Chapter 4
Boyd makes no attempt to hide his bad mood. His back is killing him - the inevitable result of last night's box-lifting, the fistful of painkillers he gulped down with his morning coffee having no effect whatsoever. First thing he heard when he got to work was Eve's report that Henry Hayworth's DNA doesn't match nor do the periods the family spent in London collide with the approximate time of the victims' deaths. So back to square one again. The fact that Grace took Henry Hayworth's phone call and arranged to meet him and his wife at their home definitely didn't improve things.
The car wheels seem to find all the uneven patches of the road and Boyd's spine instantly registers the impact, making him grimace with pain.
''I still think that bloody Hayworth is just fooling us,'' he snarls. ''Why the hell didn't he tell us all that yesterday? We have to waste our time because he claims such an important fact just slipped his mind! I don't buy such crap! I'd definitely remember giving the keys of my house to somebody, be it 5 or 15 years later. How could anyone possibly forget something like that?''
''Well, what did you expect, considering the way you treated him yesterday?'', Grace is rhetorical.
''Oh, I see, everything is my fault as always...''
''Isn't it then? First you throw into his face the distressing fact that something hideous has happened in the back yard of his former family home, then threaten to send the local authorities to harass his 9-months-pregnant daughter, treat him with open hostility, almost charge him for murder in the end...'', she counts.
''I didn't charge him for anything!'', Boyd protests loudly.
''Just as good as, making his every word sound suspicious and incriminating. No wonder the poor man was so all over the place he couldn't think clearly any more. There's the result of excessive pressure in the interview room for you - besides being unethical it leaves you with much less cooperation and information than you could have achieved with more subtle approach. I've warned you about it before, haven't I?''
''Repeatedly,'' Boyd agrees, smirking.
''Obviously you don't pay much attention to what I say. That's the main reason I wanted to talk to the Hayworths at there home. They feel more at ease in familiar surroundings. They are no longer suspects, but might still have some valuable information that could help us on with the case. Please take that into consideration and treat them accordingly.''
''OK, I'll try to follow all the guide-lines of the sensitive policing memo then,'' Boyd promises, grinning.
Sitting in the Hayworths' cosy living room half an hour later Boyd seems to have forgotten all about his promise. He lifts his voice, completely ignoring Grace's disapproving expression and declares slightingly: ''Come on people, are you really trying to convince me that you trust someone with the keys to your house while being in the other end of the world yourself and merely a couple of years later you've suddenly lost all contact with that person, can't even tell us his current phone number... I personally find it very odd!''
Annoyed by the contemptuous assessment, Henry Hayworth hastily explains: ''Look, we actually new his late wife Marcy better, she was Edna's distant relative. With us being away in Australia and Nigel tending to keep to himself after Marcy's death – we've just grown apart somehow. And he had the keys for a couple of months only. He never lived in the house, just drove by and stepped in once in a while to check if everything was OK. It was his own initiative to give the keys back - he didn't want any extra obligations and responsibilities, being the sole carer of his mentally disabled daughter.''
''As I have understood you never changed the locks nor alarm codes, did you?'', Boyd remarks sternly. ''If that distant relative's widower just accidentally made copies of the keys for himself, he could have easily accessed the house whenever he liked, being fully aware that you weren't returning any time soon.''
''Why on earth would he do anything like that? Please don't tell me you think he has something to do with the death of that poor child... I only suggested that you should talk to him because I thought he might have noticed something that could be useful to you and you want to start harassing him with preposterous accusations instead! Nigel of all people! The poor man has enough worries in his life. I'm really starting to think it would have been better to keep my mouth shut about him.'' Henry Hayworth shakes his head, seemingly upset.
''And I am starting to think how much more there is you have considered better to keep your mouth shut about,'' Boyd bites back.
Grace doesn't like the unconcealed antipathy between the two men. Some alternation of course is quickly needed.
''The daughter of the Brown's has a mental disability...?'', she turns to Edna Hayworth, who has just appeared from kitchen with a tray and is pouring steaming coffee in the cups.
''Oh, it's such an unfortunate story,'' Edna Hayworth starts, seemingly pleased by a chance to join the conversation. ''I just can't understand why and how things like that happen, with absolutely no history of even the slightest mental problems in either side of the family... When Angelica– that's the girl's name – was born no-one could suspect anything bad at first – some babies just tend to be more restless than others and cry for no reason. But when she became a toddler, it was already clear that this girl just lives in some world of her own. I don't remember her exact diagnosis, but the prognosis was utterly discouraging – not much hope for any improvement, no chance for normal life ever. The fact that this child learned to talk at all really was the crown of her parents efforts. Marcy and Nigel never gave up on her, took her to countless therapists and doctors, even to that famous Dr. Norton, who wrote all these books about children's mental health problems.''
''Ann Norton definitely is one of the best specialists in that field,'' Grace nods in agreement. ''I had the luck to work with her years ago.''
''And Nigel was just wonderful with Angelica, he really had a way with that little problem girl of his. Men usually tend to hit the road when something like that happens in the family, but Marcy was really blessed with a husband like him. They had such a strong marriage, I'm sure they would have coped with everything if only there wasn't that awful accident with little Sean...'', Edna Hayworth sighs regretfully.
