Page 60 of The Scene of the Crime (Jessica Russell #1)

Anderson sat at his desk while Jessica and Chapman stood in front of him.

‘What the hell are you two playing at, interviewing Palmer after charge and without a solicitor? You’ve broken Code C of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, so anything he said is inadmissible as evidence.

’ He was clearly still angry but managing to keep his voice level.

‘I’d beg to differ, sir. Code C also states that an interview after a charge can be conducted to prevent or minimise harm or loss to some other person or the public and in the interests of justice.’

Anderson shook his head. ‘Oh, a legal buff as well as a fool. Your irresponsibility could now lead to the case against Palmer being thrown out by a judge.’

‘There is no case against him. He was . . .’ Chapman started to reply, but Anderson wouldn’t let him.

‘Now you think you know better than the CPS lawyers, who, let me remind you, said there is clear evidence of a joint enterprise and Palmer’s involvement in the attempted murder of Johan De Klerk!’

Chapman was unable to disguise his annoyance. ‘We just dismissed everything Palmer said without looking at all the evidence. Apart from Jessica, that is. He’s been set up. He had nothing to do with the burglary or the assault on De Klerk.’

‘Have you lost your mind?’ Anderson asked incredulously.

‘The landlady of the pub told us about Wheeler, and Palmer, to his credit, gave us his address. Wheeler broke into De Klerk’s house, and now it looks like he’s been murdered!’ Chapman concluded.

‘You failed to inform me about what you were doing, and that’s neglect of duty.’

‘I sent you a text. I thought you would call me. I couldn’t sit on my arse and do nothing. Go ahead, discipline me and send an innocent man to prison if that’s what you want. But I—’

Jessica butted in. ‘Can the two of you please stop arguing. It’s getting us nowhere.’

‘You need to read the forensic and behavioural report Jessica prepared,’ Chapman said, taking it from his jacket pocket.

‘Why has he got it before me?’ Anderson asked Jessica.

She removed another copy from her handbag. ‘I only compiled it yesterday and haven’t had the chance to give it to you until now.’

‘You could have left it on my desk,’ Anderson huffed, grabbing the copy from her.

‘I wanted to give it to you personally and discuss the reasoning behind my observations and conclusions.’

He didn’t seem to have an answer to that. ‘What’s happening at the crime scene where you found Wheeler’s body?’

‘It’s been cordoned off, and Jessica’s team are attending,’ Chapman said. ‘A pathologist has been called to examine the body and estimate the time of death.’

‘Do the video and photography,’ Anderson said, looking at Jessica. ‘But I want to see the body in situ. Call your team and tell them the forensic examination can start after I’ve done that.’

She took her phone out. ‘Since I compiled the report, other things have come to light that we need to discuss, but time is of the essence. The body can be left in situ while Diane and Taff examine the scene. We need to identify whoever else is involved with Wheeler, and quickly.’

‘Very well, but I need you two to tell me everything, chapter and verse, after I’ve read this. A coffee wouldn’t go amiss either.’

Chapman said he’d get them all a coffee.

Jessica called Diane. She informed her she was with DCI Anderson and Diane was not to touch or move the body as he wanted to see it.

Diane asked about examining the scene, and Jessica said it was OK to proceed with that after the video and photography were completed.

After finishing the call, Jessica sat quietly while Anderson read her report.

She noticed his look of irritation gradually turn to one of concern.

She hoped he was beginning to realise that Palmer was not involved in the crimes he was accused of.

Chapman returned with the coffees and looked at Jessica with raised eyebrows, wondering how things were going. She gave him a wink.

A few minutes later, Anderson finished reading.

‘That’s a very detailed report, Jessica.

We may have misjudged Palmer’s involvement in the crime.

The messages to and from the burner phones show two people were involved, so it doesn’t absolve Palmer completely.

He may even be responsible for Wheeler’s death. ’

‘He gave us Wheeler’s location. Why on earth would he do that if he’d killed him?’ Chapman argued.

‘Other things that absolve Palmer have come to light since I wrote my report,’ Jessica added.

‘Enlighten me then,’ Anderson said, turning the report over so he could make notes on the back.

Jessica told him about Guy’s digital examinations, which revealed Palmer was playing online games or watching films during the night De Klerk was assaulted and then when the Range Rover was set alight.

She then told him about the Sealskinz glove marks on Palmer’s cistern lid and Taff’s discovery that the lock on Palmer’s front door had been picked.

