Page 166 of The Scene of the Crime

‘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 resuscitateJohan. 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 thenlooked 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.’