Wrongful Death

by Lynda La Plante

  ‘What do you fancy?’ Anna asked.

  ‘The maître d’. He’s drop-dead gorgeous,’ Paul replied with a cheeky grin as he peered over the top of his menu.

  ‘I thought so too,’ Anna said, imitating him with her menu.

  ‘I saw him first, girlfriend.’ He winked.

  ‘It’s good to see you, Paul. You always brighten up my day.’

  Paul ordered the full English breakfast with poached eggs. He also asked for a pot of Earl Grey tea. Anna thought she’d be a bit more adventurous and opted for haggis with fried duck eggs and a Macchiato coffee.

  ‘Got a bit of a hangover,’ Paul confided. ‘I was out with Brian last night at the G-A-Y club in Soho.’

  Anna smiled. ‘Celebrating the new house?’

  ‘Well, that and our engagement.’

  ‘Congratulations, Paul, I’m really pleased for you both.’

  ‘We’ve been together a year now and I’m still crazy about him. We want the full monty – morning suits, marquee in the gardens of a stately home. Our sisters have agreed to be bridesmaids. I’ll send you an invitation.’

  ‘Thank you, I look forward to it.’

  ‘So what’s the problem with Joshua Reynolds’ suicide?’

  ‘It’s more a case of someone causing problems by questioning your original investigation.’

  ‘Don’t tell me, bloody DCS Langton?’

  ‘No. An FBI agent called Jessie Dewar. She’s a behavioural adviser at their Academy in Quantico.’

  ‘What’s the FBI got to do with Reynolds’ death?’

  ‘Langton arranged for Dewar to be attached to my team on work experience.’ Anna paused before continuing. ‘She thinks Reynolds was murdered and the scene was staged to look like a suicide.’

  ‘That’s ridiculous. The Coroner and all the experts said it was suicide,’ Paul said, clearly upset by what Anna was telling him.

  Anna was about to say more when the waitress interrupted them as she served their breakfasts.

  ‘When I spoke to you on the phone yesterday, you mentioned a prisoner making “spurious allegations”,’ Paul prompted her.

  Anna outlined Delon Taylor’s background at the Trojan, why he was awaiting trial and his allegation that Reynolds might have been murdered by his partner Marcus Williams.

  ‘Then why didn’t the file come back to me to interview Taylor? That’s normal procedure, isn’t it?’

  ‘This is off the record, Paul, and just between us . . . okay?’

  Paul nodded as he ate a mouthful of his breakfast. Anna sipped her coffee and explained that Langton had deliberately allocated her team the reinvestigation as he wanted to secure them the new office at Belgravia.

  ‘So why do you think Taylor is telling the truth?’

  ‘I don’t.’

  ‘Then why are we having this conversation? Why isn’t it case closed?’ a worried Paul asked, pushing his food round the plate in an agitated manner.

  ‘Dewar’s made some observations about the blood distribution at the scene and the suicide note on Reynolds’ laptop.’

  ‘So she’s a jack of all trades. Blood-distribution expert, a forensic linguist as well as a behavioural shrink! If she’s got a problem with my investigation, why can’t she speak to me face to face?’

  ‘I’m on your side, Paul, but . . .’

  ‘Have you told Langton and Dewar that?’

  ‘Of course. Look, both Langton and I have assured Dewar that you’re a competent and respected investigator.’ Wanting to be discreet in a public area, Anna showed him some small pocket-sized photographs she had in her briefcase of the Reynolds death scene. She explained Dewar’s observations on the blood distribution and the interviews they had had with Marcus Williams and Donna Reynolds.

  ‘I don’t know if Dewar’s right, Paul, but I need to make sure that everything is done by the book to support your original investigation. I’m seeing Pete Jenkins later this morning but I need to go over your actions concerning the scene before I do. I’m being straight with you and that’s all I ask in return.’

  ‘I’ll be as straight as I can be.’ He laughed nervously, giving a camp flick of his wrist.

  ‘I’m serious, Paul. If, God forbid, Dewar’s right, then it’s a question of damage limitation.’