‘When we found Wheeler’s body, he was wearing Adidas Ultraboost trainers, and there was a pair of Sealskinz gloves on the table, alongside a fake passport and one-way flight ticket to Dubai for Wednesday morning,’ Chapman added.

Anderson nodded. ‘I hear what you’re saying. It looks like this man Wheeler committed the crime, but it doesn’t account for the money in Palmer’s wallet that had De Klerk’s finger-prints on it.’

‘That’s because Wheeler stole it from De Klerk, then gave it to Palmer as payment for turning off the CCTV system at the garage and giving him a can of petrol,’ Chapman said.

Jessica took over. ‘Guy managed to identify Wheeler’s phone number from Palmer’s mobile. Wheeler rang Palmer on Monday evening to arrange switching off the CCTV and . . .’

Anderson raised his hands. ‘Slow down a minute, it’s hard to put all this information in context. Go back a bit and tell me how you learned about Wheeler.’

Chapman explained why they went to The Bell and their conversation with the landlady, when decided Palmer knew more about Wheeler than he was letting on.

‘Palmer is terrified of Wheeler, but he eventually gave us his address.’

Anderson sighed. ‘You did the right thing. I just wish you’d spoken to me before interviewing Palmer or going to Wheeler’s flat. Tell me what Palmer said when you interviewed him.’

‘I can’t remember everything, word for word. Being off the record, I didn’t record it or take notes.’

‘Lucky I did then,’ Jessica said, producing her iPhone.

She saw the look of surprise on Anderson and Chapman’s faces. ‘It’s not illegal, is it?’

‘Never mind about that. I want to hear it,’ Anderson said.

‘I thought it might be useful for my behavioural analysis of Palmer,’ Jessica said, turning on the recording.

Anderson made more notes while listening to the interview. ‘It’s all quite plausible,’ he said when it was finished. ‘And I can understand why Palmer would be frightened of Wheeler. But how do we know he didn’t murder Wheeler and take the proceeds of the burglary?’

‘That’s highly unlikely, sir,’ Chapman replied. ‘As I said . . .’

‘I know, I know. Palmer gave you Wheeler’s address. But maybe that was just to put you off the scent. Maybe he’s cleverer than you think.’

Jessica felt he was clutching at straws to cover up his errors. She needed to get him back on track without belittling him or appearing condescending. ‘Palmer has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.’

Anderson raised his eyebrows. ‘That’s news to me.’

‘I read his criminal record and his social services files. His father deliberately smashed his head against a wall when he was eight, but he wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until some years later. Palmer suffers from racing thoughts and obsessive worrying.’

‘Well, I’d be worried if I were in his shoes,’ Anderson retorted.

‘Palmer’s brain is a constant flow of thoughts, which he finds hard to control,’ Jessica continued.

‘They interfere with his daily life, making it difficult for him to focus on any one thing at a time. He becomes fixated on things that worry him, going over them repeatedly in his mind, which leads to anxiety and stress and makes it difficult for him to complete tasks or make decisions.’

‘Are you saying he’s retarded?’ Anderson asked.

‘We don’t use that word any longer,’ Jessica said, trying to be patient.

Anderson waved a hand dismissively. ‘Whatever he is, the fact is Palmer is capable of committing a crime, as borne out by his previous convictions and the assault on you.’

‘That may be so,’ Jessica agreed. ‘But I don’t believe he’s capable of killing a man like Wheeler and then successfully covering his tracks. And do you honestly think Wheeler would have left all that cash and the Rolex with someone as unreliable as Palmer?’ Jessica asked pointedly.

Anderson frowned. ‘I was just playing devil’s advocate. Unless there’s anything else, I think we should go to the crime scene.’

*?*?*

Jessica drove to Fred Wigg Tower in her car, and Chapman took Anderson.

She arrived first, and as she approached the building, she noticed a tall, attractive woman with cropped dark hair standing by the foyer lift.

She looked to be in her early forties and was casually dressed in a tight-fitting roll-neck jumper and trousers.

It was only the black leather pilot’s case she was holding that provided a clue to who she might be.

‘Hi, are you the pathologist?’ Jessica asked.

‘Yes. I’m Doctor Nicki Giorgini.’

‘I’m Jessica Russell, in charge of the forensics team.’

‘I read a report Commander Williams sent us about the new MSCAN team and recall your name,’ she said with a warm smile as they shook hands.

‘This is our first major investigation as a unit,’ Jessica said as the lift doors opened, and they stepped in.