Gloria stopped and deliberately kept her back to Anna for a few seconds before turning to face her. ‘You should be thanking me, Detective Travis. The great Ian Holme could not get my daughter to tell him anything – but for me, you’d get nothing out of her. I have done what any caring mother would do, persuaded her to tell you the truth.’
‘And that would be in whose best interest?’ Anna asked.
But Gloria’s only response was to sneer and look her up and down as if she were a piece of dirt before walking away.
Anna stormed back into her office to tell Langton what had happened, to find Jessie Dewar was already there and had informed Langton that something had gone terribly wrong.
‘Bloody Walters, she’s using him; if he walked in here now, I’d kill him!’ Anna said, gritting her teeth in anger.
Langton told her to take a deep breath, calm down and explain what had happened. Anna told them about Walters’ call to the custody sergeant, her brief chat with Gloria Lynne, the state of hopelessness that Aisa was in, and how Gloria was revelling in it all.
‘God knows what Walters told her, and if Ian Holme revealed the disclosure Gloria had everything she needed to prime Aisa,’ Anna said despairingly and banged her hand on the desk.
‘Why would Walters tell Gloria anything?’ Langton asked.
Anna remembered that she had not as yet told Langton anything about her confrontational meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, and now explained how he flew off the handle after Gloria Lynne complained about Aisa’s arrest. Walters had demanded to know why she was back in London and she had, at first, only told him about evidence that implicated Aisa. Langton pressed Anna as to what she meant by ‘at first’, so she told him that the Coroner had spoken with Walters as Dr Harrow had made a complaint. She had to tell Walters that Samuel Peters was related to Josh and stole money from him, and as far as Walters was concerned Samuel died of a heart attack.
‘Anything else?’ Langton glanced towards Dewar.
‘No,’ Anna said. She knew it was not a good time to mention everything else that had been said in that extraordinary meeting.
‘Basically, you lied to him,’ Langton told her.
‘I was economical with the truth,’ she said, trying to justify her position.
‘This case goes from bad to worse.’ Langton sighed.
‘If I were in Anna’s shoes I’d have done the same,’ Dewar said, coming to her defence.
‘Well, I’m no angel when it comes to feeding Walters with a load of crap. We have to assume that Gloria sweet-talked Walters into telling her everything he knew. The agenda now is damage limitation,’ Langton said, looking at Dewar again.
Dewar realized that he wanted her input about what Gloria might have said to Aisa, and how best to deal with the situation, and so she commented that it was interesting that the woman had never come to the station to play the loving and caring mother when Donna was arrested. Dewar believed the reason for this was that Gloria had nothing to fear simply because Donna had nothing to tell as she was the only innocent party in the whole sordid affair.
‘That poor girl has been put through hell,’ Anna said.
Langton found it hard to comprehend that Gloria Lynne was prepared to let Donna take the fall.
‘A sociopath like Gloria Lynne has no feelings of love for either of her daughters in the way that a mother should,’ Dewar informed them. ‘Donna and Aisa are her pawns, little trophies that she likes to pander to so she appears to be the perfect, caring mother.’
‘The woman’s something else. How has she deceived everyone for so long?’ Langton asked.
Dewar explained that Lady Lynne had spent her life impressing people of high standing and integrity through lies and deceit. ‘The reality is, Gloria doesn’t want friends, she craves loyal followers, people who believe in her and thereby unwittingly do everything they can to help her achieve her own conceited goals.’
‘She’s more dangerous than I realized,’ Langton said.
‘Well I think we know it now, but Gloria Lynne is dangerous because of ignorance . . . not her own, but everyone else’s understanding of who or what she really is. It’s rare that anyone is able to see through the mask of a cold-hearted sociopath,’ Dewar said calmly, adding that Aisa and Donna’s reputations didn’t matter a jot to Gloria, as ultimately she had to be the one in total control.
Langton remained silent for a moment but then said that Donna seemed to be different as she had, prior to meeting Josh Reynolds, rebelled against her mother by leaving the family home to become a stripper.
