The Cop, page 13
‘Don’t you think you’re up to it?’
She sipped her coffee, oblivious to leaving a powdery residue on her top lip.
‘No, I’m not saying that, but as you said, it’s a high-profile case.’
‘You’re a good detective, Sarah. I’m asking you for good reason. I can make it an order if you want me to.’
Hodgson touched her throat. ‘I’m just surprised you’ve chosen me, that’s all.’
‘I think there are distinct advantages in you being the lead interviewer in this particular case. Worms like Michael Conner are frightened that women will laugh at them. That they won’t be taken seriously and be seen as the fatally flawed individuals they so obviously are. You’re more likely to get him rattled than any male officer, however senior or skilled. Challenge Conner’s ego – that’s my advice. Undermine him at every turn and he may well lose control. Achieve that and he’ll likely say something he later regrets. Something that trips him up. A contradiction he can’t counter. We need to see the real Michael Conner. Not the usual contrived performance he presents to the world. He’s clearly got issues with women. That’s something we can use to our benefit. I’ve given this a lot of thought. We let Kathy Conner down when she needed us most. We’ve got to do all we can to put that right. I want the bastard nailed, and you’re going to do it for me.’
‘I’ll give it my best shot, sir. I liked Kathy, this one’s personal.’
He smiled with half his mouth. ‘I’ve got complete faith in your ability, Sarah. You’re exactly the right officer for the job. Get this right and you can look forward to promotion in the not too distant future. Go and get it done.’
18
Conner and his young duty solicitor sat opposite Hodgson and a middle-aged career constable under her supervision and waited for the inevitable questions to begin.
‘Switch on the recording equipment, constable. It’s time to make a start.’
DC Smith reached to his right and flicked the switch.
Hodgson met Conner’s eyes, dark sweat patches forming under both arms as she prepared to begin the interrogation. She took a slow breath through pursed lips, checked her watch, stated the time and date, and then spoke up.
‘My name is Detective Sergeant Sarah Hodgson. Also present is Detective Constable Steven Smith, the interviewee Mr Michael Conner, and his solicitor Mr Malcom Jenkins. I need to remind you, Mr Conner, that you are still subject to caution. Anything you say may be used in evidence if the matter comes to court at some future date. Do you understand?’
Conner nodded once, his right eye twitching as the pressure began to build.
‘Now might be a good time to remind you that I’m a senior police officer who has served this community with distinction for many years,’ Conner snarled. ‘I understand the rules of evidence at least as well as you do, and probably better from what I’ve seen of your less than impressive performance. Just get on with it, there’s a good girl. And refer to me by my official rank. I’m not a civilian. Show me the respect my position deserves. The quicker we get this farce over with the better for everyone.’
‘You’re currently suspended from duty, Mr Conner. The use of your rank would not be appropriate given the circumstances.’
Conner formed his hands into tight fists below the table, picturing himself pummelling Hodgson’s face to a bloody pulp as he knelt over her, pinning her to the floor.
‘I’m very well aware of that, thank you, sergeant. It’s an injustice, a tragic waste of my time and police resources. It’s a setup, a sham. My wife has run off to goodness only knows where. She’s mentally ill, confused, unreliable and untrustworthy too. It’s a well-established fact, undeniable, a matter of official record. You’re well aware of that, or at least you should be. I’ve discussed Kathy’s issues with you more than once in recent weeks. You should be looking for her rather than wasting your time interviewing an innocent man.’
‘Is there anything you’d like to add before we continue?’
Conner moved forwards in his seat, keen to drive home his point.
‘My wife’s not fit to look after herself. That’s why I’ve had to care for her for as long as I have. I love the woman, but she’s not the same person I married. It breaks my heart to even say it. If something happens to the unfortunate woman while she’s out there somewhere on her own, something terrible, it’s down to you.’
Hodgson picked up a thick sheaf of papers in a cardboard file, flicking through the first few pages, taking her time.
