The Doll's House

I hear Martin walking up the staircase from the hall. The one Dominic and I played on as children. The one where I sat at the top and he covered my ears against the angry shouting coming from below. I think about my brother, how much he suffered with the loss of our father, how he became the man my mother leaned on most, even though he was only a boy. I envied their relationship, Dominic being the recipient of her love. She didn’t have enough left for me. I hold my breath, not knowing what will happen next. My regression has left so many unanswered questions, so many unfilled gaps. I look across at Sandy, as if a doll is going to help me. When I do, I hear another question. Was I the one who initiated my father’s suspicions while Dominic remained her confidant? The son who didn’t betray her and therefore more deserving of her love?

The closer Martin’s footsteps come, the more I worry about Dominic. He’s the last person I remember talking to. Has Martin or Alister done something to him? I have to think. I don’t care so much about dying, but I don’t want to leave Ruby behind. Not with a man capable of this. I won’t leave her like my father did, not without a fight. My body and mind contract, tight and full of resolution, until the door opens, and my life falls apart all over again.





74 Strand Road, Sandymount


O’Connor’s conversation with the recon team was brief but effective. He knew he had enough to get the search warrant for 74 Strand Road. Apart from the neighbours spotting activity in the deserted house in the early hours of the morning, the team had given him plenty of reason to be suspicious, specifically the two black Mercedes parked a couple of streets away. One registered to Martin McKay, the other to Alister Becon.

The surveillance unit, led by DI Merriman, had first checked the exterior of the building on Strand Road. Initially everything looked as it should. It was only when they called into the houses to the immediate right and left that more had come to light. A woman in number 75 believed she had heard loud voices coming from next door. Her husband told her she must have imagined it, but she was adamant.

Finding Martin McKay’s abandoned car, on top of what Lynch and the team had uncovered at the McKay house, would have been enough on its own to establish reasonable grounds for the warrant. Either way, O’Connor made good time getting to Sandymount, having left instructions with Matthews to call him as soon as the warrant came through. Turning his car onto Strand Road, O’Connor, who wasn’t feeling particularly patient, phoned Matthews again. ‘What’s happening with the bloody warrant?’

‘It won’t be long.’

‘I hope the judiciary aren’t messing us about.’

‘Justice Langham is taking care of it now.’

‘Good.’ O’Connor could see Merriman giving instructions to the recon crew ahead of him, and their unmarked cars parked a few houses back from number 74.

‘Matthews, has Hennessy got anything more out of that McDaid fella?’

‘Not yet.’

‘Tell him to keep pushing.’

‘I will. By the way, all the checkpoints are in place within the triangle of the three houses, and we’ve alerted both airport and port options. Hanley and the tech guys are still working at the McKays’ house. Lynch is handling the logistics there.’

‘Phone me as soon as you have the warrant.’

The next call O’Connor made was to Kate. ‘I’m at the house in Sandymount.’

‘What’s happening?’

‘The recon team have a report of raised voices coming from inside the premises. We also have McKay’s and Alister Becon’s Mercedes in the area. I should have the warrant in the next couple of minutes. We’re keeping a close eye on things here. Is there anything more you’d like to add before we go inside?’

‘That depends on who the killer is, O’Connor. I assume Dominic Hamilton is still unaccounted for.’

‘Correct.’

‘I don’t know enough about either McKay or Becon to give you any concrete advice other than the obvious. But if Dominic Hamilton’s pulling the strings, his state of mind is volatile, especially if we’re working with psychosis. The killer has already demonstrated on two occasions that he’s capable of extreme levels of violence. If the killer is psychotic, we’re dealing with a serious mental disorder, disintegration of personality, someone with grossly distorted thoughts and perceptions.’

‘Like imaginary voices?’

‘Not necessarily, O’Connor, but his internal messages cannot be relied upon. He could be experiencing heightened levels of anxiety. As I said to you the other night, his whole mind-set will be bubbling over with emotion, none of which can be trusted.’

‘You’re saying he’s out of control.’

‘Whoever we’re dealing with, he’s not thinking like you or me. His views are entrenched. And there’s another issue, O’Connor.’

‘What?’

‘It’s about Clodagh McKay.’

‘What about her?’

‘I don’t like the fact that she hasn’t returned home.’

‘I don’t like that a number of people, including Clodagh McKay, are unaccounted for.’

‘Do you remember what I said, O’Connor, when I spoke to you about spree killings?’

‘We’re back to the list.’

‘I said this case didn’t have all the characteristics of spree killings, but the murders had some similarities. Depending on how much pressure the killer is under, and if his mind is fully contracted, he hasn’t finished yet. Clodagh McKay is missing. We know she’s not the killer. In cases like this where the victims are not random but specific, as I said before, the killer could have a last victim in mind.’

‘You’re thinking Clodagh McKay?’