Moran put his pen down. ‘I take it you’re aware your brother’s wanted on suspicion of three murders?’
Hilary was clearly trying to control her emotions, and didn’t answer immediately.
Moran tapped the table with his pencil. ‘I have to say, you’ve certainly taken your time getting in touch with us. Could you tell me why?’
She coughed into her hand. ‘Well, I never really watch television and didn’t pay much attention to the murders, until I saw Aiden’s picture and realized he was... a suspect. To tell the truth, I wasn’t even sure about coming here, because I know my brother is not capable of murder.’
Moran shrugged. ‘We have a lot of evidence that shows he is, including his fingerprints in two of the victims’ flats. Do you know where your brother is at present?’
Hilary was visibly shocked. ‘No, I haven’t seen him for at least two months. But I’ve spoken to him on the phone.’
‘And when was the last time you spoke with him?’ Moran asked.
‘A week or so ago. He phones every so often to see how me and the children are.’
Moran sat up. ‘Did he say where he was calling from?’
‘From a payphone in Peckham, I think, only because he said that’s where he was living, but he didn’t tell me an address or anything.’
Moran told Hilary her brother had been living at a homeless hostel in Peckham and the hostel was near where the first two victims were found.
Hilary looked stunned. ‘Why are you so sure Aiden killed them?’
‘The most recent victim was found in your brother’s hostel room and he’s not been seen since.’
Hilary gasped and put her hand to her mouth. ‘No. No, you’re wrong. Not Aiden. He’s never hurt anyone.’
‘He’s also wanted for failing to appear at court on assault and robbery charges, which he admitted when originally arrested.’
Hilary shook her head in disbelief, though Moran had omitted the full details of the incident.
There was a knock on the door and DI Gibbs entered, apologized for interrupting and handed Moran a file. Moran handed him a different file and asked him to get it typed up ASAP. Jane thought it odd that Gibbs would interrupt such an important interview unless the file he had handed Moran contained vital information. Jane looked questioningly at Moran, but he ignored her and continued his questioning.
‘What did you and your brother talk about during this phone call?’
Hilary seemed to get her emotions back under control and spoke calmly. ‘It was brief. I did most of the talking and asked him how he was doing. He seemed fine and said he’d ring next week.’
‘Has your brother visited you recently at home?’
‘Like I told you, not for a long time. Aiden and my husband don’t get on. Aiden doesn’t visit on a regular basis, but when he does it’s always when my husband’s at work.’
‘Why don’t they get on?’
Hilary paused, avoiding eye contact with Moran, and started fiddling with her beads again.
‘I could of course ask your husband what the problem is, but I’d prefer to hear it from you, Mrs. Peters,’ Moran said bluntly.
Hilary took a deep breath and looked at Moran. ‘My brother Aiden is gay. Because of his sexuality, my husband won’t talk to him or allow him in our house. My parents disapprove of him, too, but I don’t. I don’t judge Aiden. I accept him for who he is — a kind, gentle and loving person.’
Moran paused to let Jane catch up with her notes.
‘Where do your parents live?’
‘They moved to Betts Hill in Sussex five years ago.’
‘Is it possible your brother could be there?’
She shook her head. ‘You don’t understand. They completely disowned him. They don’t speak to me, just because I keep in contact with Aiden.’
‘Does your brother have a boyfriend?’
‘I don’t know. I don’t ask him about his private life. Why do you keep saying “my brother” all the time? Does it upset you to call him Aiden?’ Hilary asked, her agitation growing.
Jane could sense from the steely look on his face that Moran thought Hilary was hiding something to protect her brother.
He leant forward. ‘We suspect your brother has been sexually abusing the nine-year-old son of one of our murder victims. Do you know Helen Matthews?’
Jane knew they had no evidence that Lang had abused Simon Matthews, so Moran was using this assertion as a scare tactic.
Hilary didn’t seem scared, but she was certainly offended. ‘Aiden is not a monster! He would never abuse or hurt a child, and whoever told you he did is lying!’ she said in a raised but steady voice.
‘You didn’t answer my question, Mrs. Peters.’
‘I don’t know anybody called Matthews,’ Hilary insisted firmly, ‘or the other victims that were in the paper. If I knew where Aiden was, I swear to you I’d tell him to give himself up and clear his name.’
‘Why are you being so defensive? What are you hiding?’
‘Why are you treating me like a suspect?’ Hilary retorted sharply. ‘I came here to offer you my help in finding Aiden.’
Jane thought the pressure to get results had made Moran too aggressive, and they were now in danger of losing the one person who could possibly get Aiden to give himself up. It was as if Moran was convinced that Hilary had come to the station fishing for information and was actually harboring her brother. Jane contemplated taking over the interview to try to placate her, but before she could, Moran was on the attack again.
‘I have officers on the way to your home address as we speak, Mrs. Peters. Is your brother there?’ he asked bluntly.
Hilary frowned. ‘I’m telling you the truth. I haven’t seen Aiden and he hasn’t been to my house in months.’
Jane knew Moran was lying about the search to intimidate Hilary, since they hadn’t known her address before the interview.
‘DI Gibbs is currently organizing a thorough search of your premises,’ Moran continued. ‘The officers attending will also speak with your neighbors about your family. If we find your brother, or any trace of him, you will be arrested for perverting the course of justice.’
Jane was shocked at Moran’s underhandedness as she realized he must have discussed his intentions with Gibbs before the interview. It was now obvious Moran had slipped Hilary’s details into the folder he’d handed Gibbs when he came into the room earlier.
Hilary shook her head in disgust. ‘Why do you need to involve my neighbors? Now they’ll think my husband and me are guilty of harboring a murderer!’
Moran shrugged his shoulders, as if to say he had no choice.
Jane watched as Hilary sat upright, took some deep breaths to calm herself, then glared at Moran with contempt. ‘I pity you, Mr. Moran. You are a homophobic bigot, who perceives that gay men must be sick in the head and therefore more likely to be child abusers and murderers. You need to open your narrow little mind and understand that being gay doesn’t make you a bad person. You seem incapable of considering the possibility someone else murdered those poor women. I know Aiden didn’t do it. You can tell me till you’re blue in the face that he’s guilty — but I’ll never believe you.’
Moran shrugged again, but Jane could see it was just bravado. Hilary had struck a nerve.
‘Sermon over?’ he asked.
‘I was prepared to help you and persuade Aiden to give himself up, but now I want nothing more to do with you. Aiden is a far better person than you will ever be. If I do hear from him, you’ll never know about it, but rest assured I will tell him to keep running as he’ll never receive any form of justice from the likes of you.’ Hilary stood up, leant forward and looked Moran in the eye. ‘Unless you’re going to arrest me for something I haven’t done, I’d like to go.’