Chapter 5.
Boyd sips his coffee and forces himself to eat a ham sandwich, without really feeling the appetite for it. Far too early in the morning for hearty breakfast and far too many distracting things on his mind. He really fears the starting day to turn out as nerve-wrecking as the previous one.
They painstakingly followed every possible lead, checked even the remotest hints, talked to many people who all claimed to have met and known Nigel Brown at some point. As a rule none of them forgot to emphasize what a paragon of parental love he was. That living saint obviously had some very solid reason to avoid any unexpected knock on his door and had messed with several important databases to hide his tracks. The day ended with zero progress and everybody's nerves on the edge. It was only a matter of time him and Spence would clash, the younger man stubbornly claiming some hocus-pocus of his IT-department cronies to be the highway to catching Nigel Brown. Only so far they seemed to be pretty inefficient in entangling the cobweb of false names and addresses surrounding their prime suspect and caused several time and energy consuming false alarms.
It's going to be a tough day, undoubtedly. And long - a much bigger cause for concern. The idea of leaving the girl all by herself without knowing whether he'll get any chance at all to come and check on her feels totally unacceptable.
Looking out of the kitchen window, Boyd sees a possible solution to his problem. Across the street Margaret Morris has just opened her door to collect the morning paper from her mailbox. Arriving home with Erin last night he saw the curtain of her living-room window move - the nosy spinster carrying out her habitual self-imposed neighbourhood watch role. She had to see him with the girl and is certainly seething with curiosity now. Why not go and indulge her and ask to keep an eye on Erin in return.
He has to get the girl to agree with the plan as well and that could be tricky. Their last night's communication was confined to Erin's reluctant one-syllable answers to his questions. It was very late when he finally had time to go and pick her up, definitely past her bedtime, the issue Kelly of course didn't forget to point out bitterly. And now he has to go and wake her up far too early. It can't be helped, he really needs to talk to her right away if he wants to get to work before the traffic turns completely mad. He washes the now empty coffee cup and heads upstairs.
Slightly opening the bedroom door, he accosts her cautiously.
''Erin? Do you hear me? Are you awake? I need to talk to you, I have to go to work soon...''
The answer that comes from deep under the blanket is reluctant and sulky. ''So what!? I don't have to go anywhere!''
''I'm going to have a very busy day and I really hate the idea of leaving you all on your own. I was thinking... there's a nice elderly lady living right across the street - Mrs. Morris... '' He can't finish.
Erin sits up abruptly, her protest instant and earsplitting. ''No! No! No! I don't want anybody to watch over me! I'm not a baby! I want to be on my own!''
''She won't be staying here all day long,'' Boyd attempts to persuade her, ''just pops in once in a while to see how you're doing.''
''No! Forget it! If any old hag shows up here then I... then I... I just walk out the door and I won't come back! Ever! I mean it!''
She has no idea how seriously her threat is taken, moreover the grim reason for that.
Completely shocked by her reaction, Boyd gives up his plan altogether, just tries to do all he can to calm her down.
''Easy now... It was just an offer, OK, and if you really prefer being all alone then... I know you're a big girl and can take care of yourself. I'm only glad for that. But you have to promise me to stay here, do you hear me? No venturing alone in the part of town unfamiliar to you! Promise me not to go out alone!''
''For what? To get drowned?'' She casts a grim look towards the rain-soaked window.
''Yes, it looks like indoor activities are much better choice for today,'' Boyd agrees with relief. ''You can watch TV and listen to music, just don't turn it too loud... And you've got the magazines we bought you last night... There's all kinds of good stuff in the fridge if you get hungry. Sure you can handle the microwave?''
Erin rolls her eyes demonstratively.
''I'll wrote my mobile number down for you, call me right away if there's any problem or if you want something...''
''All I want is to get some sleep!'', Erin complains with due dramatics and ducks her head under the pillow.
Boyd smirks. ''OK, dormouse, sweet dreams then! I hope you'll be in better mood when you finally wake up. I'll call you from work.''