  ‘My investigation report was signed off as suicide by Detective Superintendent Mike Lewis – you know him, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, of course I do, but for the time being I don’t want him to know we’ve met and discussed the case. He’s got enough on his plate as his daughter was involved in an accident, so let me just try and iron all this out.’

  ‘Anna, I’m not sure what more I could have done at the scene,’ Paul protested. ‘I was guided by the pathologist Dr Harrow and by John Freeman the Crime Scene Manager.’

  ‘I noticed in Pete Jenkins’ report that he never attended the scene. Why was that?’ Anna asked, taking the opportunity to enjoy some more of her breakfast.

  Paul explained that he had been advised by Freeman to call the pathologist and was present while the two of them discussed the position of the body, bullet injuries to the head and the blood distribution. Harrow had said that if the body was removed to the mortuary within a couple of hours, he would ‘as a favour’ handle it as a late-afternoon post-mortem as he was off on holiday the next day.

  ‘So Freeman never suggested a firearms or blood-distribution expert should attend?’

  ‘I did ask but Freeman said that the distribution all fitted with a suicide and if Harrow’s examination concluded the same then there would be no need for further investigation at the scene,’ Paul explained.

  ‘I’m sorry, Paul, but you were badly advised and their opinions influenced your judgement. Pete Jenkins should have been called to the scene. Freeman has a reputation for being self-opinionated and cutting corners. I don’t know Harrow but . . .’

  ‘He said he’d been a pathologist covering the Lancashire and Yorkshire areas for over twenty-five years and had only recently come to London. He looked to be in his late fifties and seemed to know what he was talking about,’ Paul said, looking tense.

  His breakfast was only half-eaten as he placed his knife and fork together on the side of his plate and poured himself another cup of tea from the silver teapot. She knew that his nervousness had ruined his appetite.

  ‘Sometimes experience can lead to overconfidence. Pathologists are there to examine bodies and give cause and manner of death. Not pass comment on blood distribution at a scene.’

  ‘Well I didn’t know that, and even if I did I’d hardly have felt in a position to argue the point.’

  ‘The scene is ultimately your responsibility, Paul. Who do you think they are going to blame if this all goes pear-shaped?’

  ‘Me. Will I get demoted to sergeant?’ Paul was now very distraught.

  ‘You acted in good faith, Paul, but inexperience has let you down. I suspect though you may be given some strong words of advice by Langton about your actions and report, but not demoted.’

  ‘What’s wrong with the report?’

  ‘It’s not very thorough or detailed. You need to cut your teeth on these kinds of cases. Always treat them as a possible murder, be thorough, trust your own judgement and challenge others.’

  Paul was close to tears. Anna knew that he had always been a bit of a sensitive soul and felt she needed to reassure him, but was unsure what to say.

  ‘I’m sorry I let you down, Anna.’

  ‘You’ve let yourself down, not me. Whatever happens, I will support your actions in light of what Freeman and Harrow advised. Put it down to inexperience for now.’

  ‘What about this Dewar woman?’

  ‘Leave her to me,’ Anna insisted. ‘Now cheer up and finish your breakfast. I’m not paying for good food to go to waste.’

  Paul seemed somewhat reassured by Anna’s comforting advice and he managed to take a couple more mouthfuls of his breakfast. She decided not to tell him that Gloria Lynne had
complained to the local Chief Constable. Undoubtedly, that would leave him a nervous wreck.

  ‘I’m off to the FBI Academy in Quantico in a few days on a ten-week course,’ Anna said, attempting to take Paul’s mind off his predicament.

  ‘So who’s going to cover the Reynolds case while you’re away?’ he asked anxiously.

  ‘Don’t look so worried. I hope to have the case resolved before I go. Even if I haven’t, Paul Barolli will be deputizing for me. He shares my views about Dewar and he’s on your side.’

  ‘Will you get him to keep me in the loop while you’re away?’

  ‘Of course, and if you’ve any problems or worries you can always ring me – just check the time difference first,’ Anna said, and Paul laughed.

  Anna finished her breakfast before asking Paul anything further about his investigation.

  ‘What did you make of Donna Reynolds?’

  ‘I interviewed her at length. Obviously, she was very distressed, but there was nothing that made me feel she was lying,’ he said thoughtfully.

