Paula gave a sardonic chuckle. ‘I did until I interviewed him properly. Now? I’m not so sure.’
‘He’s an easy scapegoat. These days, Catholic priests have got a target painted on their backs, and for good reason. If I was looking for somebody to frame for a crime like this and I had a priest handy, that’d be my first port of call. Do you think the groundsman is smart enough to have worked that out?’
‘I’m not sure. He’s hard to read. He’s scared of something, but we both know that might just be the product of being arrested and locked up. And he’s admitted to digging the graves. He knows that means he’s more than likely going to jail. Which is also a scary prospect.’
‘Tell me about it. He could just have kept his mouth shut. But he chose to go for the priest. He’s trying to divert attention from someone he’s worried about betraying. Is it because he’s scared of that person? Or is it because he can’t bring himself to betray someone he owes a debt to?’
‘You’re thinking about the cousin,’ Paula said. ‘Mark Conway. Sophie was adamant that it couldn’t be him. She had a senior job in one of his retail companies before she joined the police, she had direct dealings with him. She says he was all about getting people to be the best they could be with a carrot, not a stick. Doesn’t sound like a serial killer of homeless lads to me.’
‘Is he married? Does he have kids?’
‘I don’t know. Why are you asking?’ There had to be a reason. Tony never went in for idle questions.
‘I’m curious. To build an empire like he has, a person has to have real drive. And the one thing they always want once they’ve succeeded is legacy. They want to pass on the torch, to know the empire will continue to thrive. To grow, even. I just wonder where Mark Conway is looking for his legacy. You need to find out more about his background.’
‘Don’t worry, we will be. But what should we be looking for?’
‘No obvious heirs. No sons, sisters’ sons. I’d be interested in his own jumping-off point too. What was his childhood like? How did he get started in business? Does it map on to the victims in any way?’
Paula stared at Tony. Not for the first time, his lateral approach caught her on the hop. ‘But why would he kill kids with the same sort of background he had? Surely he’d be looking to find a way to help them reach their potential? That’s what Sophie says he’s like.’
‘What if you made your selection and they weren’t up to the mark? What if they weren’t a mini-me? Worse, what if they were complete no-hopers? How would you feel then? What a judgement that would be on your acumen.’
The words hung in the air between them. It was an angle, Paula thought. More than that, it was a motive. Over the years, Tony had persuaded her to the belief that nobody does anything without a reason. They might not be able clearly to articulate that reason. Or it might be a reason that made sense to them and no other living soul. She might think a failure of judgement an insufficient reason for murder. But Mark Conway might not. She sighed.
‘Something to think about, at least,’ Tony said. ‘But since I have no access to the files, maybe not something to grace with a lot of weight.’
‘You’re always worth listening to. And not just professionally. We miss you, mate. But I’m really glad to hear you’re doing positive things now. You and Carol – you’re both healing, aren’t you? In your different ways?’
He dipped his head. ‘I hope so, Paula. I needed to make changes. The work was eating into me.’ He gave a little laugh. ‘I wish I’d found a slightly less disruptive way of going about it.’
She shook her head. ‘You know that was never going to happen. Doing things by half measures isn’t your style.’
‘No. I sometimes wonder if that’s the one useful thing I inherited from Vanessa.’
‘There has to be something, I suppose.’ She checked the wall clock behind Tony’s head. ‘I’m going to have to run. I told a little white lie to get out of the office and it’s got a limited shelf life.’
‘OK. I’ll see you in a week or two?’
‘Yes, send me a VO. And maybe at some point, you could send one for Torin? I know he’d like to see you.’
Sadness filled his eyes. ‘Do you think that’s a good idea? I’m not much of a role model in here.’
‘You’re the best man in his life, Tony. By a long way. Let him back in.’
43
It’s a rare criminal who doesn’t resort in the first instance to denial. But the form and shape of that denial can be very telling.
From Reading Crimes by DR TONY HILL
Paula managed to slip back into the squad room without encountering Rutherford. Not glancing up from his screen, Karim said, ‘He’s been off for the last hour having a meeting with DCI Fielding. You’re in the clear.’
‘OK. Got anything interesting on Mark Conway?’
‘Are you OK, guv?’ Karim’s eyes were worried. ‘Like, with you being at the hospital.’
‘No secrets in a nick,’ Paula said ruefully. ‘Just some tests, Karim. It’s something and nothing. Women’s stuff.’
He didn’t look reassured. ‘Yeah, but I got a mum and sisters and aunties. I know “women’s stuff” covers all the ground between something and nothing.’
‘Don’t fret,