As far as he is concerned she could sleep all day long if she wanted. While she's safely in bed he doesn't have to worry.''
Boyd nervously dials his home number once again. The damned girl just won't answer the phone. She can't be still sleeping... It is possible, of course, that she just deliberately ignores his calls after their early morning conflict. If only he had taken Kelly's warning more seriously and not provoked her like that. He can't take any risks, he has to go and check on her.
On his way out he runs into Spence who seems to be really excited about something.
''Another possible address!'', Spence declares triumphantly. ''I told you it pays off to follow all the accounts! Last week a payment to a maintenance firm was made from one that's owned by Mr. John Smith, but we have every reason to believe actually belongs to Brown. The secretary of the firm confirmed that some emergency plumbing was done and the house was definitely inhabited. I've got the names and contacts of the two plumbers who did the job. They're installing baths in a new apartment building not far from here, I think it saves us time to go and talk to them right away instead of summoning them here.''
''What's keeping you then? Go find out what they have to say, show them the picture of Nigel Brown ...'' Boyd orders impatiently.
''I just thought that you wanted to come yourself...''
Preoccupied with his personal problems, Boyd's reaction is gruff. ''For God's sake, Spence, did they let you out of Hendon this very morning? Take Stella with you if you need someone to hold your hand while asking the bloody plumbers a few questions.''
He rushes out, leaving Spence to shake his head and mutter a disgruntled: ''Bloody typical! So much for keeping him up to date with every possible new development...''
The front door is properly locked. No sign of the girl anywhere.
''Erin!'' No answer.
Boyd calls her again. Silence.
He's about to storm upstairs, but then he sees her - lying prone on the sofa, munching an apple and leafing some magazine.
''Why don't you answer the phone?!'' he demands angrily.
Erin seems to be completely unaware of his presence.
He repeats his question in much louder voice, adding an irritated ''I'm talking to you!''
That makes the girl lift her head. She frowns and pulls the earbud out of one ear. ''What? You said something? What are you doing here anyway? I thought you had a busy day at work...''
Boyd turns his eyes skyward in frustration. He must have guessed – bloody earbuds and that damned music, loud enough to cause brain-damage.
''I've been trying to call you all morning.''
''I didn't hear anything, I was listening to music,'' she shrugs, sounding righteously piqued having to explain something so self-evident.
He forces himself calm. ''You shouldn't keep these things in your ears all day long, you ruin your hearing like that.''
''You warned me yourself not to freak out the neighbourhood with my music. And I like loud music!''
''And I had to drop everything and drive across the city to check whether you're all right.''
''Not my fault! I didn't ask you to - I don't need to be checked on every 5 minutes! Don't treat me like a baby!''
No chance for any complaisance.
Boyd feels exasperated by his inability to cope with her petulance.
''Why do you have to be like that?'', he complains. ''Is it so hard to exchange a couple of words with me without showing your attitude constantly? I was really worried, thought something might have happened to you...''
''Like what? Died of boredom?'', she retorts defiantly.
He gives a deep sigh, feeling sorry for the girl suddenly. It's not Erin's fault her mother prefers having fun in the sun with her newest boyfriend to spending time with her daughter and she ends up all alone in a strange house – hardly a dream school holiday. No wonder she takes it all out on him. He has no right to be angry with her.
''Of course you're bored, I know that. There's just nothing we can do about it right now. I can't stay away from work as much as I'd like to and you are so strictly against having someone else to keep you company. We'll just have to get by these two working days somehow, and I try to organise you some entertainment for the week-end.''
''Promises-promises.''
He glimpses his wrist watch . ''Now that I'm already here, maybe I can pinch another half an hour - lets go and have proper lunch somewhere...''
Before he can finish the sentence his mobile starts ringing demandingly.
''Yes, Spence... ?''
