‘What about Elliot Cheung? He didn’t attack Olivier or offend him in any way. There’s no evidence that their paths crossed prior to Cheung’s murder.’
‘I’ll admit, I’m struggling with the motivation for Cheung’s murder, but remember what I said the other day? Copycats want attention but there has to be something about Olivier that the copycat has connected with as well and he wants to please Olivier.’
Henley thought back to the word ‘impress’. ‘No.’ She shook the thought from her head. ‘Olivier wouldn’t be impressed. It would piss him off. In fact, he was pissed off when I told him about the copycat. He wouldn’t want to share the limelight. You called him a narcissist, remember?’
‘I do. He is a narcissist.’ Mark wiped his hands with a napkin before pulling out a clear plastic folder from his rucksack. ‘I’ve been working on the copycat’s profile. I suspect that there’s some history of mental health problems which may manifest as a result of being a victim himself.’
‘A victim of what?’
‘Sexual violence. Like Olivier.’
‘But our copycat would have to be aware that Olivier was raped if that is something he’s connected with.’
‘I think that’s most likely. I’ve concluded that your copycat is a white male, thirty-five to forty years of age. Single, unable to form social attachments but intelligent and able to navigate himself in the working world without bringing attention to himself. Your copycat is being motivated by something that was done to him by your three, sorry, four victims.’
‘Is that why he’s taken trophies?’ Henley asked.
‘I would definitely say that removing their eyes, ears and tongues and keeping them would be a reward for your copycat and it’s also the final act of degradation,’ said Mark. ‘He’s smart, organised and able to function. I also did some more research into the symbols. Olivier’s brand.’
‘The crescent and double cross? I suppose it makes sense that the copycat would adopt them if he’s trying to impress Olivier.’
‘But it’s more than that. It’s about duality. The crescent is the moon. It can be illuminating or dark and mysterious. Life and death.’
‘And the double cross?’
‘Not a cross, but a double dagger. It literally means betrayal and revenge.’
‘Do you really think Olivier gave it that much thought?’
‘Who knows.’ Mark shrugged. ‘For all I know he could just like it, but for your copycat, it’s his way of saying, “I’m you and you’re me.”’
‘I’ve got seven jurors who are still alive,’ said Henley. ‘Our copycat can’t have issues with all of them?’
‘If you ask me, it wouldn’t make a difference if it was one person or all twelve who had offended your copycat in some way. He’s identified them as a collective. All of your jurors are at risk until he is caught.’
Chapter 63
‘I’ve got him,’ Ramouter shouted out, his Yorkshire accent coming out stronger than ever. ‘Guv, I’ve got the shitty little bastard. He’s here. He’s right there with her.’
Henley ran over to Ramouter’s desk.
‘Look,’ Ramouter said as he rewound the footage.
A wave of sadness hit her as she watched Zoe Darego get off the 136 bus. She paused briefly and looked inside her bag before walking towards the zebra crossing. A man appeared at Zoe’s side. Henley couldn’t see his face; only the back of him. The man pulled Zoe to the side. Henley saw Zoe’s lips moving but had no idea what she was saying. After seven seconds the man took hold of Zoe’s arm and pulled her around the corner, just as a man and woman walked past. Henley watched, her anger rising, as the couple simply pointed at Zoe, and then turned and carried on walking.
‘Don’t worry. You’ll see him,’ Ramouter said gently.
The camera switched angles. And there he was. Henley watched the footage showing Chance Blaine pushing Zoe against a tree, his face contorted in anger. The last thing the CCTV had picked up was Zoe hitting him in the face, before she ran out of view, leaving Blaine on the ground.
Henley parked her car on Burnt Ash Hill. A marked police car pulled up beside her, right behind a dark blue BMW 1 Series, with the estate agent’s logo on the passenger side door. The lights were on at number 87. Blaine’s house-viewing was due to finish in fifteen minutes.
Henley checked that she had her cuffs. Her head began to throb. The last time she had attempted to arrest someone she had ended up on her back, clasping her hands to her stomach, trying to stop the blood from flowing.
‘Radio PC Downing and tell them to head to the back,’ said Henley. ‘The last thing we need is for Blaine to do a runner.’
