‘Has he ever hit the children?’
This time Laura just stared at me after I relayed the question to her. It was a blank stare, not one of disbelief or fear, just empty. It was as if someone had turned off what little light there was remaining.
She turned to look at Forest, then looked back at me. Did Alan kill Lexi? Did he kill my little girl?
‘We don’t know anything at the moment. I’m sorry, Laura. The post-mortem and evidence from the house will tell us more. We just need to find out about all of the people who might have been involved in her life.’
The look Laura gave Forest showed she was thinking the same thing as me – if they didn’t suspect Alan, why ask such a direct question?
It must have been him, or Elisha. They were both in the house, weren’t they? One of them did it.
‘We’re still gathering evidence.’
Laura shook her head. No, if someone was in my house and hurt one of my children, I would know. It was one of them.
She set her jaw defiantly, and Forest tilted her head as she looked at Laura appraisingly.
‘What about Elisha? Have you ever fought with her?’
Laura waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. I don’t know that woman. I don’t know her.
‘What do you mean, you don’t know her? She and Alan have been together since before Lexi was born. Don’t you see her when Alan has the children?’
Wrinkling her nose as if she’d smelt something rotten, Laura explained. Yes, I see her, but I don’t talk to her. She’s a slut. She stole him from me. She fucked him when he was mine.
In the years I’d been an interpreter, I still hadn’t got comfortable translating other people’s swearing. I did my best to use an appropriate tone of voice for what was being said, to match the client’s body language, but I was inwardly mortified at having to repeat certain words in front of the police.
Laura rubbed a hand across her face, and I could see how much this was taking a toll on her.
I don’t know what else I can tell you. I don’t know what happened. Who could have done this?
She started to cry again, and the family liaison officer put an arm around her. Forest was about to speak when we heard the phone ring in the hallway, and a moment later Bridget came in.
‘That was a social worker on the phone. We can go and pick Jaxon up now.’
Laura looked at Forest.
‘I think we’ll call it a day,’ the DI said, checking her watch. ‘Thank you for speaking to us, Laura, we know it must be very difficult for you. If you think of anything else that might be important, however small, please let us know. I’ll leave you my number so you can text.’
Laura nodded her thanks, then left the room with Bridget.
‘Paige, can we check your availability for the rest of the week?’ Forest asked. ‘We need to interview Jaxon, though not for a few days.’
‘I don’t usually book jobs in for Sundays, so I’m free all day tomorrow.’ I pulled out my diary and she noted down the times when I would be available for the rest of the week. I had very few appointments booked in, and felt my face grow warm with embarrassment. Going freelance hadn’t been as easy as I’d expected.
‘Good. It’s likely that we’ll need you.’
‘If sessions are going to be more than an hour, you really should book a second interpreter. Either that, or plan in rest breaks.’ I wanted the job, but I also didn’t want to be overworking myself, or letting them work me into the ground.
‘That’s fine, we can arrange that.’
I didn’t know which option DI Forest meant, but by that point I didn’t care. If I did well, there was a good chance I’d get regular police jobs in future. The hours wouldn’t be sociable, but my work had been far from regular since I went freelance. I had to get the work wherever I could. There was still a voice in the back of my mind telling me I couldn’t go it alone, that I should go back to the agencies, but I did my best to ignore it. I knew who’d put that voice there, and it was about time I got rid of it in the same way I’d got rid of him.
Nodding a quick goodbye to Forest and the family liaison officer, whose name I never learned, I headed back to my car and home again for the second time that day.
16 hours before the murder
I don’t see why he should continue to have them every other weekend, Bridget said as Laura packed the children’s bags.
It’s what we agreed, Laura replied.
But if you’re going to tell the court that you’re worried about his care of the children, how will it look if you’re still letting him look after them on a regular basis?
Laura put down the socks she was balling up and glared at her mother. If I don’t let him see the kids, he’ll use that against me in court. And anyway, you’re the one who’s worried about his parenting, not me.
Bridget pursed her lips and didn’t respond. When she realised Laura wasn’t going to pay any attention to her, she went downstairs. Laura sat down on the bed and sighed, double checking the clothes she’d packed for Jaxon and Lexi. She’d told Alan he should keep some clothes for them at his house, but he said it was easiest if she packed them everything they needed and he sent it back on Monday. Of course, God forbid he or Elisha should have to deal with a little extra washing, or spend any money on his children. She bit her lip as tears welled up in her eyes.
The baby monitor on the side vibrated and flashed, so she went through to Lexi’s room to see the little girl wide awake and smiling. Laura picked her daughter up and held her close, kissing her curly head until she began to wriggle, then took her downstairs.
In the living room, Laura got some toys out and put Lexi on the floor. Bridget stood in the doorway with her arms folded for a moment, before signing, It’ll be time for her lunch soon.
