Page 82 of The Scene of the Crime (Jessica Russell #1)

Chapman drove Jessica, Anderson and DC Owens to the De Klerks’ house, accompanied by two other detectives in an unmarked vehicle, who had been instructed to remain outside and enter the house only when their assistance was requested.

As Chapman parked, they were surprised to see a CCTV security company van and a man by the front door fitting a video doorbell.

They also noticed a CCTV camera attached to the house’s front.

‘Bit late for all that now. If they’d done it before, Johan may still be alive and this investigation would never have happened,’ Chapman remarked.

Anderson knocked on the door, and a handsome, blond, suntanned man answered, introducing himself as Johan’s brother, Duante.

Anderson introduced Chapman and Jessica and told him they were sorry for his loss.

Duante explained that he had arrived that morning and his father was due the following day. He ushered them into the drawing room.

‘The whole family is devastated, as you can imagine. What happened to Johan was . . . I don’t have the words.

We are planning to have a small funeral in England and then fly Johan’s body back to South Africa.

Michelle is resting right now. She’s exhausted and, of course, worried for the baby, but she’s been checked over by her obstetrician and all is well.

Can I get you anything – tea or coffee?’ Jessica watched him closely, feeling he was giving them too much information.

Duante gave a deep sigh. ‘Michelle’s expecting a boy.

Poor Johan would have been over the moon; he so much wanted to have a son. It’s all just so sad.’

‘Could you please inform Mrs De Klerk we’d like to speak to her?’ Anderson asked.

‘May I ask what it’s about?’ Duante asked.

‘I’d rather tell her in person,’ Anderson replied.

‘OK, I will go and tell her you are here then. Are you sure I can’t offer you something to drink?

’ Anderson refused for all of them. They stood awkwardly in the living room where Johan and Wheeler had fought before he was beaten and stabbed.

Chapman walked around the room and then stood by the fireplace, looking at the array of silver-framed photographs.

Although he had seen the photographs when he first came to the house on the Monday morning, he hadn’t taken much notice of them before.

In the photographs Johan was as blond as his brother but much taller and more athletic-looking, with broad shoulders and a slim waist. He smiled broadly with gleaming white teeth.

The few pictures of Johan and Michelle together looked like wedding pictures, and Chapman thought she appeared somewhat domineering, often unsmiling.

Chapman turned as Michelle walked in. She wore a dark maroon velvet floor-length dressing gown over silk pyjamas.

Resting or not, she was perfectly made-up, her hair loose with a satin headband.

‘I was wondering when you’d contact me. I am waiting to know when my husband’s body can be released so we can arrange his funeral.

My brother-in-law, Duante, is taking care of the arrangements, while I consider what action to take against you regarding the unwarranted harassment my husband was subjected to, so I . . .’

‘I’ll speak to the coroner and ask him to call you,’ Anderson said. ‘But I’m afraid there may be a second postmortem.’

‘A second postmortem? Why is that necessary?’

‘We have evidence that implicates you in the death of your husband,’ Anderson said quietly.

‘What are you talking about? What evidence? This is preposterous,’ she said firmly but calmly.

‘Mrs De Klerk, this is not a social visit. We’d like to interview you at the station . . .’

‘I’ve nothing to hide. If there are questions you need to ask me, then go ahead.’

‘Your husband’s blood and urine samples showed high levels of potassium, which had not been administered by the medical staff. We suspect that someone injected or otherwise illegally administered the potassium, which led to his heart attack.’

‘You can’t seriously think that had anything to do with me,’ Michelle replied, looking shocked.

‘We need to question you about it and also Johan’s involvement in diamond fraud,’ Anderson replied.

‘I’ve already told you I know nothing about that . . .’

Duante interrupted. ‘My sister-in-law is pregnant and grieving the loss of her husband. I don’t think this is an appropriate time to question her.’

‘It’s all right, Duante. I appreciate your concern, but you shouldn’t get involved.

It might be best if you left us for now.

’ He hesitated, sighed, then walked out of the living room into the hallway, closing the door behind him.

‘Have you considered that a man like Cole could have bribed a doctor or nurse to administer the potassium?’ Michelle asked Anderson.

‘I assure you we are looking at every possibility,’ he replied. Chapman looked at Jessica with eyebrows raised, wondering why Anderson was trying to placate Michelle.

