Once in the car, she decided to broach the subject of Eileen Summers’ murder.
‘I know it’s been a harrowing day for you so far, but I’ve some other sad news I have to tell you.’
Mrs. Matthews looked dejected as she stared out the car window. ‘What can be worse than my daughter’s death?’ she muttered.
‘There have been three murders so far, Brenda — not two, like you thought. The most recent happened on Monday evening, but the body wasn’t discovered until Tuesday morning in a hostel in East Dulwich.’
Brenda slowly turned and looked at Jane. ‘Who was she?’
Jane was saddened that she assumed it was another woman. ‘Simon’s teacher, Eileen Summers.’
Brenda’s breathing became shallow. ‘Oh God, no... Not her as well. Simon adored Miss Summers.’
‘Mrs. Rowlands had reported her missing. She didn’t want to worry the children so said she was ill. Obviously, Helen and Eileen are connected through the school.’
‘Who’s the other victim?’
‘A woman called Sybil Hastings. Does the name mean anything to you?’
Brenda shook her head.
‘Did Helen and Eileen socialize together?’ Jane asked.
‘I don’t know... they might have. Helen rarely went out, and if she did I’d usually look after Simon for her.’ Fresh tears came as she spoke about her daughter.
There was so much more Jane wanted to ask. What was the connection among the three women? What dark secret had led to their deaths? But for now all that would have to wait.
Chapter Fourteen
Pulling up in the small car park at Ladywell mortuary, Jane reflected on how it had become like a second work place over the last few days. Guiding Mrs. Matthews through the double doors, Jane took her to the waiting room and informed the coroner’s officer she was here to identify the body. He told Jane that DCI Moran was currently in the chapel of rest with Eileen Summers’ parents, who had travelled down from Manchester. Jane hadn’t expected him to be at the mortuary, and realized she’d forgotten to phone him with the news that Helen Matthews was their unidentified victim. Jane asked the coroner’s officer if he would inform Moran that she was with Brenda Matthews in the waiting room, and having seen a photograph of Helen Matthews, Jane was one hundred per cent certain she was their hitherto unknown victim. He said he would and left.
Jane returned to the waiting room and sat with a pale-looking Mrs. Matthews. She explained the viewing procedure and the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Summers were presently viewing their daughter’s body.
The waiting room door opened and DCI Moran walked in with Eileen Summers’ parents. Mrs. Summers was wiping her eyes with a handkerchief already sodden with tears, whilst her husband held her by the arm, the effort of keeping his emotions in check obvious from his haggard expression.
Jane stood up. ‘Brenda, this is DCI Moran, who is leading the investigation.’
Moran took her limp hand in his. ‘I’m deeply sorry for your loss, Mrs. Matthews. Myself and my officers are doing everything we can to find the man we believe is responsible for these horrendous crimes. If you’ll excuse me, I just need to have a quick word with WDS Tennison.’ He tilted his head to one side for Jane to follow him.
Moran closed the door and walked a little way down the corridor before turning around and facing Jane.
‘I’m sorry I didn’t ring you, sir, but Mrs. Matthews didn’t have a phone, and I had to take her to the school to see her grandson, Simon. I’m certain our unknown victim is Helen Matthews. Her nine-year-old son Simon is in Eileen Summers’ class at Southfield Primary.’ She felt the emotion of it all welling up again. ‘Telling him his mother was dead was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.’
Moran put his hand on Jane’s shoulder. ‘You’re doing a good job, Jane. Cases like this get to us all, one way or another. Being compassionate and listening to people shows you care, and in turn makes you a better detective. Just don’t allow your emotions to affect your work or cloud your judgment.’ He opened his notebook and began flicking through the pages.
‘I spoke with Mr. and Mrs. Summers before the identification. Eileen spent half term with them and told her mother she had concerns about a boy in her class being abused.’
‘My God, was it Simon Matthews?’
‘Eileen never divulged any details about the boy or his family to her parents. Apparently, she did speak with the boy’s mother and told her the child had become withdrawn at school, and his classwork was not as good as usual. The mother dismissed Eileen’s thoughts as rubbish and stormed off.’
‘So, it could have been Helen Matthews who Eileen Summers spoke to.’
‘Under the circumstances it seems likely, but we can’t know for sure.’ Moran tapped his notebook with his pencil. ‘It’s strange — Summers didn’t say anything to Mrs. Rowlands, the headmistress?’
‘If she had, I’m sure Mrs. Rowlands would have told me. Maybe Eileen was worried she might lose her job if she was wrong,’ Jane suggested.
‘Either way, the abuse issue needs to be resolved. Get a statement from Brenda Matthews with as much detail as possible about Helen, her acquaintances and relationship with Simon.’
Jane gasped. ‘Are you suggesting his mother was abusing him?’
Moran shrugged. ‘I didn’t say that, but it can’t be ruled out. We also need to find out if Helen Matthews knew Aiden Lang.’
Jane could see that was a valid point, but wondered if there was more behind it. ‘Are you thinking Lang may have abused Simon?’
‘He could have had access to Simon if he knew Helen Matthews. Gibbs interviewed the accountant, who admitted paying Lang for oral sex in the toilets at Hampstead Heath.’
Jane rolled her eyes. ‘And therefore, being a homosexual, he must also abuse children?’
‘No, not necessarily, but he could have a liking for young boys as well,’ Moran said defensively.
Jane thought back to Moran’s advice about not letting your feelings cloud your judgment. But it seemed he had convinced himself that Lang was responsible for all the murders and sexually abusing Simon Matthews.
‘On that basis, it doesn’t make sense that Lang, as a homosexual, would rape two of his female victims,’ Jane argued.
That seemed to be the last straw for Moran. ‘What’s your bloody problem, Tennison? In my time in Vice I came across men who swung both ways — particularly rent boys doing it for the money.’
‘I wasn’t challenging you, sir,’ Jane insisted. ‘Just giving an alternative viewpoint. Like you said yourself, Eileen Summers’ abuse fears could be wrong. When I first saw Simon he seemed quite happy, until I told him about his mother.’
Moran glared at her. ‘How many abused children have you dealt with in your short career?’
‘Well, none yet, but—’
‘People who abuse children always scare them into silence. I want you to interview Simon, but not on your own. Get social services involved. They deal with this sort of thing regularly and can assist with the interview. They can also arrange counseling for the poor lad after all the trauma he’s been through.’
‘Yes, sir, I’ll get a statement off Brenda after she’s identified her daughter’s body,’ Jane said brusquely, turning to walk away.
‘I haven’t finished yet,’ Moran snapped. ‘Do you have an address for Helen Matthews?’
‘Yes, sir.’ She opened her notebook to the relevant page and handed it to Moran, who wrote the address down in his book.
‘I’ll get Lawrence to check the address out for any forensic evidence that might help us.’ He tossed Jane’s notebook back to her.
The morgue attendant approached and told Jane the body was ready for viewing. He apologized about what had happened before and said he’d done a better job this time. Jane thanked him and said she’d be a couple of minutes.