Devil in the Detail A.J. Cross (read full novel .TXT) 📖

scene to Mrs Lawrence because she knows me. We maintain an air of calm. If, say, a video camera malfunctions, we continue with the camera that is working. No drama. No stress. No fuss. If Mrs Lawrence exhibits signs of distress, we take our lead from her. If she wants to stop, we stop. It proceeds at her pace. If she is unable to take us through the whole event, we’ll have recorded whatever she is able to give us, which could still move this investigation forward.’ He looked around the room. ‘Any questions?’

Jones raised his hand. ‘What happens if Mrs Lawrence shows even small signs of being affected? Or Chloe, for that matter.’

‘Just focus on yourself, Jonesy,’ she snapped.

‘Leave those concerns to me. I’ll be monitoring her responses throughout,’ said Traynor.

At the edge of the room, Reynolds raised his hand. ‘Will it ever be shown on television?’

Watts mustered patience. ‘No, Reynolds. No TV.’ He looked away then back at the young officer. ‘Did you do what I asked you?’

‘Yes.’

‘Email me your information.’

‘Already done, Sarge.’

‘Good. I’ll read it when I get a chance.’ Watts looked at each of them. ‘Does everybody directly involved in this plan feel up to this, know what’s expected? Good. Back here at seven a.m.’

TWENTY-SEVEN

Saturday 22 December. 8 a.m.

The huge Forensic Test Area was a scene of quiet, understated activity. Watts and Judd watched Traynor and Julian in deep discussion, one or other of them raising an arm, pointing, nodding. The Lawrences’ Toyota had been replaced by a pale grey, to-scale, two-dimensional, featureless outline which Julian was manoeuvring into position. Checking it, he stood back, held up his hand, palm to Traynor. After a brief pause Traynor’s palm made contact. He moved to the middle of the huge space.

‘Officers Kumar and Miller are due to arrive with Mrs Lawrence in the next few minutes. She’ll be otherwise unaccompanied.’ They watched him scrutinize the space, raise his hand to Julian who moved the facsimile of the car forward a little and nodded. ‘We’ll begin with an initial walk-through by PC Judd with Mrs Lawrence. Once Molly is familiar with the set-up she will take control of the re-enactment, guiding us through what only she knows happened. If it becomes apparent that she’s at a loss, PC Judd will prompt her, using agreed wording.’ Judd gave a quick nod. ‘If Mrs Lawrence does become distressed or appears unable to continue for any reason, we bring the re-enactment to an end without any physical or verbal indications of disappointment. Everyone clear?’ Traynor’s phone pinged. He looked at it.

‘She’s arrived.’

The door of the test area swung slowly open. Miller and Kumar appeared, followed by Molly Lawrence. Subtle glances showed how pale she was. Feeling guilty about her recent outburst of criticism against this woman, Judd watched her, now seeing what she hadn’t fully realized at the hospital: Molly Lawrence was a beautiful woman. As Traynor went to her, Judd’s eyes skimmed her dark navy coat with its narrow waist and full skirt, the dark tights, low-heeled suede shoes, and felt a quick rush of envy, followed by an even quicker surge of guilt. She listened to Traynor’s words to Molly, saw him raise his arm and point.

‘Those two officers over there have video cameras to record the action as you direct them.’ She nodded. He indicated the grey outline of the car standing nearby. ‘This is for you to refer to as you relate whatever you recall. Your sole task here is to show us what took place.’

The team watched her walk slowly forward, Judd thinking it was very possible that they could all be out of here within five minutes. Molly looked at the facsimile for a few seconds, turned to Traynor.

‘Where’s our car? I expected it to be here.’

‘We thought a representation would be less distracting.’

‘Yes. Of course.’

Judd headed slowly and quietly towards them, hearing him say, ‘You can start your recall at any point which suits you, Molly. If you need to stop, that’s fine.’

Seeing Judd approach, she smiled at her. With a nod to the grey outline, she asked Traynor, ‘Could I just walk around it? Get used to it not being real?’

‘Do whatever feels right for you, Molly.’ The SOCOs’ cameras were now running. ‘Take a walk around the whole space, if you wish. As soon as you feel comfortable, tell me and I’ll go—’

‘You’re not leaving?’ She stared up at Traynor, her eyes huge.

‘No. Nobody’s leaving. PC Judd will be with you the whole time and I’ll be over there with Detective Inspector Watts.’

She looked at Judd, at the ‘car’ outline, then up at Traynor. ‘I’m fine. I can do it. I’m ready.’ He moved away. Judd arrived at her side. Looking directly into one of the cameras, Molly took a deep breath. ‘OK, this is just a model, but I’ll use it to show you what happened.’ She beckoned to the videoing officers to follow her.

‘I’ll start with the inside.’ She went closer to the grey shape, pointed. ‘Here is where the passenger seat was. Mike was in the driver’s seat … and … there were movements around here.’ She pointed to the area in which she was standing next to the driver’s door ‘And, a man, the man, shouted at the window, right here, but before anything else happened’ – she pointed – ‘he moved around to the other side. He moved really quickly.’

Peripheral gazes were on this small woman describing the catastrophic event which had left her bleeding and her husband dying. Traynor watched, his face devoid of expression.

‘That’s when the rear door of the car opened. He got inside and … a voice shouted for Mike to do something and … Mike turned to look at him … he had a gun.’ She was silent for several seconds, her eyes fixed on the grey cut-out. ‘There was a scream. Mike swore. He reached forward, turned the key in the ignition … he wasn’t thinking straight. The man yelled at