Silent Scream

by Lynda La Plante

  Smith-Barker gestured for Anna to sit in a comfortable leather chair opposite himself as he went behind his desk. He had, she noticed, manicured hands with short-cut nails and a heavy gold ring on the little finger of his left hand.

  ‘How can I be of help? My assistant tells me you want to ask me some questions.’

  She cleared her throat. ‘I’m making enquiries into the death of Amanda Delany,’ she said, showing him her ID. ‘Was she a client?’

  He stared at her and then leaned back. ‘How is this connected to her death?’

  ‘We are looking into all Miss Delany’s affairs, both business and private, to build up a background that might assist our investigation. I believe you know her agent, Miss Andrea Lesser?’

  ‘Yes, I do.’

  ‘So, Mr Smith-Barker, could you tell me if you handled any investments for Miss Delany? I believe that is what your company does.’

  ‘I am an investment consultant; I work here in my offices and in the City for part of the week.’

  ‘Was Miss Delany a client?’ Anna asked again.

  ‘Whether or not she was, I don’t think I am prepared to divulge any details regarding my business transactions with Miss Delany’. He gave a slow intake of breath. ‘I can’t see how my connection to Miss Lesser or Miss Delany can give you any assistance in your enquiry.’

  ‘That, sir, is for me to decide.’

  ‘Really? Any business transaction my company deals with is private and confidential and I have to have written permission from Miss Delany’s beneficiaries, or Miss Delany’s executor, to discuss her affairs. I’ll obviously be contacted by an administrator if there is no will and, as I am sure you are aware, they will be appointed by the court to enable them to deal with a deceased person’s estate.’

  ‘So you do admit that you handled Miss Delany’s investments?’

  ‘I admit that I have in the past dealt with some investments for Miss Delany, but to give you access to them would require, as I have said, permission – and you would need a court order to view the accounts.’

  ‘Did Miss Delany lose any money?’

  ‘I’m afraid I will not discuss my business dealings with you.’

  Anna couldn’t budge him; she had rarely come across someone so intransigent and with such a confident manner.

  ‘Did you have an interaction with Miss Delany on a personal level?’

  ‘My relationship with Miss Delany was purely business. I did not socialise with her, if that is what you are asking.’

  ‘Did you ever visit her mews house?’

  ‘No, I did not.’

  At this point, Smith-Barker stood up as if to indicate that the meeting was over, and Anna had no option but to leave. As a parting shot she said, very quietly, that perhaps she would return with a warrant for him to surrender the records of his financial dealings with Miss Delany. He gave a slight shrug of his shoulders; if that was necessary, so be it.

  ‘Do you know who Miss Delany’s beneficiaries are?’ Anna asked him.

  ‘No, I do not. I am waiting for confirmation from her solicitors.’

  ‘Does that mean you are holding some of her money?’

  ‘I suggest you return with a warrant, then you will no doubt be privy to all my records and documents concerning Amanda Delany’s accounts.’

  Anna was irritated. She hadn’t handled the interview well and she knew it. That said, she was unsure what else she could have done under the circumstances. She would put it to the team that they get a search warrant to force the obdurate Mr Smith-Barker into giving further details, since the gut feeling she had had on first seeing this man with Andrea Lesser had returned – and it told her that something wasn’t right, or even legal.

  By the time Anna arrived at the station, Mike Lewis was starting a briefing. He gave her a cool glance and looked pointedly at his watch. Anna took a seat at the back of the incident room to listen to all the updated information.

  The interim post-mortem report on Amanda’s old flatmate, Dan Hutchins, concluded that his death was indeed caused by an overdose of heroin. He had very high levels of alcohol in his urine, as well as 153 grams of morphine in every litre of blood, consistent with heroin overdose. He was also severely underweight. The hypodermic needle and tinfoil wrap of heroin discovered beside the body had only his fingerprints on them.

