The Appeal
Page 29
Olufemi Hassan
Charlotte Holroyd
Dear both,
I have read your document. There is a prize waiting for whoever solved the riddle of Topps Tiles. Yes, you are correct. That venerable ceramics emporium is visible from the small, north-facing window of the Greenwoods’ lounge, situated in a recess above their Ikea desk, which Isabel admires so much. When she muses ‘I can see Topps Tiles’ she must be sitting down at the desk to see the sign. Her email coincides with a message Michael D’Souza claims he received from Sam’s email address, informing him that his wife Claudia is having an affair with Kel Greenwood. Isabel deleted the sent file immediately and blocked Michael’s email address, so that Sam would not receive any further emails from him. Michael deleted the received file, so this correspondence is not available.
A close second prize goes to whoever discovered the side-effects of Ribavirin.
However, you need to go back through the correspondence and think again about who does not exist at all. It’s a matter of corroboration.
Overall, good work, but there is one angle you did not touch upon. The question of who benefits most from Sam’s death. I believe this is more important than who stands to lose the most from her revelations. There are four primary motives for murder: love/sex, money, silence and revenge. Revenge is fourth for a reason. A murder motivated purely by revenge is uncommon, because the benefits are vague, intangible, of negligible worth. Most people who plan and – pardon the pun – execute the death of another do so in anticipation of something positive occurring as a result, rather than as an empty reaction to something already in the past.
We will discuss these matters tomorrow.
Yours,
Roderick Tanner, QC
Senior Partner
Tanner & Dewey LLP
PS I should tell you who is imprisoned – I believe, erroneously. It is Isabel Beck.
Femi
So it seemed, beyond reasonable doubt, to be Isabel. That’s curious. Apart from appearing to be an empathetic personality, how does she benefit from Sam’s death?
Charlotte
Hardly anyone likes Issy. We only see her emails. There has to be something about her. Something we don’t pick up on, through the correspondence.
Femi
Lauren likes her. James likes her. As far as we can tell, Sam likes her at first. The Fairway Players like her enough to cast her in two plays.
Charlotte
The community turns on the least-popular, least-integrated individual and makes them fit the crime? We see Sarah-Jane and Kevin do just that, perhaps because they killed Sam, but not necessarily. They want it to be Issy because they see everyone else as a friend.
Femi
Could Issy’s fixation with Sam lead a jury to believe she could have killed her to move on in her life, free of the obsession? She moves on instantly, we can see that.
Charlotte
I still think the MacDonalds frame Issy. They grow closer as a couple over the course of events, don’t you think? Something sinister in the way SJ watches Issy text Lauren in the green room.
Femi
So, the person who doesn’t exist at all corroborates something and we haven’t spotted it. Any thoughts?
Charlotte
Emma corroborates Helen’s story for Sarah-Jane.
Femi
Emma must be real. Martin emails her about Woof.
Charlotte
Woof! Does Woof exist? Fuck, is that whole thing about the vets a code for something else?
Femi
If it is, then Sarah-Jane must be in on it. And her mother. No, both are mentioned by other people.
Charlotte
A code! Code, code, code. I made a note of this when you mentioned it before. Give me a minute. Don’t message, I’ll get distracted.
Femi
Ok. Go for it.
Charlotte
This is it. A code. A simple one between Tish and Martin only. Imagine that when they talk about ‘phials’ they mean ‘files’. ‘The contents of the phials will oxidise in two months, so I would recommend paying sooner rather than later.’ The contents of the files will be exposed (things ‘oxidise’ when exposed to the air) in two months. So pay up.
Charlotte
On 23 June: ‘The phials are still in Boston and can’t be secured until you complete payment. I’m concerned Poppy’s health will decline further if there’s any more delay.’ Secured – kept closed, out of sight. There will be consequences if you don’t pay.
Charlotte
‘The phials will last a bit longer but I am concerned the delay will prove detrimental to the integrity of the contents.’ She’s prepared to wait, but whatever is in the files will be worse when exposed.
