‘Am I under arrest?’ He stroked the huge ginger cat.
‘No, as I said we’d like to conduct a voluntary interview. We need to ask you a few questions that relate to Annabel’s disappearance.’ Gina took a moment to take in his features. She tried to imagine how he’d look on a working day. He was taller than her, blue eyes and a full head of hair and smooth, lightly bronzed skin that was blemish free. His classically handsome looks, square jaw and stubble were attractive. Gina looked away. Although handsome, he was a mess. His old, stained lounge pants and sweater covered in cat hair told her that he was struggling with something.
‘Go ahead, then. I don’t want to go to the police station so fire away, ask me what you want. I don’t need a solicitor as I haven’t done anything. All I’m guilty of is not being able to cope at work. People don’t realise how much pressure teachers are under.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’ Gina smiled. He was cooperating and she wanted it to stay that way.
‘Yeah. Shit happens. Depression is a bitch.’
Gina spotted a box of Fluoxetine on the side. That confirmed that he was being treated for his condition. ‘Could you please confirm your full name, age and job title?’
‘Thomas George Whittle, forty, geography teacher. I prefer Tom.’
Wyre headed up her notebook with that information. A cat jumped up beside her. ‘Hello.’ She stroked its chin.
‘That’s Beryl, she’s very friendly. I inherited her from yet another family that got a kitten and decided that they didn’t want a cat. You can just call me Cleevesford Cat Rescue. This is where the unwanted cats get brought. People know I’m a soft touch.’
Gina was trying to picture this scruffy but handsome man surrounded by cats sexually assaulting Miriam. ‘Where’s your car, Mr Whittle?’
‘Parked up, in my space.’
‘We’ve just passed your space. It wasn’t there.’
‘What?’
‘Your car isn’t parked in its space.’
‘I haven’t used it for a week but it was there then. Wait.’ He ran through the hall and came back five minutes later. ‘I may have left the keys in it. I know I haven’t been broken in to and I don’t keep my car keys on the same ring as the house.’
‘What makes you think you’d leave your keys in your car?’
‘Because I’ve accidentally done it a few times. I realise I walk around in a fog. It’s not healthy I know, which is why I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago. That’s when I called in sick at work.’ He rubbed his hair and scrunched his brows. ‘I’d like to report my car stolen. It’s a good job you came.’
‘We’ll get onto that in a minute.’ She took a moment to watch Tom. He began to tap the side of his head with his index finger, a confused look coming across his face. She also knew that most people who’ve committed a car-related crime try to dump their vehicles and say that they’ve been stolen. She wasn’t convinced of his story.
‘They’re trying to frame me. You think I ran that woman over and took Annabel. Don’t deny it, I can tell. I didn’t do it. I’ve never hurt anyone in my life. I certainly wouldn’t hit someone with my car and leave them. I’m not a monster. I mean look at me, I care for unwanted cats and teach children. I just wouldn’t do that.’
Gina cleared her throat. She needed to get the interview back on track. ‘Ms Law told me of a report that came to her attention, one that has been resolved but we’d like to talk to you about it.’
He shook his head and rolled his eyes. ‘Miriam.’
‘Yes.’
‘She’s got it in for me. The woman kept asking me out all the time and I kept saying no. She’d been harassing me. I told her I’d drop my allegation if she stopped lying and left me alone. I thought we’d got over this. We’ve been avoiding each other really well since.’
‘Can you tell me in your own words what happened?’ She hoped by starting with Miriam, she’d ease him in to talk about Annabel.
‘I was on a free period so decided to set up in the staffroom. I like it there. It’s by the coffee and food. I had a lot of marking to do so carried on. Miriam came in and sat opposite me. She leaned over the table and placed her hand over mine, and then she said that I should meet her in the toilets in five minutes. Just to clarify, she was asking if I wanted sex with her. This wasn’t the first time. I found her overpowering so I told her to leave me alone or I’d report her. She then went on, saying that she knew I wanted her and I liked playing games. It got ridiculous. I know I was sharp but I said that I would never get involved with a crazy bitch like her. She got really mad and slapped me. I don’t know where those words came from and if I could take them back, I would. I was fed up with being harassed and it came to a head.’ He paused and stared at the cat winding around his leg.
‘Go on.’
‘Sorry. The very thought of her repulses me. I didn’t want sex with her, I never have done and I never will do. All I wanted was for her to leave me alone. Next thing I get is Ms Law demanding that I come to her office. That’s when I found out that she’d accused me of sexual assault. She’d been sexually harassing me for months. No wonder I have to take these.’ He picked up the tablets.
Gina smiled sympathetically. She wasn’t convinced by his story but her personal thoughts on that weren’t relevant. The truth finds a way out. ‘Thank you for sharing that with us. Can I ask what your relationship with Annabel is?’
He sat again.
‘There isn’t one.’ He paused. ‘Oh, let me guess. Miriam has been telling you stories. She’s out to get me, I know she is.’
