Page 58 of The Scene of the Crime

‘I don’t know, and I’m not going to call Anderson to find out.’

‘Guy said yesterday that all information on a major enquiry is put on the HOLMES computer. I could ask him to look it up.’

‘No, please don’t do that. The last thing I want is for him to be put in an awkward position or risk being disciplined. Just let it be for now. We will be given all the details if our attendance is required.’

‘Mike Chapman might tell you.’

‘Can you just drop it, Diane,’ Jessica said curtly. She paused, taking a breath. ‘Did Taff examine the lighter?’

‘Yes, and he took photos, which I’ll email you now.’

‘Did he work out what the engraving was?’

‘It took him a while. He used the trinocular microscope to look at it and photographed the visible bits before enlarging and piecing them together. He’s confident the engraving is a parachute with wings and the monarch’s crown above it. There were also bits of writing visible, which he thinks are the words “Utrinque Paratus”, Latin for “Ready for Anything”. Taff said it’s the crest of the Parachute Regiment.’

‘So, the suspect might be a serving or ex-paratrooper. If he is, it’s odd that he used a personalised and probably cherished possession to set the car alight.’

‘That’s exactly what I said to Taff, but he had a plausible answer. He said it’s a Zippo lighter, and when you light it, the flame stays on until you close the lid to extinguish it. Bearing in mind petrol was poured over the interior and exterior of the car, standing anywhere near it with a naked flame could cause an instant ignition. If our man stood back from the car, he could throw the lighter from a distance in through an open window and whoosh, up it goes in flames with no danger to him.’

‘That’s plausible. Thank Taff for me. He’s done a great job.’

‘He thought you’d be pleased. I’ll email you the pictures now and get Guy to upload them to HOLMES.’

Receiving the pictures of the Zippo lighter, Jessica printed them off and gave them to DC Bingham, who said he would inform DI Chapman so they could ask the suspect if he had ever owned one. Bingham also mentioned that DC Owens had called and wanted to know if she was still coming to the hospital as previously arranged.

‘I’ll give her a call. Is there any update from Anderson on how the search is going?’

‘Not a dickie bird,’ he said. ‘I hope that doesn’t mean it’s bad news.’

Jessica went to the canteen to get a coffee and call Dawn. ‘Hi Dawn, it’s Jess.’

‘Are you coming to the hospital?’ Dawn sounded nervous.

‘I’m not sure it would be a good idea, especially with all that’s happened since the press conference.’

‘Could you call Anderson and ask for his permission?’

‘I don’t think he’d want me bothering him right now. Have you spoken to Michelle this morning?’

‘Only briefly to confirm the appointment here at the hospital.’

‘Did she mention the press conference?’

‘No, and I didn’t ask. DCI Anderson wants me to tell her about the anonymous tip and the search he’s doing.’

‘What, all the information?’

‘I don’t know, I’m a bit confused as he didn’t say exactly what I should or shouldn’t say. I just spoke to Andy Bingham. He doesn’t even know what’s happening on the search. I could do with your help when I speak to Mrs De Klerk. Can you come to the hospital, please?’ It was obvious how stressed and nervous Dawn was and Jessica wanted to support her. She thought for a moment. There was a plausible excuse she could use to go to the hospital. ‘I need to get a set of Johan’s fingerprints, and I’ve also requested a pathologist attend to examine his injuries—’

‘Oh my God,’ Dawn interrupted. ‘When I phoned the hospital early this morning, a nurse told me his condition had improved overnight. I told Mrs De Klerk that when I phoned her . . . now I’ve got to tell her he’s dead!’

‘It’s all right, Dawn. I think we’d all know if he’d died, so there’s nothing to worry about. Pathologists don’t just deal with dead bodies. They can assist with injury patterns and the type of knife used on living people as well.’

Dawn let out a big sigh of relief. ‘I’ve never been to a postmortem, so I didn’t know that.’

Jessica asked if Doctor Babu was still dealing with Johan, and Dawn told her he was.

‘I need his permission to take the prints, so it would be helpful if you could ask him before I arrive. Tell him I’ll be using a handheld scanner and not ink.’