Ramouter pulled out his radio as Henley hit the doorbell. She pushed open the letterbox. She couldn’t see anything, but she could hear voices. Henley banged on the door while PC Downing and his partner PC Raleigh jogged over.
Henley heard Blaine say: ‘That might be a sign from the universe. You’re already getting visitors.’
The door opened and the smile on Blaine’s face disappeared. He turned around and looked at his clients.
‘Chance Blaine, I’m arresting you for—’
Henley didn’t get the chance to finish. Blaine spun around and sprinted down the corridor. Ramouter pushed past Henley and chased after him. The woman screamed as her boyfriend pulled her to the side.
‘He’s running!’ Henley yelled into her radio. ‘Towards the back!’
Ramouter could hear Henley shouting as he chased after Blaine. Blaine pushed over a tall plant as he ran. The teal ceramic pot broke in half and sent clumps of compost across the floor. Ramouter skidded and braced himself against the wall as he tried to grab hold of the tails of Blaine’s jacket. The cheap material slipped through Ramouter’s fingers as Blaine pushed through the kitchen door.
‘Shit,’ said Ramouter as the kitchen door slammed in his face and the frosted-glass panels cracked. Blaine was on the other side of the kitchen island. He had his back turned to Ramouter as he frantically rummaged through the drawers.
‘Blaine. Stop!’ Ramouter shouted as Blaine turned around holding a large knife. ‘Put the knife down. You don’t want to do anything stupid.’
Ramouter moved cautiously around the island. He spotted a flicker of hesitation in Blaine’s eyes, and lunged. Blaine cried out as he fell onto his back. Ramouter kicked away the knife that had fallen out of Blaine’s hand. He stood back and watched as Blaine scrambled to his feet and pushed open the back door. But there was nowhere for Blaine to go as PCs Downing and Raleigh were already waiting for him.
Chapter 64
‘I’m not comfortable. I’m in pain,’ said Blaine as he picked up his cup of water.
‘Tough.’ Henley entered her details onto the computer. ‘What’s your warrant number, Detective Ramouter?’
Ramouter turned on his laptop. ‘2873PY.’
‘Thank you.’ Henley paused as she reached the box for the solicitors’ details. ‘Mr Blaine, I’m going to ask you again. Are you sure that you don’t want a solicitor?’
‘Fat lot of good it did me last time.’ Blaine crumpled the empty plastic cup and threw it onto the floor. He had the look of a spoilt child who believed that he’d been cheated.
Henley could feel Blaine staring at her as she completed the admin part of the interview and then pressed record.
‘Do you have any mental health issues, Mr Blaine?’ Henley asked after she had run through the standard introductions and caution.
‘Excuse me?’
‘Mental health issues,’ Henley said slowly, trying to keep a hold of her temper. ‘Depression? Psychosis? Are you on medication?’
‘No. I’m not on anything.’
‘And you understand exactly what the caution means?’
‘You’re joking, aren’t you? I’m a… was a criminal solicitor. I have the right to remain silent. If I choose to talk, anything that I say can be used in evidence against me. If I don’t talk now and this matter goes to trial, w
hich it won’t by the way, and I give an account in court, the jury could assume that I’ve made the whole thing up.’
‘You’ve been arrested for the murders of Uzomamaka Darego and Daniel Kennedy.’
Blaine looked up at the camera in the corner and shook his head. ‘I had nothing to do with that. I don’t even know them.’
‘Well, now. That’s not true, is it?’ said Henley.
‘Zoe Darego gave evidence against you which resulted in your conviction for perverting the course of justice,’ said Ramouter.
‘That doesn’t mean that I knew her, and that was years ago.’
‘Zoe Darego was reported missing on Friday, 6 September and her body was found last Tuesday,’ Ramouter continued.
‘I’ve already told you that I was with my girlfriend, Lorelei, on that night,’ said Blaine.
‘Lorelei confirmed that she was never your girlfriend and that she wasn’t with you on the night in question.’ Henley’s voice was matter-of-fact, but she was seething. Had Blaine hurt Zoe?
Blaine opened his mouth and closed it again. After a few seconds, he said, ‘She must have made a mistake with the dates.’
