A Mother's Son

The police must already be aware of this boy, given his history.

We won't be telling them anything they don't know already.

Well, about him, no.

Rosie, I cannot believe that our son

could have ever...

And would ever, ever hurt anybody.

But if this other lad has, and he's used Jamie some way.

I don't know. You know, to cover his tracks for him.

You know, because Jamie has done something appalling.

Something very, very wrong and when the dust has settled we're going to have to sit down with him.

But right now, I... I cannot see...

what is to be gained from taking this to the police.

Can you?

No.

No, I can't.

I have to go.

Where are the trainers now?

Why?

It's all right.

Night-night.

Sainsbury's open late these days.

Sorry.

I just need some time alone to think. What nearly four hours? Wow!

Things are obviously worse than I thought they were.

Oh, please speak to me, Rosie, you're really scaring me.

Are we seriously in trouble because of a few problems

that surely can be talked through? Are we that fragile?

No.

I'm so sorry, Ben.

What sort of hairs? Pubic, in amongst hers,

which would suggest she had sex immediately prior to her death.

But she still thinks not rape. There are no indications of rape.

OK. Let's talk to the parents again, see if there's a boyfriend we've missed

or a - what is it they call them these days? Friends with benefits.

Yeah. The hair's gone to the lab? First thing. Results in a couple of days.

Hello. Morning, can I speak to David Haleton, please?

Speaking. Hi, this is DC Sue Upton from Ryder Hill Police station.

Oh, hi. I'm part of the investigation team working on the Lorraine Mullary case.

Oh, yeah.

I think one of our officers spoke to your son Jamie couple of days ago at school.

Oh, yeah, he said, yeah.

We're just confirming all the details the kids gave us now. Yeah, no problem.

Jamie said that he left school at about quarter to four. Yeah.

And then came straight to your house,

and that he stayed there till eight and then...

OK, and then went home to his mum's, where he lives. Yeah.

You can confirm all that? I can, yeah.

And you were there all that time?

Er, yeah, I was here from when he arrived to when he left, yeah.

And he didn't go out during that time at all?

Er... No, he didn't, no. And how long would it have taken him to get to his mum's? Ten minutes, maybe.

OK, well, I think that's it.

Yep, that's it. I said it was nice and simple.

Oh, OK. I doubt we'll need to speak to you again but if we do

is this the best number to call? Yeah, this is fine. Jolly good.

Thank you very much then, Mr Haleton. Yeah, no problem.

Bye now.

Hey, Rob.

All right, sweetheart?

I was home on Monday. I got back just after seven.

You what? Last Monday.

I was there. All the time.

I think you were at piano on Monday, weren't you?

She forgot I was meant to do two hours.

Her brain's going.

She let me off at seven and I got back just after ten past.

I saw Jamie in the kitchen.

He wasn't at his Dad's. Why are you telling me this?

Rob, is there something worrying you? No, I'm sorry. I'm just thinking about my sister.

Rob! Robert!

Just picking him up, OK? Would you keep and eye? Yeah.

Jamie.

Jamie!

Hey. What's the matter?

I need to talk to you. About what?

Not here. About what? Can you get in the car, please?

Mum, I'm meeting friends. We followed you, your dad and me, yesterday, from school.

We know who you've been hanging out with and we're very worried. Why the hell did you follow me?

Sweetheart, we'll always love you, darling, no matter what...

No matter what mistakes you've made I'll always love you, but...

we know. Know what?

About your trainers.

I found them, Jamie, I know about your trainers and the blood on them.

What are you saying? You know what I'm saying.

No, I don't, spell it out. What are you saying?

Jamie - No!

Are you all right? I'm fine, I'm fine.

Fuck you, Mother.

So, how sure are you it is blood? I found a test on the internet.

It's blood.

And what makes you think the shoes were hidden under there as opposed to just being lost?

He made up some lie about them being stolen. Why else do that? Cos he thought he had lost them?

Thought that saying they were stolen would annoy you less? There's other stuff. His timelines don't add up.

Someone put all his school clothes in the washing machine at 6:30 on Monday.

He didn't get back until 8:15.

So, are you seriously suggesting... You think it could be Lorraine Mullary's blood?

