Page 39 of The Scene of the Crime (Jessica Russell #1)

Jessica was returning to the MSCAN office when she received a call from Chapman. ‘Hi, did DS Wood tell you about the stuff we found at Liam’s flat and the clothing in the bin?’ she asked.

‘Yes, that’s fantastic work by you all, and all useful stuff to question him about in his interview. Sounds like you’re in your car.’

‘I’m just on my way back to our office.’

‘Do you mind coming to the station first?’

‘We’ve got a lot of examination work to do. Things are starting to pile up, and I’m nearly at Lambeth.’

‘I need to speak to you about Liam.’

‘Why? What about him?’

‘I’d rather speak to you in person.’

‘For God’s sake, Mike, just tell me what this is about!’ she said, becoming frustrated.

‘Liam is short for William.’ He paused, knowing how she was going to react to what he was about to say.

‘Tell me something I don’t know,’ she said impatiently.

He took a deep breath. ‘The person we arrested earlier is the William John Palmer who assaulted you ten years ago.’

Jessica was stunned. For a few moments she couldn’t speak. ‘Why didn’t you tell me this before?’

‘I didn’t recognise him when we arrested him because of his alopecia and the injuries to his face.

I would have told you straightaway if I’d known it was him.

I only discovered Liam’s identity when his fingerprints were taken ten minutes ago.

The detective who took his prints said he’d enter the details on HOLMES and inform your team that Palmer’s fingerprints and DNA were on file . . .’

‘You could have told me first! Who did he call?’

‘I don’t know, but probably Guy, as he’s your HOLMES manager. It would have looked odd if I had told the officer to delay sending them. I called you as soon as I could.’

Jessica knew he was right but that didn’t make the situation any better. ‘This could raise all sorts of problems. My involvement could be seen as a conflict of interest. I could be asked to withdraw from the investigation.’

‘It might not come to that.’

‘What did Anderson say about it?’

‘I haven’t told him yet. I wanted to speak to you first. For now, I think we shouldn’t tell anyone.’

‘Are you serious? It will just make matters worse in the end if we don’t.’

‘Please come to the station, and we can discuss the best way forward.’

She let out a huge sigh as she turned the car around. ‘All right, I’m on my way.’

Driving to Barking, Jessica became increasingly concerned about other people finding out her connection to Palmer.

She knew she would have to tell Anderson and feared he would want her off the case.

She contemplated calling Commander Williams first but decided to wait until she had spoken to Chapman.

As she approached Chapman’s office, she passed a couple of people in the corridor and felt as if they were staring at her.

She unconsciously pulled at her hair, making strands come loose to cover more of her face, until the band holding it in place snapped.

She entered Chapman’s office without knocking.

‘That was quick,’ he said, with a look of surprise at her wildlooking hair.

‘Do you have an elastic band?’ she snapped.

‘It suits you. Just hang on a moment.’ He rifled through his desk drawer and brought out several elastic bands. She chose one, scooped up her hair with one hand and quickly wound it into a tight topknot.

She stood by his desk. ‘I’ve thought about things on the way here. We need to declare our previous involvement with William Palmer and withdraw from the investigation. If we don’t, it could lead to misconduct allegations and disciplinary action.’

Chapman could see from the moment she came into his office that she wasn’t her usual calm and collected self. He thought her decision was wrong and impulsive. ‘Can we discuss it first?’ he said, pointing to the chair beside his desk.

‘I’m fine standing. Do you agree with me or not?’ she asked bluntly.

‘Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?’ he asked, wanting to give her time to think and calm down.

‘For Christ’s sake, Mike, this is a serious situation, so just answer the question with a simple yes or no.’

‘So, my opinion doesn’t count then?’

‘I didn’t say that.’

‘Please, Jess, sit down and listen to what I have to say before making any hasty decisions.’

Reluctantly, she did as Chapman asked. ‘Go ahead,’ she told him.

‘OK, look, it’s not unusual for a police officer to arrest the same person more than once, so my involvement in the investigation would not be a conflict of interest. Your name isn’t on Palmer’s criminal record file, but mine is, so I will have to inform Anderson that I arrested him on suspicion of sexual assault. ’

‘And what will you do if he asks who the victim was?’

‘I doubt he will, since it was an arrest without charge ten years ago.’

‘You didn’t answer my question.’

