Page 26 of The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair

BRENDAN:Well, shocked, obviously, but also. . . glad. We were trapped in that place. My mother had no job, no money of her own, and I really believe he would have killed us if we tried to leave. If it wasn’t Liz—Daphne—it probably would have been me someday, it was that bad. My mother was Frankie’s second wife. The first had killed herself, likely to escape all the abuse. Their kids ended up in an orphanage because he didn’t want ’em. It bothers me, knowing I’ve got a brother and sister out there that I never met. But they were probably better off in that orphanage than with my dad.

RUTH:It’s certainly possible. Why do you think Daphne did it?

BRENDAN:Well, I always assumed she did it to save us. She would have heard everything through those walls, I’m sure.

RUTH:So, after your father died, you left New York for Virginia?

BRENDAN:Yep, we moved in with my grandparents. They were really good to us, my grandfather became like a real dad to me. He taught me everything about horses. And that’s where I am right now. When they retired, I took over the farm and riding school. My mother remarried when I was in my twenties and moved a mile away so we saw her every day. Now my daughter and granddaughter run the business and I’m free to sit back on the porch with a sweet tea and watch it all happen.

RUTH:Sounds like a nice life.

BRENDAN:There’s no place I’d rather be. I had eight bad years followed by seventy great ones. Hey, did she say why she confessed? She killed my dad so long ago, why not take it to her grave?

RUTH:That’s what everyone’s wondering. I really couldn’t tell you why Daphne St Clair did the things she did. But if I figure it out, I’ll let you know.

BurntheBookBurnerz:

I see this as female solidarity. Daphne saved this woman and her children.

ShockAndBlah:

Yeah but at the same time, Daphne isn’t GOD. She doesn’t get to decide who lives and dies. Like, maybe that guy was shitty but maybe he was going to change his life at some point, be a better person. Daphne doesn’t get to decide who gets that chance.

BurntheBookBurnerz:

So, we should all sit around and let bad people hurt as many people as they like just on the off-chance that someday they’ll reform? Because like Daphne said, the cops weren’t gonna help you in 1952. The term ‘domestic violence’ didn’t even appear in official law until 1973.

StopDropAndTroll:

Oh boo fucking hoo. Stop defending a serial killer.

PreyAllDay:

I think the vigilante shit is cool. Pushing a guy in front of a train and just smiling while he gets pulverized? That could be a plot onDexter. I like it.

BurntheBookBurnerz:

So. . . what is it? Parental divorce? Childhood bullying? Anxiety issues? What broke you?

PreyAllDay:

I think you’d be more disturbed by how normal I am.

Chapter Thirteen

EPISODE FOUR: 1953–1957

DAPHNE:So, I stayed in New York, in the same apartment building where the Flanagans had lived. At the beginning, it was enough just to be alone. But after a few years I met Carl, my son’s father, the first man I ever really loved.

RUTH:Did you marry him?

DAPHNE:No, you know I didn’t marry every man I slept with. It was the 1950s not the 1500s. Besides, Carl left me within the year. I never had time to fall out of love with him.

RUTH:Were you a good couple before that?

DAPHNE:Of course not. I had a friend who used to say ‘if you see shit, don’t touch it’ and Carl was shit. But I couldn’t help picking it up and putting it in my purse.

RUTH (muttering):That’s uh, very descriptive. . .

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