The Whole Truth Hunter, Cara (motivational novels for students TXT) 📖

it? Even rugby players wash.’

Quinn looks sceptical. ‘While keeping her DNA intact on his hands? That’s not so easy.’

Ev shrugs. ‘Rubber gloves?’

But Quinn’s still not convinced. ‘So he rapes her, goes to a hell of a lot of trouble to make sure she won’t remember it, but then goes out of his way to draw attention to himself – and cause himself no end of shit – by reporting her for attempted assault? What’s all that about?’

‘I think you’re right,’ says Gislingham. ‘There’s something else going on here – something we’re not seeing.’

Somer looks up, a frown darkening her face. ‘Maybe we just haven’t been asking the right questions.’

‘OK,’ says Gis slowly, ‘well, now’s our chance. Marina Fisher’s in the room down the hall.’

* * *

Interview with Marina Fisher, conducted at Kidlington Witness Suite, Oxford

13 July 2018, 12.15 p.m.

In attendance, DS C. Gislingham, DC V. Everett, Ms N. Kennedy (solicitor)

CG: Interview commenced at 12.15, Friday 13th July. This is the third interview in connection with the sexual assault allegations made by Caleb Morgan. I should remind you that you are still under caution. For the purposes of the recording, Professor Fisher’s son, Tobin, has just been interviewed by a specialist Thames Valley officer. During this interview, Tobin was asked about the night of July 6th. He says he saw you in the kitchen, Professor Fisher. With Caleb Morgan.

MF: What do you mean he ‘saw’ us?

CG: The description is consistent with the two of you having sex.

MF: But I told you –

CG: That you couldn’t remember, I know. Well, there might be a reason for that. The way Tobin described it, Morgan may have given you some sort of date-rape drug. That would account for your lack of recall.

MF: [gasps and turns away]

CG: Tobin also said he thought Morgan was hurting you. Though that may just have been down to him not understanding what he was seeing –

MF: [begins to sob]

But I’d have known – the following morning, I’d have known –

NK: [quietly, to her client]

Not necessarily. Not if he used protection.

CG: So on that basis –

NK: [interrupting]

Can’t you just give her a moment, for heaven’s sake?

[silence]

VE: Professor Fisher, we do understand how hard this must be, but what Tobin said – it could change everything.

MF: [struggling for composure]

OK.

[pause]

OK.

NK: Are you sure? You don’t have to do this right now –

MF: No – I want to. I want to get this over with and take my son home.

NK: [turning to the officers]

OK, so what exactly did Tobin say?

VE: He said Professor Fisher looked ‘floppy’ and ‘sleepy’. That’s why we believe she could have been administered with some sort of date-rape drug, possibly in the champagne.

[to Fisher]

Do you remember if you were watching when Mr Morgan poured it?

MF: No, he had his back to me. I didn’t think anything of it at the time.

CG: I see. We’ve already checked the bottle and glasses, but there was no trace of such a substance in either. Nor was anything detected in your toxicology screen, which, as you no doubt realize, is going to make it almost impossible to prove.

NK: Why am I not surprised –

CG: Having heard what your son said, is there anything else you can recall about that night? Perhaps something that may not have seemed relevant before?

MF: No. I’m sorry. I’ve already told you everything I can remember.

VE: If Morgan hadn’t used such a substance before he might not have realized how long it would take to take effect, especially as you’d had a heavy meal. That could account for the scratches – he might have started to assault you before you were fully sedated, and you attempted to defend yourself. Are you sure you don’t remember anything like that?

MF: [hangs her head]

No.

CG: If you were given such a drug, it would of course throw a very different light on the subsequent accusation made against you. Do you know why Mr Morgan would have made such an allegation, that being the case?

NK: Isn’t it obvious? He wanted to cover up his own criminal behaviour by turning the tables on my client.

CG: That’s one explanation. But there may be others. Revenge, perhaps? Is there any motive at all that you can think of?

MF: [despairing]

No, absolutely nothing. I always thought we got on very well. I’ve gone out of my way to support him –

NK: Are you proposing to charge Morgan?

CG: Clearly we have yet to interview him about this –

NK: You were quick enough to arrest Marina. No wonder Tobin’s been having nightmares – he saw his mother being raped –

* * *

‘Blimey, he doesn’t do things by halves, does he? Must be nice having parents who can afford to call in a whole platoon.’

Gislingham and Quinn are back at St Aldate’s, watching as Caleb Morgan and his lawyers are shown into Interview One. Meredith Melia is in a mint-green trouser suit and Patrick Dunn in his trademark white open-necked shirt; he must buy them by the hundredweight. They’ve brought a bag-carrier too, an earnest-looking young woman in glasses, laden with two pilot cases and a stack of files.

‘They’re probably full of bricks, just to intimidate us,’ says Quinn, nodding towards the bags.

Gislingham gives a grim smile. ‘Well, it’s working.’ He draws himself up a little, then turns to Quinn. ‘Find Ev, would you? Let’s rustle up a little posse of our own.’

Quinn grins. ‘I’ll see if I can find you a nice big sheriff badge too.’

* * *

Unlike his lawyers, Caleb Morgan hasn’t bothered dressing for the occasion. In fact, Ev wouldn’t be at all surprised if they’d told him exactly what to wear: the slightly grubby T-shirt and cargo shorts might as well be a big flashing sign saying, ‘Our client is completely relaxed about this whole process.’

By the time everyone has a seat and a glass of water, the room is already fugging up, and Ev’s starting to envy that T-shirt. She can feel the sweat prickling under her arms.

Gislingham looks round the table and it’s not until the