Jack watched as she carefully wrapped the uneaten sandwiches in a spare paper napkin and put them in her handbag.
‘I am deeply sorry for your loss, Mrs Dunn, and thank you for coming into the station. I’m sorry that Amanda is refusing to see you. If you’d like, I could talk to her again and see if she changes her mind.’
‘No, don’t bother, I expected as much. She’s eighteen now and at least I know she’s alive. Unlike my little Sharon, who never grows old... she’s always as beautiful, always four and half years old.’
Sara tapped on the door and entered. She explained that she had ordered a taxi and had booked a train ticket for Mrs Dunn, apologising for making her wait.
‘That’s alright, love, this nice young man’s been talking with me. He brought me some food, so I’m ready to go home.’
Sara looked at Jack gratefully, as she ushered Mrs Dunn out.
He sat for a moment, digesting everything he had just been told. It both shocked and saddened him and it gave him a different insight into Amanda’s personality. Could she have been responsible for her young sister’s death? He considered the fire at Middleton’s home, and the death of Rodney’s two sisters. Could their similar losses have been some kind of bond between them? Jack was becoming more and more certain that Amanda was not the innocent girl she claimed to be.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jack entered the viewing room, surprised that Amanda was still not being questioned. Laura was sitting with a plate of sandwiches and asked him how it had gone with Mrs Dunn. Jack shrugged and said that it was quite informative, but didn’t elaborate. Instead, he helped himself to the curry and some items from the salad bar. Glenda was sitting reading the Evening Standard, moaning about the length of time she had been waiting for the ‘show’ to start. Just then the lights came on in the viewing room as Anik entered, carrying a thick folder of files. He was followed by Amanda, who looked like a different person. Her usually lank, greasy hair was shining and full. She was wearing a fashionable denim jumpsuit and had applied makeup and lipstick.
‘My God! She brushes up well,’ Jack said as they all looked intently through the large two-way screen. Raj Bukhari was last to enter. He was no longer in his cashmere overcoat but was wearing a very fashionable suit with a white shirt and maroon tie. He carried a folder and sat beside Amanda. Next to enter was a matronly-looking woman, presumably from Social Services. Last to walk in, also with a large folder, was DCI Clarke who sat down beside Anik.
Anik kicked off by explaining that the interview would be both filmed and recorded. He switched on the machine and introduced himself. DCI Clarke gave his own name and rank and the matronly lady said that she was Mrs Hardcastle, acting as the appropriate adult. Raj turned to Amanda who gave her name and then he introduced himself as Raj Bukhari, acting as legal representative for Miss Dunn.
Anik explained that they wanted to question Miss Dunn regarding the disappearance and possible murders of Nadine O’Reilly, Trudie Hudson and Jamail Brown, saying they believed Amanda might be able to assist the investigation. He then cautioned her.
‘You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’
Amanda sat upright in her chair, appearing not to listen, looking at her false pale-pink nails. She was pressing down on them, as if to keep them in place.
Anik opened his bulging file.
‘Amanda, could you please tell us how long you have lived in the basement flat in Leighton Avenue that is leased to Rodney Middleton?’
‘No comment.’
Anik paused, then continued.
‘How well do you know Rodney Middleton?’
‘No comment.’
‘What age where you when you first met Rodney Middleton?’
‘No comment.’
Anik swallowed. He was beginning to look flustered.
‘Amanda, if I was to show you a Snapchat photograph of Trudie Hudson, could you tell us about your friendship with her.’
‘No comment.’
‘Did you exchange a bracelet with Miss Hudson for a gold and ruby ring?’
‘No comment.’
Glenda gave a loud yawn in the viewing room, saying that this was going to be a very long night, as she had expected.
‘Look at her, Little Miss Confidence. She’s not even looking at her brief sitting beside her. He certainly schooled her well. She’s loving it, and poor old Anik is starting to sweat.’
Jack looked on in disgust. He could not believe they were not being tougher on her. It felt like a waste of time. The questions continued for over half an hour and Amanda had still not answered a single one. They had upped the game by showing photographs of the coal hole and the accumulated evidence, but nothing moved her. If anything, she appeared to be becoming bored. She asked for a glass of water and was handed a small plastic bottle. She took a long time unscrewing the top because of her false nails, and then took deliberately tiny sips before re-screwing the lid back on.
Anik continued, slowly moving to the evidence showing that they had identified the three girls, but she still maintained her stance of ‘no comment’. He raised his voice as he said they had a witness to prove that she had been living at the premises when Jamail was there, but Amanda wasn’t remotely fazed, responding yet again with ‘no comment’.
Anik changed tactics, explaining that by being uncooperative she was only implicating herself and was more likely to be charged as an accessory to murder. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
Jack leaned over to Laura and said he was going home. He knew they had only just started and that this could continue for another couple of hours. He told her that if needed he was contactable on his mobile, but he had heard enough to know they were not going to get anything tonight.
Glenda pulled a face. ‘I don’t blame you. I’m waiting for them to show some of the CCTV images but, as I told you all, this is going to be a long night and by the sound of it she’s not going to crack.’
Jack ordered an Uber to collect him and take him home. He would have liked to have been in on the interview, but by the sound of it the cashmere coat brief was playing hardball. It was looking like they were going to have to charge her with accessory to murder and hope that persuaded her to give evidence against Middleton in return for a reduced sentence. Right now, however, the game was only just beginning.
The Uber dropped him off at home just after 9 p.m. He was about to switch on the hall lights when he saw a bulky grey-haired man coming down the stairs. The man looked shocked to see Jack, and Jack didn’t hesitate. He ran up the stairs towards him, grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and they both fell to the bottom of the stairs. The man tried to get to his feet and swung a fist, catching Jack on the nose. Jack head-butted the man in the face, then dragged him to his feet ready to punch him out. Suddenly Maggie came running out of the kitchen screaming.
‘Jack... Jack! What the hell are you doing? Stop it. Stop right now, for God’s sake!’