‘Let’s come back to this man. Did you have sex with him?’
‘No. He gave me the drink and then nothing.’
‘Did you believe him to be the murderer?’
‘I didn’t think about it. He probably was, but I don’t know. I was frightened.’
‘Daisy, what did she say?’
‘She said she was surprised. He had always been fine with her. A few days later, she’s murdered in our flat.’
‘It’s probably the same man. Why did he leave you alone? You could identify him, the same as Daisy.’
‘I couldn’t. I told you, I don’t study the men. With them, I’m an empty vessel. Mentally, I’m detached. If you ask me about the men from last night, I couldn’t give you detailed descriptions.’
‘Do you dislike your life?’ Wendy asked.
‘It’s not my choice. I’m addicted, that’s all. The men feed the habit, I forget.’
Chapter 20
Isaac sat with Violet Holden; she was subdued. Linda Holden sat close by.
‘Mrs Holden, I’m sorry about your recent losses, but there are questions I must ask,’ Isaac said.
‘Please ask.’
‘Mother’s on sedatives,’ Linda said.
‘I’ll take it easy. Please say if you have anything to add.’
‘I will. The last few weeks have been difficult.’
‘Mrs Holden, Linda, I want to update you on our enquiry. There are some concerns that you may be able to clarify.’
‘We’ll do what we can,’ Linda said.
‘We know of Helen’s background, although it’s still difficult to understand what was in her mind. All indications are that she and James Holden were killed because of her. She had probably known of the death of Ben Aberman, a former lover, and where he was buried. For whatever reason, she kept it secret. There’s also her marriage to Gerald Adamant. Every person we’ve spoken to saw it as a love match.’
‘You’re not sure now,’ Violet Holden said.
‘It was everyone’s faith in Helen that ultimately led to her reduced sentence after she killed Adamant with a hammer.’
‘If people had not believed in her?’
‘Without the character witnesses, she may have been found guilty of first-degree murder. That’s conjecture on my part. Is it possible that Mr Holden was the intended target? He must have upset a few people over the years.’
‘He was introducing a bill into parliament that would have given sweeping powers to block websites that showed dubious content.’
‘Those safeguards are in place now,’ Isaac said.
‘They’re subject to intervention, debate. He wanted to set up a team of people whose decisions would be final. They could switch off a site on picking up an offensive word, a suggestive image.’
‘Can’t they do that now?’
‘They can, but the technology’s improving. He knew he would have the civil libertarians against him, as well as those who uphold the freedom to see and do what we want.’
‘Once you start, where do you end?’
‘My father saw that throttling all of it was a better alternative than what we have now,’ Linda said.
‘Have there been any threats?’
‘There are always threats, but my father ignored them.’
‘If he had died as a martyr, then his reforms would have been implemented.’
‘As a sinner, they will not.’
‘Was Helen complicit?’
‘How? She was killed in the bed next to my father.’
‘Helen loved James,’ Violet said.
‘How do you know?’ Isaac said.
‘I was married to James for a long time. He was infatuated with her, no doubt thought it was love. With her, it was. Whatever she may have done or been, with James, she was honest.’
***
Barry Knox knew he was implicated, if not by actual deed, then by association. He had known of the death of Ben Aberman on the night he was led away by Ugly Pete and his associates, ultimately forcing Gus, his former doorman, to become an accessory to murder. Knox knew that Gus was not a murderer, never had been. He had been guilty of unjustifiable violence, but that was how the man operated. And strip clubs needed someone strong enough to deal with a group of men out on the town, determined to get drunk, and then believing that the girls on the stage were offering more than was available.
Knox knew the police were not fools, and, if it were not for the murders, the club’s activities would be investigated further. Then they would find the videos of the customers with the girls, the profits from selling them on the internet, the fact that most of the girls were selling themselves, and he was their pimp. He made a phone call to someone who understood.
‘I can’t protect you for much longer,’ Knox said. ‘If Helen hadn’t been killed, no one would have ever known about Aberman, and nobody would have visited this club.’
‘Why are you calling me now? That was never agreed to.’
‘Am I the only one living who knows the truth?’
‘You’ll not speak.’
‘Why?’
‘You only live as long as you are of use.’
‘And what use am I?’
‘I may have need of you in the future.’
‘That was the last time, I told you that before.’
‘If I go down, you go down, and I know of your history, what you are capable of. You were put in that club to ensure the truth was never revealed. You have served your purpose well, but you are not indispensable.’
‘What about Gus? He did what was expected, but he’s in jail.’
‘He was never important. Knox, don’t call me again. If I need you, you’ll be contacted.’
Knox walked around the club, surveyed his domain. He had enjoyed it once, but now he despised it, and all on account of one man. He knew his life was forfeit if he stayed, but how could he leave?
