Alec stared up at the house, which was really more of a hut, that was at the top of the hill at the very edge of the beaches of Broadchurch.
He'd spent the morning walking the path along the clifftops, starting from above where Danny had been found and heading away from the town. Ellie had discovered CCTV footage that showed Danny riding his skateboard away from town the night he had died, supporting Alec's suspicions that he had not been kidnapped from his home. His trajectory had also, however, taken him away from where his body had been found on the beach the next morning. Hence Alec's current journey, going down the old path and checking for CCTV cameras along the way. His lips were a thin line by the time he found the first one. It was near the hut itself and only faced the front of the building. Anyone who'd come around the back would not have been seen.
Alec circled the hut, peering inside it and noting it looked almost abandoned if it weren't for the fact that it looked in pretty good shape inside. It was quite some way away from where Danny had been found but it also looked too reasonable as another crime scene. He made a note to call SOCO in for a thorough check; if they found anything, it would also support the coroner's assessment that the murderer was likely a male as it was highly unlikely a woman would have been able to carry Danny's body all the way to the beach alone.
His cursory examination was interrupted as he heard a dog bark and he looked over to see a heavy-set woman of about fifty to sixty with thin blonde hair walking up the path from the back, where Alec had seen a caravan park far down below. The woman stopped when she saw him standing at the top of the hill; and after a beat, she turned and headed back down.
Her behaviour stayed on his mind as Alec headed back into town. It was odd although not enough so that he could reasonably doubt her actions especially when he knew he was mainly looking for a man. As he reached the edge of the town, however, he spotted familiar blonde hair. Emma was running along the road ahead of him, headed in his direction. She saw him at about the same time Alec saw her and awkwardly sent him a nod when their eyes connected. It was clear she had intended to keep running past but Alec stopped her.
"Er, hi."
"Oh. Hi."
Emma stopped hesitantly, breathless from her run and clearly feeling a bit awkward, standing there in her sweaty running gear. She also looked tired and it was obvious she had not slept well the night before.
"It was DI Hardy, right? I'm Emma Symons."
"I know. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"
She shrugged carefully, her posture uncomfortable but not overtly so. "Of course."
Alec pulled out his notebook as he began in a businesslike tone. "How long have you known the Latimers?"
"Uh, about ten years now."
"Did you know Danny?"
"Yes, I did."
Emma cringed visibly at the past tense. Alec just waited for her to elaborate so she did.
"Mark was a friend to my godfather, whom I was living with. That's how Beth and I got to meet. Danny was about a year old when I first met him; I watched him grow up. I also taught him when he was in preschool; I'm a teacher there."
"And would you say he was a happy child?"
"Um, yeah, I'd say he was; always sweet to his mum especially. He started being a bit rebellious this year."
Alec glanced up at that so Emma explained, "I think he was just growing up. He didn't do anything crazy like get into fights or anything but he started getting moods."
"What kind of moods?" Alec asked and Emma sighed.
"Just pre-teen, teenager moods from what I could tell. Chloe was similar when she was his age: he would get snappish, say hurtful words. Not to me but to his parents, his sister. He'd always apologise and I didn't think his behaviour was different from most boys that age but I will say that's just my opinion."
"When did this start to happen?"
"About 6-7 months ago?" Emma guessed. "I noticed it around Christmas but it's definitely been picking up since the new year."
"What did Beth and Mark think about it?"
"Beth got upset when he was snippy, but just like most other mums I'd say. Mark hated it when Danny talked back but again, it's not unlike most other dads. Danny was just growing up, I think."
Emma's voice tightened then and Alec had a feeling she'd remembered Danny wasn't going to grow any more. He moved on.
"What about his relationship with his parents and his sister?"
"Oh, um… Like I said, he was always sweet with his mum. Beth doted on Danny, what with him being her youngest; her baby, she called him." Emma cringed again. "Mark, he was often busy with work but he would often play games with Danny."
"What kind of games?"
"All sorts, really. Ball games, mostly football or catch, outdoors stuff and indoor stuff - they'd always fight over the console when Danny was younger. Danny hated to lose but he got that from Mark so they'd fight when one of them lost but then they'd be back on trying to get even."
Emma's voice faded a bit and Alec could see she was getting both nostalgic and emotional. She cut herself off before she could become teary and she moved on.
"Um, Chloe, she's been more tricky with Danny lately. They had a great relationship as kids but she's going through a rebellious phase too and with her it's been a while - the makeup, the short skirt, that sort of thing. Danny hated it so they'd always fight but the last year's been less so as far as I could tell."
"So they started getting along?"
Here, Emma hesitated slightly before she admitted, "I think it was more that they chose to not talk and not fight. But, if I may add my opinion, I didn't think it was odd at all. It happens with teenage and pre-teen siblings."
Alec observed Emma for a moment longer before he asked his next question.
"Any friends?"
"Uh, Danny's?" She checked before answering. "Well, he and Tom - that's Ellie's son - have known each other since they were babies and I mean that literally. Ellie and Beth have been friends for years and when they had boys in the same year their friendship only got stronger and it passed onto their sons. I looked after them both when they were in preschool. I think they were almost brothers, really. They'd fight one day but make up the next."
