Page 76 of The Scene of the Crime (Jessica Russell #1)

‘You’re probably right.’ Jessica was about to end the call when Donna, who had checked the number on her phone, spoke up.

‘Eight zero four is the area code for Richmond, Virginia.’

Jessica suddenly realised where it might be from and asked them to excuse her while she answered the call. ‘Jessica Russell speaking. How can I help you?’ she asked as she stepped outside.

‘Good evening, Jess. This is FBI Agent Anna Travis. I’m sorry if I’ve interrupted your evening, but I’m off on holiday tomorrow and wanted to call you before I go.’

‘Anywhere nice, ma’am?’ Jessica asked, not wanting to jump in and ask if she was calling about the FBI Behavioural Analysis course.

‘The Maldives with my husband to chill out and soak in the sun. Please, call me Anna.’

‘How can I help you, Anna?’

‘I’ve got a bit of good news. You have been selected for the Behavioural Analysis course at our headquarters in Quantico.’

‘Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how honoured I feel to have been selected for such a prestigious course.’

‘It’s twelve weeks and very intensive, including a lot of physical fitness tests, I’m afraid.’

‘I’m looking forward to the challenge. When does the course start?’ Jessica asked.

‘I can’t give you an exact date, but probably early next year. I’ll put you down as the first reserve should anyone be unable to attend an earlier course.’

‘Thank you so much, Anna. Does Commander Williams know?’

‘Yes, I spoke to the Commander just before I called you. She was telling me all about the major part you’re playing in a current investigation.

Like her, I was most impressed with your powers of observation, especially about the water bottle.

That was very canny of you. It also takes a lot of guts to speak up when you think someone is innocent of a crime and your colleagues don’t.

You’re to be commended for that, Jess. Commander Williams said you are a very special woman, and from what I’ve heard about you I agree with her. ’

Jessica could feel herself flushing. ‘Thank you for your kind words.’

‘Keep up the good work, and I wish you continued success in your future endeavours. Take care, and we’ll speak again soon.’ Anna ended the call.

Jessica hurried back to the restaurant to tell everyone her good news.

Chapman ordered a bottle of champagne to celebrate, and they all raised a glass.

When the last plates had been cleared away, David suggested returning to The Bull for a drink.

Jessica said she was tired and wanted to get some sleep, but David and Donna decided they would go to the pub and get a cab home.

Jessica hugged them both and told them to enjoy the rest of their evening.

Chapman said he was also tired and would call it a night and get a cab home.

‘That’s OK, I can drop you off. It’s only just down the road,’ Jessica told him.

On the journey to Chapman’s flat, Jessica told him how thrilled she was to have been selected for the behavioural analysis course. ‘I know it’s a cliché, but it really is a dream come true.’

‘I’m pleased for you. You deserve it,’ he told her. ‘Now, if you drop me off by the petrol station, I can walk from there.’

‘Don’t be silly. I’ll drop you at your house.’

‘It’s a flat. My wife got the house when we divorced,’ he replied. He gave her directions, and a couple of minutes later she was parking outside his block.

‘Thanks for coming tonight. It was fun. And you and David got on well.’

‘He’s a nice bloke, your brother, and he’s got a great sense of humour. Donna’s lovely as well. They make a great couple.’

‘I like her too. It’s a bit of a whirlwind romance, but she’s very kind and obviously cares a lot for David. I just hope that it lasts.’

‘If first impressions are anything to go by, I’d say it will. Would you like to go out for another meal sometime . . . just the two of us?’ Chapman asked.

‘Yes, that would be nice.’

‘Do you want to come in for a coffee?’ he asked sheepishly.

‘Thanks, but I’m really tired. Maybe next time.

’ He leaned in to kiss Jessica on the cheek, but at the same moment, she turned her head toward him and he accidentally kissed her on the lips.

They both froze and exchanged surprised glances.

She didn’t seem offended, so Chapman put his hand behind Jessica’s neck, drew her closer, and began to kiss her. She instantly pulled away.

‘I’m sorry, Mike, I’m not ready for this yet.’

Chapman felt he’d messed up. ‘Sorry. I was out of order.’

‘It’s OK. I’m not upset with you. It’s just that I haven’t been in a relationship for a long time, and my last one didn’t end well.’

He looked worried. ‘I hope I haven’t ruined our friendship.’

‘Of course not. I like you a lot. I wouldn’t want that to happen.’

‘I’ll see you in the morning, then,’ he said.

He got out of the car and gave her a limp wave goodnight.

Jessica could see he was upset as he walked with his shoulders slumped toward the flats and didn’t look back.

She knew he must be feeling rejected, and it would play on his mind all night.

As she started to drive off, part of her wished she had been more open and honest with him.

It wasn’t the first time she had used that excuse, but it wasn’t fair to him, and now she wished she hadn’t.

She slammed her foot on the brake, and as her body lurched forward, the seat belt pressed into her chest. She jumped out of the car and called out his name, but the communal entrance door had just closed behind him.

