Page 6 of The Scene of the Crime (Jessica Russell #1)
Jessica booked herself in at the Yard and went to Williams’s personal assistant’s office.
Jordan congratulated her and said he needed to take a digital photo to produce an identity card allowing her access to Scotland Yard, all Metropolitan Police stations, and the laboratory at Lambeth, where she would be based.
‘Can I offer a suggestion?’ he said. ‘Untie your hair, fluff it out and let it hang naturally. You’ll look a bit less severe in your ID photo.’
She was taken aback at first, then realised he was right. ‘There’s something I’d like to ask you too, but you might not want to answer it,’ Jessica said as he got the digital camera set up.
‘I won’t know until you ask, so go ahead,’ he said as he printed off the photo to put in a card laminator.
‘Was my selection a unanimous verdict by the interviewing panel?’
He paused before replying. ‘Two to one . . . but I didn’t tell you that.’
‘And would I be right in saying DCI Anderson was the “no”?’
He nodded. ‘But I wouldn’t let it worry you.
His opinions don’t carry much weight with Commander Williams. As a former Kent officer, she knows many Met detectives think of county officers as country bumpkins, but she’s proved them wrong .
. . as will you.’ Jordan finished making the identity card and put it in a small folding leather wallet with a metal Metropolitan Police crest. He handed it to Jessica, along with a plastic holder on a lanyard.
‘There is quite a bit of paperwork I need you to sign for your transfer, but I’ll email you a link to a secure Met website with a passcode where you can do it all online. Is there anything else you want to ask me?’
‘Not that I can think of right now, and thanks for all your help and advice.’
‘My pleasure. I’ll let Commander Williams know you’re here.’
Walking down the corridor, Jessica couldn’t believe how quickly things had changed since her interview two days ago.
She felt she was starting a new and challenging life.
She proudly looked at her identity card and again thought Jordan was right to suggest she untied her hair, not trying to hide it away.
‘I am absolutely thrilled to have been accepted for the position. I won’t let you down, ma’am,’ she said as Williams welcomed her into her office and ushered her into an armchair.
‘I know you won’t,’ Williams said, sitting down on the sofa.
‘However, your crime scene and forensic knowledge wasn’t the only reason we selected you.
You have the skills to perform a dual leader and behavioural analyst role.
It will mean more responsibility and pressure on your workload, but I’m confident you can do it . . . if you are willing to.’
Jessica was surprised but quickly regained her composure. ‘I’m not a qualified BIA, but I understand their methodology and investigative techniques, some of which I frequently use in my crime scene analysis. So, yes, I’d be happy to perform a dual role.’
‘Excellent. Undoubtedly some senior investigators will see it as cutting corners, and I won’t hide the fact it will save money.
However, your combined knowledge of psychology, forensics and hands-on crime scene investigation are invaluable skills that behavioural advisers don’t have and will enable you to prove any doubters wrong.
I also think a behavioural analysis course would be beneficial to you . . . if you want to attend one.’
‘I’d be happy to,’ Jessica replied.
‘There is a slight catch,’ Williams smiled.
‘And what would that be?’
‘It’s a ten-to twelve-week residential course at the FBI Academy in Quantico. Would that affect your decision?’
Jessica was almost speechless. ‘Oh my God, that’s the most prestigious course of its kind. I’d be honoured to go on it. Would it be before I start on MSCAN?’
‘No, it will probably be in a few months or early next year if I can get you on it.’
Jessica was relieved it wasn’t imminent as she was keen to start in her new role.
Williams continued. ‘The Commissioner has approved it, and I’ve been in touch with Special Agent Anna Travis, a lecturer on the course, who will make enquiries and see if you can do the course. You may have heard of her.’
Jessica nodded enthusiastically. ‘Yes, I have. She was a DCI in the Met and lectured at a Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences conference I attended some years ago. She was a very impressive speaker.’
‘And a formidable investigator. I got to know her well on a joint Kent and Met serial killer investigation. She married an American FBI Agent, moved there, got her green card and was selected for the Behavioural Analysis Unit. You have many of her qualities.’
‘I’ll do my best to prove you right, ma’am,’ Jessica said, taken aback by the compliment.
‘Right, so when can you start?’ Williams asked.
‘A week from Monday, ma’am.’
Williams looked pleased. ‘I’ll fast-track the transfer process then.’