  Mike went on to report that a second and extensive fingertip search of the small lane between the mews properties where Amanda Delany had lived and the surrounding gardens had yielded nothing that could be connected to their case. The home-owners from the end double mews property had been contacted and would be producing their security footage for the team to review. None of the residents of the mews who had been questioned again had any new information. Mike then gestured to the incident board and to the photograph of the gold crucifix.

  ‘We now know that there were, in fact, two of these crucifixes used on the film, The Mansion. The costume designer has verified that the one discovered in Amanda’s house was one of them. She believes Amanda had taken it, but we are still trying to locate the second cross.’

  Then it was Barbara’s turn. The work she and Joan had been doing in cross-referencing employees on Amanda Delany’s films was still ongoing; checking out the crews and stars from the various production offices was taking considerable and painstaking time. However, they had a list of numerous members of the crew from Gaslight who had worked with Amanda on earlier films, including unit drivers, make-up and wardrobe personnel and two props men. Anna paid close attention to the list of names and was so intent on writing them down that she only suddenly became aware that the room was silent and all eyes were on her.

  ‘Detective Inspector Travis, you’ve been gone all day. Want to fill us in?’ Mike Lewis was asking.

  ‘Yes, yes, I do.’ She went to the front and stood beside the incident board.

  ‘The people who worked with Amanda and who I’ve already interviewed need to be questioned again,’ she began. ‘We really need to underline as fast as possible anyone listed as being involved in the murder. I’m sorry, Barbara, but I want us to go further back, to her earlier filmwork. The dates when she was pregnant fall between two of them, and it could be that she became pregnant by someone she was working with.’

  Anna paused as she opened her notebook.

  ‘That it?’ Mike grunted.

  ‘No, not by a long shot. Today, I got confirmation that Golden Arrow Publishers were commissioning Amanda Delany to write her autobiography.’

  Anna raised a quiet gasp when she disclosed how much the deal would have been worth. She had barely let that information settle before she raised her meeting with Andrew Smith-Barker.

  ‘It is imperative that we get access to Andrea Lesser’s accounts. If we need a search warrant court order, we should use it to determine whether this so-called City Investor has lost our victim’s money or even been involved in some kind of fraud. He was far too defensive, and I smell a rat. If this proves to be correct, then it is yet another motive.’

  ‘Did he strike you as the kind of man who would go to such lengths?’ Mike asked.

  ‘No, he didn’t. But we need to know his circumstances, and whether he is desperate. If he really is, then he could have hired someone to commit the murder. It’s been done before.’

  ‘Come on. There were too many knife-wounds for a contract killing.’

  Anna turned on Barolli. ‘Unless it was made to look like a frenzied attack committed out of anger. We’ve all certainly been going down that route! And if you would just let me finish!’

  As Barolli sat back down again, he gave a raised eyebrow to Barbara, who sniggered.

  ‘A frenzied attack by someone with a front-door key because there were no signs of a breakin,’ he muttered under his breath.

  ‘Andrew Smith-Barker is a close friend of Andrea Lesser,’ Anna retorted. ‘She could have given him the key – all right? All right?

  ‘Yes, it’s possible.’ He lifted his hands
up in a gesture of defeat.

  ‘Thank you. And I’m not through yet.’

  Tension was building in the room.

  ‘I could be on the wrong track with the investment scenario,’ Anna admitted, ‘but I’m simply running everything by you that I’ve been working on today. Next, I believe that Amanda Delany kept a diary, and not for jotting down her pick-up times for film schedules, as we found those on the wall calendar in her kitchen. This is a five-year diary – a pink one with a lock. She told the publisher that she wrote in it every day; she even showed it to him.’

  Finally Anna had Mike Lewis’s attention.

  ‘So three things are missing: a soft toy, the other gold chain and crucifix and, most importantly, Amanda’s diary. We get a search warrant to look over the flat in Maida Vale that she shared… which is where she was interviewed by the publisher. If it isn’t hidden there, it could mean the killer took it.’

  Anna gestured to Joan to get her some water from the cooler and turned over the next page in her notebook.