Dewar smiled. ‘Ah, yes, but the grief of others is sheer pleasure to a sociopath – any weakness, especially in a time of sorrow, and they’ll move in and take control. No sooner was Josh Reynolds dead than Gloria used the situation to once again take over Donna’s life by playing on her grief, organizing Josh’s funeral, the sale of the Bayswater flat and the Trojan.’ Dewar looked to Anna.
Anna hesitated and then said quietly, ‘I think Gloria saw Aisa in her bloodstained dress when she got back to the Savoy from Josh’s. Then under immense pressure Aisa confessed to her mother about the affair and being present when Josh shot himself.’
‘Yet again that is just bloody supposition – you don’t know what happened,’ Langton said, unable to contain his frustration.
Dewar again sided with Anna. ‘What we do know about for certain is Aisa’s fear of her mother’s wrath. She clearly didn’t tell her about the theft of the money from CCS Medical, or the love nest at Esme’s, as that would have led to the discovery of her buying Josh the Ferrari.’
Langton looked slightly perplexed. ‘Okay, I understand Aisa being terrified of Gloria and thus the partial confession, but why didn’t she just up and leave like Donna did?’
It was Anna’s turn to look to Dewar for an explanation.
‘You have to understand that deep down both girls may know Gloria doesn’t love them, but that won’t necessarily stop them loving her. The difference with Aisa is she’s spoilt, likes life in the fast lane, the swanky parties, mixing with celebs, but most of all she likes the money.’
‘Is she like her mother – you know, like a mini-sociopath?’ Langton asked, still trying to digest the information.
Dewar grinned at his terminology. ‘She’s inherited her mother’s love of money and taste for the good life, but, no, I don’t think she’s a sociopath in the real sense of the word.’
‘If Aisa’s terrified of Gloria, and she’s primed her about what to say in interview, then basically we’re screwed,’ Anna predicted.
‘You don’t know until you interview her and if anyone can break Gloria’s hold on her, you can,’ insisted Dewar, keen that they remained optimistic.
Langton was still unsure, but like Dewar he felt he should encourage Anna, and so he gave her a rueful smile.
‘Let’s get on with it, and see what the outcome is.’
Ian Holme was waiting in the corridor as they approached and, recognizing Langton, shook his hand, asking him how he was. From his facial expression and manner, Anna could see that Holme was not being ingratiating, but obviously had a genuine respect for Langton. He asked to speak to them both in private, and so Anna led them into an empty interview room, while Dewar made her way to the viewing suite.
‘Aisa Lynne has made full and frank admissions to me about her affair with Josh Reynolds and the use of the charity fund monies,’ Holme said. ‘On my advice, she has made a prepared statement, which I will read out to you in the interview.’
‘Well, dependent on those admissions we may still need to put further questions to her concerning Mr Reynolds’ death,’ Anna said, making her point clear.
‘I have no problem with that, Detective Travis, and I will advise my client accordingly. What I will object to is any line of questioning concerning the fact that Josh Reynolds was Aisa Lynne’s half-brother.’
Anna knew that he could only have got the information from Gloria Lynne. The problem was, she di
dn’t know how much the woman had told him.
‘Can I ask why, Mr Holme?’ Anna asked.
‘Neither Aisa nor Donna Lynne are aware that Joshua was really Arum Peters. Lady Lynne herself did not know Josh Reynolds’ true identity until recently. She is concerned that any revelation to her daughters, of their incestuous relationship, could have devastating psychological effects.’
Anna knew there and then that Gloria had Ian Holme exactly where she wanted him: he had become one of her followers, a duped disciple who could see no wrong in her.
‘Why has Lady Lynne not brought this information to our attention before?’ Langton asked.
Holme said that as Lady Lynne’s representative he would be breaching her trust if he said anything more, but she had indicated that she would like to talk to DCI Travis after the interview with Aisa. Langton told Mr Holme that he and DCI Travis would join him shortly in the interview room.
