My Caroline

by Roger Rapel

  11

  Jim arrived at HQ’s and went into see Langton where he went over the interview with Francesca and the revelation of the new name of Grant, he was hoping the phone records for that date may give some answers.

  Jim later requested the intelligence section to chase up the incoming and outgoing records of Caroline’s phone for the six weeks leading up to her death.

  Jim then sat down with Vicky and asked her to re-read Caroline’s diary again to check for the name of Grant. Vicky nodded, but she already knew there wouldn’t be, as she had been through it with a fine tooth comb, but nonetheless she went through the diary again.

  Jim called the dance teacher Veronica Wright asking to see her again. Jim called around to her house, where he drank more coffee also savouring a lovely piece of homemade lemon drizzle cake. He then said ‘now Veronica, can you cast your mind back to your students and see if you can remember a man called Grant who may have attended your classes?’ ‘I’m sorry, but that name doesn’t ring any bells with me, but give me a couple of days to check through my records and see what I can find, I still have your number so will call you either way.’ Jim thanked her for the coffee and cake then made his way back to HQ’s where he spoke with Vicky. ‘Sorry Jim, no Grant mentioned in the diary.’ ‘Okay it was a long shot, but thanks for looking.’

  Jim sat and thought, was this man Grant just a red herring, perhaps she was raped by someone she didn’t know, maybe he followed and saw her and Albright having sex then followed them back to her car then saw her go off with Carruthers so thought he would have sex with her as well; so waited for her then abducted, raped and strangled her. This was perhaps the second DNA profile found inside her, it was far-fetched but so was the case. There had to be a clue somewhere, something they were missing, but what? Everything at this time was unknown, there had to be something he was missing he inwardly hoped the phone records would identify Grant and thereby give him a lead or at least the hope of his DNA matching the outstanding profile.

  No matter where he looked nothing seemed to come up trumps; just brick walls. The days went on with nothing coming to the fore.

  The afternoon debrief time arrived as the room filled up with chatter and laughter, then Langton arrived as he called order, then he gave what update he could and where the enquiries had led so far. He then went around the room listening to the updates from each of the team members. But the updates were becoming fewer with no startling revelations. Then it came to Jim and Vicky’s turn; Jim mentioned the discovery of the name Grant, and where he may feature and hoping that the phone records may prove fruitful in identifying who Grant was; after Jim’s input Langton ended the briefing.

  Jim decided to do some one-man observations, so he sat outside Romney’s house just hoping for someone to turn up or something to happen, he was clutching at straws.

  Jim spent days and days just watching, but Romney was a boring bastard, he did nothing but work and stay at home. This matched the description of Caroline’s account as given by Francesca about him not doing anything. In the end Jim had to call it a day and look at something else.

  12

  The mobile phone logs finally arrived as Jim eagerly checked through the names and addresses of those with contracts, but there were some that were pay as you go with no addresses or if there were addresses some ended up being fictitious.

  Then Jim checked for the date from Francesca’s diary. There was one pay as you go number with no address which had called Caroline about the time Francesca said she had received the call.

  There was nothing for it, he dialled the number he hoped it was Grant at the other end; this was make or break time, the person said ‘hello who’s that?’ ‘Oh hello is that Grant?’ ‘Yes who’s that?’ ‘Sorry to bother you, but I need to speak to you about an enquiry I am conducting, can you call in at Central Police Station and ask for me DS Jim Broadbent?’ ‘What’s it about?’ ‘We just need a chat to clarify some issues it will become clear when we speak, it will be totally confidential.’ ‘Okay I’ll be there at 11 am tomorrow morning.’ ‘Thank you for your cooperation.’

  Jim clapped his hands together and thought at last something might be going right for a change. Then he thought; providing he turns up?

