Page 90 of First Blood

She ended the call as they entered Marianne’s office to continue the staff interviews.

Kim frowned. ‘I’m still trying to work it out. Something about the real meanings behind bloody nursery rhymes.’

‘Guv, I don’t like to say but…’

‘Yeah, yeah, I know,’ she interrupted. Dawson’s time-wasting activities had reached a whole new level. She’d speak to Woody this evening and have him replaced by the morning.

‘We’ve got Louella Atkins next. I asked for Carl, but apparently the counsellor needs to get off urgently.’

Kim swallowed down her annoyance. There was something not sitting well with these two brothers and she wanted to find out what it was.

But Carl would just have to wait, she thought, as a gentle tap sounded on the door.

‘Come in,’ Bryant called out.

The woman who entered was in her mid-thirties with a short, severe haircut that tapered into the back of her neck. The blunt fringe instantly drew attention to the hazel eyes. She wore no make-up to cover two deep acne scars on her cheek.

She offered a smile as she sat in the empty chair.

‘We’ll try not to keep you too long, Ms Atkins,’ she offered.

‘Louella, please,’ she offered. ‘And anything I can do to help.’

Except change your appointment and wait in line, Kim thought.

‘You counselled Hayley Smart when she was here?’

‘I did the best I could, Inspector, but Hayley wasn’t a natural confider.’

Kim began to wonder just who Hayley had ever talked to other than her child. She was piecing together a solitary existence for the young woman with no family and friends.

‘And she was here for the full six months?’

‘She was indeed.’

‘Would you like to tell me anything about your conversations?’ Kim pushed.

‘She was lonely, Inspector. I know that. Hayley was a “better when” kind of person.’

Kim shook her head, not understanding the term.

‘Throughout her early life she convinced herself that things would be better when something or other happened. She told me she felt her life would be better when her mother came back to fetch her. When that dream died she felt her life would be better when she found a foster family that would love her. Over time that hope faded and she felt her life would be better when she could escape the care system completely and make it on her own.’ Louella paused. ‘The care system would not be categorised as a warm and nurturing environment where—’

‘Is that why she had Mia?’ Kim asked. She was well-versed in the care system.

‘I think so. Better when she had someone of her own to love.’

‘Did she believe that Luke Fenton had sexually abused Mia?’ Kim asked, hoping for a negative response. For some reason she really wanted to believe that Hayley would not knowingly have placed her daughter in danger.

Louella thought for a moment. ‘I think she did but she didn’t want to.’

‘You think she was too vulnerable, too desperate for love to withstand Luke’s persuasion.’

Louella nodded. ‘As I’m sure you know abusers play on emotions, primarily fear. They will tell children that if they speak of abuse something terrible will happen to them or someone they love. But there are other fears. Fear of exposure, fear of physical harm, fear of being alone and I think Luke may have managed to convince Hayley that he was the only one who would love her. I think he probably played on her wish to believe that nothing had happened. He was the first man to pay any interest in her. He made her feel valued; he made her feel like somebody for what was probably the first time in her life.’

Given what they’d learned about Luke Fenton Kim was surprised he possessed the charm to lure her back to his home. It wasn’t a personality trait he’d displayed either at work or to his neighbours. But they didn’t have a nine-year-old child, a small voice said inside her. And Mia had been the real prize. His courtship of Hayley had been a means to the end.

‘We tried to give her the confidence. Her abilities were ummm… limited so finding work was…’