Chapter 3.
Sheelagh went to work the next day refreshed and ready for anything. Patrick had reassured her last night and they were looking forward to a meal out tonight. Sheelagh walked confidently through Sun Hill Police Station's corridors in neat uniform to Gina Gold's office. She knocked on the door then walked in without waiting for an answer. Gina looked up as Sheelagh walked in.
"Haven't you ever heard of waiting Sergeant Murphy?" Gina reprimanded.
"Sorry ma'am." Sheelagh answered solemnly.
"Can I help you Sheelagh?" Gina said in a gentler voice.
"Do the Liverpool police want to talk to me?" Sheelagh asked. Gina smiled then pointed to a man sitting opposite her, Sheelagh hadn't noticed him until then.
"Sheelagh, this is DS Ben Harker from Liverpool police." Gina introduced him. "Ben, this is Sheelagh Murphy, formally known as Sheelagh Taviner." Ben Harker stood up and stretched out his hand towards her. Sheelagh took it and they shook hands briefly. "Do you mind being interviewed Sheelagh?"
"No ma'am."
"Good. Well, DS Harker will interview you with Adam Okaro there too, if that's okay with you."
"Yes ma'am."
"Right, well. Let's get on with it then." Gina clapped her hands.
They made their way to a free interview room to find Superintendent Okaro already there.
"Ready Sheelagh?" he asked cheerfully. Sheelagh nodded. Gina left the room and the other three sat down. Ben switched on the recording tape and Sheelagh looked confused.
"It's for my superiors," Ben explained, "this is just an informal chat about your ex-husband." Ben smiled at her.
"What do you want to know?" Sheelagh asked seriously. Adam Okaro just sat there observing.
"Okay. When did you meet Des?" Ben asked.
"When I was 16, I moved from Dublin to Liverpool and we met a few days after me arriving."
"What was he like?"
"Well from my eyes he was a perfect gentleman. I'd never had a man interested in me that way before and it felt nice to me."
"What do you mean, 'that way'?"
"Sexually."
"Did he ever show any violent side during that time before you married?"
"No."
"Did you ever see him show violence to anyone else other than yourself?"
"No."
"When you were married, was he ever violent towards you then?"
"He never hit me, no."
"In bed?"
"Only when he'd had a few drinks."
"Okay, what happened?"
"Whenever he'd gotten drunk he'd come home, usually I'd be in bed already. He'd come upstairs and take his clothes off and get into bed. Then he'd try and get me to sleep with him, if I said no he'd pin me on my back and do it anyway, in the end I just let him get on with it. The morning after he wouldn't know anything about it."
"So he'd rape you?"
"Not rape, just a bit rough." Sheelagh insisted.
"Did you try and say no?"
Sheelagh nodded slowly then cast her eyes down slowly. "Yes." she whispered, she knew how it was going to sound.
"Then it's rape Sheelagh." Adam put in softly. He reached across the table and took Sheelagh's hands in his own. Sheelagh looked up at the superintendent.
"Can Patrick be here?" She whispered, tears forming in her eyes.
"Of course." Adam consented quickly. "I'll go and phone him." With that he stood up and left the room. Ben watched Adam leave then he turned back to Sheelagh.
"Who's Patrick?" he asked, not unkindly.
"My husband." Sheelagh answered.
They waited for Adam to come back into the room with Patrick following him. Sheelagh stood up and hugged Patrick to her. Patrick hugged her back then they sat down, holding hands. Sheelagh was drawing support from Patrick just being there.
"Okay Sheelagh," Ben started, "on these nights. Did Des ever tie you up? Or anything like that?" Sheelagh gripped Patrick's hands tightly. Patrick used his thumbs to stroke her hand, an action that didn't go unnoticed by the other two men in the room.
"No," Sheelagh was stronger now Patrick was there with her. "Nothing like that."
"Okay. Patrick," Ben turned to Patrick, "has Des ever threatened you in any way?"
"No." Patrick answered.
"Has he ever hit you?"
"No."
"Okay, thank you. Sheelagh," he turned back to Sheelagh again, "has Des ever hit or threatened you?"
"Yes." Sheelagh gripped Patrick's hand again. "He slapped me once when he lost his temper."
"Oh? What happened?" Ben was more interested now violence had been mentioned.
"Des said I'd changed, I was different around him. I suggested that was went and sat down but he just lost it. He shouted at me then slapped my face."
"Okay. Thank you very much. I think we'll leave it there." Ben clicked the tape off then took it out. "I've got to go. Please contact us if you see Des down here." Ben shook hands with Adam, Sheelagh and Patrick then left.
"Are you okay Sheelagh?" Patrick asked.
Sheelagh nodded. "Just a bit tired."
"Take the afternoon off, I'll clear it with Gina." Adam said. Sheelagh smiled weakly.
"Thank you sir." She said.
"Come on," Patrick stood up and held his hand out towards her. "I'll take you home."