The Doll's House

Kate tried Clodagh McKay’s mobile phone for the third time and still had no luck. Then she rang Valerie Hamilton’s landline. This time, she was answered.

‘Mrs Hamilton, my name is Dr Kate Pearson. I’m assisting the police, and I was wondering if I could have a quick chat with you about your husband, Dominic. I know this is difficult, talking over the phone, but—’

‘What’s going on? I can see a squad car outside.’ The woman was panicking.

‘There’s no need to be alarmed, Mrs Hamilton. Try to keep calm. It’s just a precaution. The police would like to talk to your husband. I’m sure everything is fine, but if you could let me know a couple of things, it might speed up finding Dominic.’

Kate waited, hoping Valerie Hamilton would decide to talk.

Finally she did. ‘What do you want to know?’ she asked, her voice shaking.

‘Valerie, I understand you were concerned about Dominic, about him being depressed. Can you tell me how his low moods affected him? Did he have any problems sleeping?’

‘Yes, and he’s been worse over the last couple of weeks.’

‘In what way?’

‘He’s been getting barely any sleep, walking around the house at all hours of the night. It’s been impossible for him to go to work.’

‘How long has he been out of work?’

‘He took time off when his mother died, but it was difficult for him when he went back. I told him he was working too hard. He needed to take a break.’

‘How long, Valerie?’

‘About a month, I guess. We didn’t tell anyone other than his office. Dominic didn’t want attention drawn to it. He said he’d handle it in his own way.’

‘In what way was it difficult when he went back?’

‘It’s hard to talk about.’

‘I understand, Valerie. I’m a doctor. I know how hard the grieving process can be.’

‘At first I didn’t pay any attention to it, hoping it would pass.’

‘Hoping what would pass, Valerie?’

‘He hasn’t been himself.’

‘Valerie, are you okay?’

‘I don’t know, Dr Pearson. Will you tell me what’s going on?’ Her voice was becoming shakier by the second.

Kate softened her tone. ‘Kate, please call me Kate.’

‘Is Dominic in some kind of trouble?’

‘You say he hasn’t been himself, Valerie. Can you tell me how?’

‘The last couple of days he thought people were watching him, following him.’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘He kept looking out of the window, checking the front and back of the house.’

‘Was there any other behaviour that worried you?’

‘He’s been distant.’ Valerie Hamilton drew in her breath.

‘How has he been distant?’

‘Leaving the house, not telling me where he’s going, shutting me out every time I try to talk to him.’

‘Apart from thinking someone was watching him, were there any other feelings of paranoia, thinking people might be out to get him, or any delusional behaviour?’

‘He’s been finding it hard to concentrate on things.’

‘What kind of things?’

‘He stopped reading, not even a newspaper. He couldn’t bear to watch television or listen to the radio. He kept making excuses, saying he had a headache, or that he was too tired, or that his mind was …’ she stalled.

‘His mind was what, Valerie?’

‘Skipping. He was finding it hard to think.’

‘Valerie, I want you to try very hard to remember. Was there any point at which Dominic mentioned hearing voices?’

‘Do you mean inside his head?’

‘Yes.’

‘No, not that he told me. But he hasn’t been telling me very much. Kate, I’m very worried about him.’

‘I know you are, Valerie. Now, I’m sure the police have asked you about his movements over the last few days. What did you say to them?’

‘I told them he wasn’t sleeping well, which he wasn’t. Sometimes he’d go out to clear his head in the hope that when he came back he’d feel better.’

‘Did he ever take the car?’

‘A few times.’

‘Have you spoken to anyone else about Dominic, members of his family, his sister, perhaps?’

‘Clodagh?’

‘Yes, Clodagh.’

‘Dominic doesn’t like me bothering her. She has always been a bit …’

‘A bit what?’

‘A bit delicate, edgy, over-sensitive, if you get me.’

‘Dominic and Clodagh, are they close?’

‘I suppose.’

‘You say Dominic hasn’t been the same since his mother’s death. How did Clodagh take it?’

‘Hard, I guess. Clodagh and Lavinia were never that fond of each other.’

‘Clodagh and her mother?’

‘They had a somewhat strained relationship. Dominic was always caught in the middle.’

‘Valerie, have you spoken to Clodagh today?’

‘No.’

‘When was the last time you spoke to her?’

‘Not for a few days.’

‘When exactly?’

‘She rang me, I don’t know, late last week. We were out for dinner the night before. She wanted to know if I could recommend someone to her.’