Wrongful Death

by Lynda La Plante

  It was just after ten p.m. when they reached Nine Elms Lane in Vauxhall. The sat-nav voice informed them that their destination was two hundred yards on the left and Paul could see that meant St George’s Wharf, an award-winning development of luxury flats and penthouses with riverside views of the Thames. He was somewhat surprised that Dewar was being provided with such upmarket accommodation and suspected that it must be one of the flats used by the top brass at Scotland Yard.

  As Dewar looked round the apartment, Barolli followed her and explained how to use the kitchen equipment, under-floor heating and air-conditioning.

  ‘There’s a garage with a Tesco Express down the road. Do you want me to get you some groceries while you unpack?’ he offered, but she said that she’d prefer to do her own shopping the following day. Paul told her that he would pick her up at nine a.m. to take her to Belgravia to meet the team. Dewar thanked him but said she would make her own way into the station, and then turned and walked off into the bedroom, leaving Barolli with little option but to bid her good night. He had just placed his hand on the door latch, about to open it, when there was a loud repeated knock, which made him jump. Opening the door he was surprised to see DCS Langton standing there with a bouquet of roses, bottle of champagne and bulging bag of groceries.

  ‘And there I was thinking you didn’t care about me any more,’ Paul quipped.

  ‘It’s past your bedtime, Barolli,’ Langton replied.

  Jessie Dewar walked out of the bedroom and suddenly came to life, greeting Langton with a howl of pleasure as she leaped into his arms and gave him a big hug.

  ‘How come you weren’t at the airport to meet me, Jimmy?’

  Paul watched Langton disentangle himself and explain he had been caught up at work.

  ‘Well, I’ll be off then, shall I?’ Paul asked.

  ‘Yeah, yeah, you take off,’ Langton said, wafting his hand and following Jessie into the living room.

  Paul let himself out, still not knowing exactly what to make of Agent Dewar. It was more than obvious Langton and Jessie knew each other well but he wondered how the rest of the team would take to her, especially DCI Travis, who thanks to Langton’s description would be expecting to meet a plain Jane

  Chapter Three

  Anna was in good spirits the next morning, thrilled about her trip to the FBI Academy at Quantico. She knew that she should be drawing up things about the cold case to go over with Dewar but a list of what to pack and take with her seemed more important. She had decided to wait and tell the rest of the team about her US trip when Agent Dewar arrived at the office and introductions were made. In her excitement it hadn’t crossed her mind to tell Paul Barolli to let her be the bearer of the news to the rest of the team.

  Barolli entered the main office with a spring in his step.

  ‘Morning, ladies, have I got a bit of news for you two,’ he said to Joan and Barbara, who were sitting drinking coffee.

  ‘You’ve got a girlfriend,’ Barbara said, sarcastically.

  ‘Ha-ha.’ Barolli looked around the room to make sure no one else was in earshot. He moved closer to the two women.

  ‘Just between us, Travis is off to the States on the FBI course with Langton, and Special Agent Jessie Dewar is attached to the team as from today.’

  ‘You serious?’ asked Barbara.

  ‘Yes. Langton told me last night. I had to pick Dewar up from the airport. Langton got her a Met flat in St George’s Wharf. He even turned up there after ten o’clock with champagne and roses.’

  ‘How romantic,’ Joan said.

  ‘Did he stay the night?’ Barbara asked, always wanting to know the gritty details when it came to gossip.

  ‘Don’t be stupid!’ Barolli said in Langton’s defence.

  ‘Who’s taking over as SIO while Travis is away?’ Joan asked.

  ‘Me. Langton said I will be team leader in her absence,’ Paul said proudly.

  ‘You must be joking. You’ve only been a DI two minutes,’ Barbara exclaimed loudly.

  Anna, distracted by Barbara’s booming voice, looked up through her office window and instinctively knew that gossip had to be on the menu.

  ‘What’s Agent Dewar like?’ Joan asked.

  ‘Drop-dead gorgeous, thirty-ish, great figure, amazing complexion and sensuous lips,’ Barolli said, wanting to irritate Barbara.

