Page 32 of No Safe Place
‘Okay, great,’ Field said. ‘And, could you tell me your impression of the study? What it meant for David at the time? Anything you think is relevant – I’d love to hear it.’
Penny folded her arms. ‘It takes years to become a psychologist. After his master’s, while he was an associate psych, he worked on a mixed inpatient ward – adults and teenagers. CAMHS wasn’t really a thing everywhere yet—’
‘CAMHS?’ Field asked.
‘Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services,’ Penny replied, automatically. ‘He was only on that mixed ward for a year, but after that he wanted to work with teenagers.’
A nectar-drunk bee passed by Penny’s shoulder, but she didn’t notice it.
‘And of the five patients David worked with for that pilot study – they were all teenagers with OCD, is that right?’ Field prompted, nudging them back on topic.
‘Yes, although most of them didn’t know it. Misdiagnosed – until David.’ Penny leaned forward. ‘He just seemed togetthem. And David, he threw everything at those kids, and that study. Got buy-in from the Maudsley, met with their GPs, drew up new treatment plans – he worked himself half to death. Two years, that trial went on.’
Field waited and shifted uncomfortably on her iron chair.
Five teenage patients who had been the foundation of Moore’s career. He got them better and they got him attention. Together they must have changed countless lives.
Talk about intense relationships.
She’d been on a course, recently, about transference. Some prick of a DI at another station got too friendly with a victimand she declared her love for him, so they packed the whole borough off on an away day.
It was a train of thought for another time.
‘I know this seems odd, but we really do need to contact those five patients, from the study,’ Field ventured again.
Penny was twitching one foot under the table, her stare fixed on a point above Field’s head. Back to the spaced-out expression she’d had at the start of their conversation.
Finally, she shrugged. ‘I don’t know their names.’
Penny knew a lot about the trial, and Field found it hard to believe they’d never once discussed the individuals involved.
‘Did he ever speak about them? Even anonymously—’
‘I don’t know their names,’ Penny said again, and her voice rose in pitch. ‘All of this, David – it’s nothing to do with me.’
She looked flushed, her cheeks red.
Field couldn’t be sure she was telling the truth.
But for now, she had what she needed, and what Penny needed was rest. ‘Okay. I’ll leave you to it.’
Field closed her notebook. When she looked up and stood to leave, Penny was studying her intently.
Penny followed closely behind her, all the way to the front door, as if scared Field was about to duck into one of the rooms and start poking around.
Field hesitated on the doorstep.
Penny had downplayed having to give up work, but whatever had led to it must have been pretty severe. Field wanted her to open up, let the cold exterior drop and admit she was scared for her husband.
But Penny was chewing the inside of her cheek, distracted – and Field was tired. She could come back tomorrow and try again then.
Chapter 17
Wednesday | Evening
Lily
Lily could hear Cal singing as he climbed the stairs to the upstairs toilet. She frowned to herself. It was hard to imagine him living in the house without her.
