Simon’s impatience must have been visible, because Mayo started to apologise and say how difficult this all was.
‘Why would anyone want to keep family photographs secret from their family?’ Simon spoke over him. ‘PresumablyJemma Stelling and Gareth Upton were both in some of these photos.’
Mayo nodded. ‘They were in nearly all of them. And Lottie. Look, I’m sorry I’m not able to help you—’
‘I think you’re very able, and I know you’re lying,’ Simon told him. ‘The good news is, you don’t need to. I’m not here officially, as a DC working the case. Either case: Marianne’s murder yesterday, or the attempt on her life in 2012. There’s a strong chance I won’t share what you tell me today with anyone, no matter how incriminating it is – especially if you stop bullshitting me and tell me what you know.’
This produced a suitably puzzled expression from Mayo.Good. Give the shrink something to shrink about.‘You have a once-in-a-lifetime chance, Dr Mayo, to—’
‘It’s Mister. Therapists aren’t generally Doctor.’
‘… tell me the truth and get it off your chest, consequence free. Did you kill Marianne Upton? Did you try to in 2012?’
‘No. I was with a client, as I’ve already—’
‘Why didn’t you and Marianne continue your secret trysts after she survived the attack in November 2012?’ Simon asked.
‘They weren’t trysts.’ Mayo’s voice had a tremor in it. ‘Look, if you must know, we’d been in touch again more recently. No contact at all from around … December 2012 until last year and then when we resumed, it was only by text. Exchanging Wordle scores, mainly. Not much else. She didn’t invite me to the house again, thank God.’
‘Who initiated the texting last year, you or her?’ said Simon.
‘She did. I didn’t want to, but—’
‘Then why did you?’
Mayo pressed his eyes shut, then opened them again. ‘I sworeto myself, if she started angling in for any kind of in-person meeting … But she didn’t.’
‘So you carried on sending her your Wordle score?’
Mayo nodded.
‘Mr Mayo, your story makes as little sense as any story would if half of it was left out. By last year, you’d decided Marianne Upton was dangerous, yes?’
After a fleeting look of panic, Mayo gave a small nod of confirmation.
‘You must have been afraid of her,’ said Simon. ‘Or of what she could do to you, maybe. She wanted to swap Wordle scores … Was it every day?’
‘Most days, yes.’
‘And you didn’t want to, clearly, but you did,’ said Simon. ‘What were you frightened she’d do to you, if you didn’t go along with it?’
No response.
‘Do you know who tried to kill Marianne in 2012, or who stabbed her to death yesterday, if it really wasn’t you?’
‘No.’
‘Could Jemma have done it, do you think?’
‘Absolutely not.’
Was he really as convinced as he sounded? ‘Can I have the names of the two therapy patients?’ Simon asked him. ‘The ones who can vouch for where you were – November 2012 and yesterday?’
‘I’ve already told—’
‘You haven’t told me. And I’m the one asking, aren’t I?’
‘But … you said you weren’t here in your professional capacity. In which case, I don’t understand why you’re here at all.’