  Jim got Vicky to prepare some bullet points for the interview with Grant. Then he spoke with Langton. Langton then said ‘the go ahead with the DNA screening has been authorised and will take place next week so get the teams ready at Central to receive those volunteering to come in. Get two shifts early and late to cater for those who work during the day.’ Jim nodded and smiled ‘let’s hope this gets a result.’ ‘Me too Jim it’s costing a fortune.’ ‘What about those who fail to turn up?’ ‘We will screen all those in the voter’s register to start with, we can narrow down the list by only inviting those between ages of 20 and 40 years old. Then see where that leads us.’ Jim nodded, ‘at least it might get someone to do a runner.’

  Jim sat with Vicky reading her bullet points then said, ‘nice one Vick we’ll get him on the back foot, good girl.’ Vicky smiled ‘do you think it’s him?’ ‘No idea, I’m hoping he cracks up or does a runner, at least then we will have a stronger suspect.’

  The afternoon briefing came as Jim divided the teams into two for the DNA screening the following week. He said ‘look I have no problem if you swap over because of commitments, just let the incident room manager know if you change around. Also if it runs into the following week we will swap around.’ There were rumblings amongst the teams then a hush as Langton came in to debrief the teams.

  The following morning Jim waited in anticipation with Vicky at Central; Jim was watching the clock slowly ticking towards 11 am. Then on the dot he received a call from the front reception desk informing him his visitor had arrived.

  Jim went to the desk and there stood a tall man in a grey suit holding a briefcase. Jim said ‘Grant?’ The man nodded as Jim opened the door and invited him into an interview room where Vicky was waiting.

  Jim said ‘thank you for coming to see us Grant, can I just get your full name and address please?’ ‘Grant Forsyth, I live at 76, the Avenue.’ ‘Thank you that’s great.’ ‘The reason we asked you here is because it is a delicate matter.’ Forsyth nodded then Jim said ‘you’re aware a woman called Caroline Romney has been found dead, we believe that you knew her is that correct?’ ‘Yes I was aware of Caroline’s murder I saw it on the news, I was so shocked. I knew her from way back; I was an accountant working for the same company where she worked as a secretary.’

  Jim picked up the bullet points that Vicky had made then said ‘okay Mr Forsyth I need to ask you some questions then we will require you to provide a sample of your saliva for DNA testing, you understand?’ Forsyth nodded.

  ‘Okay, what was your relationship with Caroline?’

  ‘We were friends.’

  ‘What kind of friend, bearing in mind we have her diary?’

  ‘Oh my god, this won’t get back to my wife will it?’

  ‘Only if you tell her.’

  ‘Look, Caroline and I were seeing each other for fun we both enjoyed each other’s company.’

  ‘You were seeing each other romantically.’

  ‘Well sort of.’

  ‘Come on, her diary was quite explicit.’

  Jim wanted him to think Caroline had written about their affair.

  ‘Okay yes we would meet sometimes after her dancing class, and have a bite to eat then, well you know.’

  ‘No please go on?’

  ‘Well we would go into the country and end up having sex.’

  ‘How often would that happen?’

  ‘I work away sometimes abroad with clients and am only home for short periods so it wasn’t that often.’

  ‘Where abroad, just out of interest?’

  ‘Brussels and Paris mainly, all to do with EU accounts.’

  ‘Wow big job?’

  ‘It certainly is and very lucrative.’

  ‘Okay this i
s the date she was killed.’

  Jim showed him the day and date in his personal diary; then carried on.

  ‘Can you confirm where you were on that day and night?’

  Forsyth checked his own diary then said:

  ‘Oh this is awful, I was in the UK and I met here that night.’

  ‘Where and at what time?’

  ‘It was quite late; she said she had to meet a girlfriend before she could meet me.’

  ‘Where did you meet her?’

  ‘In a small car park just outside of town near the station I park my car there when using the train.’

  Jim thought it can’t be this easy can it?

  ‘Then what happened?’

  ‘Look Caroline wasn’t happy at home and wanted out, she was asking me to leave my wife and run away with her, I couldn’t; what we had was fun, I wasn’t about to leave all I had worked for, so I said no and went home.’

  ‘Did you have sex with her?’

  ‘No it wasn’t that kind of meeting.’

  ‘What time did you leave her?’