‘Why did you try to kill yourself, Mr Conner?’ The solicitor spoke out for the first time.
‘Is that relevant?’ Hodgson met his eyes.
‘I’m just trying to put the allegations faced by your client in a proper context. I think that’s in everyone’s interests, don’t you?’
Jenkins was about to further object when Conner raised a hand, stiff fingers pointed to the ceiling, his heart pounding.
‘Just so everyone’s crystal clear, I did not try to kill myself. I was drugged. I was set up. You’ve been conned by a crazy manipulative bitch with mental health issues. I’ve said all this before at the hospital. It’s the only viable explanation that makes any sense at all. How many times do I have to repeat myself?’
‘You tried to kill yourself, Mr Conner, that’s a statement of certainty.’
Conner’s eyes reddened as his head began to ache, pounding, booming compression and sound making him flinch.
‘Are you too stupid to understand even the most basic facts? Maybe the brass should have asked someone with better detective skills to conduct the interview. A man, possibly – someone who could apply logic in a way you so obviously can’t. How you became a sergeant in the first place is a complete mystery to me. What numpty made that decision? You’re constable material at very best. Leave the more complex work to the grown-ups, there’s a good girl.’
Hodgson shook her head slowly and deliberately, following his eyes as he looked her up and down, refusing to look away.
‘You took an overdose of your wife’s sleeping tablets. You took the entire bottle. That’s a lot of tablets! If it weren’t for the emergency services, you’d be dead and gone. You’ve got the paramedics and a passing witness to thank for your life. Why the continued denial? The facts speak for themselves.’
Conner placed his elbows on the table and leant towards her, as she held her position.
‘No fucking way! I wouldn’t do that. I didn’t take the pills. I didn’t take anything at all. I’ve never felt suicidal in my life.’
Hodgson screwed up her eyes.
‘Oh, come on, Mike, there’s no room for doubt. The doctors ran blood tests. The drug was in your system. That’s a scientific fact, not conjecture on my part. You took the tablets. It’s the only logical explanation. That’s the only thing that makes any sense. It really is as simple as that. Denying it is pointless at best. Your answers are becoming ridiculous.’
Conner looked ready to explode, eyes bulging, adrenalin flooding his system as his headache intensified.
‘Now, you listen to me, you sanctimonious bitch. If there were any drugs in my system, they got there without my knowledge. My wife must have given them to me. She must have slipped them in a meal or drink when my back was turned. She tried to kill me. It was attempted murder but on her part, not mine. That’s the only rational explanation right there! That’s what you should be focussing on. Investigate that bitch! She’s a scheming, manipulative killer. Little Kathy Conner! Even I’m finding it hard to accept. I didn’t think she had the guts. But that’s what happened, that’s the truth of it. You’ve got this very badly wrong. Even you should be able to see that by now. Any fool could work it out. I didn’t even know she was taking sleeping tablets. I didn’t know the fucking things were in the house.’
Hodgson’s eyes widened, her posture stiffening, disliking him more than she ever thought possible.
‘Illogical denial, smoke and mirrors, is that really the best you’ve got?’
Conner wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of one hand. He wanted to reach out and grab her, to punish her, to drag her across the table and pound her into submission until she accorded him the grudging respect he felt he so richly deserved.
‘What the hell’s that supposed to mean?’
Hodgson took a slow, deep breath, upping the pressure, in no hurry to continue.
‘The empty medicine bottle was on the floor next to your bed. Your fingerprints were all over it. Your explanations are becoming more ludicrous by the second. You took the tablets yourself. You wanted to die. It’s time for some honesty. This is your opportunity to explain why you did what you did. Do yourself a favour and come clean. Tell your side of the story.’
Conner pointed at her with a jabbing digit, chin high, chest puffed out, eyes flashing.
