Page 83 of The Scene of the Crime (Jessica Russell #1)

‘It’s been a bit of a nightmare, to be honest. When we got here, Johan’s room had been cleared out.

Unfortunately, all the syringes and needles had been put in a sharps disposal box and taken to the incinerator.

Fortunately, we managed to speak to the cleaner and traced the yellow clinical waste bag she used, but it had seven drip bags in it among a load of other waste.

Plus, some of the bags had leaked, so everything was wet. ’

‘So, it’s not looking good for us.’

‘Actually, we might have struck lucky. The hospital let me use a lab to do some comparison work. I’m just examining the fourth bag and using a particle reagent spray, which makes fingerprints visible on wet surfaces.

Among a number of prints I’ve got what I’m pretty sure is Michelle De Klerk’s left thumbprint on one side and index finger on the other side, which implies she held the bag. ’

‘How sure are you the prints are Michelle’s?’

‘Ninety-five percent, particularly as there are two matching prints. I’m confident further comparisons back at our lab will confirm they are hers.’

‘Any needle marks in the bag?’

‘No, but she could easily have injected potassium into it through the self-sealing additive port.’

‘You’re a bloody star, Taff. We can examine the bag’s contents for potassium at the lab.’

‘It’s empty. It could have leaked out or have been deliberately emptied.’

‘Even a tiny trace is good evidence.’ Jessica returned to the house to speak to Chapman and found him in the basement study.

‘Take a look at this.’ He handed her an Aviva life insurance policy.

Jessica looked over the policy and then waved it in her hand. ‘Talk about a motive. Bloody hell. Michelle gets a million pounds if Johan dies!’

‘Yep, but in fairness, her life insurance is for the same amount. I doubt she would kill him for the money, but it’s something else we can use to put pressure on her.

’ Jessica told him about her conversation with Taff and Michelle’s fingerprints.

‘No doubt she’ll anticipate we’d search Johan’s hospital room, but the evidence against her is getting stronger,’ Chapman smiled.

‘Can I ask Michelle about her prints being on the drip bag? She doesn’t like me, so it might spark a reaction that could be to our advantage.’

‘I don’t think Anderson would approve.’

‘Anderson can’t object while he’s in the garden with Duante. Michelle said she doesn’t want a solicitor and all this farting around is getting us nowhere.’

‘All right, but if Anderson says anything, it was my idea, as you’re the forensic expert. We best go and see if she’s come downstairs yet.’

A few minutes later Michelle walked into the living room wearing a designer tracksuit, slippers and the same maroon velvet dressing gown to find Jessica sitting in one of the armchairs while Chapman stood to one side.

‘I would like to ask you some questions regarding some forensic issues. Is that OK with you?’

Michelle took a sip from the bottle of water she was holding, then sat opposite her. ‘So, what do you want to ask me?’ She sat back, crossed her legs and put her hands on her belly.

‘Do you recall I took a set of elimination prints from you at the hospital?’

‘Yes, which I willingly gave you.’

‘The thing is, I’ve just spoken to our fingerprint expert. He found your left thumb and index fingerprints on the saline drip bag in Johan’s room.’

Michelle shrugged. ‘That doesn’t surprise me.’

‘You’re not a nurse. So why did you need to handle the bag?’ Chapman asked.

‘I don’t deny I touched the saline bag, but it was after Johan’s death.

I went to his room to collect my belongings and his briefcase, which had all his paperwork.

I noticed the stand had fallen, and the saline bag was loose on the floor.

I assumed it must have got knocked over while they tried to resuscitate Johan.

I picked the stand up and the bag, then put it back on the hook.

Were there any other fingerprints on it? ’ Michelle asked calmly.

‘Yes, but we suspect they belong to nurses or doctors who attended to Johan.’

‘Then that must make them suspects, even more so as I didn’t touch that bag until after he died. It also supports the fact that Nathan Cole may be involved.’

‘Your husband’s life was insured for one million pounds. That’s a lot of money that will now come your way,’ Chapman said.

‘This is absurd. My life is insured for the same amount, and I don’t stand to gain much. My husband left many debts he had incurred mishandling his business.’

