Chapter 56
Fifty-Six
‘I think this is it,’ Bryant said, pulling up in front of an end terrace in Old Hill.
Once Lena Hubbard had been safely secured in the police car, Kim’s thoughts had quickly returned to their two victims. Stacey had turned up no link between Gemma Ross and Nadine Cowley yet, so for now Joe Butler remained their prime suspect in the murders of both Ashley Reynolds and Nadine Cowley.
No conversations with the man had been easy, and she wanted to be as well prepared as possible before questioning him.
There was something that had been bugging her since she’d met the Butlers.
The man had a charge for domestic violence, he appeared to have a quick temper, he couldn’t remain faithful, and yet Ashley Reynolds had still felt he was the better parent. The question was, why?
Before she went into the interview room, she wanted as much ammunition as she could carry, and there was only one place she could get it.
The door was answered by a woman in grey leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. Her brown hair was short and untidy. She wore no jewellery except a plastic-strapped watch.
‘Abby Butler?’ Kim asked, holding up her identification.
She nodded as fear contorted her features. ‘The boys are fine. You can come in and—’
‘We’re not here for the boys,’ Kim reassured her, and from what she could hear in the background, she was correct. A squeal and then laughter sounded from within.
‘They’ve just finished their homework,’ Abby said, as though she had to explain every parenting decision to someone.
‘We’re not the homework police,’ Kim said in an attempt to put her at ease. ‘It really has nothing to do with the boys.’
Abby visibly relaxed and stepped aside for them to enter. She closed the door and headed to the kitchen ahead of them.
‘Okay, boys, upstairs to change,’ she said to the twins. ‘I’ll get your tea going in just a bit.’
‘Beans on toast,’ one chanted after giving her and Bryant the onceover.
‘Spaghetti on toast,’ the other one said, ignoring them completely.
Abby folded her arms. ‘Off you go upstairs, have a meeting and decide which one.’
Kim smiled as they did exactly as they were told.
Abby sat and beamed as though she still couldn’t believe they were here with her.
‘Not the most nutritious meals, but…’
‘Definitely my favourite as a kid,’ Bryant said, taking a seat. ‘A bit of cheese on top and you can’t beat it.’
Abby smiled her thanks at Kim’s colleague, who never failed to put someone at ease. And he was right to do it. Not every parent could ensure that kids got five a day every day, and sometimes a hot meal of any kind would do the job.
‘We’re here to talk about Joe,’ Kim said, once she was seated.
‘Is he okay?’ Abby asked, sitting forward.
‘He’s fine. We’d just like to know more about him.’
‘May I ask why?’
‘I can’t share that right now. But we understand there was violence between the two of you?’
‘He hit me once, and in hindsight, I don’t blame him. I would have wanted to as well.’
In Kim’s mind, there was a chasm of difference between wanting to and actually doing it.
‘Everything he claimed wasn’t true, though,’ she continued. ‘I didn’t line the boys up to watch me take my own life. But I did attempt it, and they were in the house at the time.’
A wave of shame passed over her face. ‘I can never undo that and I’ll never forgive myself for it, but I was a different person then. Thank God he came back when he did and stopped me.’
‘You’re not angry with him at all?’ Kim asked, surprised.
She shook her head. ‘Why would I be? He saved our children, and he was there for them when they needed him.’
‘Were there any other incidents of violence?’
Abby shook her head. ‘Don’t get me wrong, Joe had the ability to get angry. Sometimes he had a quick temper. But he always maintained enough control to walk away and cool down.’
‘Were you ever scared for your safety?’ Kim asked.
‘Never.’
‘Did he ever hit the boys?’
‘Absolutely never. He’s an arsehole, but he’s a great dad. He would never harm them.’
‘So why did you fight for custody?’ Kim asked. This woman was not giving her the answers she’d expected.
‘Officer, it’s taken me a long time to get where I am today.
I didn’t deserve these boys, and it was right to remove them from my care, but I’ve worked damned hard to be in their lives.
I’ve taken the treatment, I’ve taken the medication, I’ve taken the counselling.
I’ve taken parenting classes. I’ve taken everything that’s been offered to me.
‘I’ve spent the last two years earning back their trust and their love. I’ve had supervised visits. I’ve had unsupervised visits and weekly sleepovers. I’ve taken every instruction and every bit of advice, and it was damn worth it. In the meantime, Joe has taken excellent care of our children.’
The woman had no animosity towards Joe Butler. In fact, she was even grateful to him.
‘So, why take them away from him?’
‘Because I couldn’t stand their tears when it came time for them to go back.’
‘But you said he was a great father?’
‘Oh, they love their dad. It’s her they can’t stand. They absolutely loathe his new wife, Lucinda.’
Kim was about to gather more details when her phone rang.
‘Hey, Jack,’ she answered, leaving the kitchen table as one of the boys shouted ‘beans’ down the stairs.
‘Inspector, you might want to get here pronto,’ the custody sergeant said. ‘You’ve got quite the fan club building up, and I’ve got two drunk and disorderlies on their way in and nowhere to put them.’
‘On my way,’ she said, before ending the call.
She considered asking Abby a few more questions, but there was no point.
This woman was not going to give her what she needed to get the truth out of Joe Butler.