''Where are you, sir? We're really on to something finally! The plumbers recognized Nigel Brown as the man who hired them. They know him as Mr. Smith of course. They gave me a good description of the house. Sounds like a bloody fortress, security cameras, high fences, things like that. The reason the plumbers were called was blocked sewage. They took three toy cars out of the pipe. One of the men briefly saw a strangely behaving girl and heard her giggle and tell the man fitting Brown's description that she and 'Sean' had flushed the cars down the toilet. It means that Marc Carlisle could be still alive and kept somewhere in the house.''
''OK. Organise back-up quickly, but don't make any moves before I get there. We can't afford any miscalculations. Warn everybody that we're dealing with a mentally unstable teenage girl and a 5-year-old whose condition is unknown. Better to have paramedics on standby as well. I'm on my way already.''
Boyd wants to explain Erin his urgent need to leave, but she has turned her back to him, the earbuds are back and she ignores him with cold determination.
After successful operations like this one nobody complains about working overtime.
Grace comes to inform Boyd about the outcome of the mission he sent her on and discovers a queue behind his office door – Eve apparently waiting to discuss something urgent, Stella with some papers that need Boyd's signature.
''One of these 'private' calls again,'' Eve smirks at her questioning expression. ''He seems to have quite a lot of them recently. Makes me wonder whether that certain American lady might be back in the picture... '' She stops, giving Grace a guilty look for some reason.
Luckily Boyd opens the door, ending the awkward moment.
He hardly looks at Stella's documents before signing them with energetic pen strokes. Having shared a few words with Eve and sent her back to the lab he turns to Grace eventually.
''Could you talk to Rachel Carlisle?''
''Yes. And she isn't that reckless and indifferent at all, deep down she loves little Marc very much. She is just too young and lacks the skills to be a parent. Her own mother wasn't a good role model either. So far everybody just pointed out all her mistakes and shortages, without offering any actual help, that's why she felt like giving up. I'm sure that if she gets proper support and adequate counselling now, things will work out fine for her and Marc.''
''I really hope you're right,'' Boyd gives a deep sigh. ''A loving mother is what this poor confused boy needs more than anything else right now.''
Spence pops his head in and announces: ''Nigel Brown's in room 2, as you ordered. He's pretty steamed up, turned down all offers to have a lawyer present during the interview, just keeps loudly demanding to see Angelica.''
Boyd grabs a file from his desk. ''You're ready, Grace?''
She shakes her head disapprovingly. ''It's not a good idea to interview him tonight. I'd rather give him some time to calm down. He may refuse legal help today and start blaming that his rights were violated tomorrow. You don't need his confession that urgently. He was caught red-handed with Marc Carlisle in his house, we can prove his connection with the two murders - there's enough evidence to convict him already. You don't have to serve the case to the CPS on golden plate, let them do their job as well.''
Boyd is uncompromising. ''I specifically want to talk to him right now, before some sleazy overpaid lawyer gives him good advice to play the card of mental breakdown caused by his tragic family life. I looked the man in the eye when we arrested him, he is perfectly answerable in court. He knows damned well what he was up to all those years. And I want him to say it all loud and clear.''
''He's not going to deny anything. But if you expect some kind of repentance from him, I can tell you in advance it's not going to happen. He's lived with his conscience long enough to invent firm justifications to everything. You'll just lose your temper with him and jeopardise the whole case.''
''That's why I've got you by my side,'' Boyd smirks, ''feel free to give my ankle your usual sharp kick whenever you think I might be in danger of crossing any lines.''
He heads decisively towards the interview rooms and Grace follows him reluctantly.
The fair-haired man jumps up from his chair the moment they enter.
''Where is my daughter?'', he demands heatedly. ''I have to see her! She's not used to being without me, she needs me!''
''Everything is OK with Angelica, '' Grace reassures him, ''I called the hospital to check how she's doing just before coming here. She had her supper and is sleeping now.''
Somewhat appeased by the information, Nigel Brown resumes his seat.
Boyd goes through the routine procedures, fixes the time, names the persons present.
''Mr. Brown, you have denied all offers to have your legal advisor present during the interview. If you haven't reconsidered, would you please confirm it once more for the record.''
That riles him up again. ''I don't want any bloody lawyers, all I want is to see Angelica! You have no right to deny me access to her!''
