Page 31 of The Scene of the Crime (Jessica Russell #1)

She left David in his room and returned to the kitchen to clean up.

She considered phoning Chapman but thought it was a bit late.

As she wiped down the worktops, she realised an unauthorised leak could lead to an internal investigation.

If there was, she knew the finger of suspicion would be pointed at Anderson and his team and, more worryingly, MSCAN.

She picked up her mobile and rang Chapman.

‘Hi, it’s Jessica. I’ve just watched the six o’clock news on catchup and saw the press release. Do you know what’s going on?’

Chapman let out a deep sigh. ‘The shit has definitely hit the fan here. I was in Anderson’s office this afternoon when a BBC reporter called him.

At first, he thought it would be something positive, so he put the speakerphone on for me to listen in.

The things the reporter knew about the investigation made it obvious there’d been a leak.

He asked Anderson if he had any comment, and he tried to bluff his way out, but wasn’t very convincing.

When the call ended, he panicked and didn’t know what to do.

I told him he had to speak to Williams immediately, and he flew out of the office to the Yard. ’

‘Any idea who leaked it?’

‘Not a clue, but Anderson is convinced it was someone in the office. There are a few idiots on the team, but I can’t believe anyone would be so stupid or vindictive. They’ve risked losing their job.’

‘Will there be an internal investigation?’

‘Already started. Williams has called in our Department of Professional Standards. They’ve spoken to Anderson and will no doubt want to speak to the rest of us at some point. Sorry to say it, but that will include your team.’

‘I thought it might, but we’ve got nothing to hide. With all that’s happened, is it OK to visit Michelle at the hospital tomorrow morning?’

‘Can’t see why not, but her attitude might change if she saw the press conference.’

‘Has no one spoken to her?’

‘Anderson should have, but I’m not sure if he did.

Michelle’s not called Dawn Owens, so she might not have seen the news.

Anyway, that’s Anderson’s problem, not ours.

After the appeal for information, he instructed some team members to stay in the office and answer any calls until two a.m. The phones were ringing non-stop after the news, but there has been no information that takes us any further forward or helps identify a suspect. ’

‘This whole situation must be a nightmare for Anderson. I just hope he gets a result and makes an arrest.’

‘So do I. He’s called an 8 a.m. meeting about the case and the internal investigation. It will probably be heated, but you’re welcome to attend.’

‘I think I should, then I’ll go to the hospital. Taff sent you an email about the Adidas footprint and a door breacher . . .’

‘Yeah, I got it, and the photos. I didn’t get a chance to tell Anderson, as the press called him before I saw the email. It might cheer him up a bit when I do.’

Jessica told him about the lighter they found in the Range Rover. ‘Any luck with the CCTV at the petrol stations?’

‘DS Wood phoned the Jet garage and asked them to retain all the CCTV footage for the last forty-eight hours. He was going to collect it earlier, but once we found out about the leak, he had to put it on hold until the morning.’

She was about to reply but couldn’t stop herself from yawning. ‘Excuse me,’ she apologised.

‘You need to get some shut-eye.’

‘There’s so much going on in my head I think I’ll find it hard to sleep.’

‘Try meditation . . . someone told me it helps.’

Jessica laughed. ‘Sad to say that someone doesn’t always get it right.’

‘I’ll be in about seven a.m. tomorrow. Do you want to meet for a coffee and catch-up in the canteen before Anderson reads the team the riot act?’

‘Thanks, that’ll be good. Hopefully, he might be in a better mood by then.’

‘Somehow I doubt it,’ he said and ended the call.

It was just after 9 p.m. Jessica wanted to go to bed but knew Diane would be on the phone if she saw the item about the De Klerks on the ten o’clock news, so she decided to call her first.

‘Why will we be investigated? We’ve nothing to gain by leaking it to the press,’ Diane said, sounding anxious.

Jessica tried to reassure her. ‘There’s nothing to worry about, Di. It will be standard procedure for anyone connected to the investigation to be interviewed. They might even find out who it was before speaking to us.’

‘Well, I hope so. Has Mike Chapman any idea who it might be?’

‘No, and honestly, I don’t think he’d tell me if he did.’

‘Do you think it might have been Anderson?’

‘No. He’s not stupid. Anyway, I’m going into the office early to clean and photograph the lighter so I can show it to Anderson before the team meeting. Maybe that will give him something positive to focus on.’

‘I think Taff might have already done it.’

‘When?’

‘After we left the pub. He told me it was bugging him, and he wanted to know what the engraving was before going home. You know he’s like a dog with a bone sometimes.’

‘Can you call him and tell him about the leak? I think I might have to put my head down.’

‘No problem. And I’ll ask him if he’s had any joy with the lighter.

’ She wasn’t looking forward to the meeting about the press leak and worried that Anderson would be antagonistic and accusatory towards everyone.

She felt it could have an adverse effect and lead to distrust among the team, especially if one of them had leaked the information to the press.

Jessica hoped it wasn’t, as there were also uniformed officers and an ambulance crew who were aware that De Klerk was stabbed and his Rolex stolen.

In some ways, she felt sorry for Anderson.

Williams would have been livid and reprimanded him, which, with all the pressure he was under, was not good for his state of mind.

If his wife was a controlling woman, the comfort of a loving home and place to retreat from the pressures of work might not be available to him.

‘Fingers crossed,’ she said. ‘And then get some sleep yourself, Di. I think tomorrow might be a challenging day.’