Page 70 of The Scene of the Crime (Jessica Russell #1)

When they returned to the station, Chapman and Jessica went directly to Anderson’s office.

He was looking pleased with himself. ‘Cole lives in a flat just around the corner from his shop. I’ve sent detectives and scene-of-crime officers to search both Cole’s and Bishop’s flats.

So, tell me what happened in Hatton Garden.

’ Jessica described her interactions with Cole as she posed as a customer.

‘She left out the best bit,’ Chapman said with a smile. ‘She put that toe-rag Bishop on the ground when he went for her.’

Anderson nodded. ‘DC Bingham said you’ve got a mean right foot, Jessica.’ She was relieved when Chapman moved on to what they’d found at the warehouses. ‘Any idea who turned over De Klerk’s place?’ Anderson asked.

‘I’ve been thinking about it on the way back here,’ Chapman said. ‘If a hacking device wasn’t used, they’d have had to know the key code.’

‘Michelle De Klerk?’ Chapman nodded. ‘What do you think, Jessica?’

‘It’s possible, but I don’t think she’d risk being seen by the guard or picked up by the CCTV cameras.’

‘She could have got someone to do the dirty work for her. In her line of work, she meets a lot of criminals,’ Chapman suggested.

‘I don’t believe Michelle would risk her career by doing that.’

‘I tend to agree with Jessica,’ Anderson said. ‘Get DC Bingham to look through the CCTV for the last couple of days to see if he spots anyone who is known to us or is acting suspiciously.’

‘It might be worth sending it over to Guy with photos of all the suspects. He’s a super recogniser who can identify faces, often after the briefest glimpse. He will quickly spot anyone of interest on the CCTV, even if they look different to the photos,’ Jessica suggested.

‘Agreed,’ Anderson said.

‘I’ll upload the footage and photographs to HOLMES for him to review,’ Chapman said. He just hoped it didn’t turn out to be Wood or Stubbings caught on camera.

‘I want you and DS Wood to interview Bishop first. He seems to be the weak link, and you can use his admissions against Cole when you interview him.’

‘What about De Klerk? Bishop said he’s involved with Cole in a jewellery scam,’ Chapman said.

‘Doctor Babu told me he’s awake. But he’s confused and not fit to be interviewed yet. Babu says he’ll reassess him tomorrow.’

‘If Jessica was right, it’s all been a big act,’ Chapman said.

‘But we can’t prove it, and I don’t want to risk raising it with Doctor Babu. De Klerk’s not going anywhere, and hopefully Bishop will give us plenty of ammunition to hit him with when he is fit to be interviewed.’

Jessica’s mobile pinged, and she looked at the text. ‘Taff says Cole’s right shoe matches the print on the magazine found on the floor beside Wheeler’s body. The fingerprints on the water buffalo glass are also his.’

‘Two more nails in his coffin,’ Chapman remarked.

‘What about the unknown DNA on the diamonds?’ Anderson asked.

‘Diane’s doing Rapid DNA on Cole’s mouth swab. It will take another hour to raise a profile, after which she can do a direct comparison and give us the result.’

‘That’s fine, as Bishop will be interviewed first, and Cole will want a pre-interview consultation with the duty solicitor.’

‘Is it Baldwin?’ Anderson nodded. ‘Isn’t there a conflict of interest if he represented Liam Palmer?’ Jessica asked.

‘Apparently not. I spoke with the CPS about it. They said that as the charges against Palmer in the De Klerk case were being dropped, there was no conflict, and, as the duty solicitor, he could represent Cole.’

‘It could work to our advantage. Baldwin only knows what we questioned Palmer about. He has no knowledge of Wheeler’s death or any of the latest forensic results, and we don’t need to disclose our case to him fully.’

‘I agree. I want you and DS Wood to interview Bishop. Jessica and I can watch from the viewing room.’

‘What about Cole’s interview?’

‘You and I will do it together later. I suggest you inform DS Wood and prep for the interview with Bishop. Let us know when you’re ready to start.’

Chapman nodded. ‘Will do, guv.’

*?*?*

Chapman called DS Wood into his office to discuss Bishop’s interview. ‘Is there anything else you can think of we should ask Bishop?’ Chapman asked.

‘Nope, we’ve listed all the relevant questions we need to ask.’

‘You recall when we were waiting for Palmer to turn up at his flat, I asked if you thought someone in the office had leaked information to the press.’

‘Yes, and I told you it wasn’t me.’

‘I know it wasn’t. But between us, it might have been Dawn’s boyfriend. She told him about the investigation, and he has an uncle who works for the BBC.’

‘She told you that?’

‘No. Jessica spoke with her. Poor thing was in a dreadful state. She had an almighty row with her boyfriend, and he walked out on her.’

