The Dead Husband, page 18
‘It will, thank you. I’ll also need to place a guard outside her room. Mrs Cooper is considered a flight risk.’
The doctor raised an eyebrow. ‘Okay. Someone will let you know as soon as we can transfer her to a ward.’ He hurried from the room leaving the door open behind him.
‘Well, Paul, I don’t think we both need to stay. I’ll get back to the station and arrange a guard for the rest of the day and overnight. You hang around until someone arrives. Let’s hope she’ll be discharged tomorrow.’
‘The doc wasn’t giving much away, do you know how sick she is?’
‘When we arrested her, she was with a Macmillan nurse, but we shouldn’t jump to conclusions. I’m hoping now that Amy’s been left to carry the can she’ll be forthcoming about who did what and why. If there’s any change before you leave give me a ring, or tell the officer guarding her to ring.’
She would be back first thing in the morning to speak to Amy and pick up the threads of this increasingly complicated case.
‘I need wine!’ Samantha greeted Ravi with the request as she walked into his open arms.
‘A bad day, huh?’
‘The worst. What should have been three easy arrests all went badly wrong and I ended up with no one in the cells.’
Ravi poured two glasses of wine and sat beside her on the sofa. ‘Never mind – we can just talk about family, the wedding and our future.’ His smile worried Samantha but she knew he was right. She gave more than her allotted hours to the job and they deserved some downtime.
FIFTY-THREE
THURSDAY 22ND DECEMBER
After an uncomfortable night, Callum was convinced the mattress on the bed was damp. Beth was up early. Cal could hear her in the kitchen, hell you could hear every sound in every room in this miserable place, with the kettle boiling and toast popping from the toaster. Dragging himself from the bed he showered then went into the kitchen.
‘Good morning, Dave!’ Beth laughed.
‘Don’t call me that! When it’s just the two of us I still want to be Callum.’
‘Okay but it might get confusing – can’t you just get used to being Dave?’
‘No, so drop it.’ Callum helped himself to toast, the subject closed. They’d planned to go supermarket shopping that morning before finishing the unpacking although neither activity filled him with joy. Callum was growing increasingly uncomfortable with the decision they’d made and wondered if they’d acted rashly – the desire to escape prompting a panicked knee-jerk reaction. The reality was that their problems still existed, only in a different location. Callum was also feeling guilty for involving Amy and then leaving her to cope alone. Beth seemed to have forgotten about her sister.
‘Perhaps we can ring Amy when we’re out, from a phone box if you don’t want to use your phone?’ he suggested.
‘Why, she’ll be fine, she always is and I don’t think they have phone boxes anymore, do they?’ Beth poured more coffee into her cup and buttered another slice of toast.
‘I thought you’d be missing her. You’ve always been close and she’s looked out for you over the years. We owe her, Beth. I think we should at least ring.’
‘I don’t owe her anything. Oh yes, I know she felt guilty about not protecting me from Dad, but Amy was always a bit of a wimp – no backbone. Maybe if she’d answered him back like I did he wouldn’t have been the bully he was.’
‘Beth, that’s not fair!’
‘Who cares? So, what if she has been good to us? The only thing I’ve ever wanted from Amy was her husband – and now I’ve got you!’ The smug look on Beth’s face stunned Callum, leaving him speechless as Beth continued. ‘Come on, let’s clear up and get out to explore our new surroundings.’
Callum had often resented the way Amy appeared to consider Beth’s needs before his, but for Beth to be so callous about it, so unappreciative… This was not the way he’d wanted things to turn out, what a bloody mess he’d gotten himself into.
The drive into Wigton gave them a chance to familiarise themselves with their new hometown. Beth’s mood was somewhat more mellow and she was making an effort at conversation, an attempt, he assumed, to draw Callum out of his melancholy, but he couldn’t relax. With little enthusiasm for the mundane task of shopping, Cal was eager to return to the cottage. When they eventually got back he decided it was time for a serious conversation.
