Page 26 of The Scene of the Crime

Not wanting to be distracted, Jessica sat at the kitchen table making more notes on her iPad. She reviewed everything she and the team had done and observed, knowing that DCI Anderson would want a detailed analysis of the crime scene and forensic opportunities as soon as possible.

DI Chapman had been in his car, reviewing the house-to-house forms. He called the office and then entered the house to join the others. On seeing Jessica, who had her back to him, he started to tiptoe across the kitchen floor to avoid disturbing her. She turned and looked in his direction with a curious frown. ‘Are you all right?’

‘I’m fine, thanks.’

‘Why are you tiptoeing?’

‘I didn’t want to disturb you while you were meditating.’

Jessica rolled her eyes. ‘I was going over my notes. We’re having some pizza in the garden. You’re welcome to join us.’

‘Thanks. I just spoke to Anderson . . .’

‘Wondering why we haven’t found the perpetrator yet, was he?’ she interjected.

‘Actually, he’s more worried about Michelle De Klerk, aka Michelle Belsham, being missing. I told him to request an all-ports warning to see if she checked in on any flights or ferries.’

‘From what I saw at the crime scene, I don’t think she was at the house, but I could be wrong. Whatever happened, or wherever she is, let’s hope she’s safe and well.’ Jessica actually felt a bit sorry for Anderson as he was in an awkward position and was taking a risk whatever he chose to do about Michelle’s disappearance.

‘Anderson’s changed the meeting time to three p.m., by the way.’

‘Any particular reason for that?’ she asked.

‘Said he’s got a five p.m. meeting at the Yard with Commander Williams. The truth is, he probably needs to get home to his wife. I met her once at a colleague’s wedding. She’s a bit of a battleaxe. He’s under the thumb and does what he’s told. He’s as quiet as a mouse in her company. Mind you, so would I be,’ he laughed.

‘What’s the address of the station?’ She got out her phone and opened the Waze app.

‘Fleet Road, just off the North Circular. Postcode is IG11 7BG.’

‘Thanks.’ They went into the garden and joined the others.

‘Anything new to report?’ Jessica asked.

‘Maybe,’ Taff said. ‘I’ve examined the striation marks on the safe a bit more closely. They’re different from the ones on the patio doors and caused by something I’ve not seen at a forced entry crime scene before. I’ll need to remove the safe and take itto the lab for a detailed microscopic examination.’ He turned to Chapman with a smile. ‘Could you help me lift it?’

Chapman held his hands up. ‘I think that’s a forensics job, isn’t it? I wouldn’t want to compromise any evidence.’

Everyone laughed.

‘The intruder most likely brought a toolkit with him,’ Taff said. ‘Like a shoulder bag or rucksack, something easy to carry.’

‘Makes sense. And he could have used it to take away any stolen items,’ Chapman added.

Diane thought of something. ‘He’d have had to put it down to get any tools out. I’ll take some fibre tape lifts from the carpet around the safe. If we identify a suspect and recover a rucksack or something similar, we might find fibres from the carpet or vice versa.’

‘Good thinking, Diane,’ Jessica said.

‘I haven’t done any ESLA testing on the basement carpets yet, though,’ Taff said.

‘Not a problem,’ Jessica assured him. ‘The electric current will lift any loose fibres onto the Myler sheet, and once you’ve photographed them, Diane can extract any fibres.’

Taff nodded. ‘I’ll do it after lunch.’

‘OK, but first I’d like to discuss what we’ve got so far and the forensic opportunities going forward.’

‘Sounds good,’ Diane said, and they all tucked into their pizzas.

When they’d finished eating, Taff put the empty boxes and water bottles in a bin bag and took them to the van to dispose of later. Chapman’s phone rang, but the conversation was very brief. He turned to Jessica.