Charlotte
Martin’s only reference to the ‘phials’ in his correspondence with Tish comes after Sam has accused them of a financial conspiracy: ‘I suggest we delay shipping of the phials until this latest furore has blown over.’ He wants to suspend their arrangement until Sam is out of the way. Shit! Blown over – over the balcony . . .
Charlotte
I say this: there are no experimental drugs. Poppy is having NHS treatment at Mount More via Bhatoa’s private practice. However, there is no financial conspiracy, either. Tish is blackmailing Martin. She’s helping him raise funds, and is colluding in the deception of the community, but all the money is going to her. That’s why Martin is in such a fucking financial mess.
Femi
Charl, you’re on fire. Bhatoa has form here. In her email on 3 May she threatens to tell St Ann’s the ‘real reason’ Sam had to return from Africa. She knows she has Hepatitis C. What could Tish know about Martin? That he’s a gambler?
Charlotte
The Haywards arrive at Tish’s private practice with a very sick little girl and a determination to cure her. Tish does her research into Martin’s business affairs via Noel Burton from RedHawk Consulting and spots an opportunity. What does she dig up? A dodgy deal, tax evasion, debts, an affair maybe? My main point is: Lydia Drake is a scam, but it’s Martin scamming Tish – to divert at least some of Poppy’s appeal money back to himself. At first he tries to reconnect with Clive Handler behind Tish’s back, but Sam has already deleted the email account. So Lydia Drake is born. He sends the emails from Magda’s computer at The Grange – to give him something to forward on to SJ. Only Martin isn’t particularly creative. He gets the name Lydia from All My Sons; Drake from the script publisher – look back at SJ’s message to him on 20 April. She complains about the cost of the Drake Classics version of the script. When he realises SJ and Kevin can trace emails, he panics and early next morning deletes them to cover his tracks – to the dismay of the entirely innocent Magda.
Femi
Good work. See, you can do this, Charl.
Charlotte
Let’s say I’m correct. Tish knows something inflammatory about Martin. Well, James and Glen must know it, too. Helen and Paige, as ever, in the dark. Surely he’d want to keep it from James and Glen too, if it were ‘just’ an affair or gambling? Must be something bigly illegal . . .
Femi
So, park SJ and Kevin. That makes the Haywards our main suspects – Sam doesn’t know about the blackmail, but if she exposes the appeal as a fraud, then she will inadvertently expose whatever Tish knows about the Haywards.
Charlotte
How does Issy end up in jail?
Femi
The MacDonalds could still frame her. They don’t necessarily know what’s in the ‘files’ or that the files exist. But they are tight with the Haywards. They will protect the alpha family on instinct.
Olufemi Hassan
Charlotte Holroyd
Dear both,
Something has come up. I’m stuck in the City all day. However, the last thing I want is to cancel our meeting. It’s time I learned to use the speech-bubble messaging function you have on your phones. Please, one of you, kindly liaise with Sandra and help her i
nput it to my phone. Thank you.
Yours,
Roderick Tanner, QC
Senior Partner
Tanner & Dewey LLP
Charlotte
For God’s sake, start a new group, don’t add him to this one. He’ll see everything we’ve ever discussed.
Femi
Spoke to Sandra. She calls WhatsApp ‘a program’.
Roderick Tanner, QC
Dear
Roderick Tanner, QC
Both
Roderick Tanner, QC
Thank you for
Roderick Tanner, QC
It disappears
Roderick Tanner, QC
What are the three dots no question mark
Roderick Tanner, QC
]
Charlotte
Don’t press return until you’re ready to send the message. You see three dots when someone else is typing.
Femi
It’s an informal medium Mr Tanner. Don’t worry too much about punctuation.
Charlotte
You’ll get used to it.
Roderick Tanner, QC
This is Sandra. Mr Tanner will dictate. I’m new to this myself. Bear with me now. So, did the remaining correspondence alter your perspective on the case?
