Page 159 of The Scene of the Crime

‘What would cause a sudden increase in his potassium levels?’ Chapman asked.

‘His brain injury, trauma, the blood transfusion, kidney problems or medication. We won’t know until further tests and a postmortem are conducted. Obviously, due to the circumstances, I have asked for a pathologist to come in as soon as possible to give the cause of death.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Thank you for your assistance. I’ve got other patients to attend to, so I’d best get on.’ Doctor Babu quickly left.

‘Looks like the doc doesn’t want to commit himself to a cause of death yet. But it doesn’t look like we’re to blame,’ Chapman remarked.

‘With Johan dead, we’ll have difficulty proving anything against Michelle,’ Anderson said glumly.

‘There’s nothing more we can usefully do here. We might as well head back to the station.’ Jessica contemplated telling Anderson about her ‘off the record’ conversation with Michelle but decided now wasn’t the time, especially since she’d admitted nothing. She decided she would tell Chapman when they got back to the station.

‘I’ll meet you by the car. I need to wipe the coffee off my shoes in the ladies,’ Jessica said, picking up the packet of tissues Michelle had left on the coffee table.

While cleaning her shoes, she wondered if Chapman and Anderson had been honest about their manner of questioning Johan De Klerk. Jessica felt drained as she looked in the mirror and puffed out her hair, then stopped and looked closely at her reflection. Only then did it hit her that it was all over with Johan dead, bar the case against Cole and Bishop.

Chapman was waiting for her at the hospital entrance. He gave her a depressed shrug of his shoulders, obviously feeling the same way about Johan’s death and how it affected the case against Michelle, Cole and Bishop. He told her that Dawn had gone back to the station with Anderson, and he would give her a lift. ‘Anderson said you can go home, and he’ll meet with usin the morning. He’s going to contact Commander Williams and give her an update. He wants the postmortem completed asap and to hold off on a press release until he’s had time to assess the situation, the situation being a major fuck-up. He’s worried sick about any accusations we caused De Klerk’s heart attack.’

‘It’s not your fault he died,’ Jessica said.

‘He didn’t just drop down dead, Jessica . . . he was in agony and couldn’t breathe. We stood there like two pricks, then the heart monitor kicked in, bleeping and going crazy. It’s knocked me for six, I can tell you.’ Chapman was so wound up that he crashed the gears as he drove off.

‘What does it mean for the case now that Johan’s dead?’

Chapman sighed. ‘There’s enough evidence to proceed with the charges against Cole and Bishop, but that’s it.’ They didn’t speak much on the rest of the journey to the station. When they arrived, Chapman parked next to Jessica’s car and said he’d see her in the morning.

‘Do you fancy going for a drink somewhere?’ she asked as he switched the engine off.

‘Do you mind if I don’t. Anderson will be getting the team together for a briefing about what happened at the hospital. I also need to write my report and get my head around what happened. I think Anderson will be having a hard time as well.’

‘I’ll see you in the morning then.’ He walked off without replying, leaving her standing on the pavement by her car.

* * *

When she got home, Jessica changed out of her coffee-stained stockings and left her skirt on a hanger, ready to be taken to the cleaners. Her depression hadn’t lifted; in fact, her dark mood had got even worse. David was not home, so she paced around the kitchen aimlessly for a while, then opened a bottle of wine.After drinking half a glass, she topped it up and then physically jumped as her phone rang. She answered it, thinking it was David.

‘Good evening, Jess. This is FBI Agent Anna Travis. I just wanted to let you know that Quantico has residential accommodation, but it’s pretty basic, like a campus. Some rooms are single occupancy, but most have two single beds, two desks, two dressers and communal male and female bathrooms.’

‘I thought that might be the case, but I’m easy either way,’ Jessica replied, making an effort to clear her head.

‘I don’t know about you, but I like to get away from the 24/7 pressure and relax. A friend has a great apartment that will become available shortly before you are due to join us. It’s a tad expensive but worth it, and I wondered if you would prefer to move in there. My house is close by and it’s not far from the academy.’

‘I thought it would be a residential course.’

‘The FBI recruits’ course is, but you’re attending the Behavioural Analysis course, so you don’t have to stay on site.’

‘The apartment sounds fantastic, thanks,’ Jessica replied enthusiastically.

‘Good. I’ll send you the details. How’s everything going as the MSCAN team leader?’ Jessica was about to say it was going well, when she couldn’t stop herself, and everything that had happened came pouring out. Anna encouraged her to give more details, and Jessica found it almost therapeutic to talk her through the complex investigation. Anna was a good listener, not interjecting or halting Jessica’s detailed explanations.

‘Did you think De Klerk was involved in diamond fraud with Cole?’

‘Yes, and I also believe his wife lied to us regarding his involvement and coached him on what to say . . . not that it matters now he’s dead.’

‘Do you think she might be involved in her husband’s death?’

‘A gut feeling tells me she could be, but there’s no evidence, and I’m up against detectives that would disagree with my suspicions.’

‘Do you trust your gut feelings?’

‘Yes, I do, but I don’t know how I will be able to prove they are correct.’ Jessica waited for Anna to respond, but there was silence. She asked if she was still on the line.