flippant; I’m not like that, and since my change in circumstances, I understand it. It’s cheaper, basically. I hadn’t thought about that. So, to answer your question, I might have seen her go out that night, I might not have – I couldn’t possibly pin down the date.
HS: So you had no suspicions?
IT: Not then. Obviously with hindsight I realise that Rachel must have taken the knife with her. I mean, to me, that’s premeditated, isn’t it? That’s like putting a silencer on a gun or something. She knew she was going to stab that girl and that’s a pretty chilling thought, to be honest. I mean, we used to have coffee together, chat over the fence when I was watering the neighbour’s plants. So no, no suspicions at the time other than her general spaced-outness, but it all makes sense now. Mark was worried about her. When I mentioned her nightly walkabouts to him, he said she’d started doing that quite recently. After their daughter’s birthday party, I think he said. Said she’d gone a bit strange suddenly, although he didn’t put it like that. He wouldn’t talk about her that way, he’s too nice.
HS: So you were worried enough to express concern to Mr Edwards?
IT: I did say to Mark that she didn’t seem well. I tried to get him to see that, but only because I was worried about her. If I happened to see her out talking to strangers, I would mention it to Mark because it felt like the right thing to do. At first I was only trying to alert him to the fact that she might need help. He did eventually tell me she’d suffered with her nerves, as he put it, after their son was born and he knew she’d been a bit down lately. I guess he really needed someone to talk to. It was the least I could do.
HS: So you saw yourself as his confidante, would you say? A shoulder to cry on?
IT: I’m a good listener. At least, men find me easy to talk to. So yes, sometimes when Rachel went off on her little walkies, I’d either call in to see if he was OK or text to see if he wanted to pop over for a glass of wine and a chat. As friends, obviously.
14
Mark
Transcript of recorded interview with Mark Edwards (excerpt)
Also present: DI Heather Scott, PC Marilyn Button
ME: She wasn’t well. She wasn’t well before, years before. When Kieron was born, she kept thinking she was going to kill him. We were worried sick.
HS: We?
ME: I mean her mum, her dad. And Lisa.
HS: That’s Lisa Baxter? For the benefit of the tape, Mr Edwards is nodding.
ME: It was diagnosed quickly, once we’d called the hospital. Well, we ended up calling the emergency services because she went missing and no one could get hold of her. Then Lisa spotted her at the edge of the estate, looking… dishevelled, like, and distressed. So actually it was Lisa who rang and they sent an ambulance. I can’t believe I didn’t recognise the signs, to be honest.
HS: What signs?
ME: Well, she was very down. She’d been down even before Kieron went to uni…
HS: For the benefit of the tape, Mr Edwards is taking a moment.
ME: Then this last year, she and Katie were always rowing, sniping at each other, you know? And they never used to do that. They used to make each other laugh. In hysterics, they’d be, over one of those pictures with the captions or a silly video clip Katie had found on her phone. Used to get on my nerves sometimes, but obviously it’s better than doors slamming, the shouting and the swearing and that. I’d give anything to hear them mucking about now, obviously. And then… and then the walking. And when she was at home, she was vacant, you know? I’m supposed to be her husband and I didn’t even see her. I was too… I couldn’t look at her… and now she’s… I can’t believe what she’s… She never laid a hand on the kids. She was a lovely mum. The kids adored her. She’d never hurt anyone. She was gentle. My Rachel… (Breaks down)
HS: For the benefit of the tape, I am pausing the recording.
HS: Mr Edwards. Mark. Can you tell us your whereabouts on Saturday the twenty-ninth of June?
ME: There’s nothing on the calendar. We don’t really go out anymore, but I think I was at the Norton Arms with