Femi
Yes, Martin Hayward is now our prime suspect. Glen and James his accomplices. Isabel framed and convicted because she’s a relative outsider obsessed with the victim.
Charlotte
We believe the appeal is a financial conspiracy, in so far as it’s a vehicle for Tish Bhatoa to blackmail Martin. Martin makes up the Lydia Drake fraud to divert £80k of the appeal money away from Tish. He has to pay his builders sooner than expected, on top of which he has legal fees and a gambling habit.
Roderick Tanner, QC
Good. Who benefits from Sam’s death?
Charlotte
The Haywards, Tish, the MacDonalds all benefit from Sam’s silence.
Femi
Kel. He’s free to be with Claudia. Vice versa. Isabel. She’s free from her obsession and can move on.
Roderick Tanner, QC
I said three people pretend to be others. You correctly identify one as Sam – she pretends to be Isabel to access Mount More’s treatment records. Also, Isabel sends an email as Sam. I believe there is another, pivotal masquerade, in plain sight, much later on. Clive Handler and Lydia Drake are not who they say they are – along with one other. Which brings me to the one who does not exist at all.
Charlotte
Can I ask: how did ‘who’s who?’ affect the original case?
Roderick Tanner, QC
It contributed to the miscarriage of justice. I believe. Posing as someone else betrays a propensity to deceive.
Femi
So it involves Isabel, one of these deceptions?
Roderick Tanner, QC
Yes, one of them.
Femi
Mr Tanner, is there something we should know about Isabel? From her correspondence, she has an empathetic personality. She’s kind, friendly, optimistic and simple, in a good way. She’s shy and lonely and suffers from depression, she’s socially awkward, but even so, why would she ever be considered a suspect, let alone convicted?
Charlotte
Her major ‘crime’ is her obsession with Sam. But she’s not serious stalker material.
Femi
She’s not intelligent enough to plan a murder.
Roderick Tanner, QC
Really? Well, she’s intelligent enough to fool both of you.
Roderick Tanner, QC
Go back and read through the correspondence again. This time, bear in mind that Lauren Malden is really Isabel. See how that changes your perspective.
Femi
Lauren? Wasn’t she at the ball? What about her mum and Josh?
Charlotte
Just to be clear, Mr Tanner: there was never anyone called Lauren? Not working at St Ann’s, not in The Fairway Players?
Roderick Tanner, QC
Never. Lauren Malden does not and never has existed. Nor anyone related to her. Call it an alter ego, if you like.
Femi
Isabel emails herself as an imaginary friend she’s fallen out with? Someone who betrayed her and then jogged off with a boyfriend?
Charlotte
Man, that’s fucked-up.
Roderick Tanner, QC
She’s a complex creation.
Charlotte
Sorry, Mr Tanner. I didn’t mean to use that language, I’m on voice.
Roderick Tanner, QC
We believe Lauren replaced the Blue Book for Isabel. Look at the emails and see if you can understand why. Well, I’ve given that away, but won’t tell you anything else. Go back and see how this new information influences your list of suspects. Don’t forget the masquerade you haven’t seen yet.
Charlotte
So she’s created Lauren. It’s weird, but there are others with more credible motives; it still doesn’t make Isabel an obvious suspect in Sam’s murder.
Roderick Tanner, QC
Indeed. Quite possibly she wouldn’t have been, if it were not for one thing. She confessed.
Roderick Tanner, QC
What’s more, she maintains to this day that she did it. I’ll forward the transcript.
Femi
Is there evidence she is innocent?
Roderick Tanner, QC
That’s what I’m asking you.
County Police Interview Report
Extract from police interview with Isabel Beck:
Ms Anand: I’d like to read a prepared statement.
Sgt Cooper: Go ahead.