‘We’ve got to talk, Beth.’
Beth snaked her arm around his waist and pressed herself close to him. ‘Really, I thought you were a man of action, not words.’
He pushed away from her. ‘I’m serious. Are you in denial or something? This isn’t a holiday, Beth.’
‘In denial about what? Isn’t this what we wanted, to be together away from our dreary little lives? Lighten up, Cal, what do you want me to do, go around miserable all the time like you seem to be?’
‘No, just get real. Yes, we wanted to get away from Dave and Amy but not like this – not with Dave dead and me assuming his identity; this was never part of the plan. I’ve been drawing his benefits illegally, and you want me to look for a job in his name, but what happens if the police discover the body is Dave? Hell, Beth, we’ll be in serious trouble.’
‘But you told me you’d sort it. It was you who wanted to get rid of the body, you and Amy, with all your talk of insurance money. Don’t turn on me now!’
‘It was you who wouldn’t let me call the police when it could have been considered self-defence! You should have waited until I was with you to tell Dave you were leaving, as I said, but oh no, you wanted to do it your way and look how it’s worked out!’
Beth’s nostrils flared and her eyes narrowed. ‘Don’t blame me for everything – you were a willing partner as I remember. So, what do you expect me to do now?’
‘We have to at least keep in touch with Amy to know what the police are doing. If they discover it’s Dave’s body, we’re in trouble and we’ll probably have to move on again…’
‘But why? Amy won’t tell them where we are.’
‘Maybe not but they’ll be looking at us for murder then and won’t give up. We need to get rid of the van for a start, it can be linked to Dave and they could find us if we keep using it.’
Beth turned away and put her hands over her ears. Callum was stunned, she was behaving like a child. Would she stamp her feet next until she got her own way? The weight of everything he’d done lay heavily on him and looking incredulously at the back of Beth’s head, Callum made the decision as to what he must do next.
FIFTY-FOUR
THURSDAY 22ND DECEMBER
DI Samantha Freeman was at the hospital by 8.30am. Knowing their routine started early, Sam didn’t think she’d be in the way and if the nurses were busy it could be a good time to talk to Amy.
Sam stopped at the nurses’ station to speak to the sister, explaining what she wanted.
‘Ah, yes – and then perhaps you can take your policeman away with you. We don’t encourage unnecessary people on the wards these days, he’s in the way.’
‘I’m sorry but he’ll have to remain until Mrs Cooper’s discharged. She’s technically under arrest.’ Sam smiled her best smile.
‘The doctor won’t be here for another couple of hours at least – he’ll decide then if discharge is appropriate.’
‘Can I see her now?’
‘Okay. In the circumstances, we had to put her in a private room. She’s at the end of the corridor in the room where your man’s sitting.’
‘Thank you.’ Sam tried to be polite but the sister was already staring at her computer screen. The officer on guard duty stood when he saw Sam approaching. ‘Sit down – have you had a quiet night?’
‘Yes. Mrs Cooper slept all night. I think they gave her something, but I know she’s awake now, they’ve taken breakfast in.’
‘Why don’t you go and grab yourself a coffee and a sandwich while I talk to her.’
‘Great, thanks. I’ll be back in fifteen?’
‘Fine.’
Amy was sitting up in bed, wearing a pink hospital gown and looking less than pleased to see Samantha.
‘Good morning. How are you feeling today?’
‘As if you care.’ Amy’s stare was cold. Sam chose to ignore the barb.
‘We need to talk, Amy, and I’d like the truth this time. Can you tell me where Beth and Callum are?’
‘No – not now, but I will talk to you when I’m out of here. Will you be taking me into custody?’
‘Yes. Assuming the doctor is happy to discharge you and you’re well enough to answer questions, and I would advise you to contact a solicitor to accompany you.’
‘I won’t need a solicitor. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.’