‘I hate to say it, but I also found Doctor Babu to be incompetent. He should never have allowed you to interview Johan,’ Michelle said bluntly.

‘Johan agreed to be interviewed,’ Anderson replied.

‘Because he was trying to be helpful. Johan’s potassium levels were high when he was first admitted to the hospital due to his injuries and the stress he was under.

It seems to me those levels rose again and led to his heart attack when you and DCI Anderson aggressively questioned him.

’ It was clear Michelle had an answer for everything.

Chapman was losing his patience with Anderson’s approach. He handed her a copy of the search warrant. ‘I’m sure I don’t need to explain what this is, or that you can have a . . .’

‘I don’t need a solicitor. I’m perfectly capable of representing myself, and I have no problem with you conducting a search. I only ask that you don’t leave the house in a mess or damage anything.’

‘We’ll put everything back as we found it, Mrs De Klerk,’ Anderson said, frowning at Chapman for his abruptness.

‘Do you mind if I get changed?’

‘Not at all,’ Anderson replied.

Chapman was wary. ‘DC Owens and Miss Russell will accompany you while you dress, and search your bedroom. My colleagues and I will search the rest of the house.’ As the three women walked into the hallway, Jessica saw a nervous-looking Duante hovering by the door and wondered if he had been listening to the conversation.

‘May I remind you, I’m in charge of this investigation,’ Anderson told Chapman with a frown.

‘Can’t you see she’s playing games with you?’ Chapman retorted. ‘She’s the one controlling the narrative when it should be us.’

‘I’m not stupid, Mike, but being aggressive plays into her hands. I understand your concerns, but just be patient, and I’m sure we’ll find the evidence we need to arrest and charge her.’ Anderson walked off to call the search team in.

*?*?*

While Michelle got dressed, Jessica went into the bathroom.

She was surprised to find the potassium tablets still in Johan’s cabinet.

She put on some crime scene gloves, photographed it, then opened the container and saw it was now almost empty, having been almost full when she last looked inside it.

Jessica sighed, regretting that she hadn’t photographed the contents when she first examined the crime scene.

She put the potassium container in an exhibit bag, then in her shoulder bag, and went into the bedroom.

‘Do you mind if I use my bathroom now?’ a petulant Michelle asked.

Jessica said she’d finished but didn’t say what she had taken for now.

While Michelle was in the bathroom, Jessica opened the walk-in closet, moving hangers aside to see the hidden safe.

It was open, and again, she used her mobile to photograph it and the trays of jewellery inside before closing it.

While Michelle washed, dressed and put on makeup, Dawn and Jessica continued to search the bedroom but found nothing of evidential value or interest. Jessica went downstairs to speak with Anderson and Chapman. ‘Where’s Anderson?’ Jessica asked Chapman.

‘He’s in the back garden talking to Duante, who’s having a smoke. He’s asking him if he knows anything about the diamonds. The rest of the team is searching the basement. But if Michelle stole the other rough and lab-grown diamonds from the two warehouses, she won’t have hidden them here.’

‘I agree, but she might have given them to Duante for safekeeping,’ Jessica suggested.

‘That’s possible, but we don’t have enough evidence to arrest him for anything.’

‘I found the potassium container, and it’s over half empty.’

‘Taff can examine it for Michelle’s fingerprints, but they won’t be of much evidential value as she could say she shares his vitamin tablets or bought them for him.’

‘You’re right. She already knew about Johan’s potassium levels when Anderson told her we think he was given a deliberate overdose. She always has the answers. Is Anderson going to arrest her?’

‘I thought he would have by now. I think he’s being tentative because she’s pregnant and blaming us for Johan’s death. It seems he wants to play everything by the book and not upset her.’

‘You think he’s scared of her?’

‘That’s one way of putting it. Out of his depth is another. Have you heard from Taff or Diane about the drip bag?’

‘Not yet. They’re probably busy searching Johan’s hospital room. I’ll nip out the front and give them a call.’

‘There was a filing cabinet in Johan’s basement study, wasn’t there?’

‘Yes, it isn’t locked. Why do you ask?’

‘Something just crossed my mind that might help us.’

‘What?’

‘I’ll let you know if I find it,’ he said, walking off.

Jessica went outside and called Taff. ‘How’s it going? Any luck with the drip bag or syringes in Johan’s room?’