Jack sat on the cot bed, trying to figure out their intentions. He lay back, closed his eyes, and began thinking through what Morrison had discovered. He knew he had got away by the skin of his teeth when they had tried to nail him for withholding evidence after his visit to the ICU. But he had to at least consider the possibility that Collingwood had grassed him up about the anonymous phone call. For the first time, he asked himself why he had kept his suspicions — and, ultimately, critical evidence — to himself. He had to face the truth. Maggie had been right: it was because he had been protecting Adam Border, instead of protecting his career and his family.
Chapter 35
Kurt Neilson had been under constant surveillance since being placed on suicide watch. Despite taking his medication, strict precautions were still in place. His requests for a visit from his mother were denied, and he was only allowed to speak with his lawyer via telephone in a protected booth, closely monitored by officers and medical staff. He barely spoke at first but soon became animated as, unprompted, he started describing his elaborate plans to murder his lover.
Although she had not visited Neilson in prison, Ester Langton had organised his legal team, who had initially reported that they were confident Neilson could claim diminished responsibility at trial, arguing that he had been mentally unbalanced at the time of the murder. The only problem with this strategy was Neilson’s insistence on his guilt and tendency to describe the more horrific details of the murder with evident relish.
The following morning at six o’clock, Morrison, Collingwood, and two officers rang the doorbell and banged loudly on Jack’s front door. Penny, wearing her dressing gown, opened the door looking terrified. They showed her the search warrant, but she seemed confused and distressed as they prepared to search the property. Tearfully, Penny went up to the bedroom and told Maggie that there were officers downstairs and that they had a warrant to search the house.
‘Go and get Hannah dressed and Charlie ready for his feed. I’ll get the pram out for you to walk them to school,’ Maggie told her.
‘But it’s only six o’clock!’ Penny wailed.
‘Yes, I know, but after you’ve got their breakfast, you need to go... go to the play area in the park. I don’t want Hannah upset or frightened. Go and tell them they can do whatever they need to and that I’m taking a shower.’
Penny did what she was told, hurrying to the nursery when she saw the officers entering the kitchen. By now, Hannah was shouting, and Charlie was screaming.
Wearing a dressing gown and with her wet hair wrapped in a towel, Maggie headed down the stairs. Collingwood stood at the bottom, looking apologetic.
‘Does your husband have a home office?’ he asked. Pulling her dressing gown even tighter around her, Maggie pointed to the office.
Maggie opened the hall closet and pulled out Charlie’s pram, tucking the pillowed lining and blanket in ready for him to be put inside. She then went into the kitchen, where they were searching through the drawers and even the cutlery box. Morrison introduced himself, looking ill at ease.
‘Will my mother-in-law be allowed to make the children breakfast? She always walks them to school. I’m shocked you’re doing this to be frank. Has something happened to Jack? I thought he was helping you with your enquiries.’
‘He’s at the station and I’m sure he’ll call you soon to explain in more detail,’ Morrison said, eager to get away from her. She followed him up the stairs as Collingwood entered Jack’s office.
‘Are you allowed to do this? Jack’s a police officer and that is his private home office.’
Morrison ignored her. But Collingwood showed her a copy of their search warrant. ‘We’re allowed to search the entire house,’ he told her, without being able to meet her eye. He turned away and started with the drawers of Jack’s desk.
Penny had been allowed to make breakfast, then she put Charlie into his pram and left the house with Hannah. As the search continued, Maggie dressed then brewed some coffee in the kitchen. She rang the hospital and told them she wouldn’t be in that morning due to a family matter but hoped to be in later that afternoon.
Heading up the stairs, she could see Jack’s office door was partly open. Morrison and Collingwood were searching his desk, all the drawers open. Morrison turned to her. ‘Does Jack have a laptop?’
She hesitated. ‘He used to have one; it may be at the station.’ She continued on to her bedroom, and Collingwood followed her sheepishly. As he walked in, she turned, holding the plastic nappy container.
‘I was just taking this out to the bins.’ Maggie went closer, then opened the lid of the container. ‘If you want to search it, go ahead.’ He shifted his weight as she withdrew the lid and held it out. He peered inside, trying not to gag, then shook his head. Looking over to the bed, he saw Maggie’s laptop.
‘I can’t allow you to take that. It is my personal laptop containing information from some of my patients. It does not belong to Jack, and I am sure your search warrant only allows you to remove my husband’s belongings.’
‘I’m sorry, but we need to take it, and the computer from his office.’
Maggie sighed heavily, heading to the door as Collingwood began to search through Jack’s clothes in the wardrobe, checking pockets and taking out the evening suit jacket. She walked out, and passing the office door, she saw Morrison sifting through the stack of documents she had left in the drawer. He didn’t even turn to look at her as she carried the plastic container down to the kitchen. They had left most of the drawers and the cupboards open, stacked the clean tea-towels and left them on the floor. She placed the bin by the big ceramic flowerpots, astonished that they even appeared to have dug around in them, leaving soil all over the floor.
The two officers who had searched the top-floor nursery, Penny’s room, and the bathrooms, were now in the loft. Maggie found a brush and began clearing the soil, leaving the back door open.
Collingwood returned to Jack’s office, holding Maggie’s laptop.
Morrison nodded. ‘Don’t forget to get the password, so we don’t waste any more time.’
‘Yes, Sir. You found anything?’
‘He’s mortgaged up to the hilt with fuck all in his bank accounts. She’s earning good money, but as soon as it comes in it looks like it goes straight out. Right, let’s get this lot back to the station.’ The evidence boxes containing all the items they had removed were being carried down the stairs.
‘I’m sorry Doctor Warr, but we need to take this into the station as it could also have been used by your husband.’
She threw up her hands and strode past him. ‘The house is a mess. You could at least clean up before you go.’ Maggie remained in the bedroom until she heard the front door slam and the patrol cars moving off. She went into Jack’s office, where papers were strewn over the desk and floor. It looked as if they had kicked over the toys she had intended to get rid of. The little duck was on its side, and among other overturned items was the old plastic cart. Suddenly she felt the tears welling up and was about to burst into sobs when she heard Penny shouting. She hurried to the window. Penny was outside on the path with Charlie in his pram, furiously telling two journalists they were on private property and to get out or she would call the police.
When Maggie got downstairs, Penny was inside, slamming the front door shut behind her. She was fuming. ‘One was hiding in the bushes! If they’re still there, I’ll go upstairs and throw a bucket of water over them. One had a camera, trying to take our photographs.’
Maggie told her to take Charlie upstairs and not to bother throwing water over anybody as she folded the pram. Next, she checked the nappy bin and removed the bin liner before taking the bucket to the bins.