Page 77 of The Scene of the Crime (Jessica Russell #1)

On Saturday morning, Jessica went to Barking for a meeting with Anderson, Chapman and Dawn Owens.

Anderson said he’d spoken with Michelle the previous evening, and she was happy to talk to them this morning.

She’d asked if there had been any further developments, but he’d only told her they had identified other suspects who had yet to be interviewed.

‘Is Johan fit to be interviewed as well?’ Chapman asked.

‘Doctor Babu said De Klerk appears to be suffering from post-traumatic amnesia, which is not uncommon after a serious head injury. He said it can last for a few hours, days, weeks or even, in rare cases, months.’

Chapman looked dubious. ‘How convenient for him. Surely a doctor could tell if he’s putting it on?’

‘I didn’t want to challenge Babu’s diagnosis and give anything away.

He said a short interview of about half an hour would be enough for now.

We can still ask Johan questions, and if we can subsequently prove it was all an act, we can use it against him.

I told Doctor Babu we’d be at the hospital around ten, so we’ve got about an hour and a half to get our ducks in a row. ’

When they got to the hospital, they went straight to De Klerk’s room. Anderson knocked on the door and Michelle opened it, but the bed was empty. She was wearing makeup, expensive-looking jewellery and a tight-fitting pale cream cashmere dress that made her pregnancy very obvious.

‘Johan’s been taken for a scan. He shouldn’t be long,’ she said.

‘I wasn’t expecting four of you,’ she frowned.

‘Due to your husband’s condition, I wanted to speed things up. I will be speaking with him, and DI Chapman will take notes. DC Owens needs to ask you a few questions, and Jessica will take the notes. If that’s all right with you?’

She sighed. ‘I suppose it will have to be. Johan is still very groggy. I told him it wasn’t a good idea to stress himself by talking to you today. I suggested he wait until tomorrow, but he’s stubborn and insisted he’d be fine.’

‘We all appreciate his and your cooperation. We will be in the waiting room. Could you ask someone to tell us when Johan returns?’ Michelle said she would, and they went to the waiting room.

‘She looks ready for action,’ Chapman remarked.

‘How do you mean?’ Anderson asked.

‘You know, all dressed up with her warpaint on,’ Chapman replied.

A few minutes later, a nurse came to the room and said that Johan was back in bed and ready to see them.

Anderson asked Dawn and Jessica to stay in the waiting room and said he would ask Michelle to join them.

Dawn waited until they had gone before speaking to Jessica.

‘Do you mind asking Michelle the questions?’

‘I think DCI Anderson wanted you, as a police officer, to do the interview.’

‘I know, and I’ve got his list of questions, but you know so much more about the case than I do. I’m not fully up to speed with what’s happened in the last couple of days and haven’t had a chance to watch Cole or Bishop’s interviews. I’m really worried I might ask something I shouldn’t.’

Jessica knew it would be inappropriate to interrupt Anderson and ask his permission now that he was with Johan. But she couldn’t help agreeing. ‘All right, I’ll do it,’ she said. She just hoped Anderson wouldn’t tear them both off a strip afterwards.

*?*?*

A tired and pale-faced Johan was sitting up in bed, sipping from a water bottle.

The heavy bandages had been removed and the wound was covered with a large, padded dressing.

His face still bore the telltale bruises from his attack, although the swelling had gone down, and he was also still attached to a drip, along with the heart monitor.

‘Good morning, Johan. I’m glad to see you are recovering. I’m Detective Chief Inspector John Anderson, and this is Detective Inspector Chapman.’

Johan’s voice was still a little hoarse, but he spoke clearly.

‘Michelle mentioned that you were leading the investigation. I was pleased to hear you caught the person responsible for the break-in and the assault. Though it saddened me to learn from Michelle that he might have died from an injury I inflicted on him.’

‘We realise that you were acting in self-defence, but we’ll still need to ask you about it – along with other matters.’

‘To be honest, I can’t remember a thing about that night or the days before it. Michelle has told me what you think happened, so I know I’m lucky to be alive.’

‘What are these “other matters” you need to ask Johan about?’ Michelle asked.

‘We arrested a jeweller called Nathan Cole and want to interview Johan about his association with him. Cole has also made criminal allegations against Johan which we need to put to him,’ Chapman said. Johan looked shocked but didn’t say anything.

‘We both know Nathan. Has he got anything to do with what happened to my husband?’ Michelle asked, sounding concerned.

‘We believe Cole hired John Wheeler to break into your house.’

