“Back to work,” said Laurie, as she signaled for Remi to join her in the interview room.
Words were all but useless in these situations. Laurie bowed her head slightly as she greeted the grieving family. Sandra and Glen sat at the table, hands interlocked. Laurie understood that whatever their differences at that moment, the grief at the death of their daughter would bond them for the time being. Laurie shot a look at the young detective, Gemma Clayton, communicating her displeasure at Tilly being present. Gemma shrugged, as if it was beyond her control.
Laurie and Remi sat across from the temporary family, as if they were about to begin an interrogation. “I am so sorry for your loss,” Laurie began, a vision of Milly’s lifeless body flashing before her eyes and disappearing in an instant. “And I know this is the last place you want to be, and talking to us is the last thing you want to be doing. We’ll try to make this as quick as possible. Our role now is to find whoever is responsible, and I promise you my team and I will do everything in our power to do that for you.”
Sandra Harrington made eye contact with her for the first time since arriving, and offered her the briefest of smiles. Laurie knew very well that the emotional and physical impact of grief couldn’t be underestimated. She had to tread carefully, as the next few moments could easily turn either or both of the parents against her.
“To make things easier for you,” she said, “we’re going to interview each of you individually.” Noting the confused looks on all three of their faces, she added, “It’s just procedure.”
“Is that necessary?” said Glen.
“It will be much quicker this way,” said Laurie. “Sandra, if you stay here with Remi. Glen, if you’re OK with coming with me. And Tilly, I’ll find someone to speak to you. None of this should take very long, and we can get you all on your way. Whenever you finish, just wait for the others in the reception area.”
Laurie couldn’t be sure, but it looked to her as if Sandra was relieved to see her husband and Tilly escorted out of the room. “We’ll be back soon,” said Laurie, nodding to Remi then closing the door after them.
Laurie placed Glen in a separate interview room before quizzing Gemma. “How has the mood been at home?”
“All but silent. They put down a lot of alcohol last night, and I had to help Sandra up to bed.”
“And Tilly?”
“She’s been a great help, actually. Really supportive of them both,” said Gemma, before hesitating. “Any new developments I should know about?”
Laurie updated the officer on Glen’s extramarital activity. “You hear any discussion about that?”
“No, but I have to say I was a bit surprised to see them holding hands just now. If anything, they’ve been avoiding one another at home.”
“OK, keep your ears open for any mention. Awful question, but is there anything to suggest something going on between Glen and Tilly?”
Gemma winced. “I haven’t noticed anything, but I didn’t know about what he’s been getting up to. I’ll look out for any signs.”
“Don’t you find it a bit strange, Tilly spending all her time there?”
“From what she’s told me, she doesn’t have much of a home life. Single dad who sounds like he’s alcohol dependent.”
“That makes sense,” said Laurie, heading over to the interview room where Glen was waiting, deep into a call on his cell phone.
Laurie shut the door and signaled for Glen to end his call. He sighed, as if talking to her was an inconvenience he was being forced to endure.
“Thanks, Glen. Probably a stupid question, but how are you holding up?”
“As well as I can.” Everything about him, from his folded arms to his furrowed forehead, screamed defensive to Laurie.
“And Sandra?”
“Not that well. It would be helpful if we could get her out of here.”
“Of course, this shouldn’t take long,” said Laurie. “Again, this is just procedure, but I will be asking questions and need to inform you that you have the right to legal representation.”
That got his attention. He unfolded his arms and sat up straight. “What the hell is this?”
“As I said, it’s just standard procedure. Sandra and Tilly will be told the same. Would you like legal representation, Glen?”
The question had thrown him. As he slowly shook his head, his mouth open, Laurie didn’t waste any time. She started recording, confirming for the record that Glen had waived his right for a lawyer to be present. She began gently, asking him where he was on the night Grace had gone missing and the night before her body had been found, before changing her tone. “I understand you and Sandra having been going through some relationship troubles?”
A smirk twisted his lips. “Someone been talking?”
“Quite a few people, actually. Including Bonnie Webb and Natalie Morton.”
His face went ashen at the names of his former lovers. “What the hell?” he said, now much more alert to the situation.
“I believe Natalie was the last person you had an affair with. According to her, you put a stop to it early this year.”
Glen heaved a deep sigh, as if the line of questioning was pointless. “What can I say? I’m away from home most of the time. I get lonely. I won’t be the first married man to look elsewhere, and certainly won’t be the last.”
“How old was Natalie when you broke it off with her?”
“I don’t see the relevance—”
“How old?”
“Eighteen, nineteen,” said Glen, color returning to his cheeks.
“Eighteen years old, Glen. A few weeks before her nineteenth birthday.”
Glen raised his voice as he leaned in toward Laurie. “And your point is?”
“You like them young, Glen?”
Glen recoiled in disgust. “Nothing illegal. She was very mature for her age.”
“And Bonnie? Sandra knows about Bonnie, doesn’t she?”
Glen shook his head, his clenched teeth making it clear he wasn’t used to being spoken to this way. “This is none of your business.”
“Would your company see it that way? Both women—I say women, but they were little more than girls—were the same age as Grace.” Laurie wasn’t there to moralize. Glen was right in the fact he’d done nothing legally wrong, but he was nearly three times the age of the women in question and had been in a position of power over them. “Something you’re not telling us, Glen?”
Glen’s thought process was evident on his twitching face. “What are you saying? You think because I slept with some slutty college girls that I killed my daughter?”
At last, the man appeared to be revealing his true self. Laurie wondered what Grace would have thought of him, talking about the college girls that way. “No one mentioned you killing Grace. Is there something you want to tell us?”
“You should have told me you were going to ask these questions,” he said, getting to his feet.
“You’re free to leave, Glen, but we will need to continue this interview. Maybe you should appoint a lawyer.”
“Don’t you worry,” he said. “I’ll be retaining a full team of lawyers, and when they’re done with you, you’ll no longer have a job.”