  ‘Was her mother Gloria present?’

  ‘Yes, she was a bit of a mother hen, very concerned for Donna, but understood that I had a job to do.’

  ‘Did you meet Marcus Williams?’

  ‘No, I spoke to him on the phone and sent a detective to the Trojan to speak to him about Josh. He thought Josh had been very down since his mother died, as did Donna.’

  Anna touched on Josh’s financial situation and Paul told her that he had seized and viewed his bank statements from the flat and that there was nothing untoward.

  ‘Did you look at the Trojan accounts?’

  ‘No, but I had an off-the-record chat with the bank manager and he said that a loan had been taken out by Josh when he first bought the place and that the monthly repayments were being made.’

  ‘Anything about a further loan for renovation work?’ Anna asked.

  ‘No.’

  ‘What about Josh’s mobile phone for calls and texts on the day he died?’

  ‘I had his and Donna’s phones checked and again there was nothing untoward.’

  Anna observed to Paul that he appeared to have made many more enquiries than he had given himself credit for in his report. Paul explained that he had wanted to keep it brief and that as none of his enquiries had brought up anything to suggest Reynolds’ death was suspicious he had not included those details. He added that he had kept the notes, along with the forensic submission forms and other assorted documents and copies of the bank statements and phone records. Anna asked him to drop them off at Belgravia as soon as possible and reiterated that his report should have contained details of all the enquiries he had made.

  ‘You always need to cover your own back, Paul,’ she stressed.

  ‘Shit. I didn’t, did I?’ he said with a forlorn look.

  Outside the restaurant, Paul thanked her for her support and sound advice. As she put her hand out to shake goodbye, Paul came forward and took Anna by surprise, giving her a big hug.

  ‘Would you be a bridesmaid at mine and Brian’s wedding?’

  ‘I’d look a bit like the old matriarch standing next to that age group, so an honoured guest will do fine,’ she hurriedly assured him.

  ‘Not true, you’re looking good, so no more excuses, Anna, you’re in as chief bridesmaid.’ Paul smiled, hailing a cab.

  ‘We’ll see.’ Anna laughed.

  The cab pulled over and as she waved, Paul waved back and Anna could see the concern on his face. They both knew his situation could become serious – Anna just hoped she could protect him. That and avoid being a bridesmaid.

  Chapter Eleven

  Anna arrived at the forensic lab in Lambeth just after eight-thirty, only to find Pete Jenkins was not due in until nine, so she took the opportunity to grab a coffee in their canteen and phone Joan in the office. She knew that if she wanted to speak to Donna Reynolds again, or her sister Aisa, Gloria Lynne would most probably get on her high horse and object.

  ‘Hi, Joan.’

  ‘Morning, ma’am. How’d the enquiries go yesterday?’

  ‘Nothing surprising but it’s a day I’d rather forget.’

  ‘Dewar?’

  Anna avoided giving Joan a direct answer.

  ‘I am at the lab this morning seeing Pete Jenkins and I need you to do some discreet research on Gloria Lynne and her two daughters Donna Reynolds and Aisa. I’m assuming Aisa uses the surname Lynne but that may not be the case,’ Anna said. She gave Joan details of the Mini Cooper Convertible and Lotus she had seen at Lynne House and asked her to do a registered keeper’s check on both cars.

  ‘I’ll do what I can and leave an intelligence file on your desk,’ Joan promised.

  ‘No, don’t do that. Keep it to yourself for now and we’ll speak when I get back. Tell Barolli I want him to get warrants issued and served on the banks for Reynolds’ personal accounts and the Trojan’s business accounts.’

  ‘Has something interesting turned up?’

  ‘Not as yet. Just some loose ends from the original inquiry that need tidying up.’

  ‘Anything else?’

  ‘Tell Barbara to get cracking on the house-to-house enquiries in Bayswater. She can go with Barolli to the court and then they can do the house-to-house together. You got all that?’

  ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  Anna found Pete Jenkins in his office. He was his usual affable self, gave her a warm hug and took out photographs of his baby daughter before he got round to asking exactly why she had come to see him. She did not mention Dewar, but said she was reinvestigating the Joshua Reynolds case, and wanted to go over the forensic examination and results with him.