‘There’s no mistake, Blaine. Your alibi is nonsense,’ said Henley. ‘Two weeks before Zoe disappeared you were seen with her on Lewisham High Street opposite her place of work.’
‘That’s a lie. I haven’t seen her since that the last day in court. I may have been on Lewisham High Street, but not anywhere near the hospital.’
‘TDC Ramouter.’ Henley tapped the edge of the laptop.
‘This is CCTV footage taken from Lewisham High Street opposite the hospital.’ Ramouter pressed play. ‘This is Zoe Darego. Can you identify yourself on the CCTV?’
Blaine sat back and folded his arms. ‘You can only see the back of that man. It could be anybody.’
‘Keep watching.’ Henley’s gaze stayed trained on Blaine.
Blaine’s went ashen as Ramouter paused the video and the man’s face came into view.
‘I’ll ask you again,’ Henley said, her voice hard. ‘Can you identify yourself on this footage?’
Henley’s phone began to vibrate. She pulled it out of her jacket, and saw that she had a message from Ezra. She opened the message, and sat up straighter.
OLIVIER!!! Stupid IP address was hidden behind a VPN that’s why it’s taken so long to find it. PO logged onto Missing Persons at 1.38 p.m. on Wednesday via IP address. 76.174.2.5. ISP: Athena Media. Account Holder: Chance Blaine.
‘That’s you on the footage, harassing Zoe Darego.’ Henley passed the phone to Ramouter, who to his credit, didn’t flinch when he read the message. ‘What did you say to her to make her slap you?’
‘It’s not what it looks like.’
‘Oh, isn’t it? Why don’t you tell me what it looks like?’
‘You wouldn’t understand.’
‘Why don’t you make us understand,’ said Henley. ‘What did you say to Zoe?’
‘It was nothing.’ Blaine cast his eyes downwards. ‘It was a coincidence, that’s all. I had no idea that she worked at the hospital.’
‘So, you weren’t waiting for her?’
‘Of course not, I was just passing.’
‘Even though the CCTV clearly shows your car pulling up and parking around the corner on Lewisham Park Road twenty minutes before Zoe’s bus arrived.’
‘I had a viewing,’ Blaine said quickly. ‘The guy that I was showing the flat to didn’t turn up.’
‘Right,’ said Ramouter. ‘So, you’ll be able to show us confirmation of that viewing in the office diary? The same office diary that we asked you to send us but didn’t?’
‘It… it wasn’t booked in. The guy walked in and asked about the flat. I was free so I offered to show it to him.’
‘So, you weren’t sitting in your car waiting for Zoe to turn up?’ asked Ramouter.
‘No,’ Blaine sat up straighter in his chair. ‘As I said, it was a coincidence. I was walking back to my car and I saw her… Zoe. I recognised her and I just wanted to talk. I wanted closure.’
‘Closure?’ Henley didn’t bother to cloak her disbelief. ‘You wanted closure?’
‘I went to prison because of what she’d done. I wanted to ask her why she’d lied to the judge about me. I never followed her that day. It was sheer coincidence that we were on the same street that day and I also wanted to tell her that I’d moved on. That there were no hard feelings.’
‘So why did she slap you?’ Henley asked.
Blaine shook his head as though he were genuinely perplexed. ‘I honestly have no idea,’ he said.
‘OK, I’ll ask you another question.’ Henley leaned forward conspiratorially. ‘Let’s talk about Peter Olivier.’
‘What about him? You already know that I visited him in Belmarsh.’
‘You changed your name to Chance Blaine after the prison blocked your visit to see Olivier.’
‘That’s not true. I changed my name because I wanted a fresh start.’
‘You changed your name because you were desperate to see Olivier.’
‘He asked me to visit.’ Blaine’s voice rose with panic. ‘I don’t know how he found me, but he sent me a visiting order. I didn’t want anything to do with him.’
‘Oh please. We’re not idiots,’ said Henley as Ramouter pulled out several sheets of paper.
‘That is a list of all the visits that you made to see Olivier,’ said Ramouter. ‘Thursday mornings and Sunday afternoons. You never missed a visit.’
