Lynda La Plante - Wrongful Death

‘It is a great privilege for me to be here and work alongside you and I believe that along the way we can learn from each other.’

Anna was impressed. Dewar was clearly a good speaker who knew how to use PowerPoint to not only get an audience’s attention but also get her point across. Anna could see members of the team nodding in agreement as the agent, it seemed, was winning them over. Anna, thinking that Dewar had finished, stepped forward to say a few supportive words, but Dewar suddenly brought up another slide showing a wide-angled photograph of Reynolds lying dead in his living room.

‘I have had the opportunity to read through the Joshua Reynolds file and record my observations regarding his death,’ Dewar said, and glared at Travis, who took a step back.

Anna would rather have discussed Dewar’s ‘observations’ in private, but since the agent had their attention and Anna did not want to appear rude she gestured with a nod for Dewar to continue.

Dewar pressed the remote and the word SUICIDE? came up on the screen.

‘I believe that the original investigation by DI Simms is flawed and the scene of Reynolds’ death may have been staged to look like a suicide,’ she said bluntly.

As Anna looked around the room she could see that members of the team were instantly agitated at what they perceived to be an attack on ‘one of their own’, even though many of them had never worked with DI Simms. Upset by the remarks, many of the officers looked at each other in amazement and began to fidget in their seats.

Barolli, standing next to Anna, leaned closer and whispered, ‘Might be best to stop her before the gloves are off and one of them says something.’

‘No. She wanted the floor so she can have it,’ Anna replied.

‘Reynolds’ death was assumed to be a suicide from the outset and because of this DI Simms sought, or conveyed, information that confirmed his belief.’

‘But the pathology and forensic reports both confirmed that Reynolds committed suicide,’ Barolli said.

‘As did the Coroner’s verdict. Are you seriously saying he was wrong as well?’ Barbara added in support of Barolli.

‘Confirmation bias is not necessarily intentional but it does affect us all and we don’t even realize it. We look for evidence to support our theory about what happened at a scene. This in turn causes us to ignore or miss evidence that opposes it,’ Dewar calmly replied and brought up a copy of Joshua Reynolds’ suicide note on the screen.

‘I’d ask you all to bear with me on this and read Reynolds’ alleged suicide note.’

My Dear Wife, please forgive me for having left you all with the troubles that my death has caused you. I loved all of you very much and more than you can ever know. Everything had become too much for me and I have felt very depressed since mothers death and the money problems with the club.

I know I have let you all down but your mother and sister will help you through this. Bye for the last time, and never forget that you were the best thing that ever happened to me.

Love Joshua

Dewar paused while everyone read the note.

Anna, who was already aware of the dangers of confirmation bias in an investigation, wondered how and why Dewar was implying that someone else had written the suicide note.

‘The problem here is the design of the note is wrong. It’s set up for an audience rather than just the addressee and even that’s wrong. Can anyone tell me why?’ Dewar asked, but no one answered her.

‘My Dear Wife? Surely, Reynolds would write his own wife’s name. “Mothers” should be apostrophe “s” and there are other grammatical errors – this man was university-educated!’ Dewar said with conviction.

‘He was just about to kill himself. His state of mind must have been all over the place so that would affect the way he wrote the note,’ Barbara suggested, but Dewar ignored her and continued.

‘He refers to Donna’s sister and their mother yet he never once writes their actual names. Some of the note is written in the past tense. It’s as if he was already dead when he wrote it and that’s impossible.’

‘The toxicology results showed he was pissed. So that coupled with his state of mind would explain-’ Barbara argued, but was cut off by Dewar, who replied calmly but firmly.

‘I am not talking about his state of mind or how drunk he may have been. What I am saying is I don’t believe he wrote this note.’

‘Well, only Reynolds can tell us that and he’s dead,’ Barbara replied.

‘I understand what you’re saying. But there’s no direct evidence that the note’s a fake. It is what it is,’ Barolli said, trying to be diplomatic.

‘This note was taken on face value for what it was perceived to be. It supported a suicide theory. The validity of the note was never challenged. Was a forensic linguist asked to examine it? Why leave it on a computer screen and not hand-write it? Did they check his computer for other notes? The answer to every question and many others I haven’t yet raised is, NO.’

‘So you’re saying if the note is a fake, the scene was staged and Reynolds was murdered,’ Barolli said.

‘Yes,’ Dewar replied, emphatically.

Anna thought Dewar was conducting herself reasonably well and that she had remained calm and collected, even when challenged. She had raised valid points about the authenticity of the note, indicating that the contents should have been further investigated at the time. Anna knew this was something Dewar would tell Langton, meaning that she needed to discuss it as soon as possible with DI Simms.

Anna looked at her watch. ‘Sorry to interrupt you, Jessie, but we’re running late for the Taylor interview.’

‘There are other observations concerning the crime scene that I’d like to bring to everyone’s attention.’

‘You and I can discuss them on the way to Belmarsh.’

‘It will only take a few minutes-’

‘Time is pressing and we really need to leave now,’ Anna said.

‘If you insist, DCI Travis.’ Dewar was clearly annoyed as she then picked up her laptop and walked off into Anna’s office.

Anna asked Barolli for a quick word in private.

‘You give her the floor. She spouts a load of psycho-babble and because we don’t agree, she storms off,’ Barolli remarked.

‘At least you were tactful, Paul, unlike Barbara who wanted to go head to head with her,’ Anna replied.

‘Agreed, but Barbara’s comments were justified and as valid as Dewar’s.’

‘I’d like you to check over the house to house file, extend it beyond Reynolds’ block of flats and draw up a list of everyone who was close to him.’

‘Do you want full background and intelligence enquiries as well?’ he asked.

‘Keep it close to home to start with – the wife, his family, business associates…’

‘His wife already made a statement.’

‘It’s not very detailed and gives little insight into Joshua Reynolds’ lifestyle. To be honest, I only skimmed over it myself.’

‘Do you think Reynolds was murdered?’

‘As yet, no, but I can see Dewar stirring things up with Langton so we need to be one step ahead of the game.’

Dewar hurriedly put down the desk phone as Anna entered her office, leading Anna to suspect that she had been speaking to Langton.

‘Everything all right, Jessie?’ Anna asked, knowing full well it wasn’t.

‘First names is fine between us in private but in front of the office, I’d appreciate it if you referred to me as Special Agent Dewar.’

‘I thought you gave an excellent presentation about the suicide note,’ Anna said, trying to soothe Dewar’s mood.

‘Really? Then why didn’t you back me up out there when I was being challenged by Maddox and Barolli?’