Page 16 of The Scene of the Crime (Jessica Russell #1)

‘Mrs De Klerk?’

As a crime scene examiner, Jessica had no experience conveying bad news about the victims of serious assault. She held up her ID. ‘I’m Jessica Russell, a Crime Scene Investigator . . .’

‘Oh my God, is it Johan? Has something happened to him?’

‘I’m afraid someone broke into your house and assaulted him . . .’

‘Where is he . . . is he all right?’ She started to walk towards the house.

Jessica didn’t want to use physical force to stop her from entering the house and was unsure what to say. ‘Johan’s not there, he’s in hospital.’

Michelle stopped and turned sharply. ‘In hospital! What’s happened to him?’

‘He has a serious head injury and was stabbed.’

‘No, no, this can’t be real.’ She started to cry, her whole body shaking.

‘I’m afraid it is, and your house is being treated as a crime scene.’

‘Where is he?’

‘Homerton hospital. All I know is he’s in a critical condition and undergoing surgery.’

‘I have to go . . . I need to be with Johan.’ Michelle reached into her designer handbag and fumbled for her car keys but couldn’t find them. ‘My car keys, they’re in the house. I need to get them.’

‘Understandably, you are very shocked, but I don’t think you should drive to the hospital,’ Jessica said.

‘Yes, you’re right. I’m not thinking straight. Can you take me, please?’

‘Of course,’ Jessica said, instinctively wanting to help the poor woman, but she couldn’t help wondering if she might also be able to ask her a few questions that might assist her crime scene investigation.

‘Can I leave my case here?’ Michelle asked.

Jessica took it from her, handed it to the officer at the front door and asked him to put it in the hallway.

As Jessica drove to the hospital, Michelle sobbed and stared vacantly out the window, occasionally wiping her eyes with a tissue.

Jessica thought about calling DI Chapman on her car phone for an update on Johan De Klerk’s condition, but fearing it would further distress Michelle, she decided to do it privately when they got to the hospital.

Michelle sniffed, wiped her nose and took a deep breath. ‘Sorry, but what was your name again?’

‘Jessica Russell. I’m a crime scene investigator for the Metropolitan Police.’

‘What happened to Johan . . . was he attacked in the house?’

‘I think it might be best if the investigating officer discusses it with you. I’ll try to contact him when we get to the hospital.’

‘I’m Johan’s wife. I have a right to know what happened to him,’ she snapped back.

Jessica could see she was in distress and relented. ‘Someone broke into your house through the patio doors and forced the safe in the study open. It looks like Johan disturbed the intruder in the kitchen and was assaulted during a struggle.’

She started to cry again. ‘Is he going to live?’

Jessica let out a long sigh. ‘I honestly don’t know, but I was told his injuries are life-threatening.’

‘Oh my God, I don’t believe this, do you know who did this to him? Have you arrested anyone?’ She started crying again.

‘Not at present, but we are working on it. DCI John Anderson from the Barking major investigation team is leading the enquiry. He’ll be able to tell you much more than I can.’

Having parked her car at the hospital, Jessica accompanied Michelle to the Accident and Emergency Centre.

Jessica informed the receptionist who they were and asked what ward Mr De Klerk was being treated in.

They were told that he was in the intensive care unit on the first floor.

Arriving at the ICU, Jessica spoke with a nurse who said she would contact the doctor caring for Mr De Klerk and take them to the nearby waiting room.

‘Would you like a hot drink or some water?’ Jessica asked, hoping Michelle would say yes and she could contact DI Chapman while out of the room.

‘I’ve got some water in my bag.’ She removed the bottle, unscrewed it, and took a sip.

‘Are you OK while I just nip to the toilet?’ Jessica asked.

Michelle nodded. Jessica left and spoke with a nurse who pointed to a ladies toilet down the corridor. Once inside, she called DI Chapman. ‘Hi, it’s Jessica Russell . . .’

‘You lost?’ he asked, thinking she couldn’t find the station.

‘No, I’m at Homerton Hospital.’

‘What are you doing there? The meeting starts in twenty minutes.’

‘I know, but I’m going to be unavoidably late.’

‘Anderson won’t be pleased . . .’

‘I don’t care. I’m with Michelle De Klerk.’

‘What? How did that happen?’

‘If you stop asking questions, I can tell you!’ Jessica told Chapman about Michelle De Klerk unexpectedly turning up at the house, her distressed state of mind and why she felt obliged to drive her to the hospital.

‘OK, you did the right thing. I’ll let Anderson know. If you get the chance, ask Mrs De Klerk about the Rolex watch, and if she knew what was in the safe, then we’ll know what we’re looking for.’

