Page 74 of The Scene of the Crime (Jessica Russell #1)
‘Yes, and it’s not illegal. My lab diamonds are all certified by the International Gemological Institute. My clients know they are not buying a mined diamond. I run a reputable business.’
Chapman shook his head. ‘You were running a scam with De Klerk. You showed clients falsely certified uncut diamonds and swapped them with lab-grown diamonds when you made rings or other jewellery.’
Cole laughed. ‘That’s ridiculous. If you check my books, you’ll see everything is above board.’
‘Why did you set up the lab next to De Klerk’s warehouse?’
‘I was aware he had a warehouse because of his wine business and asked if there were any spare premises there as I wanted to set up a diamond lab. Johan expressed an interest and helped fund the purchase of the machinery. In return, I give him a cut of the profits.’
‘You didn’t mention any of that in your prepared statement.’
‘That’s because there was nothing illegal going on. I’m sure Johan will tell you the same.’
‘Is Mr De Klerk still getting a cut of the profits?’
‘I gave him some money on Friday.’
‘How much?’
‘Quite a large sum, which I don’t believe I’m obliged to disclose as it was a legitimate business payment. I should also add that after what happened at Johan’s house with the uncut diamonds, I have decided to end our business relationship once he’s discharged from hospital.’
Chapman smiled. ‘We’ve searched your warehouse. There were no diamonds and no cash.’
Cole’s eyes widened, and he licked his lips. Wood laid two photographs on the table.
‘This is a photograph of your Skechers shoes. They were removed when you were arrested. The photo next to it is the sole of your right shoe.’ He put a photo of the shoeprint on the magazine on the table.
‘This magazine was on the floor next to Wheeler’s body, and the shoeprint exactly matches your right shoe.
That puts you inside Wheeler’s flat on the night he died, which was Tuesday .
. . the same day you travelled back from Birmingham. Any explanation for that?’
‘No comment.’
‘You can’t prove it got there on Tuesday,’ Baldwin said.
Wood shrugged. ‘I agree it’s an assumption, but interestingly, the Radio Times is open at Tuesday’s programme listings, and your client’s shoe mark is on that page. Our forensic team also found a cigar on Montague Road, and the saliva recovered from it matches his DNA.’
‘No comment,’ Cole replied automatically, but he was beginning to look anxious.
Chapman took over. ‘You might think you’re clever, Nathan, but you’re not.
We interviewed Bishop, and he’s blaming you for everything.
I have to say his version of events is much more credible than yours.
That’s why we know about your diamond scam with Johan De Klerk, and that you hired Wheeler to break into his house.
Wheeler double-crossed you and attempted to steal the diamonds and the cash he stole from the safe.
That pissed you off, so you went to his flat with Bishop.
You held a revolver to Wheeler’s head while Bishop bound and gagged him.
You then pistol-whipped and tortured him by pushing a lit cigar into his chest and laughing while he screamed in agony. ’
Wood put a picture of the revolver on the table. ‘We found that under the floorboards in your shop. Our fingerprint expert examined it, and yours are all over it.’
‘No comment.’
‘I’m giving you one last opportunity to tell us the truth, Nathan,’ Chapman said.
‘No comment.’
‘Then this interview is concluded. You will be charged after we’ve spoken with the Crown Prosecution Service.’ Chapman turned the recorder off.
‘I’d like a further consultation with my client,’ Baldwin said, not looking at all pleased with him.
*?*?*
Chapman and Wood joined Jessica and Anderson in his office.
He was on the phone with the CPS and thanked them for their advice before ending the call.
‘Nicki Giorgini, the pathologist, rang me earlier,’ he told them.
‘She said Wheeler would have eventually died from his spleen injury, but the actual cause of death was a heart attack, most likely brought on by the trauma from being tortured.’
‘Does that mean legally that Cole and Bishop killed him?’ Jessica asked.
Anderson looked pleased. ‘It certainly does, and the CPS said they are both culpable. There was no intent to kill Wheeler, but they can be charged with manslaughter.’
‘Does it matter that they are both blaming each other?’ she asked.
‘It’s the classic cut-throat defence,’ Wood said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Basically, it’s where one defendant accuses the other of the crime to exonerate himself. Hence, they’re trying to cut each other’s throats,’ Wood replied.
‘The CPS may decide to hold separate trials or accept a plea to a lesser charge from Bishop, then have him give evidence against Cole at his trial,’ Chapman added.
‘Cole is also going to be charged with burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm,’ Anderson added. ‘Although Wheeler broke into De Klerk’s house, Cole hired him to do so, and therefore, joint enterprise burglary is applicable.’
‘Wheeler tried to kill De Klerk. Is that not joint enterprise as well?’ Jessica asked.
‘The CPS considered it but concluded it was unlikely Cole foresaw that Wheeler would stab De Klerk and nearly kill him,’ Anderson replied. ‘They didn’t feel there was a reasonable prospect of a conviction.’
‘What about Johan De Klerk? Will he be charged?’
