Hope to Die

BREAKING: Camilla Rowan could be released ‘within days’

According to the lawyers acting on her behalf, Camilla Rowan could be freed ‘within a few days’. No official announcement has been made with regard to a release date, but it is understood that her lawyers are in advanced discussions with the Ministry of Justice about ensuring this is done in ‘an orderly manner’. For technical reasons, she is likely to be released on licence pending a review of her conviction by the Court of Appeal, but it is understood that will be ‘just a formality’. Press speculation about the case has been rife since proof emerged that Rowan’s baby son was not in fact murdered in 1997 – proof which came to light as a result of a fatal shooting at a property outside Oxford on October 21st. The property has been widely rumoured to be the home of Rowan’s parents, Dick and Peggy, who are believed to have changed their name after their daughter’s 2003 trial.

Thames Valley Police are now leading an investigation into the original inquiry. They have made no comment about the timing or circumstances of Rowan’s release.

More news on this as we hear it.

* * *

Adam Fawley

29 October

10.11

I’m on my way in to see Harrison when his PA waylays me. ‘Ah, DI Fawley, how fortuitous. I just picked up a call from downstairs. There’s a woman there to see you. She says it’s urgent –’

‘I’m afraid I can’t –’

She raises her voice a notch, in the way of people who intend to finish and are not accustomed to being interrupted.

‘Her name is Alison Toms. She seems to think you’ll know who she is –’

‘Well, I don’t – and I don’t have time –’

But then I stop – because I do, in fact, recognize the name. But why on earth –

‘Actually, Maureen, I will see her. Give my apologies to the Super, would you? And ask DC Hansen to meet me at the front desk.’

* * *

Barnetson pushes open the car door, pulls up his collar and strides towards the lorry.

The wind has picked up, throwing squalls of sharp rain against his face. He was already pissed off, and now he finds that the lorry hasn’t just stopped, it’s parked, and the cab is empty. There’s a small pack of journalists behind the tape at the end of the drive who are pointing at him and grinning. It’s been thin pickings stuck outside in the rain all morning with no one going in or out, so this counts as cabaret.

‘For fuck’s sake, you could at least have put your bloody hazards on,’ Barnetson mutters, edging his way along the hedge to the back of the truck.

But then he stops.

Stops, hesitates a moment, and then – despite the sudden clatter of camera noise – starts running.

* * *

Adam Fawley

29 October

10.18

The woman in reception manages to come off as both tired and anxious all at once. She looks every year of fifty but could well be younger; she’s wearing a crumpled linen dress, a cotton cardigan and espadrilles, which were a bad choice in this weather and are now soaked through. She gets to her feet as soon as she sees us, hauling one of those striped hessian bags off the chair next to her.

‘DI Fawley, is it?’

I nod. ‘And this is DC Hansen. How can we help you?’

‘We spoke before,’ begins Hansen, but the woman isn’t listening.

‘I left home as soon as I heard – on the news – has it happened yet? Am I in time?’

‘In time for what, Ms Toms?’

She stares at me, her lips trembling, white about the eyes. I’ve seen that look before. This is someone at the point of no return.

‘Ms Toms?’

She takes a breath, then presses her lips together, swallows. ‘In time to do what I should have done twenty years ago.’

* * *

By the time Puttergill gets to him, Barnetson is halfway down the garden, running full tilt along the line of plastic piping snaking its way across the grass towards the rear fence. Puttergill can just about see the lorry driver bent double in one of the borders, his back to them, apparently unable to hear Barnetson’s increasingly desperate shouts.

‘Police! Stop what you’re doing!’

* * *

Interview with Alison Toms, conducted at St Aldate’s Police Station, Oxford

29 October 2018, 10.55 a.m.

In attendance, DIA. Fawley,DCT. Hansen

AF: This isn’t a formal interview, Ms Toms, and you’re not under arrest, but it may be necessary for us to do that, depending on what you have to tell us. You can ask for legal representation at any time. Is that clear?

AT: Yes.

AF: So, let’s start at the beginning. December 23rd 1997.

AT: I was the social worker at Birmingham and Solihull General at that time. It was my first job.

AF: And you were interviewed by the police in 2002, when the disappearance of the baby first came to light?

AT: Yes, I was.

AF: [consulting file]

According to that statement, you said you only spoke to Ms Rowan once during her short time in hospital.

AT: Yes, that’s right.

AF: [reads from file]