  ‘It must have been about midnight she just said go. There was no point in hanging it out, she wanted the comfort of knowing I was leaving my wife for her, but I couldn’t and I wouldn’t lie to her either.’

  ‘Did you sit in her car or yours?’

  ‘In hers why?’

  ‘Just wondering; okay can you provide me a saliva sample into this phial please, to eliminate you from the enquiry?’

  ‘What if I say no?’

  ‘Then I will arrest you and get a court order. If you never had sex with her that night then you have little to worry about.’

  Jim passed a note to Vicky to check the voters register to confirm he lived where he said he lived.

  Jim offered the phial to Forsyth, he produced saliva sample after a drink of water. Jim completed the documentation to accompany the phial to the laboratory.

  ‘That’s fine Mr Forsyth can I just ask if you have any documentation, passport or driving licence to confirm your name and address?’

  Forsyth opened his briefcase and produced his passport and driving licence which confirmed his identity and address. Just as he finished Vicky came back and nodded.

  ‘Okay Mr Forsyth, you would appear to have been one of the last persons to see Caroline alive, I have no alternative, but to arrest you on suspicion of her murder.

  Jim then cautioned Forsyth and took him to the custody suite where he was booked-in. After the formalities he took him straight to interview where the conversation was tape recorded; the same questions were asked as the previous interview with the same answers given.

  Jim then said:

  ‘Mr Forsyth you know and I know you’re lying, Caroline was blackmailing you wasn’t she? She wanted you to leave your wife or she would tell her of the affair that’s correct isn’t it?’

  Forsyth bowed his head and nodded

  ‘I couldn’t lose my wife the kids and the house I had worked so hard for, it would have ruined me.’

  ‘Okay Grant, please explain to me how it was and what happened?’

  Jim’s voice had now come down in volume and was kindly as he wanted to coax everything out of him. He saw tears welling up in his eyes, but waited for him to speak.

  ‘As I said I got into her car then she drove to the woods where we had been before. It was then she started on at me about leaving my wife; she started crying; I got out of the car and went to the driver’s side and comforted her then we started kissing, then I tried to have sex with her but she struggled. I just lost it and forced her, I pulled her out of the car and ripped her knickers off then we had sex. She was hysterical shouting at me, she was going to the police accusing me of rape unless I left my wife. I’m so sorry, my poor Caroline. She started to walk towards the car so I grabbed her we struggled then somehow my hands went around her throat and before I knew it she was dead.’

  ‘What did you do then?’

  ‘I drove her car back to the car park then went home in my car.’

  ‘Did you throw anything out of the car?’

  ‘Yes her knickers and handbag were inside so I threw them out of the window.’

  ‘Thank you for your honesty.’

  Jim was like a dog with two tails he wanted to jump up and kiss Vicky, but sat containing his enthusiasm as he went through the background questions. He had the motive also the opportunity for the murder and now the confession; if the DNA came up trumps he was home and dry.

  Jim contacted Langton as he was preparing the charges for rape and murder. Jim then said ‘I don’t know guv it seemed all too easy, he never even asked for a brief, he just opened up.’ ‘What you thinking?’ ‘No idea just thinking about the ease in which he coughed it.’ ‘Stranger things have happened.’ ‘Yeah I know; I may have become too cynical; also we haven’t bottomed out this Michael guy yet either. I just hope Forsyth’s DNA proves his is the other profile outstanding.’ ‘Okay come back when you’ve finished for a chat.’ Jim acknowledged the request, as he left Vicky to finish up the procedures.

  13

  Jim travelled the route to HQ’s with his mind whizzing around like a butterfly flitting from one thought to another. When he finally arrived he didn’t really know how he got there, the journey had been a blur of mixed-up thoughts about the interview, also the unknown guy Michael, and a million other unanswered questions.

  Jim made his way to the top floor. As he walked along the corridor he poked his head into Sandy’s office and said ‘you ready for a bit of dict soon?’ He smiled as Sandy looked up from her work and laughed then said ‘oh Jim I have missed your dict, come and see me anytime.’ Jim put his thumb up and laughed. Sandy loved to banter with Jim, but if anyone heard them they would definitely get the wrong impression, so it was only when on their own they had a laugh.

