Charlotte regarded her. “Maybe.”
Angela stepped forward and took Charlotte’s hand.
Isobel asked, “Do you want me to ring a contact I have? Her name is Julia. She’s great. You could speak to her on the phone.”
Charlotte tilted her head to one side then said, “OK. Let me talk to her.”
Angela gently hugged her.
Isobel got Julia on the line and explained the situation, then gave the phone to Charlotte. Charlotte and Angela sat down on the couch side by side as Charlotte listened attentively to Julia.
Edward, Isobel and Patricia stepped away to give them some space.
Patricia showed Isobel her watch. It was ten minutes to ten. “What should we do?”
“Text Simon that we’ll be on our way in a few minutes and order a taxi for as soon as possible. I’ll let Malcolm know that we were delayed.”
Behind them, Charlotte was saying goodbye on the phone and they turned back to her.
Charlotte said in a surprisingly firm voice, “I’m going to meet Julia tomorrow at eight in the morning. Her solicitor will take my statement and we’ll contact the police.”
Angela hugged her friend. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“Yes, please.”
Angela glanced across at Edward. She looked much happier than when they’d arrived.
He said, “No problem. I’ll get a typing-pool secretary until you come back to work.”
Angela’s eyes spoke her gratitude. Edward smiled, relieved and pleased.
A horn blew outside – the taxi.
“We’ll tell the police what’s happening and see what they can do now with this additional evidence,” said Patricia. “Thank you so much.”
With that they rushed out to the taxi.
Once seated in the back of the cab, they breathed sighs of relief. There was nothing more they could do. It was up to Simon and the police now.
Chapter 33
It was half past ten when Isobel and Patricia arrived at the entrance to Peter’s apartment block and rang the bell. He buzzed them up.
As she went to enter the street door Isobel’s phone rang. It was Dave. She had already ignored a number of earlier calls.
“I have to take this. I’ll be up in a moment.”
“OK.”
“Hi, Dave.”
“How come you couldn’t talk earlier, Isobel?”
“Things have got a bit busy because the case finishes tomorrow.” Isobel was holding the bottom door open with one foot and standing outside as she answered.
“How come you’re still working on it? I thought your consultancy would be finished now?”
“Dave, I can’t talk now. We have a last-minute meeting. Everyone is waiting for me. I have to go.”
“Isobel, for goodness’ sake! I think you’re pushing it. You’re doing too much. It’s ten thirty at night and you’re still running around London. This time last year you were finishing chemo.”
Isobel straightened up. “I’m well aware of what I was doing this time last year. And, believe it or not, I’m doing a really good job now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Goodnight.”
She exhaled noisily and rolled her shoulders.
“That’s telling him!”
She spun around to find Malcolm grinning at her.
She grinned back. “Only Simon to deal with now.”
“I didn’t want to arrive before you because I didn’t know how you wanted to do this.”
They climbed the stairs together. Peter’s apartment door had been left ajar and Isobel let him into the hallway.
“Can you give me a few minutes to talk to Simon and then I’ll call you in?”
Isobel went into the sitting room, closing the door.
“About time, Isobel,” Simon said. “We’ve so much to get through.” He didn’t make eye contact with her as he spoke. He gestured with his hand. “This is Rajesh, from the Fraud Squad.
“Simon, I need to talk to you about something.”
“No, we need to tell you what we’re planning for tomorrow.”
“No, Simon, things have changed.”
“What? It’s been a long day and I’m really tired. Helping out my friend has turned into a huge case of overtime.”
“Simon.” She waited. He continued to fuss with some papers. “Simon.”
Eventually he looked up.
Isobel looked him in the eye. “I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“I contacted Jason and he put me in touch with Malcolm.”
“Jason? Malcolm? And?”
“I met Malcolm and told him about the case.”
“What have you done? Have you jeopardised the investigation? Does Thomas know that we’re investigating him? You have no idea what we do, how hard it is, how much work it takes – and one mistake and they get off.”
“No, no. I’m sure Thomas has no idea what we’ve done.”
“Get on with it then, what did you do? We’ve a lot to organise tonight and it’s already very late.”
Isobel opened the door and Malcolm walked in. He went straight up to Simon and offered his hand. “Malcolm, retired inspector, with the cadaver unit.”
Simon reached out and shook his hand. “What’s going on?”
Isobel said, “This morning I got Malcolm and his dog Bella to check Thomas’s garden. I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to know if Anne might be dead.”
“Jesus, Isobel! What the hell do you think you’re doing? You could have jeopardised this whole case. Malcolm, I’m surprised that as a retired inspector you got involved in this.”
Malcolm inclined his head. “Bella found a suspicious area. Grace, the next-door neighbour said that around Valentine’s Day two holes were dug in the garden and a new tree, a seat and flowerbed put in. It seems likely that Anne could be buried there.”
There was a cacophony of responses.
Simon exclaimed, “What?”
Rajesh said, “If that’s the case we have him.”
“And poor Tommy, he’ll never see his mother again.”
Patricia’s words halted everyone. As a pebble thrown into water sends out ripples, a wave passed over everyone.