‘That reminds me,’ said Henley. ‘Chance Blaine, I’m also arresting you for fraud by false representation. You provided fraudulent information to Belmarsh prison – a fake passport and driving licence – in order to pass their security clearance.’
‘You can’t do that. I didn’t do anything wrong,’ Blaine said woefully.
‘Olivier told you how to cut up a body, didn’t he?’ Henley asked.
‘What are you talking about? No.’
‘Two days after you saw Zoe, you visited Olivier and you told him about your plan to carry out his work.’
‘No.’
‘You had a plan to get your own back on Zoe and the others for putting you in prison.’
‘You really are reaching.’
‘Olivier told you about his plan to escape.’
‘I had no idea that he was going to do it.’
‘You knew all right, which is why you didn’t do the right thing and call the police when Olivier turned up at your house on Wednesday afternoon and used your computer to log onto the Missing Persons website.’
‘We’ve got officers carrying out a Section 18 search at your flat right now,’ said Ramouter.
‘Olivier was never at my flat,’ said Blaine.
‘We’ve got an eye-witness who saw a man matching Olivier’s description leaving your building at 3.17 p.m. Nearly ninety minutes after he logged on to the Missing Person’s website.’
Blaine didn’t reply. The only sound came from his foot nervously tapping the table leg.
‘He was never at my flat,’ Blaine finally said. ‘I wasn’t even at home on Wednesday afternoon. I was at a—’
‘Let me guess,’ said Henley. ‘You were at a viewing.’
‘I had an appointment.’
‘You’re lying, Mr Blaine. From the minute I pressed record, you’ve been lying to me and TDC Ramouter. In fact, you’ve been lying from the day we met you. You lied to us about knowing any of the victims.’
‘I didn’t kill anyone,’ Blaine said as his eyes welled with tears.
Henley indicated for Ramouter to take over as Blaine leaned back in his chair and hugged himself.
‘Exhibit SR/1. A Samsung Galaxy mobile phone,’ said Ramouter, pushing the exhibit bag containing the phone towards Blaine. ‘Can you confirm that this phone belongs to you?’
Blaine picked up the bag and nodded.
‘You have to speak,’ Ramouter said gently, as though he was coaxing a small child out from u
nder the bed.
‘That’s my phone,’ said Blaine.
‘This is exhibit SR/2. A SIM card that was removed from your wallet. Does this SIM card belong to you?’
‘Yes,’ Blaine whispered.
‘Have you been using this card to send text messages and make phone calls to Peter Olivier?’
Blaine’s face crumpled.
‘No. No. No. I’m not doing this anymore,’ Blaine finally said. ‘I want a solicitor. I’m not saying another word to you until I speak to a solicitor.’
Chapter 65
‘It’s not going to be enough, is it?’ Ramouter asked when Henley had booked Blaine back into his cell.
‘I can’t see the CPS authorising a charge of murder on what we’ve got,’ she admitted. ‘But we’ve got enough to have him charged with assisting and harbouring an offender.’
‘Something doesn’t make sense,’ Ramouter said.
They made their way out of the police station. ‘What’s that?’
‘Why are Blaine and Olivier still here? What is the point in hanging around? I would have done a runner a long time ago.’
Henley’s phone pinged with the arrival of an email. ‘God, it’s been non-stop today,’ she said as she scrolled through.
‘Anything important?’
‘Not—’
Henley stopped in her tracks and she reread the email from PS Harris at the Community Safety Unit in Muswell Hill.
Thursday, 17 September 2019 at 16:24
Re: URGENT: Carole Lewis Investigation
From: Tony Harris, Met Police
To: Anjelica Henley, Met Police
DI Henley,
Apologies for the delay. PC Morris 875YK is currently on leave but I’ve spoken to him and he’s confirmed that Carole Lewis attended the station and reported four incidents of harassment from February to April 2019 (CRIS No: 87456624/19). I cannot find a copy of the harassment warning on the system, but I’ve asked PC Morris to forward a copy of the harassment warning which was issued to Alessandro Naylor DOB 17.06.83 to you ASAP.
Regards
PS Tony Harris
Chapter 66
The Jigsaw Man Page 25