All I know is, this other kid assaulted a young girl a year or so ago

Jamie has been hanging out with him. Has he offered an explanation for the shoes?

We didn't really get that far.

You haven't actually asked him straight? We were outside school, Ben.

He got really upset when I mentioned them, and why wouldn't he?

If I'm completely wrong about this, why the hell wouldn't he react badly?

When did you find them?

Tuesday.

Last Tuesday? Yeah.

That's a week, Rosie. I know. You've kept this to yourself for a week?

Oh, I see. You told David.

I had to. Oh, wow!

You told your ex-husband before you told me.

David's his father. And a man you say you loathe,

whose opinions you ridicule. But you shared this with him before you did with me.

At least you competing with someone still alive, someone you stand a chance against.

You're a solicitor, I didn't want to compromise you. Oh, please, that's insulting!

This is so far beyond anything to do with my work. This is family, Rosie.

Our family! I'm sorry.

Well, we need to talk to him as soon as he gets back. Not we, you.

Oh, God, call David if you want to. No, we'll do it, you and me.

Fine. We'll do it.

And then?

Well, if he can't come up with a reasonable explanation...

we'll have to go to the police, won't we?

OK.

First up...

to be completely clear, I didn't kill Lorraine Mullary.

Jamie, I never thought - Nor did I have anything to do with her death or know how she died.

You asked about my trainers.

It's fox blood.

It's from a dead fox. I found it on the road by the heath.

We gave it a boot for a laugh. Not very grown-up, I know.

But, hey, get it tested, it's fox blood.

So, why did you hide them? I didn't, where were they?

Under your bed. Well, someone must have kicked them under.

Obviously, I said they were nicked because I knew you'd be mad. I'm sorry.

And where were you, then, from after school until eight?

Cos we know that you weren't at your father's.

With a mate, having a puff.

Puff?

What, you mean dope? Weed, yes. I'm sorry.

Which friend? Sean Christie?

Yes. I presume you know that Christie was arrested last year

over an assault on a young girl. She was a nutter, the charges were dropped.

So you said you were at your dad's. I didn't think it was the smartest idea to tell them I was with Sean.

So, where did you go?

The woods.

Nowhere near the beach? No.

And that's all you did? Yes.

And you definitely didn't see Lorraine? No.

So, what time did you get back here?

Erm... Don't know. About half-six, quarter to seven, I think.

And then you put a wash on?

A wash? Someone put a wash on. I've asked all the others.

Oh, actually, I think I did. Why, Jamie? You've never put a wash on in your life.

Because my clothes stank of smoke.

What did you wash?

What I was wearing. Whatever else was in the laundry bin.

Why didn't you tell your mum all this earlier, at school?

Cos I've got GCSEs coming out of my arse, Jess accusing me of being a pervert,

a school friend murdered and you ask me why I don't act rationally,

when my mum suggests that I'm involved in this.

I was upset and confused. Sorry.

Do you have children? A little one.

Just eight. You know everything about them at that age, don't you?

They're just an extension of you, really, aren't they?

Then slowly...

they start to pull away.

Make their own lives, become their own people.

Make their own choices.

Own mistakes.

Which is what you want.

It's what your job was, wasn't it?

Roots...

and wings.

Then it's OK, because you know that they'll come back.

When they're ready. So, you ask about boyfriends and... friends.

But...

the truth is,

I didn't really know her very well in the last year or so.

You know, she was out there.

Making her own life.

And she hadn't come back to us yet.

And now she never will.

You OK?

Where are they? The trainers.

Why?

They're under the sink in a bag at the back.

We need to take them to the police, Ro.

What, didn't you believe him? I thought he was completely convincing but...

we have a responsibility, if there's any doubt.

But there isn't. You're his mother.

Do you think he did something, then? If you think he helped hide the body

or actually killed her, I need to know if you think I've raised a boy who could do that.

No. Good. Thank you.

This isn't about what we think, is it, you or I?

And if I take the trainers to the police, who say it's what he said, which they will,

I don't think he'd ever forgive me, and I wouldn't blame him!

He knows that's what you're thinking.

You think he's manipulating us? I'm just saying...

I'm not taking him to the police.

I can't force you, obviously.

But I think you need to think really hard about what you're doing.