‘Oh my God, Nathan? I can’t believe he’d do that to me,’ Johan exclaimed.

‘I’m afraid there’s evidence to suggest he organised the break-in. And, as I say, he has made some serious allegations against you.’

‘You know you are entitled to have a solicitor present,’ Michelle told him. ‘It just can’t be me.’

He sighed. ‘I’ve done nothing wrong, so I’d prefer to get the interview over and done with as soon as possible. I’m happy to talk to you without a solicitor.’

‘See what I mean about him being stubborn? You can change your mind about the solicitor anytime you want,’ Michelle said, kissing him on the cheek.

Johan reached for her hand, and she held it.

‘You must try to stay calm, Johan. Try to remember as much as possible and answer the questions if you can. You’re not well, so if it becomes too stressful, say so, and DCI Anderson will terminate the interview.

’ Michelle looked at Anderson, who nodded in agreement.

She gently released Johan’s hand, blew him a kiss and left the room.

Anderson cautioned Johan and began to ask him about his relationship with Cole.

*?*?*

Michelle entered the waiting room, looking tearful. She tossed her hair back with one hand, sat down and looked at Jessica, who sensed she was ready to put on a performance.

‘Are you OK?’ Dawn asked.

Michelle nodded, wiping away a tear. ‘I’m worried about Johan being interviewed and how the stress might affect him. He’s still in a very vulnerable condition.’

‘I take it DCI Anderson told you why he needs to interview him?’ Jessica asked.

‘Yes, but only briefly. Johan looked mortified when he said Cole had made criminal allegations against him and hired the man Wheeler to break into our house. It came as a shock to me as well, which is not good in my condition.’ She took a deep breath and looked about to cry.

‘Would you like some water or a hot drink?’ Dawn asked.

‘A tissue would be good if you have one. I’ve been through boxes of them.’ Dawn opened her handbag and handed Michelle a packet of tissues. She removed one, dabbed her eyes, and blew her nose.

‘Would you like some time to yourself?’ Dawn asked.

‘I’ll be fine, thank you. Hearing Johan being falsely accused is just so distressing when he’s the victim in all of this – I mean, he nearly died.’

Dawn’s sympathetic cooings were beginning to annoy Jessica, who was becoming increasingly convinced it was all an act. ‘If you don’t feel up to it, we . . .’ Dawn started to say, but Jessica took over before she could finish.

‘Do you mind if Dawn takes notes while I ask you some questions?’

‘No, that’s fine,’ Michelle said with a sniff.

‘What’s Johan’s relationship with Nathan Cole?’

‘I wouldn’t call it a relationship. Johan has purchased jewellery from him a few times. He bought me a beautiful necklace and his Rolex watch from Cole. I’ve only met him once and found him perfectly pleasant, but then he did something to a friend of mine that made me realise he was dishonest.’

‘Was that friend Chandice Bramston?’

‘How did you know that?’ a puzzled-looking Michelle asked.

‘Cole told us that you and Johan thought he’d deliberately switched a sapphire on her ring. He said it was a genuine mistake, and he had no intention of stealing it.’

‘Then he’s a liar. Chandice and I had been friends for years until we met that horrible little man,’ Michelle said bitterly.

‘Can you tell me what happened?’ Michelle told Jessica the now familiar story. ‘How did this situation make you feel?’

‘Obviously appalled, and deeply embarrassed.’

‘Did you believe Cole when he said it was an honest mistake?’

‘Of course I didn’t. Johan wanted to report it to the police, but I told him it was pointless.’

‘Why did you think it was pointless?’

‘We all knew Cole was lying, but I doubted the police could do anything as it would be hard to prove. I knew as a barrister there was insufficient evidence for the CPS to recommend charging Cole.’

‘That might not have been the case if you had reported it,’ Jessica said.

‘Actually, Michelle is probably right. It would be hard to prove Cole intended to steal the sapphire,’ Dawn remarked.

‘Thank you, Dawn. I’m glad someone agrees with me,’ Michelle said and looked at Jessica with a superior smile.

‘Weren’t you worried, as a barrister, that not reporting a potential crime might reflect badly on you?’ Jessica asked, irritated by Dawn’s interjection.

‘To be honest, yes, I believe I was. I’m not the police’s favourite person.

I was worried that if they got involved, rumours would spread that I was associated with a common thief, and the press might get a hold of it.

As a barrister, it wouldn’t have looked good, but as I said, and your colleague Dawn agreed, there wasn’t enough evidence to prove it. ’

‘Did Chandice not want to report it?’ Jessica asked.