  ‘Seems strange that we both work for the Met now,’ Pete said, making reference to the closure of the Forensic Science Service in March of the previous year.

  ‘Oh, yeah, right, great shame about the FSS. How’re you finding things now?’

  He shrugged. ‘Met took over our labs and renamed it Specialist Forensic Services, but the transition’s not been an easy one.’

  ‘Why’s that?’

  ‘Problem with police “in house” forensics is it’s all too often about cost-saving and cutting corners and that means an investigation can be compromised.’

  ‘Change is inevitable, Pete, and it takes time for things to settle. As for cost-saving and budgets, that’s something we’re all up against,’ Anna pointed out.

  ‘I know, but at times I feel like my skills and expertise are being ignored.’

  ‘Well I’m interested in your opinion on the Josh Reynolds case.’

  He shook his head. ‘That case is a prime example of what I’m talking about.’ He went over to a filing cabinet and removed the Reynolds case file.

  Pete explained that on the afternoon of the day Josh Reynolds’ body was discovered he received a phone call from John Freeman, the Crime Scene Manager, saying that he was at the scene of a suspected suicide and was sending up a gun that had been found in the victim’s right hand and a bullet retrieved from the sofa. Freeman wanted a fast-track comparison of the dead man’s fingerprints against the gun and also for Pete to examine the recovered bullet to see if it came from the gun.

  ‘I offered to attend but Freeman said as CSM he decides who to call to a scene and if he needed me he’d let me know.’

  ‘What about the scene and post mortem photographs, did you get to see them?’

  ‘No.’ Pete shook his head in frustration. ‘The only other exhibits I received for examination were after the post mortem. That was Reynolds’ clothing, blood and urine samples for DNA and toxicology, and some bullets and firearms swabs from a safe at the scene.’

  ‘What about the laptop with the suicide note on it? And Reynolds’ mobile phone?’

  ‘They would have gone to Technical Support at Newlands Park.’

  She was stunned. ‘They didn’t come to you first for fingerprints or DNA work?’

  ‘Nope, and full fingerprint treatments w
ere never done at the Reynolds flat either.’

  ‘I’ve got a copy of the scene and post mortem photographs on a memory stick,’ Anna told Pete as she took it out of her handbag. ‘Would you mind having a look at them for me?’

  Pete loaded the scene photographs into his computer as Anna told him about her visit to Reynolds’ old flat with FBI Agent Dewar and Dewar’s re-enactments of how the shooting might have occurred. Anna chose to make no mention of the fact that she thought Dewar was prone to making the scene fit her theories, as she wanted an unbiased opinion from Pete.

  ‘I’ll have a look but it’s never easy doing blood-pattern analysis from photographs,’ Pete said, beginning to get anxious. He pulled out a picture from his case file of the gun recovered from the scene.

  ‘It’s an old Enfield number two mark one revolver developed in the late thirties for the British Tank Corps.’

  Anna was taking notes of Pete’s comments as he tapped the photograph.

  ‘Firing tests proved the bullet that passed through Reynolds’ head and lodged in the settee was fired from the Enfield.’

  ‘What about the bullets in the safe?’ Anna asked.

  ‘Same, point thirty-eight with 178 grain and by the worn look probably issued with the gun. Firearms residue from the safe, gun and Reynolds’ hand all matched as well.’

  ‘You know something, we don’t even know if the gun actually belonged to Josh Reynolds,’ Anna sighed.

  ‘If it’s any help you don’t see this type of gun being used by street gangs or professional criminals. These tend to be family heirlooms. Relative who fought in the war, kept it after demob then passed it down.’

  ‘Do you think Reynolds shot himself ?’

  ‘From what Freeman sent me to examine all I can say is he was shot with the Enfield revolver.’

  ‘That’s not what I asked.’

  ‘I know, but for me to offer an opinion on whether Reynolds pulled the trigger or not would have been dependent on a meticulous on-scene examination of the blood and brain tissue distribution.’

  She pressed on but could feel Pete was getting uptight.