‘I’m a journalist. I wanted to ask him some questions aboutthe verdict, his victims and to also find out if he thought he was in danger.’
‘Why would he be in danger?’
Ben looked across at Ramouter and Copeland open mouthed. ‘Is it possible to be both smart and stupid at the same time?’ he said.
‘Watch your mouth,’ Copeland warned. ‘Stop with the attitude and answer the question.’
‘Is she allowed to talk to me like that?’ asked Ben.
‘Answer the question. Why did you think he was in danger?’ asked Ramouter.
‘People think that because I’m running around the streets and make my living from YouTube that I’m an idiot, but I’m not. The serial crimes unit is investigating Fox-Carnell who was murdered after she basically got away with murder and Tabitha Ashcroft who was nearly killed because she got away with murder. Nathan Hall, if you ask me, got away with raping four men. Am I on the right track?’
Ramouter bit his cheek to stop himself from confirming that Ben was indeed right.
‘Yeah, I’m on the right track,’ Ben said smugly.
‘What happened when you got through the gate?’ Ramouter asked.
Ben shuffled down in his seat, the bravado disappearing as quickly as smoke in the wind. The photograph he was still holding tremored slightly in his hand.
‘What happened when you went into the house, Ben?’ Ramouter asked softly.
Ben sniffed, dropped the photograph and rubbed his face vigorously with both hands. ‘If you watch enough true crime, you always hear that blood smells coppery but that makes it sound as though you’re sniffing a handful of pennies but it’s … it’s worse than that,’ he said.
‘It sticks in your throat, doesn’t it?’
‘Yeah, that’s exactly it,’ said Ben as he finally looked up. His eyes red and wet with tears.
‘What did you see when you got in the house?’
‘He was on the floor. Nathan was on the floor.’
Copeland flashed a look of surprise at Ramouter. ‘On the floor. Are you sure?’ she asked Ben.
‘Where else would he have been?’ Ben asked as he looked quizzically at Copeland.
‘What state was he in?’ asked Ramouter.
‘Alive. I could hear him breathing. I didn’t touch him because that’s what they tell you, isn’t it? Not to touch someone if they’re injured.’
‘But you didn’t call the police.’
‘That’s because I heard voices, and I ran upstairs.’
‘What did they sound like?’ said Ramouter.
‘Men. Both men. One was definitely south London, and he sounded like he was in charge and the other, he had an accent. I couldn’t really place it because the TV was on and I was too busy running for my life.’
‘Where did you hide?’ asked Copeland.
‘In a cupboard.’
‘How long were you there for?’
‘I don’t know maybe half an hour.’
‘Half an hour in the cupboard. Knowing that Nathan Hall was still alive downstairs, and you didn’t call the police. You’re unbelievable.’