Samantha felt a frisson of excitement run through her – was Amy finally going to tell the truth? Maybe she’d get the case wrapped up before Christmas after all. An image of how pleased Ravi would be if this was the case almost made her smile. ‘Thank you, but for now perhaps you can tell me where to find your husband and sister.’
‘No. When I’m out.’ Amy was determined and it hardly seemed appropriate to argue with a hospital patient. Sam reined in her frustration – she’d have to wait.
‘Perhaps you’d tell the officer outside when you’re discharged and I’ll come and pick you up.’
‘Okay. Now if you don’t mind leaving, I’m feeling tired.’ Amy shuffled down the bed and closed her eyes.
Fine! Round one to Amy, but this is only just beginning.
Samantha left the room and sat to wait for the uniformed officer. Excitement and curiosity ran equally through her mind, it would prove difficult to wait but hopefully the doctor would discharge his patient today.
The constable came hurrying along the corridor, his to-go coffee in his hand. ‘Sorry, there was a queue.’
‘It’s okay. Our prisoner’s not talking but says she will at the station.’ Sam gave the constable her card. ‘I want you to ring me as soon as they say she can leave. I’ll come back to take her in myself.’
‘Yes, will do.’ He grinned. ‘Sorry, I should have asked if you wanted a coffee.’
‘No, I’m fine. I’ll be off now. If you’re relieved before she’s discharged, pass on those instructions to the next officer – I don’t want anything going awry.’
Once back in her car, Samantha rang Jenny to update her.
‘Do you think she’ll be discharged today?’ Jen asked.
‘She looked okay to me and they don’t keep patients any longer than they need to these days. Better reserve an interview room for this afternoon and make sure it’s one with heating. We’re going to have to tread very carefully with this one. Maybe you could let the DCI know that Amy’s promised to talk. It might go some way to making up for losing Callum and Beth.’
‘Will do, boss!’
Sam ended the call and returned to her mental gymnastics of wondering what would transpire from the interview with Amy. She could hardly contain her excitement.
FIFTY-FIVE
THURSDAY 22ND DECEMBER
Amy Cooper sat on the edge of the hospital bed wearing the clothes she’d had on the previous day and looking frail. Clutching a bag of medication and a discharge letter, she had no other possessions when Samantha arrived to escort her to the police station.
‘How are you feeling?’ Sam asked.
‘Okay.’ At least this time she took the question at face value, Sam thought.
A nurse followed her into the room pushing a wheelchair. ‘Hospital policy!’ She smiled and manoeuvred the chair beside the bed. Amy rolled her eyes yet obediently climbed into the chair.
‘Can you manage?’ The nurse addressed Sam who nodded and took charge of the chair. The two left the ward without fuss and entered the lift to descend to the ground floor.
Amy looked up at Sam. ‘No handcuffs?’ she asked.
‘Do you need them?’
Once inside the car – Sam had selected a more comfortable pool car to use rather than her little Mini – the pair drove the short distance to New Middridge police station in silence, each anticipating the coming interview. Sam checked if Amy had eaten lunch, she didn’t want her to faint with hunger, and she herself had managed a bacon bun earlier, washed down with coffee. Taking Amy straight to the interview room, they found Jenny already waiting, adjusting the radiator as the room was now too hot. Jen asked after Amy’s health and received the same one-word answer, okay.
A constable followed them into the room with three coffees and a plate of biscuits – they were determined to do everything by the book. Jenny switched on the recording equipment and reminded Amy of the charges against her and that she was still under caution. Samantha then took over.
‘Amy, I asked you earlier if you wanted a solicitor and you declined. Would you like to change your mind?’
‘No.’
‘Right. When we came to your house yesterday, we’d already been to Beth’s to arrest her and Callum but they weren’t there. A quick search established they’d left – can you tell us where they are.’
‘They were heading north I think but I haven’t heard from them since they left.’
‘And when was that?’