Ms Anand: My name is Isabel Beck. On the night of 4–5 July 2018 I was responsible for the death of Samantha Greenwood. After The Fairway Players’ dress rehearsal for All My Sons I caught a bus to Sam’s flat, with the intention of discussing our forthcoming trip to Africa. When I arrived we argued and she fell over the balcony. I panicked and ran home. I hoped she was ok, but noticed she did not come in to work the next day. Nor did she arrive at the church hall for the performance of the play that night, 5 July. After the play I was given a lift to Sam’s flat by Joel and Celia Halliday. There, I discovered Sam’s body lying under the balcony and called 999.
Sgt Cooper: Thank you. Isabel, did Samantha Greenwood know you were coming to the flat on the night of the 4th, after the dress rehearsal?
Ms Beck: No comment.
Sgt Cooper: Only, you were seen with Ms Greenwood after the rehearsal. In the words of this witness, ‘Sam snarled in Isabel’s ear as if she were furious with her. Sam marched off and Isabel was left alone in the car park. She [meaning you] looked utterly devastated.’ Is that correct?
Ms Beck: No comment.
Sgt Crowe: What did Sam say that was so bad you pushed her over the balcony?
Ms Anand: That isn’t in the statement. Ms Beck does not say she pushed Ms Greenwood over the balcony.
Sgt Crowe: What did you argue about that was so bad Ms Greenwood ended up falling over the balcony?
Ms Beck: No comment.
Sgt Cooper: You say your intention, in going to Ms Greenwood’s flat that night, was to discuss a trip to Africa with her. Only there was no trip planned, was there?
Ms Beck: No comment.
Sgt Cooper: Ms Greenwood was making her own plans to return to Africa as a volunteer with Médecins Sans Frontières. You were not part of that.
Ms Beck: No comment.
Sgt Cooper: Is that what she told you in the car park?
Ms Beck: No comment.
Sgt Cooper: Or was it something else?
Ms Beck: No comment.
Sgt Cooper: As we’ve seen from the CCTV footage, you took the bus, at night, all the way across Lockwood for a reason. There was no trip. So why go?
Ms Beck: No comment.
Sgt Cooper: Why not text or email?
Ms Beck: No comment.
Sgt Cooper: You could speak to her at wo
rk the next day. Why go to her flat, there and then?
Ms Beck: No comment.
Sgt Cooper: If you won’t tell us, then we might assume you went there intending to cause harm to Ms Greenwood, because that’s what it looks like. Can you see our problem?
Sgt Crowe: Did you go to Ms Greenwood’s flat on the night of 4 July with the intention to kill her?
Ms Beck: No comment.
– Interview suspended –
Charlotte
People confess all the time. They aren’t convicted.
Femi
Exactly. Corpus delicti. There must be evidence she did it.
Charlotte
Tanner implies there’s no evidence she didn’t.
Femi
If there’s a murder and someone who has opportunity and motive holds their hands up and says they’re guilty, how much effort does anyone put into finding out if they really are?
Charlotte
So, if we say Isabel is innocent – what’s her motive for confessing?
Femi
Attention. Her name linked to Sam’s, part of her ongoing obsession.
Charlotte
Covering for someone else?
Femi
Who and why? And when does she decide to cover for them? Right after the murder she’s looking forward to the future . . . She hasn’t factored in ten years of jail time.
Charlotte
Shock. It happens. People experience something terrible, like killing their best friend, and then carry on as normal.
Femi
We need to go back and read Issy’s email exchanges with Lauren.
Charlotte
Denial! That’s the word. Yes, let’s reread . . .
Charlotte
Finished yet? I can’t believe we didn’t see it. On 17 April ‘Lauren’ says ‘all-nighters at my age, boo’. Boo! Issy says that all the time.
Femi
When you know Lauren is really Issy, you can see how she plays on her own fears and allays them.
Charlotte
She’s created someone to hold a grudge against. For dropping her in favour of a boyfriend; for betraying her at work; for only contacting her when she wants gossip; for leaving. Those early emails between them – Issy is so offhand and cool.
Femi