Jessica was on the point of asking who the other members of the MSCAN team would be, but then realised, as Williams hadn’t mentioned it, a final decision might not have been made.
‘Now, Jordan, my PA, has organised a car to take us to Lambeth so you can see your new offices and laboratory facilities.’
*?*?*
The drive to the Metropolitan Police Forensics Laboratories took about ten minutes, and when they arrived Williams took Jessica to the fourth floor. ‘Have you been here before?’ Williams asked.
‘No, it’s my first time. We used different forensic labs for submissions in Kent.’
They stopped by a door with a ‘Murder and Serious Crime Analysis Unit’ plaque. Williams pressed 1066 on the number entry lock, opened the door and stepped to one side. ‘After you, and welcome to your new home from home.’
As Jessica entered, she was impressed by the size and layout of the room.
There were three large desks, each with a mini computer, monitor and iPad Pros for use at crime scenes.
Beside the desks were silver crime scene cases with MSCAN embossed on them.
There was a large TV screen on one wall linked to a laptop on a table below it, and along one wall were cabinets containing much of the equipment they would need.
Williams opened one of them, containing an array of brand-new fingerprint and footprint recovery equipment and a variety of crime scene torches.
‘This is unbelievable. It’s way more than I was expecting,’ Jessica said, wide-eyed.
‘You and your team can sort things out as you want them. Crime scene vehicles will also be provided, but if you need anything else, equipment-wise, let me know.’
‘Do we have access to the Home Office Large Major Enquiry System?’ Jessica asked.
She was referring to the computer database known as HOLMES, designed to aid the investigation into large-scale enquiries and used by police to collate and cross-reference all the information gathered in a major crime investigation.
‘Unfortunately, the answer is no, as none of your team will be authorised users. It can only be operated by trained personnel in the Homicide and Major Investigation team offices.’ Williams pointed to a glass partitioned room with the blinds down. ‘Your office. Take a look.’
Jessica opened the door. As she looked for the light switch, she jumped back as Taff and Diane suddenly appeared from behind the door.
‘Your team and I thought we’d organise a little surprise for you,’ Williams said, grinning.
‘Thank you. I can’t tell you how much it means to have these two working with me,’ Jessica said, embracing them.
‘We don’t work with you, we work for you . . . boss,’ Taff replied, and they all laughed.
Jessica looked around the room, which was furnished in a similar style to Williams’s office but with different coloured furniture. She noticed a bottle of champagne, with four glasses on her desk, along with a cake with ‘Congratulations’ written on it.
‘Time for a toast,’ Williams said. ‘You do the honours, Taff.’
‘And don’t spill any,’ Diane added as she picked up a knife to cut the cake. ‘We’ve got our own lab next door, Jess . . . you’ll be blown away when you see it. There’s state of the art DNA extractors, microscopes, superglue chambers, light sourcing . . . you name it.’
‘It must have cost a bloody fortune,’ Taff remarked as he handed them each a glass of champagne.
‘It did, and I’m counting on you all to prove it was worth every penny,’ Williams said, raising her glass.
‘Cheers. We’ll do our best,’ Jessica said.
‘Do the detectives on the Murder and Serious Crime teams know about MSCAN and what we will be doing?’ Taff asked after he’d swallowed a mouthful of champagne.
‘I’ve issued a circular and spoken with the senior investigators who lead each team,’ Williams told them.
‘They will brief their officers and civilian staff, so they won’t be surprised when you arrive at a crime scene.
Given that you’re a small unit, attending every major crime scene in London is impossible unless you work around the clock.
I believe your investigative skills are best utilised in the most serious crimes.
Therefore, I have instructed all the senior investigating officers that MSCAN’s assistance should only be requested for Category A and B homicides and major crime investigations. ’
‘That makes sense,’ Jessica said.
‘You’ll still have a heavy workload,’ Williams added.
‘We are all up for the challenge and can’t wait for our first case,’ Jessica replied confidently.
Diane raised her glass. ‘I’ll drink to that.’
‘I was wondering, if we are going to be working long hours, does that sofa convert into a bed?’ Taff joked.
‘There’s no way you’re ever sleeping in my office,’ Jessica said firmly.
‘Looks like you’ll have to do with the office floor then,’ Diane grinned.
This was the first time Williams had observed them together. I think we may have ourselves a good team , she thought to herself.