Page 27 of The Scene of the Crime

‘Anderson wants me back at the office to update him. It’s been a pleasure to meet and work with you all. I’ve learned a lot about crime scene investigation’ – he nodded to Diane – ‘particularly blood pattern analysis, even though I probablywon’t remember most of it. And thanks for the pizza.’ He handed Jessica a business card with his mobile number on it. ‘Call me if you have difficulty finding our office or need anything else.’

‘Thanks. And thanks for lending a hand,’ Jessica said.

As he started to walk off, he stopped and turned around. ‘There is one other thing I’d like to ask you about the crime scene, Jessica, but I understand if you don’t want to answer it yet.’

‘Go on,’ she said.

‘Do you think Anderson is right that it’s simply a burglary gone wrong?’

‘Well, clearly entry was forced, De Klerk was assaulted and property was stolen, all of which constitutes an aggravated burglary, but a few things don’t quite add up regarding what the intruder did . . . and, for that matter, Mr De Klerk.’

‘In what way?’

‘I’ll let you know when we’ve finished examining the crime scene and I further review my observations with Diane and Taff,’ Jessica said.

Chapman nodded. ‘I guess only two people can tell us exactly what happened. One is Mr De Klerk . . . if he survives. The other is the person responsible, whom we’ve yet to identify. But I’m confident, having seen how well we work as a team, that we will.’

‘So am I,’ Jessica replied, wishing he’d stop waffling and let them get on with their jobs.

Diane waited until Chapman was well out of earshot. ‘He’s hard to fathom. What do you two make of him?’

Taff shrugged. ‘He seems like a competent and experienced detective.’

They both looked at Jessica. She had a serious look on her face. ‘He’s certainly interested in everything we do. I’m just not sure why.’

* * *

Jessica, Diane and Taff spent the next hour discussing and reviewing everything about the crime scene in fine detail. They were all aware that after a detailed laboratory examination of the footwear marks, blood and other items seized, their hypothesis of the sequence of events during the commission of the crime could change.

Jessica made notes on her iPad as they discussed their thoughts and observations. Although they differed in opinion at times, they didn’t argue. They stuck to the facts, remained objective and reached logical conclusions on which they all agreed. Jessica thanked them for all their hard work and, as it had been a long day, told them to continue their forensic examination until no later than 5 p.m. If they hadn’t finished, she would resume and complete the outstanding examination in the morning while Diane and Taff started their lab analysis of the DNA swabs and other items seized.

‘Hopefully I’ll be back at the office about the same time as you,’ Jessica said, ‘and we can discuss what DCI Anderson has to say.’

‘I’ve uploaded all the photographs and videos to the MSCAN internet drive and made a copy on a USB stick for DCI Anderson,’ Taff said.

‘Good. I’d better head off to Barking. The last thing I want is to be late. Is there anything else you can think of that I should raise at the meeting?’

‘You could tell Anderson to be a bit more respectful,’ Diane said.

‘Don’t let him get to you, Di. We can only do our best and advise him accordingly. If he doesn’t want to take on board what we say, then he’s only himself to blame if things go pear-shaped,’ Taff commented.

‘Anderson’s under a lot of pressure to solve the case quickly,’ Jessica said. ‘Even more so now he knows Michelle Belsham is the victim’s wife, so maybe give him some slack. See you all later.’

Di and Taff watched her go. Di pursed her lips. ‘I’d better behave myself, then,’ she said.

‘You’d better,’ Taff agreed. ‘You know she’s got eyes in the back of her head.’

CHAPTER EIGHT

Jessica was removing her crime scene suit by the van when a black cab pulled up near number 389. A woman wearing a baseball cap, a blue velvet tracksuit and white trainers got out while the driver removed a small black suitcase from the boot. Jessica couldn’t quite see the woman’s face as she was talking on her mobile with her head down.

‘Mrs De Klerk?’

She looked at Jessica and held her hand up. ‘Two seconds. Fine, I’ll take the case. Leave the file on my desk and I’ll review it in the morning.’ She ended the call and looked up. ‘Yes, I’m Michelle De Klerk. What can I do for . . .’ She paused, noticing the uniformed police officer standing by the door of 389. ‘What the fuck’s going on?’

As a crime scene examiner, Jessica had no experience conveying bad news about the victims of serious assault. She held up her ID. ‘I’m Jessica Russell, a Crime Scene Investigator . . .’

‘Oh my God, is it Johan? Has something happened to him?’