The Pharmacist

Despite looking somewhat dishevelled, Rachel Roberts maintained a cool, composed, air. Neither detective had met the woman in person yet, but she was easily recognisable from the photographs they’d seen. A bruise was forming on her cheek, no doubt inflicted by Ian Chapman, and a bloodied graze was on the heel of her hand from her fall on the cemetery path. After introducing himself and his colleague, Jack asked if she wished to see a doctor.

‘No, I’ve already been asked.’ Rachel was brusque, indignant almost, with an impatient air, as if she had somewhere to go. ‘And I don’t want a solicitor either.’

Jack gave a slight nod of acknowledgement and started the interview. Owen had already switched on the tape recorder after they’d entered the room and now named the people present.

Jack commenced with the most crucial question. ‘I’d like to ask you first about the whereabouts of your father, Tom Roberts. Can you tell me where he is?’

‘No.’ Rachel kept her eyes focused on a spot on the wall somewhere behind Jack’s head, not meeting his eyes.

‘Is that because you don’t know, or just that you don’t wish to tell me?’ He needed clarification for the tape.

‘I don’t know where he is. Why don’t you ask my mother, his wife?’

‘Alice thinks you were the last person to see him, which would be after you drugged her and tried to have her locked away as demented.’

‘She is demented. You can’t believe anything she says.’ The look in Rachel’s eyes suggested that she was toying with Jack.

‘Then why don’t you tell me instead?’ Jack’s voice was even and calm. He’d interviewed many offenders throughout his career and learned to control his emotions, whatever the provocation.

She folded her arms and sighed as if bored with the interview. ‘I’ve nothing to tell about my father.’

‘Your father is missing and you’re refusing to help us find him?’ Jack asked.

‘I don’t know where he is.’

‘And I don’t believe you. So why did you leave Penrith and abandon your daughter?’

Rachel looked briefly into Jack’s eyes but said nothing.

‘Why do you think you’re here, Rachel?’ he asked next.

‘Because those stupid people attacked me in the cemetery. I had just as much right to be there as they did.’ She subconsciously rubbed her hand.

‘Whose grave were you visiting, Rachel?’

‘Jenny’s, of course, and I thought I’d pay my respects to Harry Chapman too.’ A sly smile crossed her face. She was toying with them.

‘And can you explain what you said to the Chapmans to make them believe you killed their son?’

‘Is that what they’re saying? Well then, maybe I did?’ She was meeting Jack’s eyes, playing games with him and looking as if she was enjoying it.

‘No, I don’t believe you pushed Harry Chapman down the stairs. I think it was just an accident which you’re using to torment his parents. You seem to take pleasure in hurting others and I rather think you said that simply to punish them.’

Rachel looked surprised by this. A look of confusion crossed Owen’s face and he glanced at his boss.

‘That’s your prerogative; you can think what you like, DI Priestly. Perhaps I did push him, or perhaps not. Who’s going to know for sure now, after all these years?’ The smile was back, baiting the detectives.

Jack returned to his priority. ‘I don’t want to talk about Harry. I want to talk about Tom. When did you last see him, Rachel?’

‘I told you I couldn’t remember. I’m not exactly close to my parents, but that’s not a crime, is it?’

‘Why did you abandon Millie?’

‘Ah, so you’ve finally found something to pin on me now, have you? Let’s see – I was having a breakdown and simply didn’t know what I was doing. Life as a single mother hasn’t been easy for me, you know.’ Her eyes were mocking, the subtext telling Jack that she could plead diminished responsibility. The woman was an accomplished liar and a practised manipulator.

‘We found a rather large number of drugs at your house, Rachel. Why were they there?’

‘I’m a pharmacist. I take work home with me sometimes.’

‘Even Suxamethonium? What would a pharmacist need that for, or are you an anaesthetist too?’

‘I supply to the medical profession, on occasions.’

‘Okay, but we’ll need proof of that. For the last week, my team has been searching through the paperwork from your pharmacy and so far found nothing relating to Suxamethonium. In fact, there seem to be several drugs for which the paperwork is missing. Amphetamines mostly – recreational drugs. Who do you supply with those, Rachel? What kind of business do you run exactly?’ Jack was pushing, angling for a reaction.

‘I’m a damn good pharmacist, it’s my art, and you’ll find nothing amiss with my bookkeeping.’ Rachel, although still cool, almost spat the words at him. Jack noticed her use of the word ‘art’. It brought to his mind the ‘dark arts’ and how something with such potential for good, something used to heal and relieve pain, could also be used for evil.

‘We’ll take a break now. I’ll have some coffee sent in and we’ll continue shortly.’ Jack stood to go and Owen switched off the tape recorder and followed.

* *

‘I think it’s time to let Alice know that we’ve found her daughter, but I want someone with her first,’ Jack told his sergeant when they’d left the interview room. ‘I’m going to ring my wife and ask her to go to Melkinthorpe and I’ll break the news once Sarah’s there. Alice shouldn’t be alone. It seems unlikely that we’re going to find out much about Tom’s plight today. Rachel seems intent on being evasive.’

After Jack rang Sarah, the two men went in search of coffee and Owen took the opportunity to ask his boss a question.

‘I was a bit surprised by what you said in there about Harry Chapman’s death. Do you really think she had nothing to do with it?’

‘Actually, I think it’s more than likely that she did kill him. Rachel Roberts is a psychopath, and a psychopath generally wants you to know all the details. It’s a matter of pride, a way of boasting and letting you know how clever they are. I’m working on the theory that if she thinks we’re inept, she’ll not be able to resist putting us right. My plan is not to ask the questions she wants us to ask.’ Jack smiled at the DS. ‘So, would you like to take over for the next session and play the dumb cop?’