Jessica looked at Chapman, who nodded and stepped back, indicating that he would let her ask the pertinent questions.

Jessica removed the exhibit bag containing the potassium capsule container from her bag and held it up.

‘This was in Johan’s bathroom cabinet. I photographed all the vitamins and looked inside the bottles.

When your house was a crime scene, I looked in it, and it was nearly full.

Now it’s half empty, and Johan can’t have physically taken them. Can you explain that?’

‘Do you have any proof that the number of tablets has decreased?’

‘I know what I saw,’ Jessica said firmly.

‘You didn’t photograph the contents. So, you could be mistaken.’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘That answer implies you’re not sure. As you know, Johan was a fit and very athletic man. I was aware he took several vitamins and supplements daily, including potassium.’

‘Do you know why he took potassium?’

‘He said it prevented cramps, but I know very little about its health benefits.’

‘Do you have any knowledge of what an overdose of potassium can do to a person’s body?’

‘I can’t say that I do.’

‘Do you know what level of potassium would be required to affect someone’s heart?’

‘No, I don’t, and I am beginning to find your questions repetitive.

You know I wasn’t present when my husband had his heart attack.

In fact, DI Chapman said he seemed fine when they initially spoke to him.

’ Jessica started to ask another question when Michelle leaned forward.

‘If this line of questioning is a pathetic attempt to exonerate your two detectives from instigating the pressure on my husband that caused his heart failure, you are trying my patience.’

‘An overdose of potassium was found in Johan’s blood, and you knew exactly how long it would take to kill him after tampering with his intravenous drip.’

‘That is ridiculous. Where do you think I was able to acquire the technical knowledge to administer a lethal dosage when I was not even in the same room?’

‘You didn’t have to be. You knew how long you had, you knew what time DCI Anderson and DI Chapman were going to interview your husband. In other words, you created the perfect alibi.’

‘This is ridiculous, and I’m tired of your false accusations. If you have evidence I killed Johan, then arrest me. If not, then kindly get out of my house and leave me to mourn his death.’

‘You’re a liar, Michelle,’ Jessica said.

She removed a folded piece of paper from her bag and held it up.

‘This is a copy of a newspaper article concerning an Olympic hurdler accused of murdering his partner by administering a lethal potassium injection.’ Jessica read out the pertinent details of the case then looked at her.

‘Ring any bells?’ Michelle’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t reply.

‘A doctor who testified in the case gave details about potassium levels in the body and how long they could take to cause a fatal heart attack.’

‘I don’t know anything about that case.’

‘Another lie, Michelle. Thirteen years ago, you were a junior barrister working in Sir Donald Griffith’s chambers. He was prosecuting council in the case, and you assisted him.’

‘I don’t remember it.’

‘We’ve got a copy of the court papers, and your name is on them. You attended the trial and assisted Sir Donald every day. You were aware that the defendant was found not guilty. You thought if he could get away with it, so could you. Am I right?’

Michelle screamed in fury, hurling the water bottle at Jessica, making her dodge out of the way. Michelle jumped up, the maroon velvet dressing gown spreading like wings as she reached for her. Chapman grabbed her as she spat and struggled, still trying to get to Jessica.

‘Michelle De Klerk, I am arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Johan De Klerk. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence . . .’ It was over as fast as it had begun.

Michelle collapsed, sobbing, as Chapman helped her into an armchair.

‘What the fuck is going on?’ Anderson shouted as he ran into the room.

‘She’s had a bit of a meltdown, and I’ve arrested her on suspicion of murder,’ Chapman replied calmly.

Michelle kept her head bowed, saliva dripping from her mouth as she sobbed. She cried, ‘My Baby, my baby,’ and clutched her stomach as if in pain.

‘Go call an ambulance for her, Mike, and tell Dawn to come in here.’

‘It’s all an act. Her fingerprints were on the drip bag and . . .’

‘Do as I fucking say!’ Anderson barked, looking at Jessica. ‘The pair of you go back to the station. I’ll speak to you later.’