Page 120 of The Scene of the Crime

‘When I first met Michelle, she told me she didn’t know what Johan kept in the safe in his study, but she thought it might be some cash. They had jewellery in a bedroom safe, which wasn’t broken into,’ Jessica reminded him.

‘Be interesting to see where they bought their jewellery. A dodgy dealer would have their details and might get someone like Wheeler to steal it,’ Chapman said.

‘Would you like me to examine De Klerk’s laptop to see if there’s anything relating to recent jewellery purchases?’ Guy asked over the speakerphone.

‘Good idea,’ Anderson said, ‘but let me apply for a warrant first.’

Diane came into the living room. ‘Found this on the road just down from the flats. Might have been discarded when someonewas getting in a car,’ she said, holding up an exhibit bag with a cigar inside.

‘I thought we might find one. You can fast-track it for DNA. Fingers crossed we get a hit on the database and can make a quick arrest,’ Anderson said, looking pleased.

‘We may as well call for the undertaker’s van now. We can do the fingernail work, DNA swabs and fibre tapings here, which will take about twenty minutes, and then he’s good to go,’ Jessica said.

‘That sounds good to me, Jessica,’ Nicki replied.

Jessica looked at Diane. ‘How long do you reckon it will be before you finish here?’

‘About an hour or two, less if we had extra help.’

‘If it’s all right with you, sir, I’d like to send Diane and Taff back to the lab so they can start examining what we’ve recovered here,’ Jessica asked Anderson. ‘I’ll ask for some local SOCO’s to attend and take over. I’ll brief them on what’s required, then meet you at the mortuary.’

‘Fine by me,’ Anderson replied.

‘I’ll start taking the DNA swabs and other samples from Wheeler for Diane to take back to the lab and work on,’ Nicki said as she unzipped Wheeler’s trousers, then pulled down his underpants to take the penis swab. An embarrassed Anderson quickly asked Chapman to take him back to the station so he could brief the team and organise the urgent enquiries. They both hurried out of the room. Nicki shook her head. ‘What is it about men and penises?’

‘Probably worried they would feel inadequate if they saw Wheeler’s,’ Jessica replied, and they both laughed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Jessica followed the undertaker’s van to the East London Forensic Centre in the Borough of Waltham Forest. The new state-of-the-art facility, fitted with the latest technology, provided comprehensive invasive and non-invasive postmortem examinations, vital for several faith communities.

Mike Chapman was waiting by the entrance and waved when he saw Jessica. ‘Anderson won’t be attending. He’s got a lot to be getting on with at the office.’

‘Is that a polite way of saying he’s squeamish or he’s run out of Vicks?’ she smiled.

‘Definitely squeamish. He phoned his wife on the way back to the office. He said he might be home late. I could hear her shouting at him and saying she’d throw his dinner in the bin if he wasn’t home by seven.’

‘What did he say?’

‘That he now had a murder to deal with connected to the De Klerk case and wasn’t going to let the team down. She wasn’t happy and accused him of lettingherdown. He told her there was a first time for everything and ended the call. She tried ringing him back, but he put the phone on silent.’

‘Good for him.’

‘She might be waiting for him with a rolling pin, though. The next murder we end up investigating might be Anderson’s,’ Chapman laughed. As they were about to enter the mortuary,Chapman’s phone rang. He told Jessica he would catch up with her. He waited until she had gone inside to answer.

‘Where the fuck are you, Julian?’ Chapman demanded.

‘On my way back to the nick. Where the fuck are you?’ Wood retorted.

‘I’m not in the mood for silly games. Anderson asked where you are, and I’ve had to cover your back. You know that bloke Wheeler I asked you to check out?’

‘Yeah, you found him?’

‘Yes, no thanks to you, but he didn’t say much.’

‘With his record, I didn’t expect him to.’

‘He’s fucking dead, Julian! Someone tortured and murdered him.’