“Did they maintain any other contact?  By phone, or anything?” the D.I. asked, scribbling a few notes.

“Once, he phoned, during an art and crafts session.  We had a volunteer from the Northern Ireland Group for Art as Therapy in.  She didn’t speak to him for long.  Perhaps his money ran out.  But she seemed a bit withdrawn when she returned to the activities.  I asked her if everything was alright.  She just nodded, but I could tell that something was bothering her.  She also went out for a walk with him one Saturday, after his guitar lesson.  On that occasion, she tried to get him to stay.  I think that Diane had seen how things could be.  The comfort of warm surroundings, regular meals and snacks, the help and support of staff, feeling safe and protected, the acceptance of new friends, a social life with outings, and so on.  I’m starting to sound like an advertisement now, but I think that she wanted Moondog to have some of that too.”

“So, how did you know about it all then?  Did the girl talk?” 

“No.  As I said, I knew something was bothering her.  I was trying to figure out what it could be.  When I had spoken with you regarding the case, you had mentioned that you noticed the killer’s hypothetical circle of safety lay all around the Mulberry Bush, so I put two and two together, but tried not to make five.  The circle of safety was purely coincidental, of course, but it got me thinking of people connected with the Mulberry Project.”

“I had been saying that the killer could have been younger than the average age range, and that he might be of slight build.  Then it came to me.  Perhaps he’s not a man, but a boy…..a teenager with an axe to grind.  Someone like Moondog.  I tried speaking to Diane, looking for specific details.  I asked her what Moondog’s real name was.  She was fine about giving me that, but avoided all other questions about things such as the whereabouts of his parents, and so on.  That was when she clammed up, avoided answering, or changed the subject completely.  I hadn’t realised he killed his Mother though.  The name difference, you see.  And Di never raised that topic.  She obviously told me just the bare minimum of information.”