As soon as they were alone, Langton turned to Anna.
‘You do not raise the birth certificates or anything to do with them.’
‘But Samuel gave the documents to Josh who then showed them to Aisa, so they are relevant evidence about which I am perfectly entitled to question her.’
‘You have no proof of that, and Aisa’s prints aren’t on the certificates. Don’t you get it? Gloria Lynne is trying to rile you. Even if Aisa already knows about her relationship to Josh, she’ll make out she didn’t, act all hysterical and Holme will accuse you of deliberate oppressive tactics and end the interview.’
Anna knew that he was right, but it galled her that Ian Holme was so blissfully unaware that Gloria was using him.
‘Okay,’ she said begrudgingly.
On entering the main interview room, Anna could see that Aisa looked much calmer than she had when her mother was with her, and suspected that she was not as nervous because she had given Ian Holme the story that her mother had concocted. As she turned on the DVD recording equipment, Anna tried to make eye contact with Aisa, while Langton made the formal introductions and reminded the young woman she was still under caution. She looked down at the floor and simply nodded. Ian Holme stated that his client fully understood why she had been arrested and that anything she said could be used in evidence against her.
‘Aisa Lynne has made a prepared statement, which I will read out on her behalf. She has signed it as being a true version of events concerning her relationship with Joshua Reynolds,’ Holme said as he placed the statement down on the table in front of him. He was about to start when Anna interjected.
‘Have you made the statement of your own free will, Aisa?’ she asked, still desperately trying to make eye contact.
Aisa kept her head down and spoke quietly. ‘Yes, my mother told me I must tell you the truth.’
Anna sighed. ‘I’m sure she did, Aisa. Mummy always knows what is best for her little girls, doesn’t she?’
‘We should be grateful that Lady Lynne is such an honourable woman; many mothers would advise their offspring to say nothing,’ Holmes replied, refusing to react to Anna’s sarcasm.
Anna would have loved to press Aisa further on exactly what her mother had said but Langton frowned at her and she knew it was best to listen to the statement before proceeding with any further questions. Holme started to read:
Around mid-summer of 2012 I started an affair with my brother-in-law Joshua Reynolds and our love for each other grew quickly over the weeks that followed. We used his deceased mother’s flat as a place to meet and carry out our affair.
At the beginning of September, Josh asked me if I could loan him some money as his club, the Trojan, was in financial difficulties and he needed funds to develop the premises. Josh had spoken with my sister Donna about asking my mother Lady Gloria Lynne for a loan, but Donna refused to ask her for any financial help. I did have funds of my own but I didn’t want my mother or Donna to know that I would lend Josh the money, as I feared them finding out about our affair and ending it.
I told Josh that I would loan him the money through the Lynne Foundation, and it was agreed that he would repay the loan once the Trojan was back on its feet and in profit. He opened a bank account using his mother’s maiden name and address so that all correspondence would go there and Donna wouldn’t find out. I made two online transfers to this account from the CCS Medical Trust charity. Each one was for fifty thousand pounds. I also borrowed ninety-eight thousand pounds from CCS Medical to buy Josh a Ferrari as an early Christmas present.
I know CCS Medical is an account that Donna looked after, but it is our biggest charity and I thought that none of the money would be missed in between lending it to Josh, buying the Ferrari, and then repaying it all. I did not mean for Donna to get into trouble but when Josh committed suicide, I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t say anything about our affair, I didn’t have enough of my own money to repay everything, and I couldn’t get the Ferrari from the garage to sell it. I decided to say nothing, and as time passed no one noticed, so I just left it as it was, sort of put it out of my mind. I am truly sorry for what I did but it was my intention that all the money would be repaid.
