‘Nothing,’ Kim replied honestly.
‘Exactly. There is not one movement or expression change when talking about the butterflies. That tells us that he does have great control of his actions and you really are looking for just the odd clue. Get him talking about the girls without the butterflies and take away his tea and I’d be interested to see how much control he can maintain.’
‘Got it,’ Kim said.
‘When you move on to his justification for taking the girls, he maintains his composure. I can tell you now that he absolutely doesn’t believe he’s done anything wrong. He truly believes he’s been a saviour to the girls he’s taken.
‘Your use of any word that hints of impropriety is offensive to him. He is annoyed but not yet angry. I think he’s annoyed that you don’t get it.’
‘Oh, I get it, and I still think he’s a sicko.’
‘Now here’s where it gets even more interesting. Your first mention of Melody is the only time I’ve seen genuine sadness on his face. Look – the corners of the lips pull down, his cheeks rise in a near squint and his upper eyelids droop. Also, true sadness is revealed through reliable muscles in the chin. As you get more aggressive and direct in your questioning about Melody, he scrunches up his nose and raises his cheeks and upper lip. He is disgusted that you think he did anything sexual to her. As you bait him further, the disgust turns slowly to anger.’ She jumped again to the next marker. ‘Look at his pulled-down eyebrows and narrowed, pulled-in lips. You are really winding him up at this point.’
‘Yes, that was my intention. I wanted to push him, but do you have any clues as to why he asked for his lawyer?’ Kim asked, sitting back. ‘He waived the right to representation when he walked into the room. He knew what he’d been arrested for, so he knew what he was going to be questioned about. He knew we were going to be talking about Melody, so why wait to say he wants a lawyer?’
‘I can give you more than a clue for his reasoning, and it has nothing to do with Melody. It has everything to do with you.’
‘Explain,’ Kim instructed.
‘Your disapproval has prompted him to call a lawyer. It may be that he’s punishing you by adding a barrier to your communication. He sees the similarities between the two of you; where you spent your early years, a mother with mental illness.’
Kim bristled. Previously, Alison had worked the case with them where someone from her near past had recreated crime scenes based on her distant past. Much of her childhood had been laid bare for the consumption of her team. Alison had almost lost her life. It bothered Kim less that the team knew of her beginnings than the fact that it was part of her work. Again.
‘Do you think he chose this nick because of that?’ Kim asked, realising Bryant had noted this before anyone and had already warned her.
‘Without a doubt,’ Alison offered.
‘So he’s expecting some kind of concession perhaps. He thinks I’ll go easy on him because I understand where he came from?’
Alison shook her head. ‘I don’t think he’s expecting anything specific in return. He doesn’t think you won’t do your job, but he’s disappointed, and I think it’s because you don’t get him. It’s important to him that you do.’
‘Why?’
‘Steven Harte appears to have formed emotional attachments with the girls he’s taken, and whether you like it or not, he appears to be forming one with you.’
Forty-Five
It was exactly 8 a.m. when Kim received the call that Harte’s lawyer had arrived. It was no later than 8.01 a.m. that Kim groaned upon learning who it was.
‘It’s Kate Swift, people,’ Kim said, putting down the phone.
A collective groan travelled around the room until it reached Alison.
‘Who’s Kate Swift?’
‘An ambitious, ruthless but brilliant solicitor who normally encourages her clients to go along the no-comment route. She’s a cool fish. We’ve had her here a couple of times, but not many of our normal clients can afford her prices.’
‘You think he’ll close up now?’ Bryant asked.
Kim shrugged. After what Alison had said, it depended on how badly he wanted to punish her.
‘Stace?’ she asked, feeling the noose begin to tighten around her neck.
‘Going as quick as I can, boss,’ she said, without looking up.
‘Be back in a minute,’ Kim said, heading out the door.
Maybe a quick word with his solicitor would help move things along, she thought to herself as she descended the stairs.
‘Ms Swift, good to see you again,’ Kim said, standing in the doorway to the foyer.
If Alison could see her now, she’d be screaming, ‘Liar.’
‘We’ll bring your client through shortly, but if I could just take a minute of your time.’
‘Just a minute,’ she said, looking at her watch pointedly.
The woman had not changed since the last time they’d met. She still wore a smart navy trouser suit with heels that lifted her a good three inches. Her white shirt was crisp and clean. Her long black hair was tied in a ponytail that stretched halfway down her back. Her face was attractive and not needing much cosmetic enhancement.
‘Obviously I’m eager to speak with my client.’
‘Your client has abducted an eight-year-old girl. We need to know where she is.’
‘That’s your job, Inspector, not mine.’
Any hope Kim had of appealing to the woman’s humanity was disappearing fast.
‘Ms Swift, we’re pretty sure he’s responsible for the abduction and murder of Melody Jones, twenty-five years ago. Your client is dangerous.’
‘Has he confessed to any crime?’
‘Not yet.’
‘And he’s been arrested and not charged?’
‘That’s correct.’
‘Then you have suspicion but no evidence?’
‘Oh, we will have,’ Kim said, realising she was getting nothing from this woman.
‘Then I suggest you get it by three o’clock this afternoon or my client will be walking out of here and back to his life.’
Kim had the urge to reach out and slap the polite formality out of her.
She had the feeling Kate Swift’s client could have been witnessed setting fire to her own grandmother and she’d still want a DNA test done on the matches.
‘We will get him, Ms Swift,’ Kim warned, opening the door to let her through.
‘We’ll see, Inspector. We’ll see.’
Forty-Six
Less than five minutes after letting Kate Swift onto the premises, Kim saw Mitch pull into the car park with the trailer.
Although the request had been put in yesterday, the team’s priority had been in searching the house. He’d assured her he’d be here bright and early to impound the car.
She would swear she heard her whole team sigh with relief when she headed out to meet him. She was like a ticking clock pacing around the squad room. They had just over an hour and a half before she had to go and release Harte without charge. Once that email landed in her inbox, her hands were tied.