‘I’ll tell him I wasn’t the investigating officer, and it was so long ago I can’t remember. The thing is, Jess, this investigation needs you and your team. You shouldn’t have to withdraw because of a scumbag like Palmer.’

‘I appreciate you’re only trying to help me, Mike, and if William Palmer is guilty of assaulting De Klerk, then I hope he goes to prison for a long time. But the fact is, I’m not prepared to risk my future, or the team’s, by hiding my connection to him.’

‘OK, whatever you want to do, I’ll support you, but I still think you should keep quiet about it for now.’

‘You forget my name will be on the crime scene and forensic reports, which Palmer and his legal team will be entitled to read if he stands trial. I don’t care how long ago it was.

My concern is that Palmer will remember me and tell his lawyers that I was once his probation officer and I made a sexual assault allegation against him.

The fact that he wasn’t charged due to lack of evidence works in his favour.

They will use it against me pre-trial or in court, alleging my evidence is biased, or worse, fabricated. ’

‘But that could happen even if you withdraw from the investigation.’

‘I know, and that’s why I’d rather declare the connection between me and Palmer here and now. It will also help negate false allegations against me and show I have nothing to hide.’

‘You could wait until after we interview Palmer. If he confesses to the crime, his solicitor won’t need full disclosure, and Palmer will be none the wiser about your involvement.’

Jessica shook her head. ‘Let it go, Mike. It is what it is, and I’m not bothered about it.

I mean that truthfully, I am not bothered and you have to believe me.

I’ll soon have another case to deal with .

. . but hopefully, the offender will be no one I know,’ she said, trying to make light of the situation.

Chapman forced a smile. ‘Shall we go and see Anderson and tell him together?’

‘I don’t feel like speaking to him right now. I’d blow a gasket if he said the wrong thing. I want to tell Commander Williams personally, but you can tell Anderson, then if he wants to speak to me he can. I only ask that he keep it to himself and not tell everyone what Palmer did to me.’

‘I promise you, Jess, I’ll make sure Anderson says nothing to the team. I can also promise you that I’ll tell him just before the interview that I arrested Palmer years ago. That way, he won’t have time to ask for chapter and verse. Then, after the interview, I’ll tell him about you.’

‘Thanks, that will give me plenty of time to talk to Commander Williams. I’m going to head back to the lab now.’

Chapman lifted a property bag out of his desk drawer.

‘I’ve got a mobile phone that was in Palmer’s pocket.

Could you take it back to the lab for Guy to examine?

’ Jessica hesitated for a moment, then nodded and took the phone from him.

‘He also had a NatWest debit card in the name of Mr L Wilson. We thought it was nicked, but it wasn’t.

He recently opened the account using his date of birth and first name, Liam, and has his work wages paid into it.

Palmer’s wanted on a warrant for failing to appear in court two years ago on a burglary charge, so that’s probably why he used a false name. ’

‘Makes sense. I better get on my way.’

‘I’m sorry this has happened, Jess. You’ve done all the hard work and now you’re the victim of circumstances beyond your control.’

‘That’s one way of looking at it. I hope the interview goes well.’

‘Anderson’s leading it . . . so it might not go to plan.’

‘Will it be video recorded?’

‘Yes. I can send you a copy. Will you be OK when you see his face?’

‘Anderson’s not that ugly,’ she replied, making light of his concern.

‘You know what I meant.’

‘It’s better to see his face now than in court, but I don’t think it will bother me one way or the other.

’ Chapman suspected she was putting on a brave face.

He remembered the night Palmer tried to rape her.

She was in a state of traumatic shock, which had upset him to the extent that he’d wanted to give Palmer a beating.

At the time, he had resisted the temptation, not because he feared being investigated, but for her sake.

He knew if he’d beaten Palmer up as he badly wanted to, it could be used at trial to get the jury on Palmer’s side.

When he learned that Palmer wasn’t going to be charged, he wished he had.

‘We’ve got an interview viewing room with a TV in it. You can stay here and watch it if you like.’

‘Thanks, but I need to get back to the office and see how things are going. I’ll get Diane and Taff to watch the interview recording.

If Palmer chooses to talk, his answers will be of interest and could help them to focus on specific items for forensic examination that might refute his account of events. ’

‘I can set up a secure link to the Met Net so you can watch it live. Palmer’s solicitor hasn’t arrived yet, so I reckon it will be at least a couple of hours before we interview him, which gives you plenty of time to get back to your office.’