As Holmes turned a page of the statement, Anna glanced to see if there was any reaction from Aisa, but she remained with her head bowed. Holmes cleared his throat and continued reading:
On the night of 5 November 2012, I did leave the Savoy Hotel in my sister’s car to go and see Joshua Reynolds at his flat in Bayswater. In the afternoon I was busy organizing the Charity Ball and had switched my mobile to silent. I remember someone from reception coming to find me saying I had a call from a Mr Peters. I knew it was Josh but I told them to tell the caller that I was busy and I would ring him back. About fifteen minutes later Josh rang the reception again and I went and spoke with him. He sounded really upset about something and said he wanted to come and see me. I told him he couldn’t come to the Savoy as it was too risky but I would ring him later while I was getting ready for the ball. He called the hotel again about two hours later and this time he got put through to the room I was sharing with Donna, who was in the shower at the time. He still sounded upset and demanded to see me. I asked him why it was so urgent, but all he said was that it had to do with my mother, Donna and me. The way he sounded really freaked me out. I said I would say I felt ill and come to him later in the evening.
I didn’t have my car with me so I used Donna’s Mini. When I got to his block of flats I rang the buzzer, but got no answer so I tried ringing his mobile, but again there was no answer. A man came out of the flats through the residents’ security door and I took the opportunity to go in and knocked on Josh’s flat door but again I got no answer. I should say that the caller ID is blocked on my outgoing calls, and Josh was using a special application thing to hide my calls and texts on his mobile from Donna.
Anna sighed with impatience – it was infuriating to listen to Holme’s upper-class voice, and hear just how much detail Aisa had made in her statement. Holme glanced towards her and turned a page, and again cleared his throat. Langton opened a bottle of water and placed it in front of him. Holme sipped a few mouthfuls, and then he continued reading:
At the time, I was really annoyed with Josh as his earlier call had me frightened that we had been found out. My nerves really got to me and on my way back to the Charity Ball, I suddenly felt ill, stopped the car, got out and was sick on the side of the road and down my dress. I put the dress in a bath of cold water when I got back to the hotel. My mother came into the room while I was doing this and asked how I was feeling. I told her much better and she said to put on another dress and come back down to the ball so I did. I didn’t try to ring Josh again at the time, I was upset that I had gone to all the trouble of going to the flat to see him and he wasn’t even there. It was not until the next day when I heard about his death that I realized this was why he never answered the door or my calls.
I know that I should have told the police at the time but I couldn’t, Donna was already devastated and knowing of
my and Josh’s affair would have totally destroyed her. When I heard that Josh’s death was a suicide I was surprised and I wondered if he had killed himself because of our affair. It even crossed my mind that he may not have been able to repay the money and he was worried about that. I also knew that he was very depressed about his business, and upset that his partner and best friend Marcus Williams had been making money by selling the girls to clients for sex.
This statement is true and what I have said is to the best of my memory accurate about what happened between Josh Reynolds and myself. I would like to apologize to my mother, my sister and the police for all the trouble I have caused.
Throughout the reading of the statement, Aisa continued to look at the floor and only during the last few sentences did she begin to cry. Anna had not realized the full extent of Gloria’s cunning until now. She had weaselled out of Walters and Ian Holme exactly what she needed to know, then conned her way into a ‘visit’ with Aisa. Anna knew that Gloria would have manipulated her daughter, terrifying her into submission to do exactly as she was told. The affair with Josh was a betrayal of Donna, but not a criminal act, and in fact Aisa’s only admission to a crime was taking money from the CCS Medical charity.
Holme now took longer sips from his water. Langton said nothing, picking at his thumbnail. Anna knew something didn’t seem right, and she asked Ian Holme if she could look at the prepared statement.
The room was silent as she read through the document. It took her a few moments to find it but then it hit her: not once had Aisa actually said she stole the money, but always referred to it as a loan. She was about to question Aisa about the inconsistency when Ian Holme pre-empted her.
‘In respect of the money given to Josh Reynolds, for the club and to purchase the Ferrari, my client had always considered this a loan that was to be repaid; there was no intention on her behalf to permanently deprive CCS Medical of the funds. Lady Lynne has also informed me that she does not wish to press charges against her daughter and this morning she repaid every penny out of her personal funds.’
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