‘Now you listen, and you listen well. It didn’t happen the way you say, no way. I am not suicidal. I have never been suicidal. I keep saying it. Kathy did all this. It was her. She’s not dead. She hasn’t been murdered. This whole situation is ridiculous to the point of comedy. I had everything to live for. A fantastic career, the promise of promotion, a return to the plain-clothes ranks in a job I love. I’m an alpha male at the peak of his almost limitless powers. I’ve never felt depressed in my life.’
Hodgson tilted her head and paused, silently trying to work out if Conner were desperate, unstable, or maybe a bit of both. Yes, that was it, a bit of both.
‘Why the continued pretence in the face of undeniable reality? It doesn’t take an investigative genius to work it out. You know how things work. I follow the facts. They tell a story. We all know what really happened. The evidence speaks for itself.’
Conner wanted to hit out. He so wanted to hit Hodgson. To hurl her to the floor, to stamp down, to ram her questions back down her self-important throat.
‘Why the hell are you talking about evidence? You haven’t got any evidence. I haven’t done anything. I’m not a criminal! I’m the victim, not the perpetrator. Get that into your thick head and you might get somewhere. Kathy drugged me and then she did a runner because she’s off her fucking head. She tried to kill me and failed. Nobody has died! It’s time to track her down. It’s attempted murder on her part just like I told you. I shouldn’t be here at all. She’s the one who’s committed a crime. Arrest her and put her away. Do your fucking job!’
Hodgson stifled a laugh.
‘I suggest you calm yourself down before we continue. Getting worked up isn’t going to do you any favours. You should understand that better than most. Or maybe you’re not capable of keeping a hold on your emotions. Is that it?’
Conner gripped the table’s edge with both hands, knuckles white, legs planted wide.
‘Calm myself down? Are you trying to wind me up? Calming down would be a lot easier if you weren’t spouting such total crap. I’ve been arrested on suspicion of murder, me – a respected police officer without a blemish on his record. It would be funny if it weren’t so fucking tragic. You’re not fit to be a detective. You’re not even fit to be in the force. You’re making a complete fool of yourself. This is going to come back to haunt you big time. It’s a career-ending cock-up you’re never going to recover from. I’ll be back on the job before you know it. Just you wait and see.’
Hodgson drummed the table with the fingers of one hand. ‘How long are you planning to keep up this pantomime? You’re not convincing anyone, not any more. People have seen through you, Mike. What did you do with the body? That’s the only thing I haven’t worked out yet. Are you going to help me join the dots?’
‘What body? What the hell are you talking about now? There’s no body to find.’
‘Your wife’s body! Who else did you think I was talking about? You killed her at your home. A passer-by heard her screaming before her death. It was a brutal murder. Now’s the time for you to explain what happened in your own words. This is your opportunity to talk. You need to take it.’
A single bead of sweat ran down Conner’s face and settled on his collar.
‘She’s still alive! She’s hiding somewhere and laughing at us right now. I didn’t kill her. I didn’t kill anyone. I’ve said it and said it. That’s my explanation, and it happens to be the truth. There’s nothing more to say. Why not switch off the tape and leave it at that? I’ve had enough. Go and find the bitch. Leave me alone.’
Hodgson grinned sardonically.
‘Oh, I know you killed Kathy. I know where you killed her and I know how you killed her. We’re looking for her body as we speak. A search team is on the case, sniffer dogs, house to house, the lot. There’s only so long a corpse can stay hidden. We’ll find her. It’s just a matter of time.’
He crossed and uncrossed his legs, his face reddening as he fought to retain control.
‘You’re not making a lot of sense, woman. You’ve got this horribly wrong. I haven’t touched the bitch. I keep saying it. Why aren’t you listening to a word I say?’
Hodgson relaxed back in her seat, gaining confidence, keen to drive home her advantage as her suspect slowly disintegrated in front of her.
‘You had me fooled, Mike, you really did. I’ll give you that much. I had you down as a nice guy. We all did. But it’s time to drop the act. We all know what you are now. You’re a liar, a bully and a killer too. It’s as clear as day.’
