Page 135 of Witness 8

He stood silently for a moment. Thinking about what to do next. His best point had been made, that Ruby had lied to him. Any other questions could just make things worse. He sat down, and I stood to cross-examine.

‘You used to live on this street, some years ago, is that right?’

‘Yes, with my mother and father.’

‘So you knew it well, and you knew the neighbors?’

‘Yes.’

‘After you saw Brett Bale shoot and kill the victim, what happened?’

‘I followed Bale, saw him dump the murder weapon in a garbage bag and go back to the party at Petra’s house. I took the gun.’

‘This gun has been tested for DNA, which we have been discussing in this case. How did you get my client’s son’s DNA on that weapon?’

‘I work for the Jacksons as their nanny,’ said Ruby, and as she spoke she looked straight ahead, avoiding John Jackson’s gaze. ‘I drugged Tomas – I gave him a glass of orange juice full of liquid painkillers and sleeping aids, and when he was asleep I pressed the butt of the gun into his hand. Parents share their DNA with their children. I knew it would be enough to implicate John Jackson, as long as the police came looking for him.’

‘So you made the anonymous call, implicating the defendant?’

‘Yes, I made that call.’

‘Why?’

‘My mother was ill and I needed money. That was part of it. I knew I could blackmail Brett Bale and Todd Ellis. They were both suspects initially. Everyone knew they were involved with Maggs, sorry, the victim. If Ellis’s wife found out he was back with Maggs, she would divorce him and take half of his fortune. Brett Bale knew that I had seen him kill Margaret. I got money from them both, and I spent it. But that’s only part of the reason I did this. It’s not the main reason . . .’

‘Before we get to that, do you know why Brett Bale killed Margaret Blakemore?’

‘Because she knew.’

‘She knew what?’

‘She knew Bale had killed his wife so he could be with Margaret. He’d told her as much. Then she found out he was still seeing other girls and she threatened to reveal his secrets.’

65

Ruby

Flynn was throwing questions at her, but Ruby didn’t mind.

It was time to tell the truth.

Not all of it.

But enough.

‘Why did you frame John Jackson for the victim’s murder?’ asked Eddie.

There was a simple answer.

‘Because I needed them to leave the house,’ said Ruby. ‘I had spent many nights lying awake, trying to think of ways to get them out. I thought about a fire, but that wouldn’t work. It might come back to bite me. I had to get them to leave somehow. Shame is a powerful weapon, Mr. Flynn. I needed them out of the street, and I knew if John was accused of murder then the residents would do everything they could to get him out. It’s hard to walk down a street knowing everyone there hates you and wants you out. I did everything I could to pressure them to leave. I got the neighbors to write to them and tell them they were no longer welcome. I wroteMURDERERon their front door. I turned everyone against them . . .’

‘Why? Why did you need them out of the house?’

‘Because I was running out of time. Alison Jackson had arranged for construction work to be done on the house. And I couldn’t allow that to happen.’

‘Ms. Johnson, last night Detective Chase and I saw you in the Jackson’s house after they left and checked into a hotel. You had a hammer in your hand. Do you remember?’

‘I do.’