The Doll's House

‘When?’


‘Over the last few days. Martin McKay’s name is also on the list of the 2010 Volvo S60 owners.’

‘Do you have enough to get a search warrant?’

‘I think so, but the concept of reasonable grounds depends on which judge is sitting. Matthews has it in train.’

‘What about a search warrant for Dominic Hamilton’s house?’

‘You know how these things work, Kate. If we get anything useful back from the first location, it will help us move the search further out.’

‘Where are Clodagh and Martin McKay now?’

‘I’ve sent a reconnaissance team to the McKay and Hamilton houses along with the one I’ve sent to McKay’s office. Right now, McKay isn’t in either location, but that’s not unusual. He often has business meetings outside the office. Neighbours say they saw him leave the house earlier today. Clodagh McKay also went out this morning, some time after the husband. With the recon team in place, if either of the McKays or Dominic Hamilton shows up, we’ll know about it.’

‘O’Connor, it’s imperative that I talk to Valerie Hamilton and Clodagh McKay. I need to assess the mental state of both men, and there’s no better way than talking to those closest to them.’

‘As I promised, Kate, as soon as I hang up, I’ll get Lynch to ring you with Valerie Hamilton’s number. Clodagh McKay isn’t answering her phone, but you’ll get that number too. If there are any issues with them agreeing to talk to you, let me know.’

‘Okay.’

‘Right now my priority is pulling both men in. You can do all the psychoanalysis you want on them. I doubt you’ll have any problem with Valerie Hamilton, now that her husband has gone AWOL. Having said that, I don’t want you making private visits to any of the locations, not until the recon teams have established all the risks involved.’

‘O’Connor, I want to be kept in the loop.’

‘You will be.’





Clodagh


I know Gerard wants me to look up, but my younger self is resisting. She’s frightened. Her feet are sinking further into the sand, as if they’re being swallowed by the seaweed. The smell of the sea is getting stronger, the sound of seagulls squawking overhead. I’m not sure if she will look up, but then she does, and I can see with her eyes.

There’s no denying the face or her expression. It’s a look of accusation. ‘Gerard, I can see who’s holding me back.’

‘Who is it, Clodagh?’

‘It’s my mother.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes. She’s looking down at me. It isn’t a nice look, or a loving one. I think she hates me. Her eyes move from me to my father, as he walks further away. The further he walks, the smaller he becomes, just like a figure from my doll’s house.’

‘Clodagh, you’re crying. Remember, at all times you’re safe. This is simply a memory.’

I feel my mind drifting, as if it’s trying hard to stop me staying on the strand. As if I need to get as far away from there as soon as I can. It is then I begin to fall again, and a part of me is wondering – Will I ever stop?

‘Clodagh, are you okay?’

‘No.’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘I’m falling. My mind is falling but …’

‘But what, Clodagh?’

‘I think I’m back at home.’

‘At the house in Sandymount?’

‘Yes. I’m with my father.’

‘What are you doing, Clodagh?’

‘I’m looking outside my bedroom. My eyes are fixed on the landing light. I see my reflection in the landing mirror. My eyes look like dolls’ eyes, as if they’re made of glass, rolling inside my head. My father is standing in the darkness at the back of their bedroom.’

‘Your mum and dad’s room?’

‘Yes. My little-girl self is there. She’s walking over to him, slowly, but with determination. She looks older than her years. He bends down, allows my little-girl self to whisper something in his ear.’

‘What did she whisper?’ Again Gerard’s voice is calm.

‘I don’t know.’ I feel agitated. ‘I can’t hear what she’s saying. Gerard, I can’t hear her.’ My voice is rising. More than anything I want to know what she’s telling him. I can see his face change, anger replacing softness. My little-girl self pulls away from him as he stands upright again, leaving the room.

‘What’s happening, Clodagh?’

‘We’re alone, my little-girl self and I.’

‘You can ask her what she told him. The answer is there, Clodagh.’

I walk closer to her. Her eyes are now like the glass eyes of a doll. ‘What did you tell him? What did you whisper in his ear?’

At first I think she isn’t going to say anything, as if she’s trying to make up her mind whether she should trust me. It’s then that my voice changes again, to her voice, and I hear my younger self saying, ‘I told you, the dolls know. Go ask Debbie.’

I look around the room for her.

‘What’s happening, Clodagh?’ I hear Gerard ask.

‘I’m looking for Debbie.’