''There was another child as well?'' Grace wonders.
Edna Hayworth nods. ''A little boy, yes, four years Angelica's junior, perfectly healthy and normal. And then such a terrible tragedy...''
''What happened to the boy?'', Boyd interferes, sounding interested as well.
''He stumbled and fell down the stairs, hurt his head so bad nothing could be done - died instantly. It was about 6 years ago, so he would be a schoolboy by now...'', she waggles her head sorrowfully, ''They celebrated his 5th birthday just a week before, not knowing it remained his last... What a lovely little fellow he was - blonde curls and blue eyes, always smiling and frisky...''
Boyd and Grace exchange glances.
''And poor Marcy saw it all happen,'' Edna Hayworth continues her sad recollection. ''She tried so hard to be brave and carry on for Angie's and Nike's sake, but I guess all the grief and pain was just too much. But it was still a shock that she did something that extreme...''
''Suicide?'' Grace suggests.
Mrs. Hayworth nods sadly. ''I really can't imagine how Nigel survived all that. But he did, dedicated himself completely to Angelica, stayed home with her - taking care of Angie is a full-time job. We really have no right to blame Nigel for being unsociable after all he's been through, but I would really like to visit them to see how they're doing now.''
''At least he doesn't have to worry about money too much,'' Henry Hayworth joins in. ''He's a soft-ware programmer, has some real knack for all that IT stuff. Back in the day when men with his competence were rare he managed to make quite a little fortune – that certainly comes handy now. He knows everything about computers, I remember him boasting once how he could get access to whatever database, knowing all the weak points in the system. I've always envied guys like him, being completely ignorant in that field myself. I'm lucky to turn my laptop on and off without messing something up,'' he jets.
''You don't happen to have any photos of the family, do you? '', Boyd interrupts him impatiently.
Mr. Hayworth sounds hesitant. ''No, I don't think so...'' Then his face enlightens. ''What about your Christmas card collection, Edna! Nigel always used to design their holiday cards himself and I kind of remember that he used a photo of them all once...''
Boyd and Spence stand in the gloomy squad room of the CCU, regarding the newest addition to their evidence board. A card to rise proper Christmas spirit - decorated tree and a nice family under it, little girl leaning against daddy's shoulder, little boy on mommy's lap. The family Brown 7 years ago.
Boyd looks over his shoulder. ''How far are you, Stella? Have you found something interesting?''
Stella keeps leafing the file on her desk. ''... the mother, Marcy Elizabeth Brown, claims to have eye-witnessed her son's fall... the father Nigel Philip Brown was out in the garden with the elder child, but reacted instantly when his wife screamed for help... he called the ambulance, but all attempts to resuscitate the boy failed... domestic violence and possible child abuse completely ruled out in the course of further investigation... case closed, the death of Sean Christopher Brown confirmed to be an accident. Nothing suspicious,'' she concludes.
''OK. Eve promised to have a critical look on the autopsy report, I can't wait to hear what she thinks of it all. And where the hell is Grace, I wonder!?'' Boyd glimpses his watch impatiently. ''The psychiatrist who treated the elder child happens to be her old friend. I sent her to hunt for some more background information about the family. How long could that possibly take?!''
Eve comes and her triumphant expression leaves no doubt that she's on to something.
''Sean Brown's head injuries are not typical to falling accidents,'' she declares. ''Such injuries are usually caused by...''
''Let me guess – battering the head with some blunt object,'' Boyd offers.
Eve nods. ''I contacted the pathologist who examined the body. He didn't remember much 6 years later, but according to him the autopsy had been just a formality. Everybody just wished to spare the poor devastated family from further suffering and tried to close the case as quickly as possible to let them grieve in peace. Since the mother claimed to have seen the boy fall they just confirmed her version.''
''And in a couple of months time she just conveniently kills herself, so no further questions can be asked,'' Boyd remarks sceptically. ''And the father turns into a recluse.''
Grace arrives, looking a bit shamefaced. ''You know how it is, when you meet an old friend you haven't seen for ages,'' she explains apologetically. ''I'm afraid we just forgot ourselves a bit.''
''I only hope you didn't forget to ask about the Brown girl,'' Boyd smirks.
''Of course I didn't,'' Grace retorts indignantly. ''And she remembers Angelica Brown very well. But I'm warning you right away - all this information is strictly off the record for now, I gave Ann Norton my word that there won't be any problems with the patient confidentiality requirements. Let's just say that two former colleagues met in a café and ended up discussing an outstandingly interesting case history.''
Boyd snorts. ''That's the way it goes in the inner circles of shrinks then – you pour your heart and soul out in front of them and risk ending up as 'an outstandingly interesting case history', main topic over coffee and cake. I've always suspected that.''
''You reproach me for not playing by the book?! Of all people you are hardly the one entitled to throw the first stone!'' Grace needles him. ''Do you want to hear what I learned about the girl or not?''
Boyd lifts his palms. ''Guilty as charged. Please enlighten us then.''
