Page 66 of Maybe Tomorrow

She knocked on Pauline’s front door and stood back. She felt the eyes of every neighbour in the street watching her and could almost hear the rustle of curtains as people were eager for the latest gossip.

Leo Mulligan opened the door and beckoned Jennifer inside. He looked around outside before closing it.

‘Anthony not with you?’ he asked, quietly.

‘I’m afraid not.’

‘Ah. Pauline’s in the living room. Through there,’ he directed her. ‘Can I get you a cup of tea or something?’

‘No. I’m fine. Thank you.’

Jennifer walked into the neat and tidy living room. There was a strong smell of furniture polish. Jennifer guessed Pauline was the kind of woman who, when nervous or stressed, cleaned. In those situations, Jennifer ate. She had a feeling she’d be stopping off at Tesco for several big bars of Fruit and Nut on the way home. Pauline jumped up from the sofa. She looked beyond Jennifer, obviously expecting to see Anthony follow her in. Her expectant smile dropped when he didn’t.

‘Where’s Anthony?’ she asked.

‘Pauline, sit down. There’s something I need to tell you.’

‘Why haven’t you brought him home?’ Her tone was almost accusatory.

‘Pauline, please.’

Leo swept around Jennifer and practically pushed Pauline down onto the sofa. He sat next to her and held her hand while Jennifer took the armchair.

‘I’ve read Anthony’s statement he gave to the police, and I’ve spoken to Anthony as well.’

‘How is he?’ Pauline interrupted. There were tears in her eyes.

‘He’s bearing up well,’ Jennifer said with a forced smile. ‘Now, in Anthony’s statement he claimed that…’ she hesitated. ‘There’s no easy way for me to say this, Pauline, so I’m just going to come straight out with it. Anthony has stated that he likes to watch prostitutes having sex on Canal Street.’

Pauline almost collapsed in on herself. Leo gripped her tightly.

‘He said that on the night of the storm, the night of Alice’s murder, he watched the… erm, women and he came across Alice sheltering from the bad weather. One thing led to another and… he raped… and he strangled her.’

‘No. No. No,’ Pauline cried into Leo’s shoulders. ‘No. Not my Anthony. That’snotmy Anthony,’ she said, getting angry.

‘Pauline, I’m just telling you what’s in his statement. The statement he’s signed. From the point of view of the police, they’ve got their man. However, having spoken to Anthony, and gleaned the conditions of the interview from him, I’m one hundred per cent certain his statement was coerced.’

‘What do you mean?’ Pauline snatched a tissue from the box on the coffee table and began wiping her eyes.

‘Anthony says he kept asking to see you during the interview and saying he was hungry. Apparently, he was told that he could talk to you and have a meal if he admitted killing Alice. He just followed their instructions.’

‘He’s always been so trusting. He doesn’t realise…’ Pauline tapered off.

‘Isn’t that illegal?’ Leo asked.

Jennifer nodded. ‘At no point in the interview was Anthony asked if he’d like a solicitor present. He was also told about being given something to eat and seeing you when the tape recorder was switched off. Now, I’ve listened to the tape recording and there are a lot of pauses, and the questioning is very erratic. I think, and this is only my opinion, but I think the tape recorder kept being switched on and off. What happened when it was switched off is anyone’s guess. However, I really do believe Anthony.’

‘So, if the police coerced him, then surely his statement shouldn’t be taken as proof of guilt.’

Jennifer composed herself. ‘The police have statements from a number of these prostitutes who say that Anthony watches them, that he sometimes… plays with himself while watching them and… I’m really sorry, Pauline, some of them have said he scares them.’

‘Scares them in what way?’ Leo asked. ‘He wouldn’t harm anyone. He’s not like that.’

‘It’s the way he looks at them. Apparently.’ Jennifer was finding this conversation more awkward than she expected.

‘This is wrong. This is all wrong,’ Pauline cried again and blew her nose into the soggy tissue.

‘So, what happens now?’ Leo asked.