  Jim knocked on Langton’s open door; Langton looked up and smiled ‘come in Jim and close the door.’ Jim sat down as Langton finished penning the last few words of a report to be typed. He picked up the phone and asked Sandy to pop along. Sandy knocked and entered as Langton handed the report to her, just saying ‘by the end of the day please Sandy.’ Sandy smiled and nodded, Jim checked her out as she left. Langton smiled as he opened the bottom drawer and said ‘don’t you dare!’ ‘Who me guv, leave it out?’ They both smiled as Langton poured two glasses of scotch. Jim took his glass and sipped the scotch.

  Langton looked at Jim and said ‘so what do you think is wrong with the admission?’ ‘I don’t know guv it just seemed to easy. There he was scared to death that Caroline was going to tell his wife about their affair; he was so scared of losing his wife, children and house then he simply coughs to her murder. I had no real evidence on him just a name in a diary and a telephone call, that’s all; although I suppose the mention of the outstanding DNA may have swayed it; I don’t know, perhaps I have been working with the spooks too long!’

  Langton took a sip as he looked at Jim saying ‘just go with it Jim. Where’s Vicky?’ ‘She’s just mopping up after I charged him and putting the remand papers together for the court in the morning.’ ‘Good that’s it then Jim another case successfully dealt with, providing the outstanding DNA profile match’s his; just to let you know I have put in a request to the lab for a quick turn around.’

  Jim sipped his scotch and said ‘what next, anything else on the horizon?’ ‘Yes Jim, take a look at this case it was part of the investigation that division was dealing with a while back regarding abused kids. This report would appear to join up with it. Do you know how the case is going?’ ‘Still in the early stages Jackie was saying they have a list of all the kids and some of the schools they go to; although some of them are from care homes again.’ ‘Okay there are a couple of other kids here who were also in care, we also have a suspect; he is on the sex offenders list, get some observations on him and see where he goes.’ ‘No problem once we’ve wrapped up the paperwork on the Caroline Romney case.’ Jim finished his scotch as he put his hand o
ver the glass as Langton was about to pour another; Jim thanked him then went out and collected all the papers for the murder case and began penning his report as he read the statements. The report was growing by the hour.

  Vicky turned up with the copy charges Jim thanked her as he continued with the report. Once he had finished the paragraph he was on he said to Vicky ‘how was he after I left?’ ‘Very subdued his whole world has collapsed around him.’ ‘What do you think, about him coughing so easy?’ ‘I think the realisation just hit him and he crumpled.’ ‘I don’t like it Vick, there is something somewhere not quite right I can feel it in my bones.’ ‘You’re too sceptical Jim it was a good interview.’ ‘Yeah I know, but we had nothing on him, also with an offence like murder he didn’t even want a brief.’ ‘That I did find a bit strange, but he coughed it Jim; he’s sat in his cell now with his world around his ankles.’ ‘Okay we will go with it and take it for what it is.’

  Jim then got on with his report whilst Vicky concentrated on putting the papers together for the court hearing in the morning.

  Jim popped his head around the door and smiled at Sandy ‘you want it now or in the morning?’ ‘I’d rather have it in the morning, I prefer mornings.’ Jim laughed as he waved goodbye, Sandy waved as she laughed.

  Jim sat beside Sandy the following morning as he looked under the table at her legs he smiled then she said ‘bugger off Jim just give me your dict now.’ Jim laughed as he began dictating the report to her. Sandy stood up now and then to stretch and have a natural break. The report concluded as Sandy said ‘oh Jim that was a long one.’ They both laughed as Jim read the report and smiled as he pecked Sandy on the cheek and thanked her.

  Jim then put the report and statements together which took a few days; once complete he handed it to Langton who was in conference with a senior CPS lawyer. Langton nodded as the file was handed over then invited Jim to sit down as he outlined the case to the lawyer.