Laura took a deep breath and forced a smile onto her face. I know, Mum.
Just don’t let her get too involved with playing, that’s all. She’ll get upset if you take her away from her toys before she’s ready.
If she’s hungry she’ll be fine.
I’ve told you before, you can’t let her dictate when she’s going to eat all the time, Bridget said, coming into the room and moving a glass that Laura had left on the coffee table. You need to get her into a routine.
Laura didn’t reply. She knew there was no point arguing with her mum. Bridget had raised three kids herself, so had plenty of experience, she knew this, but she also wished her mum would let her get on with parenting in her own way. Her brothers lived far enough away that they only saw each other every few months, and she often envied them their freedom. Not for the first time, Laura told herself it was time to move out. She could go on the waiting list for a council house, but while she was living with her mum there was no chance she’d get anything, and she couldn’t face the idea of making herself homeless with two kids. Unless she got a job, she wouldn’t be able to afford to rent privately, even in the poorest areas of Scunthorpe. Finding a job that was accessible as a BSL user wasn’t easy, and last time she’d worked none of her colleagues could communicate with her, which had made her achingly lonely.
She watched Bridget playing with Lexi for a moment, talking to her but not signing. Laura had given up using hearing aids when she was sixteen and started sixth form at the school for the deaf, and had never expected her children to wear them: another parenting decision Bridget constantly picked at. Both Jaxon and Lexi were profoundly deaf, and BSL was her chosen mode of communication with them. She’d stood her ground on this one, though she hadn’t succeeded in getting Jaxon into a school for the deaf yet. That was her next battle to fight with her mother, but she didn’t have the energy for too many arguments at once.
Once she’d got Lexi into her high chair and was feeding her, Bridget started again. Laura knew her mum liked to wait until she couldn’t get away.
We need to start taking this seriously, Laura. What if Alan contests what you’re saying in court? What if he turns it around and tries to get custody himself? There was fear in Bridget’s eyes as she signed this.
He wouldn’t do that, he can’t look after them the whole time.
Of course he can’t, but you can’t trust him, Laura! He’s a dangerous man, you know that. It’s not safe to let him have the children!
Laura stared at her mum. Calm down, he’s not going to do anything that puts them at risk.
How do you know that? Everyone said that about your aunt and uncle, but look what happened!
Laura carried on feeding Lexi and let Bridget rant. She’d been bringing up her aunt and uncle and their failure as parents more often recently. It was her fault, for telling Bridget about that conversation she’d had with Anna. She wondered how much her mum had been dwelling on it.
The two situations were completely different though; her aunt and uncle were both alcoholics who neglected their child. Alan had his issues, she knew that, but he wasn’t a danger to their kids. Part of her still cared for him, and she knew if he wanted her back she’d go. Oh, she’d hesitate for a while, telling him things had to change and he couldn’t just expect her to come running, but in the end she’d give in.
You’re not paying attention to anything I say, are you? Bridget stood up and looked down on Laura where she sat at the table. I’m going to call your solicitor, we need to move things forward.
No! Laura stood up and grabbed Bridget’s hand as she reached for the phone. Lexi looked up at them both from the high chair, a piece of apple clutched in her little fist.
Why not? What aren’t you telling me?
I don’t want to talk about this now, Mum, Laura replied, looking at Lexi.
Bridget glared at her. Laura.
Fine. I’m going to hire an interpreter for my solicitor’s appointments. I want to go on my own next time.
Why? Bridget frowned. You want to shut me out, after everything I’ve done for you?
Laura sighed. You know that’s not true. But I’m an adult, I need to do this for myself. You and the solicitor talk to each other and you don’t explain everything to me. I should be the one making the decisions, but you’re doing it without consulting me.
I have never done such a thing! I’ve always taken your wishes into account …
That’s the point, Laura interrupted. Taking my wishes into account isn’t good enough, you’re not letting me be independent and do this for myself! I don’t even know if I want full custody any more. Alan’s not a bad father. I might put a stop to the whole thing.
Bridget stared at her for a moment, her lips pursed, then she took a step back and held up her hands. Fine. Fine. Do it all yourself, if you don’t want my help I won’t bother. I just hope you don’t end up regretting it.
She flounced out of the kitchen before Laura had a chance to respond.
Chapter 5
Sunday 4th February
The next day, I was back in the same interview room to finish taking Alan’s statement. I was starting to find the drab walls oppressive and wondered if they were deliberately designed to make the occupants uncomfortable.
