The door. It would be her.
She was prettier than she’d looked on television and in the papers. Smaller though. Her dark hair was tied back but wisps of it escaped and played with her face. I tried not to look too long or too obviously.
She introduced herself and shook my hand. Soft but firm. Textbook for a female cop probably. She made a show of looking around the room as if taking an interest in the decor. Looking for signs of something else no doubt. No signs to be seen, DS Narey. Made sure of that a long time ago.
There was a guy with her. DC Dawson. Balding, narrow eyes and wide shoulders. She did all the talking.
Small talk to start with. Weather, traffic, the house. Disappointing, I’d expected better. When I didn’t bite, when I just sat and looked back at her, she soon gave up. I knew why she was there and she knew I did.
Cut to the chase, Rachel. Mention his name.
‘Wallace Ogilvie.’
There. That wasn’t too difficult, was it?
‘Wallace Ogilvie. I take it you have heard that he has been murdered?’
‘I’d heard. I read the papers.’
‘You will know why we are here to speak to you then.’
‘Is that a question?’
‘If you want. We have to explore every avenue connected with his murder. You are one of these avenues.’
‘Am I? I don’t see how.’
‘We have to wonder about people who might have a grudge against Mr Ogilvie.’
‘Someone obviously did.’
‘That’s what we have to establish. When did you last see Mr Ogilvie?’
‘Six years ago. At the trial.’
‘And you haven’t seen him since?’
‘You asked me when I last saw him. I told you when.’
‘OK. How did you feel when you heard he’d been killed?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Nothing?’
‘I felt nothing. It’s been six years. I don’t care anything about him.’
‘That’s hard to believe. Given what he did. I know I’d be pretty angry if it was me.’
‘Yes, you probably would.’
‘And you aren’t?’
‘I’m not. Not any more.’
‘After what he did?’
‘I said.’
‘So you did. It was a terrible thing.’
‘I’m very aware of that.’
‘Of course you are. Where were you on the twelfth of this month?’
‘Am I being accused of something?’
‘No. But we have to establish some facts. Establish the whereabouts of everyone involved at the time concerned.’
‘I’m not involved.’
‘I have to ask.’
‘So ask.’
‘Where were you on the twelfth of this month?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘You must have some idea.’
‘What time?’
‘The hours around midnight.’
‘Working or asleep.’
‘You weren’t working, we’ve already taken the liberty of checking with your boss.’
‘Sleeping then.’
‘How can you be sure?’
‘I can’t. But I sleep at night so that would be my best guess.’
‘Can anyone verify that?’
‘My wife. But then she would have been sleeping too. You can check with her.’
‘We will.’
‘Thought you might. She’s out.’
‘We will come back. If you read about Mr Ogilvie then you’ll have read about the other killings.’
‘Is that a question too?’
‘Yes.’
‘Yes.’
‘And do you know where you were on the nights when they took place?’
‘I have no idea. I don’t even know when they were. But I am guessing you have already checked my shift rota.’
‘We have. You were working on one of them and off on the other two.’
‘There you go.’
‘What do you think of those killings?’
‘What do I think of a serial killer roaming the streets and murdering folk at random? That’s a strange question.’
‘I’d still like you to answer it.’
‘It’s sick. Scary. Depraved. I feel sorry for their families.’
‘All four families?’
‘Yes.’
‘Including Mr Ogilvie’s?’
‘I said all four.’
‘After what he did?’
‘You asked me that already. I said I felt sorry for his family. I didn’t say I felt sorry for him.’
‘Do you?’
‘Feel sorry for him? No.’
‘You don’t feel sorry for him but you don’t feel angry? And yes, that’s a question.’
‘One I’ve already answered.’
‘Indulge me.’
‘I am doing. I don’t feel sorry for him. I don’t feel anger towards him.’
‘He killed your daughter.’
‘I don’t need you to remind me of that. I remember.’
‘I didn’t mean to be insensitive. But you take my point.’
‘Do I?’
‘A man gets drunk and gets in his car and knocks down an eleven-year-old girl and kills her. I think her father is entitled to be angry.’
‘Are you always so aggressive towards the families of drink-drive fatalities?’
‘I am sure I would be angry.’
‘You said that.’
‘I’d maybe be angry enough to kill the person responsible.’
‘You have a lot of anger. You should see someone about that.’
‘Did you want Ogilvie dead?’
‘Yes.’
‘Did you kill him?’
‘No.’
‘Did you have someone kill him?’
‘No.’
‘Do you know who killed him?’
‘No. Detective Sergeant Narey, I think you just accused me of being a serial killer. Of murdering four people.’
‘Did you?’
‘No.’
‘Then I’m sorry for the insinuation. As I said, we have to explore every avenue. We have to speak to those connected to every victim whether they are connected to the others or not.’
‘I do understand that.’
‘Did you know any of the other victims?’
‘No.’
‘Had you ever heard of any of them?’
‘No.’
‘We are trying to establish a pattern. Trying to see if there is any link, however small, between the victims.’
‘If there is I’m unaware of it. Ogilvie was the only one I had heard of or met. The papers said they were random killings.’
‘They appear that way. They most probably are but we…’
‘Need to explore every avenue.’
‘Yes.’
‘I don’t think I am one of those avenues, DS Narey. I can’t help you.’
‘Would you help me if you could?’
‘Of course I fucking would. I once wanted Ogilvie dead but that doesn’t mean I’d do something to protect the maniac that killed him or the others.’
‘I’m sorry for the insinuation.’
‘So am I.’
‘We would be grateful if you would agree to provide a sample of DNA. It’s a matter of procedure.’
‘Is it?’
‘We are asking a number of people. It is so we can rule you out of the investigation. It is quite voluntary.’
‘It would need to be, wouldn’t it?’
There were some obligatory pleasantries then she left, saying she’d be back when my wife was in, leaving a number and an assurance she’d be in touch if she learned anything. I wasn’t sure if it was a promise or a warning.
I watched her back as she and the DC walked down the path to their car which was being guarded by two kids and the black Lab cross that had been hanging around again the last few days. Dawson, the DC, got into the driver’s seat and Narey went round to the other side. Before she got in, she looked back, saw me standing at the window and smiled.