  Joan and Barbara suddenly pretended to be busy on their computers, but the Detective Inspector failed to recognize the significance of this.

  ‘And to whom are you referring, DI Barolli?’ Anna asked, coming up behind him.

  Paul cringed, looking as if he wished the ground would open up and swallow him. He turned to face her.

  ‘Sorry, ma’am, I wasn’t talking about anyone in particular.’

  Anna took Paul into her office and reminded him that throw-away sexist remarks could lead to an official complaint and discipline.

  ‘While I am away you’re the one who will have to lead by example and make the important decisions. It’s all about earning their respect, and believe me that doesn’t come easily.’

  ‘I’m sorry, ma’am, it won’t happen again.’

  ‘Right, that’s the bollocking over. So drop-dead gorgeous and sensuous lips aside, what’s this Dewar like?

  ‘A bit abrupt, but I put it down to her being tired after a long day,’ Paul said, deciding it was best not to mention Langton turning up at the flat.

  ‘Our interview with Taylor at Belmarsh has been arranged for tomorrow morning at half-eleven.’ Anna showed Paul the signed document the prison had faxed her.

  Paul again apologized and went back into the main office as Langton and Jessie Dewar entered the incident room. Barbara, never one to miss a trick, was straight out of her seat, introducing herself to Dewar and informing her that Barolli had told them all about her. Langton glared at Barolli, wondering what else he had told the team, and ushered Dewar away into DCI Travis’s office.

  Anna looked up from her desk as Langton entered with Dewar. The agent was wearing a neat navy-blue jacket, matching knee-length tight skirt, sensible shoes and a pristine white shirt with starched collar and cuffs. She was also carrying a laptop bag and two zip-up clothes carriers, which she hung on the coat stand. Anna stood up and Langton made the introductions as they shook hands. Anna asked her if she would like tea or coffee but Dewar declined her offer of refreshments, adding that in any case she only drank bottled water.

  ‘DCI Travis is a fount of knowledge when it comes to murder inquiries. I hope you don’t mind sharing an office until she goes to Quantico,’ Langton remarked.

  ‘No, if it’s all that is available.’

  ‘Good, you’ll get to know each other in no time.’

  Dewar got her copy of the Reynolds file out of her laptop bag and placed it down on Anna’s desk.

  ‘From what I’ve read so far the original investigation is poor and raises quite a few questions.’

  ‘And they would be?’ Anna asked, unimpressed with Dewar’s blunt attitude.

  ‘I’d rather finish reading it first and then I can compile a full list of all my observations, DCI Travis.’

  Anna took a breath, determined not to react. ‘Let me introduce you to the team then.’

  Anna had everyone gather round as she introduced Agent Jessie Dewar who would be working with them while she was on the FBI course. The team gave Anna a round of applause and shouted out their congratulations. Dewar said she looked forward to working with them all but was quick to point out that her full title was Supervisory Special Agent and she worked at the FBI Behavioural Science Unit. Dewar went on to inform them that she advised police forces across the United States and the world about how criminals think and behave and had helped to solve many serious crimes.

  If first impressions were anything to go by, Dewar had not done very well in the eyes of the team, Anna thought as she headed for the canteen to get herself a coffee. She consoled herself that having just met the agent it was too early to make
any firm judgement on her character or working practices.

  Returning with her drink, Anna was surprised to be told by Joan that Langton had left. She had wanted to have a word with him in private about Agent Dewar’s role on the case. Anna also felt that Langton, having met Dewar before, might have given her more of an insight into what she was really like.

  Dewar was sitting at Anna’s desk, typing away on the laptop she had brought, and Anna immediately noticed that her own filing trays and paperwork were heaped in a loose pile on the floor. Her usually tidy desk was in disarray with the Reynolds papers and photographs strewn around, covering every part of the large work surface. Post-it notes of various colours were stuck onto different pages of DI Simms’ reports and photographs.

  ‘Hard at it, I see. Anything I can help you with?’ Anna asked Dewar.

