Lynda La Plante: Wrongful Death

‘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.’