''I can assure you that everything really is all right with Angelica,'' Grace tries to calm him, ''she's under supervision of experienced specialists and gets all the necessary care and treatment.''
''Professional treatment, '' Boyd emphasises, ignoring Grace's warning look, ''that she should have received all along.''
''Professional treatment... experienced specialists...'', Nigel Brown drawls with derision. ''The only treatment they know is pumping her full of tranquillizers. My little sunshine girl who's always laughing and dancing! Do you know what these drugs do to her!? She literally fades like a flower, just sits in the corner with lifeless eyes. She doesn't need such bloody treatment! I can always calm her down and make smile again, regardless what all those self-conceited specialists say. She just has to be at home with me and everything will be all-right. You have no right to keep us apart!''
Ignoring him, Boyd opens the file he brought along, takes out some photos and spreads them in front of Nigel Brown.
''Brandon Ellis. Jakob Starek. Marc Carlisle. Do you still remember their real names? Or were they just Sean II, III, IV for you, replaceable toys for Angelica?
Nigel Brown glowers at him, but remains obstinately silent.
''You keep reminding us about Angelica's rights. What about these boys? Didn't they have a right to their real name, to normal childhood with their real parents?''
''Their real parents!'' He isn't able to hold his peace any longer, ''you call these pathetic excuses for mothers parents! It's a bloody miracle these tarts noticed the absence of their kids at all! You know damn well that all of them were mistreated and neglected, the perspective of being sent from one lousy foster home to another looming in the nearest future! I did them a favour!''
''So you admit abducting all of those boys, keeping them imprisoned in your house and presenting them to your daughter as the reincarnations of her dead brother?'' Despite Grace's former prediction, Boyd still looks utterly surprised to have reached his desired confession so easily.
''I saved them from misery and gave them real home and happy childhood! They had a room and TV just for themselves, every toy they could ever dream of. They were loved and cared for. All that was asked from them was to play nice with their new sister.''
''And all this time you knew that sooner or later they will share the tragic fate of your own unfortunate son.''
Nigel Brown looks stunned.
''Do you really think we haven't figured out what really happened? I bet you didn't fool anybody 6 years ago either, they just closed the case out of pity,'' Boyd remarks relentlessly. ''Proving Angelica's guilt wouldn't have brought Sean back.''
With his biggest secret so bluntly revealed, Nigel Brown seems to be completely off balance. Flustered, he mumbles:
''I told him so many times, hundreds of times – be nice to your sister, don't tease her, don't touch her precious dolls...''
''Is that what happened?'', Grace inquires cautiously and not altogether without sympathy. ''A quarrel over a doll got out of hand?''
''I left them alone for five minutes, just five minutes... I thought Marcy would keep an eye on them...'' His haunted expression clearly tells he still sees the fatal events in his mind's eye. ''Sean hit Angie's favourite doll with a cricket hammer and broke it. And Angie just wanted to punish him... She didn't want to hurt him that bad... It was an accident, it wasn't her fault.''
Boyd doesn't seem to be touched by his sad story. ''No, it wasn't Angelica's fault. She's just an unfortunate sick child whose disability prevents her from telling right from wrong. But it was no accident – deliberately ignoring the advice of the doctors and not giving Angelica the medicines prescribed for her you directly caused your little son's death. Your wife couldn't live with it, but you didn't learn anything from the tragedy. Instead you created the possibilities of it's recurrence, two more little boys lost their lives.''
There's a lot more despair than defensive justification in Nigel Brown's voice. ''They say that Angelica doesn't feel and remember anything... What do they know! She started missing her brother right away. She didn't even miss her Mom so badly, well maybe because she's always been more of a daddy's little girl... But she never forgot Sean. 'Daddy, where is Sean? I want Sean! I want Sean!' And then she started to cry and just wouldn't stop. I couldn't see her like that, I had to do something. You should have seen the smile on her face when she once again had a brother to play with. I love my daughter, all I want is her to be happy... I just had to do it for her.''
''Oh, I see, it was all just one big act of love then!''