  ‘Jimmy said I was to go with you to interview Delon Taylor,’ Dewar said without even making eye contact.

  Anna was caught off guard by Dewar’s information. ‘Oh, right, well I had told DI Barolli that he would be going with me.’

  ‘I’m sure you can find him something else to do.’

  ‘Yes, well I’d better have a word with him then. He’s in the canteen having a sandwich, so would you like to join us?’

  ‘No, I’m too busy at the moment. Could you bring me a pastrami on rye sub?’ Dewar asked, again without looking up at Anna, who couldn’t believe the cheek of the woman.

  ‘The canteen’s pretty basic, will ham on brown do?’

  ‘No,’ Dewar said, and sighed.

  Abandoning her coffee, Anna made her way back to the canteen to speak with Barolli. She still didn’t know what to make of Dewar. Was she actually just nervous or, as Anna feared, rather full of her own perceived self-importance?

  Having got herself a chicken sandwich and fruit juice, Anna went and sat with Barolli.

  ‘There’s been a change of plan, Paul. Agent Dewar will be going with me to see Delon Taylor.’

  ‘Is it because of my earlier indiscretion?’ Paul asked anxiously.

  ‘No. Dewar must have seen the prison-visit document on my desk and asked Langton if she could go with me.’

  ‘Looks like she used Langton to force your hand.’

  ‘Possibly, but look on the bright side – if she’s with me, I can keep an eye on her.’

  No sooner had Anna placated Barolli than Barbara came into the canteen looking furious, followed by a very flustered Joan.

  ‘Joan and I had just started preparing a house-to-house enquiries file for where Joshua Reynolds lived when Dewar demanded to see it,’’ Barbara said.

  ‘She didn’t demand, Barbara, she asked,’ Joan pointed out.

  ‘Dewar grabbed it out of my hand, took a brief look, and tossed it back, saying that it wasn’t good enough and needed to be extended to the surrounding streets and not just Reynolds’ block of flats.’

  ‘She didn’t grab it, but she did throw it back down on the desk and say she expected better,’ Joan admitted.

  ‘I’m beginning to wonder if FBI stands for Fast But Ignorant,’ Barbara said.

  ‘Better not say that in front of Langton as he’s clearly supportive of her,’ Barolli remarked.

  ‘She even wanted Joan to go out and get her a pastrami on rye sub!’ Barbara said crossly.

  Joan nodded that it was true but said that Barbara told Dewar there were no delis near the station and Dewar had stormed off in a huff.

  Anna realized that things were going from bad to worse where Dewar’s attitude was concerned.

  ‘Okay, points made and noted. Sometimes first impressions can be misleading, but I will have a word with her,’ she said but it fell on deaf ears.

  ‘That’s all well and good but what if she’s like this while you’re in Quantico?’ Barbara said, and Joan nodded.

  Barolli was quick to interject, taking some of the heat off Anna.

  ‘In DCI Travis’s absence, I will be in charge of the team, so if there are any problems, then come to me and I will deal with them.’

  Barbara was about to make a remark but Travis cut her off. ‘Paul is right. I back him one hundred per cent and expect you to do the same.’

  Having finished placating everyone, Anna decided that she would speak with Dewar privately to advise her on how the team worked and hopefully make her realize that she was not endearing herself to them.

  ‘Looks like Jessie is the only one doing any work round here while everyone else is having extended lunch breaks!’ Langton said with a frown as Anna entered her office.

  ‘Actually, Barolli and I were discussing the case over lunch. I did invite Agent Dewar but she said she was busy.’

  ‘Well, she’s made some interesting and impressive observations,’ Langton remarked, whilst Dewar placed her laptop in its carrying case.

  ‘Really. I’d be interested to hear them.’

  ‘Sorry, I’m done for today, be ready to start talking to the team tomorrow morning,’ Dewar said, and Langton stood up.

  ‘You got everything you need?’ Langton asked her.

  Dewar grabbed her jacket then picked up her handbag and laptop.

  ‘Sure thing, but I am starving. Did you track down a good grocery store? I’d like to stock up with provisions. I need gluten-free biscuits, bread and pasta, and fresh vegetables.’