As the silence lengthened people straightened up. There was a sea-change, a stillness descended, a calmness, a determination.
Simon took a deep breath. “Tell me everything.”
Isobel nodded at Malcolm.
“A new friend asked me to visit an old lady she knew,” he said. “While there Bella escaped and jumped into a neighbour’s garden. When I went to retrieve her and make sure that she hadn’t made any messes in their garden Bella reacted as she would to a body.”
Simon said, “So that’s your story.”
Malcolm nodded. “And I’m sticking to it. I’m sorry, mate, if you feel I was out of line but when Isobel explained everything I just had to help her know if the original Mrs Banks was there. I’m not a policeman now but I have been mindful of not compromising your investigation. But let me be clear, I think Anne Banks is buried in the garden. Bella has never been wrong and she was only retired because I was.”
Simon nodded at him. “I know, this case is getting under my skin too. I understand. I’m just trying to be careful legally and I suppose I was hoping that Anne Banks was still alive.” He looked absolutely gutted. “At least we know now that the likelihood is that she isn’t but we still have to get this bastard.”
There was a sober silence.
Isobel spoke up. “That’s not all. Patricia and I have had a very busy day and we need to fill you in on all the people we’ve talked to and what we’ve found out.”
Between the two of them they described their day. At the end there was a stunned silence.
Simon said, “So, you’re saying that Thomas Banks is really Matt Cooper. He killed a dog at school, nearly strangled his girlfriend who ran away, possibly killed his mother and got the money from her house sale, raped and tried to strangle another girlfri
end, then changed his name and took his friend’s job when he died. Have I left anything out?”
Nobody answered.
“So we have two reactions from Bella suggesting possible buried bodies and two women who escaped, one of whom will make a statement tomorrow.”
The silence that ensued was bleak.
Peter said, “Is anyone in this case who they say they are?”
“The death of Thomas Banks needs to be looked at again, Simon,” said Patricia. “It may not be a drunk driver. Maybe Matt Cooper killed Thomas Banks and took his job and identity. We promised his dad that we would try to get the case re-examined.”
“For God’s sake, Patricia, the police force is not your personal clean-up service. And, anyway, murder with a car is not, well, very easily accomplished.” Simon winced. “It is only at speeds of about sixty miles per hour and above that the likelihood is that you would kill. That’s why built-up areas have thirty-miles-per-hour limits. And I can’t see Matt Cooper hitting Thomas with a car in their home area. That doesn’t make sense to me.”
“But surely it deserves another look, given that Matt took Thomas’s identity?” Isobel said.
“Sorry, but it seems unlikely to me and it certainly is not a priority now.”
Isobel shook her head at Patricia, hoping that she understood that she meant, ‘Leave it for now’.
Patricia nodded back.
Simon rubbed his face and fidgeted. He was the chair of the meeting and everyone was waiting for him to take charge.
Peter spoke up. “The search that Malcolm did is not official and not admissible. What we have is theory, suspicions. I’m not sure we have enough actual evidence to get a search warrant for the gardens yet.”
“But with Charlotte’s statement and the pictures of Anne that Yvonne gave us?”
Peter looked at Simon.
Simon said, “I think we need to let Anne the imposter and Thomas Banks sign the divorce papers. The minute that’s done we can lift them. With Claire’s testimony that this isn’t her sister we can get official DNA tests and proceed from there. We’ll be able to get a warrant for the garden when we show that Anne Banks has disappeared. We can use all of the other evidence that has come to light to nail him.” Nodding at Isobel, he continued, “Once we’ve established the crime of fraud we can start to prove the other crimes and build the case.”
Rajesh said, “How very Al Capone.”
Patricia said, “What do you mean?”
“Al Capone, the big boss in Chicago,” Peter said, “they could never get him for the murders he did but they sent him to prison for tax evasion.”
Rajesh said, “When Simon contacted me last night I thought I was dealing with a minor fraud case.”
Isobel looked at Rajesh. He had said very little through all that had gone on, just listening, his brown eyes observing. She guessed that he missed nothing.
Simon laughed, for the first time that evening seeming to relax a little. “Yeah, initially he told me that it was not major league enough for him to be involved, just a family isssue. Until I pointed out that Anne’s share of a house in Wimbledon was worth between one and three million, not exactly minor-league fraud.”
Rajesh smirked. “He did tell me that some of the team suspected more.”
Simon glanced at Isobel who was shocked to hear herself and Patricia described as ‘some of his team’.
Rajesh turned to Simon, “So, your team was right. You’ve stumbled into something much bigger.” He looked at Isobel. “So this is your profiler?”
“I’m not a profiler.”
Simon said, “She’s a psychotherapist.”
“That’s a new one on me. Is this the new way things are going, the new type of case consultant and I haven’t heard?”
Peter said, “I hired Isobel because I suspected that there was something off about this couple and that’s how the whole fraud came to light, then the spousal abuse and so on.”
Rajesh said, “Well, between you all you’ve uncovered a man who is dangerous and who needs to be stopped.”