Being back in the police station unearthed some memories I’d kept buried for many years. I had rarely had any involvement with the police before Lexi’s death. The first time I’d been inside a police station was after the death of a girl I knew. Caitlin was only eight when she died on an outing with a large group from the Deaf club. At the time I’d been one of the only hearing people present, so I found myself acting as an interpreter until they could find someone qualified. After the initial details were clarified, the case took weeks to get going because of the struggle to get interpreters. That experience was the reason I ended up going freelance. Sometimes social workers and the police needed two or three weeks’ notice to book a BSL interpreter, and crises can’t wait that long. Going freelance meant I could be on call for those services, and my intention was to try and ensure nobody had to wait that long to have their voice heard. If I’d told Forest my connection to this family and she’d sent me away, they’d probably still be waiting to take those first statements – I told myself this was why I’d kept it from the detectives, nothing to do with my own burning desire to know what had happened.
I had never intended for interpreting to be my career; I fell into it as a way to earn money after Dad died, to make sure Anna could go to uni, but I always intended to finish my own textile design degree. That never happened, and when I made the decision to break away from an agency and go it alone, I accepted that it never would. I regularly found myself frustrated by the lack of support I could offer my clients. I acted as a mouthpiece for them, but I hadn’t yet succeeded in creating greater deaf awareness amongst the services they used.
Pulling myself back to the present, I focused on the interview ahead. Alan Hunter was there to finish giving his statement, and I’d been provisionally booked by the police for the following three days. I knew I had to remain professional, but I was exhausted after broken sleep plus another three emotionally draining calls from my sister.
Whenever I had seen Alan before, he’d tended to swagger and make his presence known. The change in him was startling: he was hunched over the table in the interview room as if he were trying to curl up into a ball. His eyes were red, his hair was a mess and his skin looked yellow with fatigue. Part of me felt sympathy for him, then it struck me that he was most likely a suspect. Forest and Singh both looked very serious, and something about the atmosphere felt different from when they took the first half of his statement yesterday morning. Wondering what they might have discovered since then, a jolt of revulsion coursed through me.
‘Mr Hunter, we want to talk to you about the night of Friday the second of February, the night your daughter, Lexi, was killed.’ Forest’s face was impassive as she began. ‘Can you tell me what happened that night?’
Alan watched me with dead eyes as I translated the question, then screwed his face up and looked down at his hands. He shrugged.
‘We need you to tell us what happened that night,’ Forest repeated.
Alan didn’t look up, so I waved to attract his attention, and he finally looked at me.
I don’t know what happened, he eventually responded. Someone came into my house and hurt Lexi. I don’t know why.
‘Start at the beginning. Elisha told us you went out to the pub, is that correct?’
He nodded. I went back out after I picked up the kids at the Deaf club. I was there with some friends. We had a few drinks, talked about football. That’s all.
‘Did you see anything strange during the evening on Friday? Anyone hanging around your house who shouldn’t have been there?’
I thought Alan was about to sign something in response, but he shook his head.
‘Have you had any concerns about people around your house on any other night, anyone watching your children or behaving strangely?’
Again, he seemed to think for a moment before shaking his head.
‘Is there any reason for you to believe someone else had been in your house on Friday night?’ Singh asked, his smooth, deep voice a complete contrast to Forest’s clipped tones. They were back to that good cop, bad cop thing again; I’d thought it only happened in films. Singh still looked pretty severe though, and it was the body language and facial expression that would give Alan the impression he needed.
No, Alan replied with a frown. What do you mean?
‘You said someone must have come into your house and killed Lexi. Did you see anyone in your house? Was there anything that made you think someone had been there?’
Like what? He looked wary as he processed Singh’s question.
‘Had anything been moved? Had a window been broken, or a lock forced?’ Forest asked, her eyes boring into him. I knew the police would have found any evidence of a break in. Were they asking Alan about it to try to catch him in a lie? I caught my breath at the thought.
I don’t think so, he replied, slowly shaking his head. But it must have been a stranger.
‘Why do you say that?’ Forest asked, her voice razor-sharp.
Alan stared at her for a moment. It wasn’t me. It wasn’t Elisha.
‘So if it wasn’t you, or Elisha, and there was no sign of a break in, how did this mysterious person get into your house?’
There was a long pause after I interpreted this question, as the meaning behind it sank in. Alan started to shake his head, slowly at first but quickly gathering speed, then he put his face into his hands and began to sob. I raised my eyebrows at Forest.
The detectives gave Alan a minute or two to compose himself before they continued.
‘What upset you so much?’ Singh asked once Alan had blown his nose and was looking at them again.
Hunter fidgeted for a moment before responding. I was thinking about Lexi. I was thinking about how someone came into my house and killed my little girl, and I didn’t even wake up. Someone took her life away. I’m never going to hold her or play with her again. Any father would be upset. Lexi was my little girl, and I blame myself for what happened.
Singh’s face displayed a sympathetic smile. ‘Of course, we understand this is very distressing for you. Still, we need you to answer our questions.’
