The Doll's House

Her voice isn’t threatening, but Dominic panics, jumping up from his resting position.

‘Dominic, can you hear me? My name is Anne. I’m here to help you.’

I’m not sure what to do next, so I do nothing.

‘Dominic, it’s Anne. I can hear movement in there. What’s going on? Are you okay?’ She sounds sympathetic.

Dominic roars, ‘GO TO HELL whoever you are. Keep away from us.’

‘Don’t worry, Dominic. I’m not coming any closer. I’m sorry if I gave you a fright.’

‘FUCK OFF.’

‘Dominic, I don’t mean to upset you. I’m here to help. You’re the one who’s in charge here.’





75 Strand Road, Sandymount


Kate could hear Anne Holt’s first tentative interactions with Dominic Hamilton, and was imagining how hard it must be to walk willingly into a dangerous situation as Anne had just done. She knew that the first thing she and Anne had to accomplish was to calm the situation. Kate spoke to her through the audio link.

‘Anne, right now Dominic Hamilton will be experiencing a high level of panic. It’s a time of chaos in his mind. We’ve shifted the goalposts and he isn’t sure where he fits into all this. Well done on the reassurance. Keep the conversation going, one-sided if necessary, repeating a similar mantra.’

Anne’s voice remained calm. ‘Do you hear me, Dominic? You’re the one in charge. I won’t come any closer unless you want me to.’

Kate heard a loud thud at what she assumed was the attic door, then a male voice shouting at Anne, ‘I’ll kill her if you come any closer, I fucking will.’

‘Dominic, you have my word that I won’t.’ Anne’s tone was unchanged.

‘Anne, keep talking to him, but allow short intervals in between, even if it remains a one-sided conversation. He’s still listening. Slowly we’ll move it forward to finding out what he really wants.’

‘Kate, can you hear me?’ Anne murmured, to avoid being heard on the other side of the attic door.

‘Yes.’

‘I’m going to keep the concentration on Dominic Hamilton. He’s the one I’ll be empathising with. Right now, the less focus I place on the hostage, the better her chance of survival.’

‘Okay, but take it carefully.’

‘Dominic, can you hear me? It’s Anne again.’ This time, there was no response. ‘Dominic, I know you’ve been through a tough time. I can help you if you let me.’

‘I don’t want your fucking help.’

‘You’ve had to do some difficult things.’

‘I did what I had to do. I’m no coward.’

‘Of course you’re not.’ Anne allowed an interval, as Kate suggested. ‘Dominic, none of this is your fault. You are not to blame. Nobody is blaming you.’

‘Who the fuck are you?’ His voice rose again.

‘My name is Anne. I’m here with the police. Can we talk face to face?’

‘I don’t want to talk to you.’ This time his tone was less aggressive.

‘I understand that, Dominic.’ Another interval. ‘I appreciate that you’re listening to me.’ Pause. ‘I’m sorry if I took you by surprise.’

‘What do you want?’

‘I want to help. Are you thirsty, Dominic? If you are, I could try and get you some water.’

‘I’m not thirsty.’

‘Thanks, Dominic. Thanks for answering me.’

Kate kept silent, allowing Anne to get on with the job she was trained to do. Part of it was the necessity to appear non-hostile, appreciative, and build a rapport to develop trust. Kate also knew Anne was endeavouring to distract Dominic Hamilton, taking the conversation in unrelated directions, asking him if he was thirsty, shaping their interaction, forcing him to think and also to answer.

‘You sound tired, Dominic.’

No response.

Kate spoke through the audio link: ‘Anne, we both know we’re dealing with a Pandora’s Box here, but you’re doing great. He’s starting to calm down. I can hear it in his voice. Don’t worry about him not answering you. He’s listening, and that’s critical right now.’

‘Dominic, are you okay?’ Anne’s voice sounded as calm as her original introduction.

‘I don’t know.’ This time Dominic Hamilton’s response was less hostile.

Kate spoke through the audio link again: ‘Anne, keep up the empathy. Let him know his wife, Valerie, has been worrying about him.’

‘Dominic, it’s been tough on you, I know that. Valerie’s been worried about you.’

‘You spoke to her?’

‘She wants you home, Dominic.’

‘This has nothing to do with her.’ His voice rose.

‘I know that. I don’t mean to upset you. Valerie cares about you. If you come out, you can talk to her.’

‘I’m not coming out …’

Kate spoke again: ‘Anne, can you hear me?’

‘Yes, Kate.’

‘Take your time. He’s talking to you now. Speak to him about his not being able to sleep, how much strain that must be placing on him. The longer we keep the conversation going, the better.’