The Doll's House

33

‘My client has told you as much as he knows -’

‘Your client hasn’t told us a single thing,’ Helen barked back, already irritated by the by-the-book primness of Price’s duty brief. ‘And let me give you both a piece of advice. “No comment” is not a good defence. It makes you look guilty.’

Helen stressed the last word.

‘Do you know what you get for abduction and murder, Nathan?’ she continued, determined to keep the pressure up. ‘Fifteen to twenty minimum. How does that sound?’

‘I think we should take a break now,’ the brief resumed predictably.

‘We still have time,’ interjected Lloyd dismissively. ‘More importantly, we still have questions. The same questions. What happened in those two hours, Nathan? Did you let yourself into Ruby’s flat? Overpower her? Or had you already slipped something into her drink at the club?’

Still nothing in response.

‘Your client should know,’ Lloyd carried on, ‘that we have impounded his van. We found some interesting things in the back. The usual pots, tools, building stuff of course, but also a bedroll and several blankets. What are the blankets for?’

‘I sleep in there sometimes when I work. I need blankets,’ Nathan replied.

‘Four of them? In the height of summer? There were hairs on the bedroll, black hairs. You look to me like you’re a natural blond, Nathan, so why are there black hairs there?’

A long pause. Nathan’s brief shot a look at him, clearly waiting for his next move.

‘I’ve nothing to say,’ he eventually replied.

‘So I suggest you charge or release my client,’ his brief followed up quickly.

‘We’re just getting started,’ Lloyd replied, his professional politeness falling away now.

‘You’ve got nothing. You know that, we know that -’

‘Let’s see what the forensics team turn up in the van, shall we?’ Helen replied abruptly. ‘Silly to count our chickens before then. I make it we still have… almost forty hours left to hold your client. Which I’d say is more than enough time for a night in the cells, wouldn’t you, Nathan?’

Not for the first time that day, Helen enjoyed wiping the smile off Nathan Price’s face.