"Any other friends?"
Emma thought about it. "Maybe a couple other boys from his class he'd talk about? I can write their names down for you."
He allowed her to take the pad and pen. When she was done, he asked, "Are you married?"
"No." She answered honestly.
"Been married? Dating?" Alec asked and Emma shook her head to both.
"No."
"Last boyfriend?"
She raised an eyebrow there but answered after some thought, "Uh… maybe three years ago?"
Alec paused at that and examined her. "Girlfriend?"
"No, I'm straight." Emma answered rather dryly. "But by about three years ago, I had dated all the eligible bachelors in Broadchurch that I would date and I hadn't found anyone it worked out with so I've been single since."
"Do you have any family around here?" He questioned.
"No."
"Where are your parents?"
"Gone." Her tone was curt.
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine, it happened a long time ago." She shrugged but it was clearly a touchy subject. Alec paused as he re-examined her a bit.
"Any siblings, relatives?"
"No siblings, I was an only child." She rattled off. "And no relatives that I know of."
"Where were you on Thursday night?"
"Um..." Emma was clearly thrown by the sudden change in the line of questioning but she regained herself and thought back to retrace her steps mentally. "I grabbed dinner with Nige, that's Nigel Carter, he works with Mark Latimer, after a tutoring session."
"Tutoring session?" Alec broke in and Emma explained, "Oh, right, I also work as a tutor at the local library on Tuesdays and Thursdays."
"Did Danny go to these sessions?"
"No, the tutoring I'm part of is usually more for the secondary school kids who really need the help. Volunteers work on Monday and Wednesdays to help the other kids get homework done or revise a bit before exams. Danny and Tom would go sometimes but Danny especially never really needed it. He did okay at school and his parents weren't particularly strict about it as long as he was trying his best."
"When was the last time Danny went?" Alec asked and Emma shook her head.
"Sorry, that I don't know. You'd have to ask Beth or Diana, who works the library and keeps the register."
Alec noted that down. "So, you got dinner after Thursday's tutoring class?"
"Yes, just grabbed fish and chips. Ate them by the boardwalk then Nige went home to his mum. It would have been about seven o'clock. I went to the Traders from there, had a glass with Becca Fisher - you'll know her, she's the owner - and Paul Coates, the local vicar. At about... nine o'clock I want to say? Paul and I went home."
"Do you often grab a drink at the Traders?" Alec asked, squinting down at Emma. She shrugged again.
"Depends on what you mean by often. I didn't normally go there that often - maybe once every few months - but in the last two or three months I'd say I've been there once every two weeks."
"Why?"
"I'm friends with Paul and he's been going down there more often so we sometimes meet there." Alec waited for her to elaborate on that again so she did. Slightly. "I think he's made friends with Becca."
Alex raised a brow but he continued his questions drolly, "What did you do after you left the Traders?"
"Didn't do much; like I said, I went home. I washed up, watched a bit of telly. Read a book before going to bed at maybe half-ten."
"Do you usually go to bed that early?"
Emma cocked her brow again; clearly she didn't think she went to bed particularly early but she answered evenly, "I'm usually in bed between half-nine and eleven, unless I'm out with friends late for one reason or another. I go for early runs before work," she gestured to her current state of dress, "so if I sleep any later I'm usually not able to get up early enough."
"Did you do a morning run yesterday?" Alec asked and Emma nodded. "Do your runs ever take you to the beach?"
"Depends which beach." Emma answered although he could tell instantly she knew (or at least guessed) why he was asking. "I usually go as far as the edge of the public beaches on weekends because I like the view and can use the extra stretch of muscles but on weekdays I don't have the time so I make it from between about the Traders to the library and back."
"Do you usually see anyone in the mornings?"
"Uh, postal service. My friend, Patricia Whitley. She's usually on her way to work at the local bakery. Sometimes Danny," again her tone and expression dipped when she mentioned his name, "if we happened to cross paths while he was on his paper round. Um… Mrs. Kennedy is also usually up and coming out to check her mail. Think that's about it for regulars."
"Did you see anyone else yesterday morning?"
"Um…" Emma had to think on that one; the trauma of the rest of the day had made her cheery morning run rather bleak in memory. "Maggie Radcliffe was out getting her post when I went by. Ellie and Joe, Ellie's husband, were also up earlier than usual and taking a short walk with Fred. I think it was the jetlag, Ellie's not usually a morning person unless she has to go for work. A couple tourists who were taking an early walk around town."
"Can you describe the tourists?"
"Um, one was a male, maybe late forties, medium height, red hair and facial hair, I passed him as he was walking away from the closed bakery. The other two were a couple I think, late twenties or early thirties I'd guess. Guy was blond and a bit short, she was dark-haired and medium-ish height. They were taking pictures of the buildings, or rather pictures of them standing in front of some of the prettier buildings like the antique shop."
"Right. Thank you." Alec shut his notebook. "That was most helpful, Ms. Symons."
She nodded and hesitated; it was like there was something on the tip of her tongue and Alec waited for her to say something like everyone seemed to say at the end: that they wanted the person caught, or they didn't think (insert name) could possibly have done it, or just to say something that would reaffirm they wanted to help. But she just turned away.
