Sian leaned forward. ‘Craig, the evidence doesn’t lie. Somebody has been sexually abusing your daughter. That someone has had regular access to Keeley over the past few months. Now, the only people who know that are you and Linda. So, who comes to your house on a regular basis?’
‘My sister comes around occasionally. My parents. I’m sorry,’ he wiped his eyes. ‘I refuse to believe a member of my family has been abusing my little girl.’
‘Ok. When Keeley goes out to play with friends, where does she go?’
‘I don’t know. I’m always working.’
‘Craig!’ Sian was getting irritated. ‘We need to know the people who have access to Keeley in order to find out who killed her. You need to help us here.’
‘I’m trying.’
‘You’re not.’
‘I don’t know, all right?’ He shouted. ‘I’m never around. I know that makes me sound like a bad father, and I probably am, but I’m working my arse off to keep Riley in medical equipment and nappies and special toys. Jodie wants an iPad then Keeley wants an iPad too. Then Linda moans she hasn’t been out of the house for three weeks and wants to go for a meal, just the two of us. Every time one of them opens their mouth it costs me money. So something has to give. I’m sorry that I don’t know any of Keeley’s friends. But I can’t work two jobs, seven days a week, and spend time with my children.’ He collapsed in a heap on the table.
‘Go in for the kill, Sian,’ Matilda said. The message came through the earpiece both Sian and Scott were wearing.
Scott looked down at the table.
‘Craig,’ Sian began. ‘Have you ever touched Keeley inappropriately?’
***
‘I’m so sorry,’ Linda said.
She was sitting back in her chair with a plastic cup of water in her hand. She was taking small, gentle sips.
‘I keep being sick. I don’t know why. I can’t seem to keep anything down.’
‘That’s understandable given the situation,’ Rory said.
‘No. It’s been happening for months. I thought it was a bug at first, but I can’t seem to shake it.’
‘Have you been to the doctor?’
‘No. I called for some advice. We have to be careful around Riley when it comes to illness and infections. His immune system is very low. I’m fine in myself, I just keep being sick. The doctor thinks it might be a nervous stress type thing.’
‘When was the last time you had a holiday?’ Christian asked.
‘I don’t know the meaning of the word,’ she gave a slight chuckle.
‘There are places Riley can go, respite—’
‘No,’ Linda almost shouted. ‘I’m not palming him off onto complete strangers. He’s my son.’
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—’
‘No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped like that. I know you’re trying to help. Look, can I go? I don’t like being away from Riley for too long.’
‘I have a few more questions I’d like to ask you first,’ Christian said.
‘I really should be getting back,’ she ran her fingers through her greasy hair.
‘Linda, we’re trying to find out who killed your daughter. Now, whoever abused her is high up on our list of suspects and we need to know who that person is. Who are Keeley’s friends? Where does she go when she goes out to play?’
Linda shook her head. ‘She visits the children who live on the same road as us. I know it’s horrible to say this, but it’s nice when she goes out. There’s one less child in the house. We tell her not to talk to strangers, not to go with people she doesn’t know, and when to be back home. She’s a good girl and always does as she’s told, but … I’m sorry,’ Linda broke down once again. ‘I’ve no idea where she goes. That makes me sound like such a bad mother, doesn’t it?’
‘We’re not getting anywhere here, Christian,’ Matilda said into his earpiece. ‘She may as well go home.’
***
Craig looked up from the table. His eyes were wide and steely.
‘I know you have a job to do. I know you have questions to ask,’ his voice was quiet and calm, but he was full of anger. ‘But you’re way off the mark here. I love all three of my children and I would never do anything to harm them. If you think I could have hurt my own daughter, then you are sick. I would lay down my life for all of them.’ He was physically shaking as he spoke, his hands were fists and his knuckles white.
‘Ok,’ Sian said quietly. ‘I’m sorry, but I had to ask.’
‘Can I go now?’
‘There is one more thing I’d like to go over with you,’ Scott said, opening the thin file in front of him. ‘We’ve been speaking to a former colleague of yours – Dean Oliver. He’s mentioned you leaving your former employment under a bit of a cloud. There was talk of parcels going missing from your rounds.’
‘What does this have to do with Keeley being killed?’ he asked, folding his arms across his chest.
‘You were overheard having an argument with Dean in a pub in which he said that if you ever went near him or his family again, you’d pay for it. Now, Dean has been in Corfu for just over a week, so he’s not a suspect in the murder of your daughter, but what happened between you for him to make such a statement? Did you threaten him or his family?’
‘Good questioning, Scott, but don’t put words into his mouth. Let him fill the gaps,’ Matilda said.
Craig couldn’t sit still. He fidgeted nervously and his eyes flitted around the room. ‘Dean’s a jealous twat,’ he suddenly said. ‘He saw me making something of myself, starting up my own business and he couldn’t handle it, because he doesn’t have the gumption to do it himself, so he bad-mouthed me. It pissed me off. I wasn’t going to sit back and let him trash my name all over Sheffield.’
‘Did you threaten him?’ Scott asked.
‘Sort of. It was just a warning. I wouldn’t have acted on it. I had to down three pints before I had the courage to have a go at him. I’m not a violent person. I hate confrontation.’
‘So why was he so violent towards you? What did you do to his family for him to say you’d pay for it?’
Craig closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ‘I was coming home from work one night and I saw his daughter going home from the shops. I pulled over in the van and gave her a message to give to Dean. It was a spur of the moment thing. I regretted it straight away,’ he said, looking down at the table.
‘What was the message?’ Sian asked.
It was a while before Craig replied. ‘I said that if he didn’t stop trying to destroy me, I’d destroy him, and …’
‘Go on,’ Sian prompted when Craig stopped.
‘And … I’d break his daughter’s legs,’ he said quietly.
‘Jesus Christ!’ Finn exclaimed from the observation room.
‘How old was the daughter?’ Sian asked.
‘Eight.’
‘You threatened an eight-year-old girl?’
‘I didn’t mean it. Like I said, it was the spur of the moment. She did ballet or something and it was the first thing that came into my head. I know it doesn’t look good, but I wouldn’t have done it. I’m not that kind of person. I’d never do anything to hurt a child. Ask anyone. Ask Linda. When we were on our honeymoon this bloke tried it on with her and I couldn’t say anything. I’m a coward, ok? I’m all talk.’ He looked away. He couldn’t make eye contact with Sian or Scott.