The Doll's House

I remain silent.

‘Of course, everyone thought it was the collapse of the business, that and the rumours of his wife’s infidelity. Either way, it didn’t matter. He was out of the picture. I waited, knowing financial pressure and the prospect of raising two children alone would be difficult for your mother.’

‘And then what?’

He smirks. ‘I underestimated her or, rather, I underestimated how abhorrent I was to her. It’s a strong word, “abhorrent”.’

‘I guess so.’

‘That’s what she said to me. That she found me abhorrent. She didn’t want me or my money. After all I’d done for her. Can you believe that?’

‘Things are often said in the heat of the moment. Things we don’t always mean.’ I can’t believe I’m speaking to him like this, pretending everything is okay.

‘Perhaps you’re right. She was ill, I became aware of that. Postnatal depression in your mother’s case was severe.’

‘I can’t imagine what it must have been like for her.’ Again Alister seems to ignore me.

‘You are quite beautiful.’ Once more he runs his fingers through my hair, and I want to scream. He pulls them away swiftly. ‘It seems, Clodagh, that I was both abhorrent and foolish. Maybe it was because I knew how sick she was, but in the end I gave in. I arranged for that idiot Jenkins to convince her to take the money, to say it was from him. Her knight in bloody shining armour …’ his voice is filled with hate again ‘… with money I gave him. She took it then, of course, even though she wanted nothing more to do with him either.’ His voice changes, sounding sarcastic. ‘She wanted to look after her darling children, yourself and Dominic. Start afresh.’

‘And you simply walked away?’

‘At the time, I had no other choice. The money was nothing, a drop in the ocean. Maybe I thought time would change things. I don’t know. As the years went by, I let it go. But then I met Ruby and was drawn back to my own ghosts.’

I cringe at hearing Ruby’s name coming from his mouth. ‘You can let the past go, you know,’ I say. ‘It’s not always good to look back.’

‘From you, Clodagh, that’s a little trite. Isn’t that what the hypnosis is about? Looking back, trying to find the truth?’

‘How do you know about that?’

‘The same way I know most things. A friend helped me out.’

‘Well, the truth isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.’ It’s my turn for anger to bubble over. ‘What friend?’

He laughs. ‘It doesn’t matter. Not now. Perhaps, Clodagh, I chose the wrong Hamilton to fall for. Do you believe in karma?’

‘Not particularly.’

‘Well, neither did I, until I met your mother again. You see, Clodagh, sometimes what goes around comes around, and all that.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I told you, I’m a man who expects to get what he wants.’

‘So?’

‘Some things had started to get tricky over the last year. My reputation, my territory were being threatened. When that happens, I have to go on the attack.’

None of this is making any sense to me. ‘I still don’t understand.’

‘Your father’s bankrupt company, the one Jenkins used a fistful of my money to take off your mother’s hands, started to get messy. Maybe it was jinxed all along.’ Again he looks to the door. ‘You see, Clodagh, the lovely Keith Jenkins got greedy. He decided to get some heavy hitters to invest in the company again. Do a bit of money-laundering. Turn dirty money all nice and clean. Sooner or later the trail would have led back to me, and I couldn’t have that.’

‘So you figured it was time to get rid of him?’ Again I wonder at the madness of my question.

‘Dead men don’t talk, Clodagh.’

‘But what has that to do with me?’

‘Karma.’ He smiles. ‘What goes around comes around.’ He stops talking, as if again he’s wondering should he share something. It doesn’t take him long to make up his mind. ‘When I went to see your mother, Clodagh, I realised it was payback time.’





Harcourt Street Police Station


Lynch’s call from outside the McKay house came shortly before four o’clock. ‘Sir, we have the car.’

‘What have you got exactly?’ O’Connor’s question sounded both strained and impatient.

‘Hanley and the crew are here.’ O’Connor was finding it hard to hear, with the external noise coming over the line from the street. ‘I’ve secured the area.’

‘You haven’t told me what you have.’

‘Enough blood deposits in the car to keep the techies busy for some time.’

‘Good. Are there any photos of Martin McKay in that house?’

‘There’s one with his daughter.’

‘Get the clearest you can find. Contact Matthews and have him alert all transport links in case this guy does a runner.’