Grace doesn't like Boyd's sarcastic taunt – a warning sign that he is in danger of losing objectivity.
But her attempts to get his attention and restrain him fail.
Boyd continues vehemently: ''As a result of that unconditional love your daughter has to spend the rest of her life in a secure wing of the psychiatric hospital. You have turned her into a monster. That's not love, that's the most abominable thing a parent could ever to his child.''
Nigel Brown jumps up again, red-faced and eyes burning furiously. ''My Angelica is not a monster!'', he bellows into Boyd's face, ''Who the hell are you to judge me, to tell me what love is or isn't?! You wouldn't know, would you? I really hope you don't have any kids, otherwise I really pity them. You clearly haven't got a clue what it really takes to love your own flesh and blood! People like you shouldn't be allowed to have children!''
Boyd's on his feet too, the wild gleam in his eyes just as fierce and for a moment Grace genuinely fears that the two men will jump at each other's throats.
It's Boyd's years-long habit of suppressing and hiding his emotional pain that saves the situation.
Grace is surprised by the steely calmness of his voice.
''Sit down!''
There's something so suggestive and assertive in his tone and the destroying stare of dark eyes, that Nigel Brown obeys instantly. He pants heavily and a thin crimson stream starts oozing from one of his nostrils.
''We have to make a break now.'' Grace says resolutely.
The nosebleed seems to reduce Nigel Brown's temper considerably.
''My Angelica is not a monster,'' he mumbles, more to himself. ''She's a sweet girl, a good girl, and she loves her brother very much... And so do I. I loved them all. You have no bloody idea how much I cried for them. I bet their so-called mothers didn't shed a single tear when they learned about their death. But I loved these boys as my very own and I cried my heart out over them.''
''That much I believe,'' Boyd states frostily, ''your crocodile tears and bleeding nose provided us with sufficient incriminating evidence.''
He declares the interview terminated, switches off the recorder and calls the officer behind the door to escort Nigel Brown away.
Before leaving the room Brown turns to face Boyd once more.
''It would have worked this time, I know it would... This boy was special. They were just wonderful together. And you came and ruined everything! Remember this, Boyd, if anything should happen to my little girl, I'll make you pay for that! I swear I'll find a way and make you pay personally...''
Boyd seems to take no notice of him, but the familiar stony expression betrays Grace that Nigel Brown's former spiteful words hit the target. She's well aware of his tendency to hold himself responsible for Luke's tragic fate. He really didn't need such a stir up of all the deep-rooted self-accusations.
Boyd remains sitting for a long while, without a single word.
Grace touches his shoulder. ''You're OK?''
He doesn't react at first. Then her question seems to get through.
''Everything's fine.''
Grace knows it isn't. That forced and tense smile convinces her in the opposite rather.
''I did warn you how it would be. This man had to live with all his dark secrets for so many years and today his illusionary world collapsed. That's why he's acting like a wounded animal, attacking and blaming everybody around him.''
''I know.'' Boyd squints to see the numbers on his wristwatch in the dim light.
''You're not planning to deal with the paperwork tonight, are you?'' Grace inquires anxiously.
''No, not tonight. I can't stay here tonight.'' He seems to be in real hurry suddenly and that confuses her.
Back in the squad-room, Boyd turns to his crew briefly. ''Good job everybody. Let's call it a day tonight. As regards the promised treat – nothing's forgotten, but we have to do it some other time. I really have to go tonight.''
He returns to his office only to collect his coat and car keys and his open-mouthed colleagues have to witness the unprecedented phenomenon of their boss being the first to leave. But the astonishment and slight disappointment over the postponed celebration won't last for long and in half an hour the CCU headquarters is deserted.
Grace is the one to turn off the lights tonight. Not sure what to think of Boyd's strange behaviour, she sincerely hopes he had a good reason for leaving, some social event preferably. She wouldn't even mind the involvement of that certain American lady Eve referred to before, just as long as Boyd didn't have to spend the night all alone, brooding over the venomous words of Nigel Brown.