  As Langton ushered her out of the office, Dewar turned at the door.

  ‘Don’t tidy anything up, it’s laid out in a specific order,’ she said, pointing to Anna’s desk that was still strewn with the Reynolds file, paperwork and photographs.

  ‘I’ll use the coffee table as a desk,’ Anna remarked curtly, but Dewar ignored her and walked out the door with Langton.

  Anna drew up a list of do’s and don’ts to discuss with the agent and then looked over the documents Dewar had left on her desk. Anna was unable to decipher the notes, which had been written in a personal form of shorthand. However, the scene and post-mortem photographs were marked in red felt-tip pen, highlighting around the wound, the position of the body, the gun, the sofa, and, strangely to Anna, the washing machine in the kitchen. There were crosses marked on the victim’s knees, head and hands in the post-mortem photographs. Written in the same red ink on an attached Post-it note was, GDR, DTT, STIP, BD. Anna was not sure exactly what the abbreviations meant and decided any guesswork would be pointless. Turning to the copy of Donna Reynolds’ statement, she noticed that it too had been annotated with a marker pen. Anna had just begun to read through the highlighted areas when Barolli knocked and walked in, making her jump.

  ‘Did you get a chance to speak with her?’

  ‘No. Langton was here and she was off like a shot. I think she’s avoiding discussing the case with me.’

  ‘And no doubt filling Langton with crap and trying to find fault.’

  ‘No comment,’ Anna said, and Paul laughed as he sat down.

  ‘I’ve gone over the file myself. It’s not an in-depth investigation but I don’t think what Paul Simms has or hasn’t done would have made any difference to the Coroner’s verdict,’ Paul said.

  ‘I agree with you but I think Dewar will take delight in pointing out areas where she feels DI Simms should have been more professional. That’ll embarrass Langton, who will want answers as to why more wasn’t done at the time.’

  ‘We’ve all been guilty of cutting corners on suicide cases,’ Paul remarked.

  ‘I suspect Dewar will try and find fault wherever she can. I think I might touch base with Paul Simms, give him a heads-up about her.’

  ‘I’ve got to go out and restore some property on an old case then I’ll head home from there if that’s okay with you?’

  ‘See you tomorrow then. And thanks for the backup in the canteen with Joan and Barbara.’ Anna smiled in gratitude.

  ‘No problem, good practice for me when you’re in the States. See you in the morning.’

  Barolli hesitated at the door as he watched Anna collecting up Dewar’s paperwork and photog
raphs, placing them on the floor next to the desk and putting her own filing trays and papers back where they had been before Dewar had moved them. She looked up at Paul.

  ‘Childish, I know, but it’s still my bloody office!’

  Chapter Four

  The next morning, Anna went into the office early, conscious that she had left a list of things to discuss with Jessie Dewar on her desk and worried the agent might see them. It was 7.30 a.m. and Anna was surprised to find Dewar already planted at her desk working away, Anna’s filing trays and papers tucked neatly to one side. Dewar was dressed in a figure-hugging running suit, her long blonde hair held back with a headband, and there were drops of perspiration on her brow.

  ‘Good morning, DCI Travis,’ Dewar said with a smile.

  ‘Morning. Been out for a run?’

  ‘Yes, four point three miles,’ Dewar said, checking her iPhone running app. ‘Daily routine for everyone on a course at the FBI Academy.’

  ‘Is it compulsory?’ Anna enquired.

  ‘Yes. Initiated by our founder, J. Edgar Hoover.’

  ‘Really,’ Anna remarked with a distinct lack of interest.

  ‘Physical fitness is a big part of the Senior Command course.’

  ‘I’m looking forward to it,’ Anna said.

  ‘I can give you a run-down on what to expect at Quantico on the way to Belmarsh,’ Dewar offered.

  ‘Thanks. I’d appreciate that.’

  ‘Just going to shower and change. Would you mind if I gave a team briefing this morning? I sensed an air of hostility yesterday and I’d like to start again. Put them at ease with me.’