Jessica returned to the waiting room. Michelle was on her phone, anxiously rocking back and forth in an armchair. She looked at Jessica and ended the call.

‘Thought I’d better let my parents know what’s happened. My mum was beside herself. Johan’s parents live in South Africa. I’ll call them later when I know more about his condition.’

Jessica sat down beside her. ‘I know this isn’t a good time, but do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions?’

‘I want to do all I can to help you.’

‘OK. Do you know what was in the safe in the study?’

‘To be honest, I don’t. Johan did all his business work from his study. I know some of his sales were cash transactions, so he probably kept money in the safe before depositing it in the bank.’

‘Any jewellery belonging to either of you?’

‘We’ve got a small safe in the bedroom we keep our jewellery in.’

‘Can I ask where it is . . . just in case it was broken into as well?’

‘It’s a wall safe in my wardrobe.’

‘I looked in your wardrobes but didn’t find any signs of a disturbance . . . so I think your jewellery will still be there. I’ll get one of my colleagues to double-check.’

‘Honestly, I couldn’t care less if it was all stolen. I’m more concerned about Johan right now.’

‘We think his Rolex watch might have been taken. Would he keep that in his safe when he’s not wearing it?’

‘No, he wears his Rolex all the time. It’s his pride and joy.

I told him repeatedly he shouldn’t wear such an expensive watch.

People are always being mugged for them.

’ She banged the armrest with a clenched fist. ‘Since we moved in, I’ve asked Johan countless times to get CCTV and security lights fitted to the house.

He kept promising to do it . . . if I’d organised it, this would never have happened and he wouldn’t be lying in a hospital bed. ’

‘How long have you lived there?’

‘We moved in a few months ago, after renovating it . . . where’s the bloody doctor?’ she exclaimed.

‘I’m sure he’ll be here as soon as he’s able,’ Jessica said, trying to calm her. ‘When did you last speak to Johan?’

‘On Sunday morning. I was in Lancashire for the weekend. One of my friend’s baby daughters was christened yesterday. She’d asked me to be a godmother. I got a flight from Docklands airport on Saturday morning to Manchester. Johan was meant to come with me but cancelled at the last minute.’

‘Can I ask why?’

‘He said there’d been a problem with a big wine shipment which he needed to sort out urgently or he would lose a lot of money. I was annoyed with him but I . . . never expected to return to this nightmare.’ She put her hands over her eyes and started sobbing.

‘I’m sorry, I don’t mean to upset you with all these questions.’ Jessica paused, giving Michelle time to compose herself.

‘It’s all right. As a barrister, I know how police investigations work. In court I’ve had to deal with countless violent crimes. But it’s so different when it happens to someone you love.’

Jessica nodded. ‘Of course.’ She waited a moment before continuing. ‘We recovered Johan’s phone from under the kitchen table, and a laptop was on the table. Would that be Johan’s?’

‘Yes, I took mine with me.’

‘We’ll examine them for fingerprints and DNA in case the intruder touched them. The calls and texts Johan made before he was attacked could be crucial to the investigation too. The same goes for the laptop, in respect of recent emails. Are you happy to give us permission to examine them?’

‘If you think it might help the investigation, though I’d rather Johan made that decision about the laptop, if and when he can.’

‘Did Johan say if anyone was visiting him at home on Sunday or over the weekend?’

‘No, but he often had business associates and friends around.’

‘The police will probably want their details at some point.’

‘I’ll compile a list later, but my concern right now is Johan.’

‘There’s no rush. Did Johan use the basement cinema area to entertain friends?’

‘Yes. Johan’s a film buff . . . he spends hours down there watching movies.’

The waiting room door opened, and an Asian man in his forties, with a stethoscope hung around his neck, came in and introduced himself as Doctor Babu from the ICU.

‘How severe are my husband’s injuries?’ Michelle asked.

Doctor Babu sat down beside her. ‘He’s currently in an induced coma due to his traumatic brain injury.

This resulted in cerebral oedema and haemorrhaging .

. . that is, swelling and bleeding around the brain.

These types of injuries can also cause brain damage.

When Johan regains consciousness, we will be in a better position to assess his cognitive abilities. ’

He paused for a moment, then continued, ‘In respect of his stab wounds, the prognosis is good. He has four to his back, but no vital organs were damaged. The knife embedded in his back just missed his heart, but his blood loss was restricted due to the knife itself forming a seal around the wound.’

‘What are his chances of survival?’ she asked, with a tremor in her voice.