She ran to the door and banged on the glass to get his attention.

It made him jump, and he turned sharply. He quickly opened the door.

‘Can we talk, please?’ she asked nervously.

‘Of course. Are you all right?’ he asked, looking concerned.

‘Yes, I’m fine, but I feel I owe you a proper explanation about why I’m avoiding a relationship with you.’

‘Do you want to come in?’

‘No, let’s just talk out here for a minute.’ There was a low wall near to the entrance to the flats and they went over and sat side by side.

‘You don’t need to explain anything, Jessica. After what Liam Palmer did, it’s understandable. I was there that night, so I know how it affected you. Seeing his face and reliving it all over these past few days must have been horrendous for you.’

‘Mike, it was a long time ago, and a lot has happened in my life since then. And you’re right, it wasn’t easy, reliving everything. But his confession and discovering about his awful childhood has actually given me some sort of closure.’

‘That’s a good thing then.’

‘Yes, it is. But it’s not just what happened with Palmer that makes me wary of relationships with men.

I won’t bore you with all the details, but my father was a narcissist and a bully.

He treated my mother like she was a piece of dirt and showed no love towards any of us.

He abandoned us when we were kids, and thankfully, I’ve never seen him since. ’

‘He sounds a right bastard,’ Chapman said.

‘He was, but I got over him. It affected David a lot more, and he had a hard time, then our mother died and he went off the rails, so I moved back in with him. But I’m not telling you all this as some kind of excuse because it isn’t.’

Chapman was unsure what to say next. It felt as if she was somehow skirting around the real reason for her reaction when he’d kissed her. He reached out and took hold of her hand. ‘I heard what you said to Palmer after the interview.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, I’d never heard that tone of voice. I think he went to shake your hand to thank you and you said, “Don’t touch me” and walked out.’

‘Yes, I did. You know, for a long time after what he did, I had nightmares every night. I couldn’t sleep if there was any creaking sound on the stairs – the slightest noise would freak me.

Even though he was only a teenager, I never saw him as that, but as this huge monster all in black with his face hidden by his black hoodie and the awful growling sounds he made when he attacked me, like an animal.

It took a lot of therapy for that image to fade and for me to be able to get on with my life.

’ He was surprised when she suddenly laughed softly, shaking her head and pulling her hand from his.

‘Seeing this bald, pitiful creep, with his dirty fingernails, his yellow teeth and crippled leg . . . if I’d seen him like that years earlier, it would have taken a lot less time to get over that image of the black-hooded monster.

He disgusted me and it made me angry that I had wasted so much anxiety on such a pathetic creature.

I actually found it a very positive experience. ’

‘Well, that’s good to know.’

Again, she surprised him by giving a soft laugh.

‘I know I am going a roundabout way to explain why I’ve had problems with relationships, but in all honesty, it is not why I don’t think it’s a good time for me to begin one with you.

I really like you a lot, but I’m going to be going to Virginia and right now my career is too important to me to embark on any kind of relationship. ’

He nodded. ‘I understand, and thanks for being so open. All you’ve achieved in your life after so much heartache and pain is remarkable, and you should be very proud of yourself.’

‘It might sound odd, but this investigation has really helped me understand how to cope with the emotions of my past.’

‘Good for you. Can I ask if a plutonic relationship between us is acceptable?’

‘It’s pronounced pla tonic, but yes, it is.’ Jessica leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. ‘Thanks for being so understanding. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.’

*?*?*

Arriving home, Jessica poured herself a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and sat at the kitchen table with her iPad to look at the warehouse and hospital CCTV Guy had sent her. As usual, Guy had been very thorough, sending her the sections she needed along with notes giving the exact timings.

Jessica first looked at the hospital CCTV for Thursday and noted that Michelle was by the lift on Johan’s floor at 5.45 p.m., and left the hospital through the main entrance a couple of minutes later, which wasn’t long after she and Anderson had spoken with her.

She then watched the warehouse CCTV. Michelle arrived in her Mercedes, parked opposite the entrance and went inside at 7.

04 p.m. She was wearing the same clothing she had on at the hospital.

At 7.35, she left the building, carrying the black bin bag, returning to bring out two heavy-looking carrier bags.

She looked at Guy’s notes, which said Michelle returned to the hospital at 8.

50. She fast-forwarded the video to that time and noticed that Michelle was wearing different clothing.

She assumed Michelle must have gone back to her house to change.

Guy also noted that Michelle left the hospital just before midnight and didn’t return until eight Friday morning, carrying a briefcase.

By this time, Jessica and the team had been made aware that Johan had regained consciousness but needed complete rest. She assumed Michelle had gone home for the night to get some sleep so she’d be ready for the next round of questions.

She closed her laptop, giving it a small pat.

She would do the same thing, get a good night’s sleep and be prepared for her.

Michelle was a formidable opponent, and Jessica knew she could not afford to put a foot wrong.