The Doll's House

‘I’m assuming, O’Connor, that since Jimmy Gahan’s body was found there’s been more light shed on things?’


‘As I said, Dr Pearson has a couple of theories. We’ll know more once we have her report.’

Again Butler interjected, ‘Matthews, mark that down as top priority on the assignments – and, O’Connor?’

‘Yes, boss?’

‘Make that sooner rather than later. If necessary, remind Dr Pearson we’re dealing with a double murder.’

‘She knows that, boss.’

‘Good to hear it. Is there anything else, O’Connor?’ Butler was forcing home how little they had, and seemed to lay the blame for the lack of evidence firmly at O’Connor’s door.

‘Dr Pearson thinks there could be more than one layer to this. Jenkins and Gahan are linked, that we know, but she thinks Gahan’s immediate death wasn’t the killer’s intention. Assuming the same MO, the killer kept Jenkins alive for a period before death. She thinks it could have been to get or share information.’

Butler grunted. ‘You said she thinks there’s more than one layer going on here. What does she mean exactly?’

‘We have the possible blackmail of Jenkins, the planting of the hotel receipt, the time delay between the attack on Keith Jenkins and his subsequent death. Dr Pearson thinks our guy is highly motivated and determined in his task, but she’s not one hundred per cent sure that someone else isn’t in the driver’s seat.’

‘And that’s it?’

‘Keeping our options open, boss.’ O’Connor forced a smile.

‘Good to hear it.’ Butler remained stern-faced, turning to Matthews and Martha Smyth. ‘As soon as we have something concrete on the fibre and the tyre markings, I want to run with everything we’ve got. Arrange a slot on Crimecall. I know it’s short notice, but we need to get the public working for us. We don’t know everything, so we want people talking.’ He addressed the entire cast: ‘Now, the rest of you, get out there and get some bloody answers. As O’Connor reminded you all at the start of this investigation, this is supposed to be an élite unit. Let’s start bloody acting like one.’

The mumblings of the detectives forced Matthews to raise his voice above the din. ‘The next full squad briefing will be ten a.m. tomorrow. You all heard the boss.’





Clodagh


As soon as the words were out of Dominic’s mouth, telling me Keith Jenkins wasn’t the only man who liked Mum, I knew he’d spoken the truth. I knew it because it felt like another building block had slipped into place, something solid and impossible to deny.

Gerard Hayden had told me this kind of thing could keep happening. Under regression I was seeing things from the past, even if my subconscious mind was trying to block out aspects of them. He was suspicious that this was happening with the dolls. According to him, when one truth is revealed, another could unlock itself.

Dominic’s words were clear and equivocal. Without knowing why, I’d always known there was someone else in Mum’s life. From the moment I’d remembered Keith Jenkins on the strand, and the two of them in the back room off the kitchen, something else had been pushing to the surface, there was another man, another face.

I asked Dominic for a name, but he wasn’t talking. Maybe he thought he was giving away too many of Mum’s secrets, especially when she wasn’t there to defend herself. I guess I couldn’t blame him for that. Considering his mood, it felt useless staying at the house any longer. Perhaps he has a point about leaving the past in the past. He was always the clear thinker, cutting through crap, saying it as it is, and absolute in his way with the world. How can old memories help anything? I’m a bit long in the tooth to change my life. At times, I don’t even know if I bloody well want to.

It’s raining now. I watch the drops slide down Ruby’s bedroom window, relieved that Martin is still at work. I need more time to think things through. Dominic is right. There’s no reason to believe we’re connected to the murder of Keith Jenkins or Uncle Jimmy. I could go to the police, but what would I tell them? I remembered Keith Jenkins while I was under hypnosis. That Mum had never liked Jimmy Gahan. There isn’t a whole lot of information in that. Dominic’s accusation about me being overdramatic is ringing out loud and clear.

I text Martin and ask him what time he’ll be back. He answers with his usual efficiency. He won’t be home for another few hours. I feel relieved. I sit down on Ruby’s bed, and pick up my old doll, Emma. I cradle her in my arms, like I did as a child. I can afford to be a little crazy, now that I’m alone.