"Thank you, Inspector."
Alec watched as Emma went off, slowly picking up her pace back into a run, before he turned away and continued his walk back to the station.
His suspicions on Emma weren't completely satisfied although he couldn't quite put his finger on why. Something about her unsettled him and yet she also didn't strike him as a potential killer. For example, her responses to his questions. There hadn't been anything… wrong, exactly about her answers. And he could tell they weren't rehearsed either. But there was something… different. There was an odd familiarity; and Alec realized that was made him uneasy.
Most people were usually extremely uncomfortable when being questioned by the police. Emma was definitely not comfortable but she wasn't nervous either. That lack of nervousness was why his gut feeling was that she wasn't the killer although he definitely hadn't ruled out the possibility that she knew something. But it was that same lack of fear that aroused his curiosity. It was almost like... like she'd done it before.
Alec reached the station and he was broken from his thoughts when he spotted a dark-haired woman standing not far from the building, clearly waiting for someone. His grim mood soured further and he didn't doubt she was waiting for him; he'd recognized her when she'd walked into the press conference the day before, after all.
As he'd expected she strode up to him as soon as he appeared and walked with him as he headed into the station.
"DI Hardy. Karen White, Daily Herald."
"I know. You came to the briefing last night." Alec answered shortly.
"I just wondered if I could buy you a cup of tea."
At that, Alec stopped and turned to stare at the woman with disgust.
"You're astonishing." He told her flatly before turning back to the station.
"Well, if you need me I'm staying at the Traders." She called after him. Alec just slammed the door in the woman's face without another look back at her.
"This is bloody awful."
"Tell me about it." Emma muttered grimly as she sipped at her tea, staring out at the sea. Patricia sat across from her as the pair shared brunch outside the bakery Patricia and her husband ran, and the raven-haired woman shook her head yet again.
"I just… I just can't believe it. He was just a boy."
"I know." Emma replied heavily and Patricia looked at her sympathetically as she rubbed her stomach absently.
"How're Beth and Mark?"
"How do you think? They're devastated." Emma rubbed her eyes tiredly. "I kept having nightmares last night and he wasn't my son. I can't even begin to imagine how it is for them; the depth of it."
Patricia hesitated before she asked quietly, "Has Ellie said anything? Is this something we should be worried about?"
Emma glanced at where Patricia was looking toward her own five-year-old son. John was playing with his toy trucks while his father watched him from the till. Emma sighed and looked back at her friend as Patricia's hand remained on her large stomach.
"I don't know. She hasn't said anything, none of the police have. I assume they'll let us know when they have a better idea."
Patricia shook her head. "I just… I just can't believe it even now. This just doesn't happen. Not here. We're not like the big cities, like London. No offense."
"None taken; I moved here, didn't I?" Emma answered wryly. "And even if I cared for London, you're not wrong. This area's pretty safe, we don't get crimes like this usually. But that's also what worries me. I'd bet most of the police force here haven't ever worked a murder before. I'm pretty sure Ellie hasn't and she's been at this job for twenty years."
"You think they won't catch the person who did it?"
"I bloody hope they do. But it's not just catching someone, Patty. There's so much involved, legally, and the case to be proven in court. But if they don't have the experience, if there's mistakes-"
Emma cut herself off, catching herself. Patricia was staring at her.
"I hadn't ever thought of that… Bloody hell." Patricia murmured, rubbing her stomach anxiously again. "You're right… But, surely, they'd do it right?"
"We should hope so." Emma mumbled grimly. Another thought occurred to Patricia.
"How do you know this stuff?" Patricia asked. "Is it part of growing up in London?"
"Kind of." Emma sighed, rubbing her eyes again. "My dad was a cop."
"Your dad?" Patricia asked in surprise. Mostly because Emma didn't usually speak of her past before Broadchurch aside from some things from her time in Australia. "He, um, died, right? Is that how he died, because he was a cop?"
"No. He died in an accident." Emma answered, staring into her teacup. "But he told me a bit about proceedings before, when I was a kid. And that's what I keep thinking about now, when I'm not thinking of Danny."
Patricia's face filled with sympathy as Emma continued to stare at her tea, her eyes welling with tears as she confessed, "I just… I keep thinking I'll see him, Patty. I went for a run this morning, felt like I had to or I'd go mad. I thought, doing something normal might help. But I kept just waiting to see him, expecting him to pop up with that cheeky smile of his."
Patricia took Emma's hand, squeezing it gently.
"Sorry." Emma sniffled. "It's just, I can't talk about it in front of Beth. God knows, she needs all the support we can give and she doesn't need to hear from me how hard it is to have him gone."
"And Ellie's on the case so she's busy and not able to talk about it." Patricia nodded. "But, you don't have to apologise to me, Emma. We're friends after all, and we look out for one another around here. He was a good kid and you loved him in your own way. It's natural you should feel pained by it. I'm just glad you're letting me help you. And if I were you, I'd just be honest with Beth. Don't try hold it in because you think that helps. It might help her more, too."
"Thanks, Patty."