The answer was a shrug of Amy’s shoulders. Samantha decided to leave the whereabouts of the others – she was keen to learn what Amy had promised to tell her. ‘You said you’d tell me everything I wanted to know. The tape’s running. Perhaps you’d like to start at the beginning and tell me how Dave Moorhouse died and the role you played in it.’
Amy took a sip of her coffee then placed it back on the table, running her fingers around the edge of the mug. ‘I killed him.’ Her words were flat, it didn’t appear to Sam that she was trying to shock them or mislead them. If anything there was regret in her voice.
‘I didn’t mean to, it wasn’t planned, it just happened.’ Another sip of coffee was the only movement in the room. Jenny appeared to be holding her breath, choosing not to interrupt the confession they were hearing. Even Samantha managed to wait quietly without prompting Amy to continue. The woman seemed to need time and space.
‘It was Tuesday, the seventh of December. I went to visit Beth. She didn’t know I was coming, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. It was mid, maybe late morning when I arrived and I heard the shouting before reaching the door. You have to understand that Dave was a violent man – he regularly hit Beth. Oh, he apologised afterwards, blamed his temper or too much to drink and Beth believed him and forgave him.
‘We grew up with a violent father. Beth took the brunt of his anger, so I think she assumed it was normal behaviour between a man and his wife. I tried to tell her to leave Dave – she didn’t love him – but she refused – said there was nowhere else to go, but she could have come to us! Callum had offered to sort him out in the early days but Beth wouldn’t let him, kept insisting Dave didn’t mean to hurt her and the making up was worth it. But he was a mean, lazy bastard – he didn’t deserve her.
‘When I arrived that Tuesday morning they were in the middle of a blazing row. Beth’s nose was bleeding and her eye was red. I literally walked in on them – they were making so much noise they didn’t hear me arrive. Beth was on her knees and Dave was thrashing her with a belt! I was horrified – this was my sister he was beating. Without thinking I waded in. There was a lamp on the sofa table and I instinctively picked it up and hit Dave over the head. He appeared stunned and came after me. Beth was screaming and Dave was spitting obscenities; he raised the belt to me so I hit him again.
‘It stopped him and he fell to the floor, bleeding. He seemed only semi-conscious so I thought it was safe to see to Beth. She was dazed and hurt. I took her into the kitchen and cleaned her up then made her have a drink. Her eye wasn’t the worst of the injuries, Dave’s belt left terrible welts on her back, raw and bleeding. I bathed them, dressed them and we sat, neither of us knowing what to do.
‘I could hear Dave’s occasional moans but at that moment I hated him so much I had no sympathy for him – for all I cared he could die! I wasn’t thinking straight and Beth looked to me to know what to do. With hindsight I can see it would have been better – the right thing – to call the police or an ambulance, yet I couldn’t stop trembling and my mind wouldn’t focus. We did nothing. I know now it was unforgivable but I wanted Dave to suffer. Perhaps I was transferring all my hate and anger for our father onto him – I don’t know – but I did nothing. There was a sense of satisfaction in knowing Dave was in pain – the tables had turned – he usually inflicted the pain but now he was the victim. It seemed like karma.’ Amy was fiddling with her empty mug. ‘Do you think I could have another coffee and maybe a short break?’
‘No problem.’ Jenny stated the time for the tape and switched it off. ‘Would you like to visit the bathroom?’
‘Yes, please.’
Jenny led the way, leaving Samantha trying to figure out if the woman was genuine or spinning a very credible lie.
FIFTY-SIX
THURSDAY 22ND DECEMBER
When Jenny returned Amy to the interview room, she and Samantha left her with a PC while arranging coffee, and to allow time for her to rest.
‘Wow!’ Jenny sighed, looking at her boss for a reaction.
‘Yeah, wow. She’s clearly thought this through, it’s all very neat and tidy, isn’t it?’
‘It is, but that’s good surely. Everything Amy’s confessed to fits in with the forensics so far – we need to move on to the disposal of the body next.’
