Page 78 of The Scene of the Crime

‘No comment.’

Anderson put a photograph on the table and slid it towards Palmer, who leaned forward to look at it. ‘We have positively identified the Rolex watch in the photograph from its serial number. It’s Mr De Klerk’s. There’s two thousand pounds in cash next to it. Have you seen these items before?’

‘No comment.’ Palmer slid the picture back and yawned. Jessica could tell he was faking it, trying to appear unconcerned. She also noticed his dirty fingernails when he slid the photograph back across the table.

‘We searched your flat early this morning while you were at work. We found the watch and the money hidden under the kitchen sink. Can you explain how they got there?’

Jessica watched as Palmer’s eyes opened wide with surprise. He shook his head and was clearly about to say something when his solicitor nudged him. Palmer looked desperate as he turned to his solicitor, who shook his head.

He licked his lips, looking nervous. ‘No comment,’ he said quietly.

‘This information was not disclosed to me before the interview,’ Baldwin said with a stern look.

‘We are not obliged to disclose all our evidence to you, Mr Baldwin,’ Anderson replied calmly.

‘Well, I have not had the opportunity to discuss this development with my client, and I’d like to do so.’

‘Certainly. But before we take a break, I’d like to inform you that Mr De Klerk’s Range Rover was also stolen during the aggravated burglary, most likely as a getaway vehicle. It was recovered on Tuesday morning after being set alight. The location is not far from your client’s flat and very close tothe petrol station where he works.’ Anderson put a photograph of the burnt-out vehicle on the table. Jessica saw Palmer take a deep breath and nervously exhale as he looked at the photograph.

‘You just said my client was working on Monday night from nine p.m. He does a twelve-hour shift, so it can’t have been him that set the car alight,’ Baldwin said quickly.

‘You’re right about Liam working that night, but we cannot be sure he remained in the garage all night as he works alone.’

‘Their CCTV should confirm it,’ Baldwin said.

‘We’ve already obtained the CCTV. The strange thing is that it went down during the early hours of Tuesday morning, and nothing was recorded for about two hours.’

‘Between what times?’ Baldwin asked.

‘One to three a.m., which would cover the time we think the Range Rover was set alight.’

‘If the till receipts show sales between those times, my client can’t have left the garage.’

‘I have an officer checking them as we speak, Mr Baldwin.’

‘Is there anything else you’d like to surprise us with DCI Anderson?’ Baldwin asked.

Anderson handed him a photograph of the PlayStation, laptop and Xbox. ‘We found these items in Liam’s flat and checked the serial numbers. They were stolen during a burglary two months ago in Chigwell, along with jewellery valued at two hundred thousand pounds. We’d like to know how Liam came to be in possession of the items and if he knows where the stolen jewellery is.’

Baldwin was about to say something, but Liam spoke first. ‘I didn’t steal the laptop and game boxes. I bought them . . .’

Baldwin nudged Palmer to stop talking. ‘I’d like to use the private consultation room to speak to my client.’

‘Certainly. I’ll get one of the custody officers to organise it. Take your time and let me know when you’re ready to recommence the interview.’ Anderson switched the digital recorder off, and he and Chapman left the room.

As the door closed, Liam turned to Baldwin with a desperate look. ‘The cops are fitting me up! I’ve never even heard of this De Klerk bloke . . .’ Baldwin pointed to the camera and told him to say nothing more until they were in the private consultation room. A custody officer then entered the room and asked them to follow him. Jessica watched as Palmer left the room. She noticed he was dragging his right foot and assumed he’d injured his leg when he tripped, trying to avoid arrest.

Jessica texted Chapman, saying that she would speak to the rest of her team regarding any forensic results and call him in about twenty minutes. She then went to the main office, where Diane, Guy and Taff were still seated around the computer screen on which they had watched the interview.

‘Underneath all that bravado, Palmer’s shitting himself. He’s clearly lying,’ Taff said, and the others nodded in agreement.

‘I thought Anderson was pretty good in the interview. He didn’t get flustered, and I liked how he sprung the stuff about the car and CCTV near the end,’ Diane remarked.

‘Palmer looked really worried at that point and wanted to talk, but Baldwin shut him off again. What do you think, Jessica?’ Guy asked.

‘I agree Palmer is hiding something. But he could just be an accomplice of the intruder.’

‘I definitely think someone else is involved,’ Guy said, and they all looked at him.