‘You should have consulted us first, Eileen, something like this could really set our investigation back.’
‘I didn’t consult you because I knew what you’d say.’
Eileen was utterly unrepentant. Helen had to work hard to control her temper.
‘I know you’ve had to deal with so much in the past few days that you feel overwhelmed with pain and grief, that you’re desperate for some answers, but this isn’t the way to go about it. If you want justice for yourself, for your children, you must let us take the lead.’
‘And let you blacken Alan’s name? Drag this family through the gutter?’
‘I can’t hide the truth from you Eileen, however painful it might be. Your husband used prostitutes and I’m convinced that that was why he died. His killer was a woman – we’re ninety-nine per cent certain of that – and anything that directs the public’s attention elsewhere risks allowing her to strike again. People need to be vigilant and we have to give them the right information in order to be so. Do you see?’
‘Strike again?’
For once Eileen’s tone was less strident. Helen paused, uncertain how much to share.
‘A young man was murdered last night. We believe the same person is responsible for both murders.’
Eileen stared at her.
‘He was found in an area used by prostitutes…’
‘No.’
‘I’m sorry…’
‘I won’t have you continue with this… this campaign of slander. Alan was a good man. A devout man. I know he wasn’t always healthy… he had certain infections but many of those can be contracted at the swimming baths. Alan was a keen swimmer -’
‘For God’s sake, Eileen, he had gonorrhoea. You can’t get that from swimming.’
‘NO! It’s his bloody funeral tomorrow and you come here with these lies… NO! NO! NO!’
Eileen shouted at the top of her voice, silencing Helen. Then the tears came. Helen felt a riot of emotions – sympathy, fury, disbelief. In the heavy silence that followed, she cast her eyes around the room, taking in the family photos that seemed to confirm Eileen’s vision of Alan. He was the very image of the upstanding paterfamilias, playing football with his boys, standing proudly next to daughter Carrie at her graduation, leading the church choir, toasting his bride at their wedding all those years ago. But it was all propaganda.
‘Eileen, you have to work with us on this. You need to understand the bigger picture. Otherwise innocent people will die. Do you understand?’
Eileen didn’t look up but her sobbing subsided a little.
