Page 56 of The Scene of the Crime

‘Any idea who leaked it?’

‘Not a clue, but Anderson is convinced it was someone in the office. There are a few idiots on the team, but I can’t believe anyone would be so stupid or vindictive. They’ve risked losing their job.’

‘Will there be an internal investigation?’

‘Already started. Williams has called in our Department of Professional Standards. They’ve spoken to Anderson and will no doubt want to speak to the rest of us at some point. Sorry to say it, but that will include your team.’

‘I thought it might, but we’ve got nothing to hide. With all that’s happened, is it OK to visit Michelle at the hospital tomorrow morning?’

‘Can’t see why not, but her attitude might change if she saw the press conference.’

‘Has no one spoken to her?’

‘Anderson should have, but I’m not sure if he did. Michelle’s not called Dawn Owens, so she might not have seen the news. Anyway, that’s Anderson’s problem, not ours. After the appeal for information, he instructed some team members to stay in the office and answer any calls until two a.m. The phones were ringing non-stop after the news, but there has been no information that takes us any further forward or helps identify a suspect.’

‘This whole situation must be a nightmare for Anderson. I just hope he gets a result and makes an arrest.’

‘So do I. He’s called an 8 a.m. meeting about the case and the internal investigation. It will probably be heated, but you’re welcome to attend.’

‘I think I should, then I’ll go to the hospital. Taff sent you an email about the Adidas footprint and a door breacher . . .’

‘Yeah, I got it, and the photos. I didn’t get a chance to tell Anderson, as the press called him before I saw the email. It might cheer him up a bit when I do.’

Jessica told him about the lighter they found in the Range Rover. ‘Any luck with the CCTV at the petrol stations?’

‘DS Wood phoned the Jet garage and asked them to retain all the CCTV footage for the last forty-eight hours. He was going to collect it earlier, but once we found out about the leak, he had to put it on hold until the morning.’

She was about to reply but couldn’t stop herself from yawning. ‘Excuse me,’ she apologised.

‘You need to get some shut-eye.’

‘There’s so much going on in my head I think I’ll find it hard to sleep.’

‘Try meditation . . . someone told me it helps.’

Jessica laughed. ‘Sad to say that someone doesn’t always get it right.’

‘I’ll be in about seven a.m. tomorrow. Do you want to meet for a coffee and catch-up in the canteen before Anderson reads the team the riot act?’

‘Thanks, that’ll be good. Hopefully, he might be in a better mood by then.’

‘Somehow I doubt it,’ he said and ended the call.

It was just after 9 p.m. Jessica wanted to go to bed but knew Diane would be on the phone if she saw the item about the De Klerks on the ten o’clock news, so she decided to call her first.

‘Why will we be investigated? We’ve nothing to gain by leaking it to the press,’ Diane said, sounding anxious.

Jessica tried to reassure her. ‘There’s nothing to worry about, Di. It will be standard procedure for anyone connected to the investigation to be interviewed. They might even find out who it was before speaking to us.’

‘Well, I hope so. Has Mike Chapman any idea who it might be?’

‘No, and honestly, I don’t think he’d tell me if he did.’

‘Do you think it might have been Anderson?’

‘No. He’s not stupid. Anyway, I’m going into the office early to clean and photograph the lighter so I can show it to Anderson before the team meeting. Maybe that will give him something positive to focus on.’

‘I think Taff might have already done it.’