  ‘I’m not a qualified profiler, but I have done some of their courses. What I think is being thrown up here is that whoever killed Amanda took the diary – which would mean they knew about the book deal. According to the publisher, Amanda was insistent on keeping it very quiet; she even refused to discuss it with her agent, so whoever knew about it had to be someone close to her. Secondly, why take a cuddly toy? It could mean that the killer wanted some kind of a token, a keepsake that he or she knew Amanda cared about. Again, it would mean that they knew her well, which excludes hiring some hitman to kill her.’

  Joan handed her a beaker of water and she took a few sips before she continued.

  ‘Lastly, I spoke to Pete Jenkins this afternoon. He thinks it’s possible that we have the time of death wrong. The heating was turned on very high when the officers first entered the house, but apparently it was turned off as the room was stuffy and they were all feeling pretty uncomfortable. If the heating had been turned up high, it would mean decomposition had set in faster and that we could be out by a few hours. She could have died later than we thought. We’ll need to verify this with the pathologist. Last but not least, we need this meeting with her accountant and we also really have to find out who are her beneficiaries.’

  Anna turned to Mike Lewis. ‘That’s it.’

  Mike nodded, then stood up and clapped his hands for attention.

  ‘OK, everyone, let’s get moving on Travis’s information and remember, tomorrow is the funeral. Details on the board with a list of who will be required to be present.’

  Anna made her way to her office and then froze. DCS Langton was sitting behind her desk, swivelling from side to side.

  ‘Very impressive, Travis. You’ve been a busy girl.’

  ‘Yes.’ She placed her briefcase onto her desk.

  ‘Tell me about this investment banker chap.’

  ‘You think she does it on purpose?’

  ‘What?’

  Barbara and Joan were packing up for the day.

  ‘You know, comes on with the X factor all the time and makes everyone else look like dimwits.’

  ‘Joan!’

  ‘Well, did you see the blokes’ faces?’ Barbara smirked. ‘Especially Barolli’s – he was so tight-jawed it looked locked!’

  They both gave a furtive look at Anna’s office window and could see she was in deep conversation with Langton.

  ‘Have you heard about them?’

  ‘Everyone has, Barbara. But you know Langton, he’s got a terrible reputation. He goes through the ranks like a dose of salts, or he used to. Now he’s got two children and the ex-wife back living with him. Went back to her after he finished with Travis.’

  ‘Wasn’t it because he was almost killed in that case by the bloke and his machete?’

  ‘I don’t know, I wasn’t on that. This is only the second time I’ve worked with him.’ Joan suddenly dug Barbara in the ribs. ‘Shush, he’s coming.’

  ‘Evening, sir,’ Barbara said brightly.

  Langton gave both women a charming smile as he crossed to the incident board and stood quietly, out of their earshot, staring at it. He turned as Mike joined him.

  ‘I didn’t know you were here,’ Mike said, surprised.

  ‘No, I didn’t think you did. There are some good developments and you should thank Travis for that.’ Langton drew out a chair and sat down.

  ‘Has there been a thorough search of this flat your victim used?’ he went on.

  ‘Not yet.’

  Langton chuckled, repeating under his breath, ‘Not yet.’ Then he turned and glared at Mike. ‘Get your fucking finger out! I want a result on this case and right now it’s been meandering around like a lost cow! I’ve had the Deputy Assistant Commissioner onto me. You any idea how many cases I’m overseeing? And this one is getting more press than all the others put together.’

  ‘Jimmy, I’m really covering everything you suggested and more, but we go up one blind alley after another.’

  ‘From what you’re saying, it’s the blind leading the blind.’

  ‘No, I’m not saying that and, as you said, Travis has made some interesting connections.’

  ‘Interesting? She’s bloody giving you motives.’

  ‘I know that.’

  Langton stood up, almost kicking his chair aside. ‘Then get to grips with them and start taking the reins. I’m disappointed, Mike.’ He paused. ‘You know she’s up for promotion?’

  ‘Yes, I had heard.’

  ‘You got yours – now prove I was right to back you.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  Langton was about to walk out but stopped, saying, ‘I want Travis to do the television crime show and it would be good if you had something tangible to give them. Goodnight.’

