Page 131 of The Scene of the Crime

‘Anything of interest on Wheeler’s phone or laptop?’

‘I looked at the internet search history. He was on the Crime Stoppers site, so I think it’s safe to say he sent the anonymous tip about Liam trying to sell the Rolex. He also booked the Dubai flight on the laptop. Phone-wise, there’s not a single call to or from Cole, but he did call Liam Palmer on Monday at eight p.m.’

The office door flew open, making Jessica jump. Taff bounced in, smiling from ear to ear and waving a computer printout. ‘What a result, boyos,’ he shouted.

‘Sounds like you just won the jackpot,’ Guy said.

‘I have. I lifted a partial print from the masking tape on Wheeler’s head and ran it through the database. I got a few possible hits, but after comparing the friction ridge detail on the tape lift against all of the possibles, I’m confident this man left the print.’ He handed the criminal record printout to Jessica, who glanced at it before reading the relevant details aloud.

‘Christopher Bishop, aged forty-five, white male. Last known address flat twenty-eight, Fairmead House, Kingsmead Estate, Hackney. Occupation, minicab driver. Convictions for handling stolen goods, burglary, criminal damage and fraud.’ She looked up. ‘Fabulous, Taff, this is a significant result.’

‘What was that name again?’ Guy asked, and she repeated it. He picked up the paperwork from his desk and hurriedly flicked through it.

‘Is the name familiar to you?’

‘Yes. I’m sure it was on my list of numbers that Cole called after the crime.’ He paused and continued looking. ‘Got it. Cole used his business phone to call a mobile registered to Christopher Bishop. The call was made from Birmingham on Tuesday at 2.05 p.m. A second call to Bishop was made from a cell site near Euston station just after five p.m.’

‘Could be Cole got a train back from Birmingham to Euston. What do you think Guy?’

‘Cole called Bishop again at eight p.m. on Tuesday, the night we believe Wheeler died.’

‘Who’s Cole?’ Taff asked.

‘Guy will explain it all to you. Has Bishop called Cole or Wheeler?’ Jessica asked.

‘Don’t know yet. I’m waiting for the details of Bishop’s calls to come through.’

‘I’ve got a couple of other updates as well,’ Taff said.

‘Be quick then. I need to go to Barking and tell Anderson about all this new evidence.’

‘Johan De Klerk and Wheeler’s fingerprints are on the cash Diane found in the neck cushion. Footprints on either side of the chair don’t match the elimination shoe prints I took from you or the officers. But using a light source and black powder, I lifted a detailed one from aRadio Timeson the floor beside the chair. It looks like it’s a Skecher size seven. I don’t know the make of the other shoes yet, but I’ll email you photos of them all. The tools in Wheeler’s rucksack made the striation marks at the De Klerk house and the lock pick was used to open Palmer’s front door.’

‘Any prints on the lockbox?’

‘Just Johan’s on the inside.’

‘Keep up the good work. Can you apologise to Di and explain why I didn’t get a chance to review her results? Ask her to call me with an update as soon as possible,’ Jessica said.

‘Will do,’ Taff replied.

She picked up her shoulder bag and hurried out of the office.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Arriving at Barking, Jessica went straight to Chapman’s office, but he wasn’t there. She saw DC Bingham in the corridor and asked him if Chapman was in. Bingham told her he was in the canteen with DS Wood. Jessica thanked him and hurried up the stairs. She saw Chapman and Wood sitting at a table, eating bacon sandwiches and drinking coffee.

‘Guy and Taff have identified two new suspects.’

‘That’s good news. Who might they be?’ Wood asked.

‘A Hatton Garden jeweller called Nathan Cole and a minicab driver, Christopher Bishop. Have their names come up in yours or anyone else’s enquiries?’

Chapman and Wood looked at each other, shrugged and shook their heads. ‘What have those two fellows been up to then?’ Wood asked.

‘Guy linked Cole and Wheeler to using the two burner phones, and Bishop’s print was at the Wheeler crime scene on the piece of tape. It also looks like De Klerk knows Cole.’

‘How do you know that?’ Wood asked.