Page 148 of The Scene of the Crime

‘I gave him some money on Friday.’

‘How much?’

‘Quite a large sum, which I don’t believe I’m obliged to disclose as it was a legitimate business payment. I should also add that after what happened at Johan’s house with the uncut diamonds, I have decided to end our business relationship once he’s discharged from hospital.’

Chapman smiled. ‘We’ve searched your warehouse. There were no diamonds and no cash.’

Cole’s eyes widened, and he licked his lips. Wood laid two photographs on the table.

‘This is a photograph of your Skechers shoes. They were removed when you were arrested. The photo next to it is the sole of your right shoe.’ He put a photo of the shoeprint on the magazine on the table. ‘This magazine was on the floor next to Wheeler’s body, and the shoeprint exactly matches your right shoe. That puts you inside Wheeler’s flat on the night he died, which was Tuesday . . . the same day you travelled back from Birmingham. Any explanation for that?’

‘No comment.’

‘You can’t prove it got there on Tuesday,’ Baldwin said.

Wood shrugged. ‘I agree it’s an assumption, but interestingly, theRadio Timesis open at Tuesday’s programme listings, and your client’s shoe mark is on that page. Our forensic team also found a cigar on Montague Road, and the saliva recovered from it matches his DNA.’

‘No comment,’ Cole replied automatically, but he was beginning to look anxious.

Chapman took over. ‘You might think you’re clever, Nathan, but you’re not. We interviewed Bishop, and he’s blaming you for everything. I have to say his version of events is much more credible than yours. That’s why we know about your diamond scam with Johan De Klerk, and that you hired Wheeler to break into his house. Wheeler double-crossed you and attempted to steal the diamonds and the cash he stole from the safe. That pissed you off, so you went to his flat with Bishop. You held a revolver to Wheeler’s head while Bishop bound and gagged him. You then pistol-whipped and tortured him by pushing a lit cigar into his chest and laughing while he screamed in agony.’

Wood put a picture of the revolver on the table. ‘We found that under the floorboards in your shop. Our fingerprint expert examined it, and yours are all over it.’

‘No comment.’

‘I’m giving you one last opportunity to tell us the truth, Nathan,’ Chapman said.

‘No comment.’

‘Then this interview is concluded. You will be charged after we’ve spoken with the Crown Prosecution Service.’ Chapman turned the recorder off.

‘I’d like a further consultation with my client,’ Baldwin said, not looking at all pleased with him.

* * *

Chapman and Wood joined Jessica and Anderson in his office. He was on the phone with the CPS and thanked them for their advice before ending the call. ‘Nicki Giorgini, the pathologist, rang me earlier,’ he told them. ‘She said Wheeler would have eventually died from his spleen injury, but the actual cause of death was a heart attack, most likely brought on by the trauma from being tortured.’

‘Does that mean legally that Cole and Bishop killed him?’ Jessica asked.

Anderson looked pleased. ‘It certainly does, and the CPS said they are both culpable. There was no intent to kill Wheeler, but they can be charged with manslaughter.’

‘Does it matter that they are both blaming each other?’ she asked.

‘It’s the classic cut-throat defence,’ Wood said.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Basically, it’s where one defendant accuses the other of the crime to exonerate himself. Hence, they’re trying to cut each other’s throats,’ Wood replied.

‘The CPS may decide to hold separate trials or accept a plea to a lesser charge from Bishop, then have him give evidence against Cole at his trial,’ Chapman added.

‘Cole is also going to be charged with burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm,’ Anderson added. ‘Although Wheeler broke into De Klerk’s house, Cole hired him to do so, and therefore, joint enterprise burglary is applicable.’

‘Wheeler tried to kill De Klerk. Is that not joint enterprise as well?’ Jessica asked.

‘The CPS considered it but concluded it was unlikely Cole foresaw that Wheeler would stab De Klerk and nearly kill him,’ Anderson replied. ‘They didn’t feel there was a reasonable prospect of a conviction.’

‘What about Johan De Klerk? Will he be charged?’