The following fireworks of professional terminology makes Boyd groan. ''Please, Grace... have mercy on us poor ignorant coppers - too much Latin for one day.'' He earns an amused chuckle from Spence and Stella and a very reproachful look from Grace. ''We did get the point already – all the wires in the poor girl's head are tangled up. What about the parents? Did Dr. Norton remember them, father in particular?''
''Very loving and caring.''
Boyd looks discontented. ''Nothing new - the Hayworths claimed the Browns to be proper candidates for the parents of the year as well.''
''But that comes from a professional psychiatrist not some distant relative or former friend. The only problem Ann Norton mentioned was the disagreement about using medications, tranquillizers in particular. Angelica's parents preferred the methods of alternative medicine. That's why they eventually stopped seeing Ann Norton and turned to other specialists. That doesn't make them bad parents, they just wanted the best for their child and had every right to ask for second opinion.''
Boyd gets up from his chair and starts pacing in front of the evidence board.
''I don't believe in such coincidences. All the abducted boys clearly resemble Sean Brown, plus the same age. There has to be a connection with this post-card family.'' He crosses his arms, contemplating the photo with a frown.
''How old was Angelica Brown during the time of her brother's death?'' he suddenly asks.
''9 years,'' Stella answers helpfully.
''Could a 9-year-old cause fatal injuries to a 5-year-old?'' He doesn't seem to be comfortable with the idea himself.
''It's not entirely impossible, of course...'' Eve starts.
''The 9-year-old in question could,'' Grace intervenes. ''That terminology you all found so boring describes the tendency to unpredictable and violent behaviour.''
Encouraged by that, Boys develops his theory further. ''So maybe that's what happened – the Browns are staunch supporters of alternative medicine, so they don't give their daughter the prescribed tranquillizers and one day the girl just throws a fit and batters her baby brother to death. And the parents stage the staircase accident to cover it all up... That actually makes sense. Marcy Brown can't live with the dark secret and commits suicide a couple of months later. Also believable. But what the hell happens next? According to Henry Hayworth it would be a piece of cake for Nigel Brown to get access to the Social Services database, so he starts picking out suitable new punch-bags for his twisted girl...?
''I don't think they're meant to be punch-bags,'' Grace argues, ''It's rather some sort of attempt to recreate the family he had ...''
''Look, I think I know what he's trying to do,'' Stella intervenes unexpectedly, having been quiet most of the time. ''Let me tell you...When I was a little girl, I had a pet, a bunny rabbit Mimi, it had fluffy white hair and red eyes. And one morning I went to feed it and it was lying on the cage floor and just wouldn't wake up. And I thought it had died and started to cry but my mother comforted me that Mimi was just hibernating...''
Boyd interrupts her impatiently: ''We're all very sorry for your loss, dear Stella, you should talk to Grace about it some time, I'm sure she knows how to help you overcome your major childhood tragedy. But we really have to carry on with our investigation now.''
Spence tries his best not to burst out laughing.
Stella's voice is indignant.''I haven't even got to the point yet! Just let me finish, OK!''
''Carry on, Stella, ignore those two,'' Grace encourages her, giving the male colleagues a reproachful look.
''And when I came back from school in the afternoon, Mimi was hopping around in the cage again, munching lettuce and mother told me that the vet had given Mimi a pill that woke it up. Years later she confessed me that Mimi had really died and she just went to the pet shop and bought another white red-eyed bunny who looked exactly the same, so I won't be sad. I think that's what Nigel Brown is doing for Angelica – he tries to replace her baby brother with another boy who looks like him to spare Angelica from the truth.''
''That's a very plausible explanation, Stella,'' Grace says appreciatively.
Boyd remains dubious. ''Children are not rabbits, they don't look that much alike. Is the girl really dumb enough not to tell the difference?''
''Angelica is totally dependent on her father, if he tells her that the boy he's brought home is her brother, she unconditionally believes him,'' Grace explains. ''And the boys have grown up in very meagre conditions, so they can be easily turned cooperative with treats and toys. I'm sure that Nigel Brown really takes good care of them, offers them the love and affection he can't give to his own son any more. He probably sees it as some absolution from his guilt in Sean's death. But sooner or later things get out of hand and every new loss bitterly reminds him his failure to protect his own little son. His tears and grief are genuine, for him it feels like losing Sean all over again. But it won't change his compulsion to find another boy quickly, so Angelica won't ever fathom the consequences of her actions. There's no way out of the wicked circle any more, all he can do is keep watch 24/7 and try to avoid any accident.''
''Mark Carlisle went missing 10 months ago. Maybe he is still alive,'' Stella suggests.
''He might be,'' Grace agrees. ''Brandon Ellis died within a couple of weeks after abduction. Jakob Starek stayed alive much longer. That indicates Nigel Brown has learnt to anticipate and avoid potentially dangerous situations. But he's all alone and another tragedy could be just a matter of time.''
''A ticking time bomb.'' Spence mentions gloomily, shaking his head.
''We'd better start looking for the man right away then,'' Boyd declares decisively. ''How hard could it possibly be to track down a middle-aged father of a disabled child.''