  Mike remained seated, feeling depressed and annoyed that he had been made to look so useless.

  ‘Did you know he was here?’ Mike asked Anna when she emerged from her office. He was still sitting in the incident room.

  ‘No, I didn’t.’

  ‘He was in your office.’

  ‘He must have gone in when I was in here.’ She paused and moved closer. ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘I’m just great. Are you deliberately setting out to make me look like a prick in front of him?’

  ‘I told you I’d no idea he was in my office.’

  ‘Really? You hear him ripping into me?’

  ‘Did you hear him doing the same to me?’

  ‘What?’

  Anna put down her briefcase and sat in the chair Langton had used.

  ‘I think we’d better straighten things out between us.’

  ‘What’s there to straighten out?’

  She sighed. ‘I didn’t give any feedback on anything as the day progressed because, to be honest, Mike, I wasn’t sure where it was all leading. Langton said that I should have reported back my interview with the publishing company straight away, but I was returning to the station when Joan called me about the two meetings she’d fixed with the theatrical agents. As I was already in the West End, I decided to do them. I didn’t get anything from either of them as to whether or not Amanda was changing agents, but I did get Andrew Smith-Barker identified so I went straight to interview him, as he was only in Knightsbridge.’

  ‘Why are you telling me this? You already outlined it at the briefing.’

  ‘I know I did, but I wanted to explain why it might have looked like I hadn’t kept you in the loop, so to speak, and so I apologise.’

  Mike stood up and stretched.

  ‘Langton said I was out of line, so that’s why I’m apologising to you,’ she said quietly.

  ‘Accepted.’

  ‘Thank you.’ What Anna did not add was that Langton had also warned her that if he was to discover any further evidence that she hadn’t shared with the team, she would be in trouble.

  ‘You’re doing the television interview, Anna,’ Mike said suddenly. ‘It’s lined up to be after the
funeral. Joan’ll give you details. It’s at the BBC

  ‘Oh God no, I hate being in front of the camera.’

  ‘Boss wants it.’ Mike looked at her. ‘Are you still seeing him?’ he asked after a moment.

  ‘No, I am not. I hadn’t seen him for months until this case. I sort of resent you even asking. Even if I was, it would be none of your business.’

  ‘Still bruised, are we?’

  Anna straightened up and kept her temper.

  ‘I never was – all right? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going home.’

  Chapter Twelve

  Anna was in the shower the following morning when she remembered something. Amanda had used a driver when she first met with Josh Lyons from Golden Arrow. It might not be important but, on the other hand, whoever drove her to the lunch at Le Caprice might also have been privy to who she was meeting. And that would mean that there was someone else who knew her intentions to write her story.

  The team were instructed to make their own way to the funeral, to make sure they integrated with the mourners. They were to keep their eyes and ears open. Anna set out early. The funeral was taking place at midday in the centre of Covent Garden at St Paul’s church, known as ‘the Actor’s Church’ due to the number of famous thespians buried in its small churchyard. A red carpet had been laid down from the entrance of the chapel to the gates. A choir was singing ‘Ave Maria as the mourners entered. In pride of place was a six-foot-tall photograph of Amanda, wearing what looked like a bridal gown and on her head a rosebud crown. One could not fail to be taken by her stunning beauty, the sweet vacant smile on her lips. As the congregation entered and took their places, four ushers wearing tailcoats handed out the service sheets, each adorned with another picture of Amanda.

  The first six pews were reserved while the back pews were for fans and visitors wanting to be part of the service. As the church began to fill, there was a hubbub of voices and the constant flashing of cameras as the press lined up outside along the red carpet. Anna had seen Mike Lewis, Barolli and two other officers, but she didn’t recognise anyone else. She was startled when Langton moved along the pew to squeeze in beside her. She inched up as far as she could to enable him to sit in comfort. He opened the thick manila Order of Service and read through it. Then he looked, as did everyone gathered, at the photograph of Amanda at the front of the church.