will catch the person who did this won’t you?’
‘We will. I promise.’
‘My children mean the world to me, Inspector. I’d do absolutely anything for them.’ He turned and headed back into the room to his wife.
Matilda wondered what the atmosphere was like in there now the truth had finally been revealed. She shook the thought from her head. She didn’t envy either of them right now. She doubted any couple would be able to survive such an ordeal, no matter how stable their marriage.
They didn’t make it to the car. Matilda suggested they have a coffee at the café just inside the hospital’s main entrance. Rory sat and waited, staring into space, while Matilda went for the drinks. She returned with two very strong coffees in polystyrene cups and a Mars Bar each.
They sat in complete silence.
‘Is it my imagination or are Mars Bars smaller than they used to be?’ Matilda said to fill the silence between them.
‘They’re smaller,’ Rory replied without looking up. He was staring into his coffee cup.
‘And more expensive too. I remember when a KitKat used to cost 25p. You can’t get anything for 25p these days. Bloody hell, I sound like my mother. Rory, are you going to say something?’
He eventually looked up. His face was pale, his eyes drawn, and his usual sparkle and smile had disappeared.
‘What kind of man are we dealing with here?’
‘I don’t know, Rory.’
‘I can never get my head round how someone can inflict so much pain on another person and not think anything of it.’
Matilda said nothing. She took a sip of her coffee, winced at the bitter taste and sat back. She looked at Rory and waited for him to continue.
‘Whatever the circumstances, they were happy. A couple who loved each other. But he was prepared to destroy all that. He forced her to watch while he shot the man she loved then raped her. Why? Why would you do that?’
‘Until we know who this person is it’s best not to dwell on the why. We need to work out the who first. Don’t allow yourself to be consumed by your horror at the crime. Take the facts one by one and analyse them – that’s how we’ll find who did this.’
He took a deep breath and had a bite of Mars Bar. ‘Lois Craven said she had had an affair before, more than one. Do you think it could be one of her exes?’
‘It could be. Maybe she broke up with him, said she wasn’t going to leave her husband for him. Then he sees her with a different man, thinks it should be him and snaps. It’s worth looking into. Let’s hope Lois has kept a list of the men she’s been with.’
‘I don’t know how Martin has stuck by her all these years. I mean, Thomas isn’t even his son, yet he just carried on with the marriage like nothing happened.’
‘Maybe this will be the final straw.’
‘Do you think he’ll leave her?’
‘I wouldn’t be surprised. He looked like he was sitting on a knife edge in that room. You could almost see his blood boiling. Wait a minute—’ A thought suddenly came to Matilda.
‘What?’
‘When Martin came out to us just now. Did he say his children were the most important thing in his life?’
‘Yes. Why?’
‘He definitely said children, not family?’
‘Yes. Is that significant?’
‘Shouldn’t he have said family? His family includes his wife. He just said children meaning that he doesn’t consider her to be an important part of his life anymore.’
‘Not to sound too disrespectful, but can you really blame him? She admitted that she’s had more than one affair. I think he’s been patient enough with her as it is. I mean, would you have left your husband if—’ Rory stopped, suddenly aware of what he had said. His mouth was agape. ‘Oh my God. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—’
‘Rory,’ Matilda gave a half-smile. ‘It’s fine, don’t worry about it. In answer to your question I would have torn his bollocks off with my bare hands.’ I probably would have forgiven him anything and everything.
‘Can I ask a question?’ Rory asked, his mouth full of Mars Bar.
‘Go on.’
‘Lois said that after she was shot she played dead. Is that normal?’
Matilda thought for a while. ‘I don’t know. You read about people playing dead after an attack. Practically every time there’s a shooting in America you get a survivor saying how they played dead to avoid more gunfire. Personally I always thought people went into one of two modes: fight or flight. You either fight back or run away. Lois did neither – not that she could after she’d be shot,’ Matilda added. ‘If a bloke tried to rape me I’d kick him so hard between his legs he’d need surgery to have his balls removed from his throat.’
Rory smiled. ‘Maybe we could ask a psychologist.’
Dr Warminster came into Matilda’s mind. She may feel differently about her now, but did she really want to involve her in her police work?
‘Leave it with me,’ she said, hiding her fear behind a small smile. ‘Come on, let’s go into town. I’ll treat us to a proper coffee.’
Still feeling the effects of the interview, they both rose slowly from their hard plastic seats and staggered out of the hospital. As they made their way to the car Rory turned on his mobile. Several text messages and voicemail messages came through.
‘Jesus Christ,’ he said, looking down at the screen. He’d stopped dead in his tracks.
&
nbsp; ‘What’s wrong?’
‘DC Joseph Glass has been attacked. He’s in Intensive Care.’
They looked at each other for a few seconds before turning back towards the hospital and running inside.
Matilda and Rory burst onto the ICU ward, slamming the double doors hard against the wall. Scott was standing outside a room waiting for them. He looked drawn and scared.
‘Scott, what’s happened?’ Matilda said. She genuinely cared for all of the members on her team and although DC Glass hadn’t been with her for long, a matter of days, he was still someone worth caring for.
‘We went to interview Lucas Branning. When we identified ourselves he did a runner through the garage where he works. We gave chase. Joe was in front. Branning got to a fence. He wasn’t tall enough to climb over so he picked up a carjack and lobbed it at Joe. It got him right on the side of the head. He just … I can’t describe it … he just dropped to the ground.’ The words fell out of Scott’s mouth in a torrent of panic and emotion.
‘Bloody hell,’ Matilda looked through the small window in the door at the stricken DC. Like Lois Craven his head was heavily bandaged and he was hooked up to several machines. ‘How is he?’
‘They don’t know. He’s been unconscious since he fell.’
‘What have the doctors said?’
‘They’ve stopped the bleeding and are waiting for the results of the CT scan. I got on to HR and they’ve contacted his parents. They’re on their way in.’
‘How are you?’ she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
‘I’m fine. Branning turned and climbed over the fence after he’d thrown the jack.’
‘I didn’t mean physically.’
‘I’m fine, honestly. A bit shaken, but I’ll be OK.’ His smile didn’t reach his eyes.
‘Right.’ Now Matilda had absorbed everything that was going on she was back in work mode. She was angry one of her officers had been assaulted and she wanted answers. She wanted someone to pay. ‘Scott, wait here until his parents arrive. Tell them anything they need to give me a call. Then I want you and Rory to go round to Alice’s house; find out everything you can about her bastard brother.’
‘You want me to stay here?’ Rory asked.
‘No, come back with me. Scott, we’ll meet you back at the station. Let me know the second you hear anything.’