A Room Full of Killers, Michael Wood [best books for students to read txt] 📗

Christian turned to look at Sian. She had children the same age as the boys in Starling House. The look of disgust on her face showed how difficult it was to hear of a man admitting his grotesque crimes in such a cool and calm way.

‘If we get a list together of all the boys who were at Starling House while you worked there, would you be able to tell us which ones you abused?’

‘Yes.’

‘You brought things from the outside for the inmates, in return for sexual favours. Is that correct?’

‘Yes.’

‘What did you bring them?’

‘Chocolate, magazines, games, anything they wanted.’

‘Why did you do it?’ Sian asked. It was the first time she’d spoken, and her question was loaded with rage.

‘Because I was able to,’ he replied calmly, as if anybody would have taken advantage of the position he was in.

‘Is that it?’

‘What do you want me to say? Would you like me to tell you I was abused as a child, that I was bullied at school, that I’ve always struggled to meet women? Sorry, can’t help you there. I had a wonderful childhood; I was the school bully, and I’ve been married once and had three serious relationships with women since my divorce. If you’re looking for some psychological reason why I did it, you’re out of luck.’

‘So you abused them just because they were in your care?’

‘You keep using the word abuse like I’m some kind of paedo, I’m not. They consented. Yes, I bought them things, but I didn’t force them to do anything.’

‘Consented? Did Lee Marriott consent to you having sex with him?’ Sian asked, the look of disgust on her face.

‘As a matter of fact, yes, he did,’ Richard sniggered.

‘Why? What did you bribe him with? And why only Lee?’

‘You’ve seen him. He’s timid, frightened of his own shadow. I could have asked him to do anything.’

‘You’re disgusting,’ Christian said, allowing his feelings to get the better of him.

Sian jumped in. ‘Lee Marriott was a vulnerable—’

‘Vulnerable?’ Richard laughed. ‘You’re joking surely! They’re killers, each and every one of them have committed murder. Their victims were vulnerable; they’re pure evil. They’re manipulative, lying, deceitful bastards. I was just giving them a taste of their own medicine.’

‘Did that also include murdering them?’ Sian asked.

‘What?’

‘Did you kill Ryan Asher and Jacob Brown?’

‘No, of course not.’

‘Why “of course”? You said yourself you were giving them a taste of their own medicine; Jacob Brown was found hanging in the woods – he raped and murdered his girlfriend in the woods. Wouldn’t it be justice if he was killed in similar circumstances?’ Christian asked, leaning forward on the table.

Richard Grover was visibly sweating. The cocky grin on his face as he defended his actions had fallen, to be replaced by angst and worry. ‘I didn’t kill them, honest.’

‘Why should we believe you?’ Sian asked. ‘You’ve readily admitted, on record, that you’ve abused boys in your care since you started work at Starling House in 2012. That’s four years of abuse. You’ve lied, betrayed, and manipulated for four years. Do you honestly expect us to believe you didn’t kill them too?’

‘But I didn’t,’ the panic in his voice was evident. Richard was almost out of his chair. His sweaty hands were clenched tight as the anger raged through his body.

‘What do you think, Sian?’ Christian asked. ‘For four years he’s lied, abused, manipulated, betrayed, isn’t murder the next step?’

‘I’d have thought so,’ she agreed.

‘NO! Look, I’ll put my hand up to the abuse. I’ve already told you. I’ll give you names and everything, but I’m not a killer. You have my word.’

‘Your word means nothing, Richard. Interview terminated 14:27,’ Christian said, turning off the recording and standing up.

‘What happens to me now?’

‘You’ll be locked up and thrown to the wolves,’ Christian said.

The arrogant Richard Grover who had strutted into the interview room was now a shell of a man as he sat back in his chair and thought about what he had done.

‘Lady,’ he called out to Sian as she was halfway through the door. Sian turned to look at him. ‘Have you got kids?’

‘Don’t answer him,’ Christian replied quickly.

Sian mused over the question. Richard Grover didn’t frighten her. He was a pathetic waste of space. ‘Yes. I’ve got four.’

‘I’ll get off. The jury will believe me over six convicted killers. When I do, I’ll come and find you, and your kids. I’ll enjoy fucking a copper’s kid.’

‘You sick, fu—’ Sian lunged forward but Christian grabbed her and pulled her out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

‘I told you not to answer him.’

‘Bastard,’ Sian said, wiping the tears from her eyes. ‘When he’s locked up I’m going to make sure everyone knows what he’s done, and I hope they fucking crucify him.’ She walked away, head down, hiding the flow of tears. It took a great deal for Sian to get emotional, but any threat against her family and nothing would stand in the way of her revenge.

FIFTY-NINE

‘Why do I have to sit in the back?’

‘Because it’s my car and I’m driving.’

‘Why can’t I sit in the front?’

‘Because I get sick if I sit in the back of a car.’

Matilda leaned back and folded her arms liked a spoiled child. The fish and chips she had been forced to eat were lying heavy and giving her a severe attack of heartburn. The fact the windows in the car were open as they drove steadily along the motorway meant Matilda couldn’t hear any of the conversation between Adele and Pat in the front so she had to sit and be quiet.

The vibration of an incoming text message gave her something to do. She had texted Sian and told her to make her excuses to the ACC if she wanted to know where she was. The reply:

I told Val you were ill. She’s fine.

She breathed a sigh of relief. She put her phone away and quickly brought it back out again and started texting Scott, hoping he would be still