‘Have you told Anderson?’

‘Not yet, but at some point I’ll have to. I don’t want her kicked off the team. The problem is, if Anderson finds out I knew and didn’t tell him, then I’m in the shit.’

Wood sighed. ‘It had nothing to do with Dawn or her boyfriend. It was me. I called a journalist I knew, and he went to the BBC.’

‘For fuck’s sake, Julian, why didn’t you come clean when I asked you?’

‘Because I reckoned I could front out an internal investigation. I was pissed and furious with Anderson when I did it.’

‘What did you hope to achieve?’

‘Apart from pissing Anderson off? I thought it might lead to some useful information turning up, which it did, with Wheeler phoning Crime Stoppers.’

‘He was trying to frame an innocent man!’

‘I know that now. I also hoped Anderson might get kicked off the investigation, and they’d let you take over.’

‘I can’t believe you could be so stupid, with all your experience.’

‘Like I said, I was shit-faced.’

‘That’s no excuse, plus you lied to me. It makes me wonder if you’ve been honest with me about what Stubbings told you. What about breaking into the warehouse?’

‘You know everything Stubbs said has turned out to be correct. And I know for a fact he didn’t break into the warehouse.’

‘You’ve spoken to him, haven’t you?’

‘Yes. He went straight home after we met in the pub and was in Bath the next day on a case, and he’s still there.

He told me his wife could vouch for him and sent me pictures of receipts for meals he’d purchased in Bath and on the way there.

He also gave me the name of the hotel where he’s staying.

I checked it out, and he was telling the truth. ’

‘Sounds like you don’t trust him either.’

‘It got me worried when you thought it might be Stubbs. I had to be sure. He was pissed off with me for thinking it might be him. I’m sorry I’ve put you in an awkward position by talking to that journalist. I deserve to be disciplined for what I’ve done.’

‘You’re treading on eggshells, Julian. I doubt you’ll get dismissed, but you could be kicked back to uniform.’

‘I’ll tell Anderson it was me after we’ve interviewed Bishop.’

Chapman ran his hands through his hair, then let out a deep sigh. ‘I must be mad, but I think there’s a way out of this for you.’

‘Forget it, Mike. I’m not going to let you risk your career over my fuck-up.’

‘Dead men don’t tell tales, Julian.’

‘I’m lost . . . unless you’re thinking of killing me.’

‘It had crossed my mind. Seriously though, we know Wheeler gave Crime Stoppers the info about Palmer. Who’s to say it wasn’t him that contacted a journalist or went straight to the BBC? Maybe he wanted it on the news as part of his plan to frame Palmer.’

Wood thought about it. ‘It’s feasible – and virtually impossible to disprove now he’s dead. Do you think Anderson will go for it?’

‘Why not? It may also lead to the professional standards unit dropping their investigation, which he’d be pleased with.’

‘Thanks, Mike, I owe you big time.’

‘Too right you do. A bottle of Remy Martin VSOP might do the trick.’

‘Expensive stuff.’

‘Don’t push your luck or it will be two bottles.’

*?*?*

Chapman turned on the recording equipment and cautioned a glum-looking Christopher Bishop, who’d said he was willing to be interviewed without a solicitor present. ‘Let’s start with how you came to know Cole,’ Chapman began.

‘It was about three years ago. I heard that Cole was buying stolen jewellery without asking questions. My days of breaking into houses were over, but I still handled stolen goods now and then. Anyway, I ended up working as a driver for him, delivering jewellery mostly.’

‘What do you know about Cole’s association with Johan De Klerk?’ Chapman asked.

‘I think initially he was just a client who bought some jewellery from him.’

Chapman showed him a photograph of Wheeler. ‘Do you know this man?’

‘Sure, Wheeler the Dealer. We shared a prison cell some years back, and I got to know him a bit more than I’d have liked.

He’s a nasty piece of work, definitely someone you don’t want to cross.

When we were banged up, he shanked a couple of inmates with a homemade knife.

He’s a pretty handy cat burglar but he mostly sells what he steals to buy cocaine. ’

‘What’s his association with Nathan Cole?’

‘Nat told me he needed someone to do a burglary at a big fancy house in Victoria Park Road. He didn’t tell me who lived there, but he made me drive past it and took some photos on his phone.

The back wall was about twelve feet high.

I told him I was too out of shape to get over it so he asked if I knew anyone else who could do the job.

I told him about Wheeler and introduced them.

Nat said to buy two burner phones and SIM cards, and I think he gave one to Wheeler. ’

‘You must have known it was De Klerk’s house,’ Chapman said.

‘I didn’t know where De Klerk lived then, and I didn’t ask questions.’

‘Tell us what Cole was doing from last Friday until his arrest earlier today.’