August 17 - 3.00 PM – back to Gilbert´s house

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Apr 21, 2019 2:05 am
As Michael and Mr. Edmund backs to Gilbert´s house, they find the maid opening the door for them. Gilbert is upstairs, waiting in his study. He is impatient to receive news from the investigators.
Apr 21, 2019 4:14 pm
* We enter the study* "Good day, Mr. Gilbert, thank you for accommodating our unannounced visit. We are on our way to the library to try to identify the lighthouse in the pictures. But before we go, I have two questions for you. First, a witness in the vicinity of the school reported a child running down the street the day Timothy disappeared. He climbed into a car, but the witness did not remember any details about it. At the wheel, there was a person, with a long double breasted winter overcoat, one of those with very large notch lapels, wearing gloves, a scarf and a flannel-lined oilskin hat like fishermen use. The witness said he jumped into his car as if he knew him. Any idea who might have been driving the car?"
Apr 22, 2019 12:56 am
Girst is astonished in disbelieve.

"No.. for god sake... I have no idea! You mean that Timothy knew the person that took him away?"

He seats on the sofa, as if his body had become suddenly heavy for him.
Then he pass his hand over his head. He really looks sincere in his astonishment.

"Someone the boy knew throught Alyssa... there´s no other explanation."
Apr 22, 2019 12:04 pm
I look a Gilbert and shake my head in acknowledgement. Yes when Michael talked to a lady she said that he got in the car acting like he knew the person. I know it sounds weird but maybe we need to talk to other relatives. Do you know any relative that would want to take him?

Apr 23, 2019 4:01 am
"No, no ..." Gilbert denies ... more agitated.

"You know very well too ... we had no contact with relatives for a long time ... my job ... the business..."
He speaks with some regret

"The boy lived in his microworld, made of him and his mother."
Apr 23, 2019 12:52 pm
"Now Mr. Gilbert, just take it easy.", placing a hand gently on his elbow for a few moments. "Why don't you get yourself a brandy or a cup of tea, I have just a few more questions for you and then we are off to the library to ask about this lighthouse."

*gives him time to get a drink if he wants*

"Now then, I know this might be difficult for you, but as you say, Timothy and Alyssa were close and isolated from others, therefore it is of critical importance that we know about the weeks leading up to her death and immediately afterward, there may be a clue that explains his behavior in your accounts of that time. First, one of the teachers reported Timothy had bruises on his neck shortly after your wife's death, can you tell us why?"
Apr 23, 2019 2:46 pm
Gilbert looks down, as if he were deeply ashamed to meet the glance the detective. He accepts the drink. His voice is deeply embarassed and saddened.

"Mr. O'Shaugnessy.. please have a seat. The teacher is right. There´s something I didn´t tell you... I apologize... It´s something difficult to accept even for myself and I really hoped telling this would not be... necessary to find my son."

Gilbert looks at the detective as if he were the jury and him the defendant.

"I didn´t have the courage to make publish this thing and I wanted to be able to keep it hidden. I tried to keep this secret to avoid spreading details about Alyssa's madness. I wanted everyone who knew my wife to keep the best remembrance of her."

He takes a breath, to get to the point.

"Something happened the night Alyssa died. I was in my studio, she stayed in bed all day, then suddenly she woke up and went into the boy's room. Suddenly ... I heard Timothy screaming. I ran there. Alyssa ... her hands were tightening Timothy's throat.... She was trying to strangle her own son ... with all her strength ... If I had not stopped her ... Timothy would have died. When I finally took her hands out of him, he run downstairs and hid somewhere. Alyssa ran away. Timothy was afraid ... he didn´t want to leave the house and I did´t want to leave him alone at home. We both were schocked and didn´t know what to do. We´ve been waiting for her to come back home. Next morning, her body was found hanged in the park. Now you know it Mr. O'Shaugnessy..... Alyssa tried to kill her son."

Gilbert seems sincere in what he says. Deep sorrow can be clearly seen in his face.
Apr 23, 2019 3:45 pm
"Thank you, I'm sorry you had to relive that. Just a couple more questions and we will leave you. Did you notice anything unusual in your wife's behavior before that night, anything she may have said or done that seemed strange at the time or occured to you later, if so was it a sudden or gradual change? Also, did you notice if Timothy ever drew pictures of the lighthouse before his mother's death?"
Last edited April 23, 2019 3:49 pm
Apr 23, 2019 5:04 pm
Gilbert I don't think I ever asked you Did you ever have anyone helping out since your wife died? Cleaning ? Cooking? I'm sorry that I upset you earlier it just seems like when he got in the car he knew the person.

Apr 24, 2019 3:14 am
Gilbert replies:

"Timothy changed after his mother´s death. He became closed. He rarely talked. He lived by his books and drawings. He began to draw after his mother died.

It sound strange to me too.. but I can assure you that since his mother died, Timothy had no contact with people outside, beside the school teachers. He didn´t interact that much even with other children.... Kathie, the maid cooks and cleans, but she was here the day Timothy disappeared. There is only one possibilitiy... it must be someone Timothy met while Alyssa was still alive... someone he knew through her... behind my back.

But.. if this is the truth.. if Alyssa tought him to see someone else as his father.. I may even understand it .. I admit I´ve been absent so much as a father. But why for god sake Alyssa wanted to kill him?
"
Apr 24, 2019 4:20 am
"Thank you Mr. Gilbert, we know this has been difficult for you. We are off to the library in search of someone who can identify this lighthouse, I hope we can get there by motorcar before they close. In the meantime you should get some rest. If you need to, ask your family physician to give you a sedative."

On the way out, if I get the opportunity to question the maid without Gilbert overhearing, I will, otherwise I would like to go to the library.
Last edited April 24, 2019 4:21 am
Apr 24, 2019 6:36 pm
Gilbert nods.

"The library you want to check is the one at the Normal School in Gorham. Alyssa studied there before becoming teacher.
Please, keep me updated about your new findings.
"

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