Okay.
‘Is there anyone you suspect might have hurt Lexi?’
No. I don’t know anyone who would do this.
‘Have you recently had any arguments or disagreements with anyone? Someone who might want to take revenge?’
Alan’s jaw tensed, but he shook his head.
‘Elisha was upstairs at the time Lexi was killed.’ Forest sat back in her chair and folded her arms, this statement more powerful than any question she had asked.
There was a long pause before Alan responded. I don’t know what you’re trying to say. Elisha would never hurt Lexi. She’s so upset, she can’t eat or sleep. She blames herself, too. She blames herself for not waking up when there was someone in our house. Elisha loved Lexi, she would never do anything to hurt her. As he signed this, he became more agitated, his face reddening.
Forest watched him for a moment, but he didn’t sign anything else, lapsing into a stubborn silence to match hers. After an uncomfortable length of time, she nodded and moved on to the next question.
‘When Elisha came down to tell you what had happened to Lexi, did you go upstairs to see for yourself?’
Alan nodded. I didn’t believe her at first. I thought maybe she was wrong, Lexi was just sleeping. He hung his head.
‘And when you knew your daughter had been killed, did you have any immediate thought about what might have happened, or who might have done it?’
There was a long pause. Hunter looked shifty, his right knee bouncing up and down as he looked anywhere but at me or the two detectives.
Should I have a lawyer here with me?
‘You’re not under arrest, Mr Hunter. We just need to make sure you’ve given us your full statement about Friday night.’
Does that mean I can go? I’ve finished telling you what I know.
Forest screwed up her mouth into a grimace, but nodded. ‘You can leave whenever you want. If you think of anything else, anything at all about that night, please let us know.’
Alan asked again for clarification that he could leave, then got up and walked out before anyone could say another word.
Before I left the station, DI Forest confirmed that they wanted me to be on call for the rest of the week, in case they needed to conduct more interviews. Tomorrow, they were going to have to interview Jaxon, and I didn’t relish that task. How could I ask a little boy if he’d seen who killed his sister?
I had the rest of the day free, and once Forest signed my time sheet I headed home. Just under half an hour later, I pulled up outside my flat. I was hoping I could manage to have the rest of the day to myself, but as soon as I got out of the car I realised that wasn’t going to happen. Anna was sitting on the doorstep. She got up as soon as she saw me walking up the path, and I noticed the large bag next to her.
Why didn’t you tell me you were interpreting for the police?
I didn’t know what I could say. You know I have to keep my work confidential.
Anna frowned but didn’t reply. I raised my eyebrows, looking pointedly at the bag. She shrugged, answering the question I didn’t even need to ask.
I’m moving in.
Chapter 6
It didn’t take Anna long to get settled in my spare room; my flat was essentially her second home. The scant amount I’d inherited from our parents had just about covered the deposit for it. When my last disastrous relationship had imploded, leaving me with virtually nothing, I thanked any god that was listening that I’d managed to keep the flat in my name.
After Mum’s cancer left us parentless, I could have moved away, or gone back to university, but something held me back. I told myself I wanted to keep family roots in North Lincolnshire, in case Anna ever wanted to move back from London, but I think I was scared. While I’d always had more than my fair share of responsibility in our family, I’d found myself supporting Mum and Anna financially when Dad died. I signed up as an unqualified interpreter to make sure we had some money coming in, then did my qualifications at weekends. Without our parents, I didn’t want to feel like Anna and I would become rootless, and I felt a huge weight of responsibility towards her. She carried on her studies in London, and I made sure she had a home to come back to each holiday. It was never the same as it had been before Dad died, but I worked hard to keep us from crumbling.
Can we go for a walk? she asked me once she’d unpacked her bag. I need some fresh air.
I agreed, and the two of us bundled ourselves up in coats and scarves and went out into the chilly afternoon air. North Lincolnshire is a mostly rural county, and I’d chosen to buy a flat in one of the villages outside Scunthorpe. It was only a ten-minute drive from the industrial town, but the difference in the landscape was striking. Here, it would only take us a couple of minutes of walking before we found ourselves in open fields, stretching away as far as the eye could see.
The cloudless sky was a crisp, pale blue and our breath fogged in front of us as we walked through quiet residential streets towards the church, until we turned down a lane. The houses soon petered out, leaving a farm to our left and open fields to our right. We hadn’t gone far, but we’d soon left most of the sights and sounds of the village behind us. In a few hours, the stargazing conditions would be perfect, with clear skies and very little light pollution. As it was, the two of us walked without chatting for another five minutes, until we reached the community sports field.
You knew before I called you yesterday, didn’t you? Anna asked when we finally stopped.
I nodded and leaned back against the gate. I gave my details to the police when I went freelance. They called me out to the house first thing yesterday morning.
