Quinn looks sceptical. ‘While keeping her DNA intact on his hands? That’s not so easy.’
Ev shrugs. ‘Rubber gloves?’
But Quinn’s still not convinced. ‘So he rapes her, goes to a hell of a lot of trouble to make sure she won’t remember it, but then goes out of his way to draw attention to himself – and cause himself no end of shit – by reporting her for attempted assault? What’s all that about?’
‘I think you’re right,’ says Gislingham. ‘There’s something else going on here – something we’re not seeing.’
Somer looks up, a frown darkening her face. ‘Maybe we just haven’t been asking the right questions.’
‘OK,’ says Gis slowly, ‘well, now’s our chance. Marina Fisher’s in the room down the hall.’
* * *
Interview with Marina Fisher, conducted at Kidlington Witness Suite, Oxford
13 July 2018, 12.15 p.m.
In attendance, DS C. Gislingham, DC V. Everett, Ms N. Kennedy (solicitor)
CG: Interview commenced at 12.15, Friday 13th July. This is the third interview in connection with the sexual assault allegations made by Caleb Morgan. I should remind you that you are still under caution. For the purposes of the recording, Professor Fisher’s son, Tobin, has just been interviewed by a specialist Thames Valley officer. During this interview, Tobin was asked about the night of July 6th. He says he saw you in the kitchen, Professor Fisher. With Caleb Morgan.
MF: What do you mean he ‘saw’ us?
CG: The description is consistent with the two of you having sex.
MF: But I told you –
CG: That you couldn’t remember, I know. Well, there might be a reason for that. The way Tobin described it, Morgan may have given you some sort of date-rape drug. That would account for your lack of recall.
MF: [gasps and turns away]
CG: Tobin also said he thought Morgan was hurting you. Though that may just have been down to him not understanding what he was seeing –
MF: [begins to sob]
But I’d have known – the following morning, I’d have known –
NK: [quietly, to her client]
Not necessarily. Not if he used protection.
CG: So on that basis –
NK: [interrupting]
Can’t you just give her a moment, for heaven’s sake?
[silence]
VE: Professor Fisher, we do understand how hard this must be, but what Tobin said – it could change everything.
MF: [struggling for composure]
OK.
[pause]
OK.
NK: Are you sure? You don’t have to do this right now –
MF: No – I want to. I want to get this over with and take my son home.
NK: [turning to the officers]
OK, so what exactly did Tobin say?
VE: He said Professor Fisher looked ‘floppy’ and ‘sleepy’. That’s why we believe she could have been administered with some sort of date-rape drug, possibly in the champagne.
[to Fisher]
Do you remember if you were watching when Mr Morgan poured it?
MF: No, he had his back to me. I didn’t think anything of it at the time.
CG: I see. We’ve already checked the bottle and glasses, but there was no trace of such a substance in either. Nor was anything detected in your toxicology screen, which, as you no doubt realize, is going to make it almost impossible to prove.
NK: Why am I not surprised –
CG: Having heard what your son said, is there anything else you can recall about that night? Perhaps something that may not have seemed relevant before?
MF: No. I’m sorry. I’ve already told you everything I can remember.
VE: If Morgan hadn’t used such a substance before he might not have realized how long it would take to take effect, especially as you’d had a heavy meal. That could account for the scratches – he might have started to assault you before you were fully sedated, and you attempted to defend yourself. Are you sure you don’t remember anything like that?
MF: [hangs her head]
No.
CG: If you were given such a drug, it would of course throw a very different light on the subsequent accusation made against you. Do you know why Mr Morgan would have made such an allegation, that being the case?
NK: Isn’t it obvious? He wanted to cover up his own criminal behaviour by turning the tables on my client.
CG: That’s one explanation. But there may be others. Revenge, perhaps? Is there any motive at all that you can think of?
MF: [despairing]
No, absolutely nothing. I always thought we got on very well. I’ve gone out of my way to support him –
NK: Are you proposing to charge Morgan?
CG: Clearly we have yet to interview him about this –
NK: You were quick enough to arrest Marina. No wonder Tobin’s been having nightmares – he saw his mother being raped –
* * *
‘Blimey, he doesn’t do things by halves, does he? Must be nice having parents who can afford to call in a whole platoon.’
Gislingham and Quinn are back at St Aldate’s, watching as Caleb Morgan and his lawyers are shown into Interview One. Meredith Melia is in a mint-green trouser suit and Patrick Dunn in his trademark white open-necked shirt; he must buy them by the hundredweight. They’ve brought a bag-carrier too, an earnest-looking young woman in glasses, laden with two pilot cases and a stack of files.
‘They’re probably full of bricks, just to intimidate us,’ says Quinn, nodding towards the bags.
Gislingham gives a grim smile. ‘Well, it’s working.’ He draws himself up a little, then turns to Quinn. ‘Find Ev, would you? Let’s rustle up a little posse of our own.’
Quinn grins. ‘I’ll see if I can find you a nice big sheriff badge too.’
* * *
Unlike his lawyers, Caleb Morgan hasn’t bothered dressing for the occasion. In fact, Ev wouldn’t be at all surprised if they’d told him exactly what to wear: the slightly grubby T-shirt and cargo shorts might as well be a big flashing sign saying, ‘Our client is completely relaxed about this whole process.’
By the time everyone has a seat and a glass of water, the room is already fugging up, and Ev’s starting to envy that T-shirt. She can feel the sweat prickling under her arms.
Gislingham looks round the table and it’s not until the
