Lynda La Plante - Wrongful Death

‘Detective Travis, I warned you before this interview about non-disclosure and oppressive tactics and you are now-’

Anna again ignored him. ‘Look at the picture, Aisa, a simple yes or no will suffice.’ Aisa slowly raised her head to look at the image.

‘I am advising you to make no further comment, Aisa, and I want this interview terminated NOW,’ Holme said, and pushed the picture back towards Anna.

‘Yes, I have seen him before,’ Aisa said softly and there was an immediate silence in the room. Holme was about to say something but Anna jumped in and asked Aisa where she had seen him. She looked up at Anna, and whispered, ‘When I was at Josh’s flat, I saw that man there.’

Holme told Aisa that she was not obliged to answer DCI Travis’s questions, but Anna could see that she wanted to say more and she gave Aisa a comforting nod to continue.

‘He was the man who came out when I was pressing the buzzer. He opened the door and I slipped in past him. I’d never seen him before or since, but I remember him because of the dreadlocks and his age.’

Feeling like the ground was about to open up and swallow her, Anna realized that she had just fallen into a trap. She had shot herself in the foot. She urgently looked at Langton to take over the interview so she had time to think about what to do next, but he shook his head in disbelief as he realized that Gloria had won. Aisa’s primed, yet seemingly innocuous reply, had just shifted the whole balance of suspicion onto Samuel Peters as being with Josh Reynolds at the time of his death.

Aisa’s statement had clearly described how she had been unable to get a reply from Josh at the flat by phone or knocking. Anna knew that Samuel had keys in his possession for both Josh and Esme’s flat. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth.

Langton knew the case against Aisa being present at Josh’s death had just been dealt a knockout blow.

‘Thank you for your cooperation and prepared statement, Miss Lynne. This interview is terminated,’ he said as he switched off the recording equipment. Holme sat back in his chair with a smug look on his face and asked about Aisa’s release. Langton told him that they would like to hear what Lady Lynne had to say first. Holme raised the fact that Donna Lynne was in prison for offences she clearly didn’t commit and he wanted her released forthwith. Langton agreed with him and said that he would arrange her immediate release with the CPS and for transport to take her home to Lynne House.

A demoralized Langton, Anna and Dewar regrouped upstairs, gathering once more in Anna’s office. Anna apologized to both of them, adding that for Aisa to say what she did about Samuel Peters, Gloria must have anticipated that Anna knew about him and would show Aisa a picture.

‘No shit, Sherlock!’ Langton snapped back at her.

‘In fairness, Jimmy, none of us could have anticipated that happening, and it shows how intelligent and cunning Gloria is,’ Dewar said.

‘Travis should have known it was coming,’ Langton said angrily.

‘How could I have?’ Anna said, horribly aware that her game of words with Gloria when searching Lynne House had backfired.

‘Because you told that prick Walters that Samuel Peters was related to Josh, and had stolen money from him. You knew he had spoken with Gloria before the interview.’

‘Yes, but I didn’t know exactly what he’d told her. Aisa is totally under Gloria’s spell so I took a gamble but it didn’t pay off. We can always do another interview with Aisa after we have spoken with Gloria.’

‘What about? The time of bloody day? You have nothing against her and Ian Holme knows that; even perverting the course of justice is on a fine thread,’ Langton said. He leaned back in his chair, trying to control his temper.

It suddenly crossed Anna’s mind that Aisa’s identification of Samuel Peters could be turned to their advantage. ‘Ian Holme will tell Gloria about the identification Aisa made from the CCTV picture.’

‘Of course he bloody will! Did you not see the smug look on his face? Dead men can’t talk, so the blame for everything will be shifted onto Samuel Peters,’ Langton replied in anger.

‘Samuel Peters can’t drive so timing-wise, he couldn’t have got to Bayswater before Aisa,’ Dewar remarked.

‘Don’t talk shite! Holme will simply argue he could have got a taxi and been there five or ten minutes before her.’

Anna was determined to make her point. ‘That picture was taken at the Savoy. Aisa said she didn’t know the man’s name and had only ever seen him at Josh’s flat. We know that Samuel is Gloria’s first husband so I’d like to hear her explanation as to why he was at the Charity Ball,’ she said, relieved that she might yet be able to salvage something from her faux pas in the interview.

Langton paused as he thought about this and then told her that she had made a valid suggestion.

‘Don’t be surprised if Gloria has a convincing explanation,’ Dewar said.

‘Thanks for the vote of confidence, Jessie,’ Anna said, even though she knew Dewar was right.

‘Gloria’s highly intelligent and will have planned and rehearsed her story over and over again in her mind, right down to the finest details. She will have memorized an answer for every possible twist and turn,’ Dewar informed them.

‘What about her bloody micro-expressions?’ Langton asked.

‘Almost impossible to detect,’ Dewar said in a matter-of-fact way.

‘I thought it was one of your specialities!’

‘Yes, but Gloria’s had years of practice at refining her body language and facial expressions. She’s a master of deceit,’ Dewar replied.

Langton felt they were just going over the same old ground. ‘You’re supposed to be the psychological expert, Jessie, so please tell me something we don’t know or haven’t already considered about Gloria bloody Lynne.’

‘A play has a start, middle and end…’

Langton was losing his patience. ‘For God’s sake get to the point, Dewar.’

‘Gloria will have had to memorize the script thoroughly before she can perform it, and her emotions need to match the moment. The story needs to unfold in the order she memorized it – you change the order and she may just fluff or forget her lines and when that happens it can have a knock-on effect,’ Dewar said with a wry smile.

Langton took on board what Dewar was saying and conceded it was worth a try, but he knew that Gloria was not just an ordinary actor.

‘Psychologically, I can understand Aisa lying because she’s terrified of her mother, but even so a second interview with her could be worthwhile,’ Dewar added.

‘We will listen to what Gloria has to tell us first and I will take the lead in any questions that need to be asked. You do not interrupt and you will not arrest her. Do I make myself clear, Anna?’

‘Not really because I-’

‘She’s expecting you to take her on and I don’t want to play into her hands again,’ Langton emphasized.

‘I’m perfectly capable of handling Gloria Lynne,’ Anna told him.

‘Don’t flatter yourself. The way I see it so far, none of us are. She is winning hands down. If she was able to prime her daughter, Christ only knows what other cards she’s ready to play.’

Langton stood up, almost pushing his chair over, and then gave a cool nod and pointed at her. ‘Behave yourself. Right?’ he warned.

Anna nodded.

Taking up her position in the darkened viewing room, Dewar found herself looking forward to the psychological assessment of Gloria Lynne. Here was her chance at once to prove herself and to reveal the cunning sociopath as a pathological liar.

Meanwhile, Langton and Anna made for the witness interview room where Lady Lynne and Ian Holme were waiting. Langton introduced himself to Lady Lynne, who proffered her hand like royalty for him to shake.