‘That will depend on what he says when we speak to him and any other evidence that comes to light. The diamonds are probably stolen, but it’s nigh on impossible to prove who committed the theft unless Johan tells us, which is highly unlikely.’
‘I don’t mind going to South Africa and making enquiries,’ Chapman said with a grin.
Anderson laughed. ‘Sadly, I think it would be a wasted journey.’
‘I’ll take that as a no, then,’ Chapman smiled.
‘Sorry to keep asking questions, but I’m getting lost in a sea of legality and a bit confused about what crimes Johan has committed and, for that matter, Michelle,’ Jessica said.
‘There are various customs offences he could be charged with,’ Anderson explained.
‘After his near-death experience, he’d probably just get a suspended sentence or hefty fine,’ Chapman commented.
‘But he won’t get the diamonds or the cash back, will he?’
‘If we can’t prove they were the proceeds of crime, he might,’ Chapman replied.
‘As for Michelle,’ Anderson continued, ‘it depends on what she says when we interview her. If we have enough evidence to prove she lied to us to protect Johan, the CPS will consider obstruction of justice and making a false statement as possible charges.’
‘Will Cole and De Klerk be charged with any sort of fraud regarding the lab-made diamonds?’ Jessica asked.
‘They could be, but identifying the people who bought jewellery from them and persuading them to make statements could be a laborious task.’
‘And Cole will probably have destroyed any records of his dodgy sales,’ Chapman added.
‘You could put out an appeal to the public,’ she suggested.
‘We’d have to get an expert to examine all the gemstones, which would be costly. As a homicide and serious crime unit, we don’t have the time or resources to investigate it. Williams has told me to pass it on to the fraud squad, which I’m happy to do,’ Anderson said.
‘Now that we know Michelle and Cole are connected, will we interview her today?’ Chapman asked Anderson.
‘I’d rather do it tomorrow morning. Hopefully Johan will be well enough to be interviewed but that depends on what the doctor says. It will also give us time to assess everything we’ve got and decide on our approach.’
‘Who’s going to do the interviews with the De Klerks?’ Chapman asked.
‘You and I will speak to Johan,’ Anderson told him. ‘Dawn Owens said she’ll be back at work tomorrow, so I’d like her to interview Michelle with Jessica.’
‘Do you not think it would be better if Jessica spoke with Michelle?’ Chapman suggested.
‘Legally, I think it will be better if a police officer asks the questions, as what she says may need to be used in evidence against her or her husband. Jessica and I will prepare a list of questions for Dawn to ask.’ Anderson smiled.
‘What you have all achieved in under a week is remarkable, and I’m grateful for the long hours and hard work you’ve put in .
. . especially you and your team, Jessica.
Please thank them for me. Once Bishop and Cole are charged, I want everyone to call it a day.
We’ll regroup here at eight a.m. tomorrow morning. ’
‘Any news from Guy regarding the warehouse CCTV?’ Chapman asked Jessica.
‘Let me call him.’ She dialled the office number and when Guy answered, she put the speakerphone on. ‘Hi. I’m just calling to ask how it’s going with the warehouse CCTV.’
‘I’m afraid I haven’t seen Cole or Bishop,’ Guy answered, ‘but Michelle De Klerk went to the warehouse just after seven p.m. yesterday evening.’
‘Are you sure?’ Anderson asked, clearly shocked.
‘She arrived in a silver Mercedes SL sports car and was in the building for about an hour. She came out with a full black bin bag, put it in the boot, went back into the building, came out with two carrier bags, got into the car and drove off.’
‘She’d know the key code. It must have been her who ransacked Johan’s warehouse,’ Wood said.
‘Or she staged it to look like a burglary,’ Anderson added.
Jessica wasn’t so sure. ‘It’s obvious there are CCTV cameras at the warehouse.
Considering she was furious with her husband for not setting up security cameras at their home, she must know his warehouse is covered.
I can’t see Michelle being so stupid as to commit a crime knowing she’d be caught on camera.
We told her Johan’s warehouse had been broken into, so she might have gone there to look at the state of the place and get some of Johan’s belongings. ’
‘Or that’s what she wanted us to think, and everything was staged. She could have the diamonds and cash in the bin bag,’ Wood said.
‘I’ll keep working on the CCTV and see if I can find anything else of interest,’ Guy said.
‘Good work. I want you and the rest of the team to finish at five p.m. and get some well-earned rest,’ Anderson told him.
‘Thanks, guv. I’ll let the others know.’ He ended the call.
On her way to her car, Jessica phoned Guy and asked him to send her a copy of the CCTV footage of Michelle De Klerk.
She also asked him to contact the hospital and ask for copies of the CCTV footage covering the corridor by De Klerk’s room and the hospital entrance for Thursday and Friday and send them to her.
Getting into her car, she was initially wondering what she was going to wear that evening, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Michelle De Klerk and her mysterious visit to the warehouse.
She was obviously an extremely clever woman, with a thorough knowledge of the law, who must have known she would be caught on camera. So, what was she up to?