“So now, the plan,” said Simon. “With Rajesh and me and maybe a few officers each we can do it.”
Isobel wondered what plan they were talking about.
“Yeah, keep it tight, keep it safe,” Rajesh said. “I have a few good men who can help us out.”
Simon said, “Yes, a few of my officers are going to help too. And we need to remember that this guy has killed and thinks he’s got away with it. He may be like a cornered rat. Everyone needs to be careful.” He looked at Peter, Patricia and Isobel. “We’re professionals and our idea of careful and yours may be very different.”
Simon gestured to Rajesh and he took over.
“Tomorrow we need you, Peter, and you, Patricia, to stay calm and not arouse Thomas and Anne’s suspicions. Get the signing done. We’ll have officers in the building. Once Thomas and Anne go into your office, Peter, then we can start to move in. We’ll need some of the other solicitors to take the morning off and be replaced by police officers. You, Peter, are going to have to clear that with the boss. We don’t want to tell any of the solicitors tonight because people talk. So first thing tomorrow you need to explain to the boss and get everyone to cooperate. The signing is scheduled for two o’clock so our men will need to be in place by noon. We’ll have surveillance people on the street who will alert us when the Banks are on their way. That surveillance is going to be very discreet because I don’t want them to become suspicious. Thankfully all of your investigating has been very careful and so Thomas has no idea we’re on to him, which is good.”
Isobel realised that they were taking this very seriously. “You’re concerned something could go wrong tomorrow?”
Rajesh said, “Thomas Banks is a dangerous man and he’s an experienced criminal, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to dream up this imposter scenario so quickly. His plan was quite elaborate and almost successful. And we now know he has a very violent past.”
Simon said, “And Peter, if it hadn’t been for you, Patricia and Isobel, he would have got away with it. He’s very resourceful. Finding a doppelganger who can fool people isn’t that easy.”
Rajesh said, “You’ve done so well finding out all that you have but you need to leave it to us now. We need you to be very careful and stick to the plan. Don’t take any risks. Peter, Patricia, once the form is signed and Anne and Thomas walk out into the reception area we’ll be waiting. You two stay in the room, let them walk out ahead of you. Am I clear?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“If you’ve been as careful as Simon tells me you have, Thomas and Anne shouldn’t be suspicious and we’ll have them. Easy.” He smiled. “Any questions?”
Isobel looked at the others. Peter looked horrified. To distract him she asked, “Peter, do you foresee any problems with your boss?”
“I don’t know. I’m sure he’s not going to be thrilled.”
Simon said, “He should be. Your intuition and actions are a credit to the firm. You’re going to catch a fraudster and possible multiple murderer, pretty impressive. Why don’t I go with you to talk to him and let him know how much we appreciate the firm’s help?”
Peter grinned. “Well, since you put it like that, yes, I think that would help to get things sorted quickly and clearly. He’s in by half past eight so that gives us time to explain.”
Simon said, “Rajesh, you and one of your men can be solicitors tomorrow and monitor things in the office so dress appropriately. You and your team need to be ready to take your places at midday as I said. You’ll be able to walk in and out to reception so you can let us know when the Banks are in with Peter signing. Be discreet, act solicitor-like. The rest of the policemen will be in the building and will converge when you tell us they are in the office. I have a briefing with them at 6am tomorrow. Anything else?”
He paused. There was silence.
“Rajesh, meet me at the early briefing and bring your men,” he
said. “I’ll do the same.” He looked at Isobel. “You don’t have a role tomorrow, Isobel, so I don’t want you to be anywhere near the office. I’m sure the others will call you as soon as it’s all over. Malcolm, you won’t be there either but we’ll keep you informed and thanks for your help.”
The two men shook hands.
After Malcolm and the policemen left, the enormity of the situation hit Isobel. Peter seemed really nervous. She wondered what she could do to focus his mind and help him.
“Peter, Simon is right. Your intuition has uncovered something really important and that’s amazing. Anne Banks, Tommy’s mother, is your client and you’ve looked after her interests so well.”
Peter looked down. “Too late for her though.”
Isobel swallowed. “Yes. But, you can get her justice and as her solicitor that’s all you could ever do. More importantly, you can ensure that her son is looked after in the way she would have wanted.”
Peter looked up.
“Not by an abuser and murderer,” she continued, “but maybe by an aunt who is warm and strong and brave.”
Peter nodded. “You’re right. I can do that.” He said it like it was a promise to Anne and Isobel knew in a way it was.
She got up, wished him luck too and left Patricia a few minutes alone with him to say her goodbyes. She felt sure that she and Peter would support each other through the meeting tomorrow and be fine.
The two women were exhausted. Before bed Isobel had one last call to make. She rang Tim Woodward, and he answered immediately.
“Tim, at the moment they’re going to arrest the man we suspect tomorrow. I’m not sure how things will go or how quickly they will move but hopefully in the next few days they’ll be able to get a search warrant to check the garden.”
Tim said, “I spoke to Sarah. We both want to help. I also spoke to my solicitor.”
Isobel cringed.
“He told me that if I found something like a body in my garden then the police would have to investigate.”
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