Conner gritted his teeth and snarled.
‘You’re full of crap, woman. You don’t know what you’re talking about. You couldn’t find your own arse with both hands.’
Hodgson sighed, making no effort to hide her disdain.
‘Do you know? I actually felt sorry for you for a time. I swallowed all that shit you talked about your wife’s mental health issues. I let Kathy down. The service let her down. Five calls for help and we gave you the benefit of the doubt. I won’t be making that mistake again. What made you snap in the end? What drove you over the edge? I’d really like to know.’
Conner cracked his knuckles.
‘I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about. The only person you’ve let down is me.’
‘Why kill the poor woman? I just don’t understand it. If things were so bad, if your relationship was at such a low ebb, why not go your separate ways? Why not get a divorce and start a new life rather than committing murder and then trying to kill yourself? You’ve taken her life, ruined your career and jeopardised your freedom for years to come. Was life really that bad? Did your situation justify all that absolute horror? Or do you like hurting women? Is that it? Does it make you feel big? I can’t think of any rational explanation. Perhaps you’d like to enlighten me.’
‘Are you fucking stupid or something? Kathy’s done a runner! She’s playing you. You need to start looking for her and let me get back to work to do what I do best. Do your fucking job, woman! I’ll have you back as a PC and directing traffic before you can blink.’
‘Oh I don’t think so, Mike. Your bullyboy days are well and truly over. The scenes of crime folk have been over every inch of your place. There’s blood everywhere. It’s been estimated at between four and five pints in total. There is no way in the world that any woman could lose that much blood and live. You’re a murderer, and I’m going to prove it.’
Conner jerked his head back, mouth hanging open, a hand flying to his chest.
‘What?’
‘You heard me.’
‘Four to five pints?’
‘That’s correct, that’s what I said. Anything to say in explanation? Now would be a good time to answer.’
Conner appeared very close to panic, the sheen of perspiration on his brow threatening to become a flood.
‘It can’t be her blood.’
‘But it is, Mike, it is. We’ve run DNA tests. The results were rushed through. It’s Kathy’s blood. One hundred per cent guaranteed with no room for doubt.’
He stared at her in utter disbelief, his mind racing, hormones speeding to his muscles, flight or fight but with nowhere to run. ‘Okay, if that’s true, if she’s really dead as you claim, it wasn’t me. I’m not guilty. Someone else must have broken into the house. Some maniac must have drugged me and then killed my wife when I was incapacitated and not in a position to protect her. The killer set me up. I’ve made a lot of enemies over the years. I’ve put a lot of people away, some for a very long time. That’s the only viable explanation right there. It’s the only thing that makes any sense at all. I’ll repeat it on the off chance you’re actually listening this time. I did not kill my wife. If she’s dead, someone else did it. I’m an innocent man.’
‘Nice try, but you were found covered in Kathy’s blood with the murder weapon next to you on the floor.’
‘What?’
Hodgson opened the file and pushed a ten-by-six-inch colour photo across the table.
‘It was almost as if you’d bathed in the stuff. Take a look for yourself.’
Conner stared at the image, mouth agape, unable to speak as Hodgson continued.
‘And your fingerprints are all over the knife’s shaft, in case you were wondering. Yours and nobody else’s! The evidence is indisputable. There’s no room for doubt, no ambiguity, just facts that condemn. You made no effort to hide what you did, that’s the reality. You didn’t bother because you weren’t expecting to be sitting here now. You didn’t think there’d be any questions to answer, not in this world. You thought you’d be dead and gone.’
Conner shoved the photo away, unable to believe the evidence of his own eyes, not wanting to look at the image for a second longer. Not wanting to consider the implications for his future as his residual confidence drained away almost to nothing.
‘But things didn’t work out as you’d hoped, did they, Mike? Your implausible explanations aren’t going to achieve anything at all. You sound irrational at best. It’s time for the truth.’
