Page 68 of The Scene of the Crime

Chapman took the lift to the fourteenth floor. Inside Iris’s flat, he found Wood eating another slice of cake with squirty cream with a large glass of whisky on the table in front of him. It was clear that Wood had been using his charm on the old lady.

Chapman raised his eyebrows. ‘Feeling better, are we?’

‘Yes, thank you. Iris said a wee dram would help clear my chest.’ Chapman deliberately coughed and beat his chest with his fist.

Iris came in from the kitchen. ‘Would you like one as well . . . and maybe a wee slice of cake?’ she asked.

‘That’s very kind of you. Just a whisky will be fine, thanks.’ Chapman waited for her to leave the room and turned to Wood. ‘Did she call her granddaughter?’

‘Yes. She was speaking to her when I got back up here.’

‘So, there will be an official assault complaint.’

Wood shook his head. ‘Not at present. I spoke to the granddaughter and explained what happened. I told her Liam tripped over running from the police and . . .’

‘Her very upset granny called her, so she won’t believe you. She’ll organise a solicitor for him, a complaint will be made and Anderson will be on my back like a leach.’

‘You have a bad habit of interrupting,’ Wood said calmly.

‘Go on then,’ Chapman snapped back.

‘The granddaughter won’t be doing anything. She works for a firm of solicitors in Scotland whose laws, as you know, are different from ours, so she can’t help or send anyone to represent Liam. If he wants a solicitor, he’ll get the duty one.’

‘What did you say to Iris?’

‘I told her we found stolen property in his flat, and that’s why he ran off, which resulted in him tripping over. She agreed it was the action of a guilty man, and he only had himself to blame for his injuries.’

Chapman looked relieved. ‘Can you work your charms on Anderson?’

‘I don’t do miracles,’ Wood replied.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Chapman returned to the station feeling apprehensive. He didn’t regret being blunt with Anderson over the phone or abruptly ending the call but knew his behaviour could be considered insubordination and have serious repercussions. Anderson, as his senior officer, held the upper hand, and Chapman realised he might have to eat humble pie if he wanted to remain on the investigation. Talking to Anderson about his behaviour was now simply not on the cards.

Chapman knocked on Anderson’s office door. He was sitting behind his desk, working on a laptop. ‘Pull up a seat, Michael. I was just typing up my report on the discovery of the Rolex watch and the cash.’

‘That was a good find by DS Wood,’ Chapman said carefully.

‘Yes, it was. I spoke to the officers at the hospital with Liam and congratulated them on preventing his escape. He only needs a few butterfly stitches to his head and should be at the station in an hour or so.’ Chapman had certainly changed his tune about the arrest. He also hadn’t mentioned their earlier conversation. Perhaps he’d taken what Chapman had said on board.

‘When I arrested Liam, I got the impression he’d probably want a solicitor and might well allege he was assaulted,’ Chapman said, wanting to see if Anderson’s thoughts about informing the IOPC had changed.

Anderson shrugged. ‘If he does make a complaint, it can go through the usual channels and be referred to professional standards.’

‘So, the IOPC won’t be involved?’

‘They could be, but only if professional standards request it, which under the circumstances is unlikely.’ Chapman knew Anderson was rightly following standard procedures but was also covering his back if a complaint was made. Although he was glad to see Anderson’s change of attitude, he was still wary of him. ‘I’ve made a list of questions I’d like to ask Liam in the interview. I wonder if you’d mind looking over them to see if there’s anything to add.’ He handed over the list.

Chapman had extensive experience interviewing suspects in major crime investigations and knew how complex and challenging it could be. Although a list of prepared questions could be useful, the person interviewed might give a totally unexpected answer, often requiring quick thinking and fresh, unscripted questions. Chapman feared that Anderson, having been a detective for a short time and inexperienced at interviewing suspects, wouldn’t know how to handle Liam, especially if he started giving ‘no comment’ answers. He handed back the question sheet.

‘Seems fine to me. You might want to show him the Rolex and cash during the interview to gauge his reaction.’ Anderson explained that he’d given them to Jessica when he was at the hospital, and she was taking them back to the lab for fingerprint and DNA examination. Chapman asked if he’d taken photographs of the items, which he could show Liam instead, but he hadn’t.

‘I’ll contact Jessica and ask her to email some over,’ Chapman said. ‘I’d also question Liam about the burnt-out Range Rover and the Zippo lighter. Pictures of them are on HOLMES.’

‘I wasn’t aware of that. Do you know who uploaded them?’

‘Probably DS Guy Jenkinson,’ Chapman said, knowing