Page 72 of The Scene of the Crime
‘If you want, I can get our new team member to view the CCTV and check the till roll, but he’ll need a picture of Liam.’
‘Mike Chapman told me about Guy Jenkinson. I was on the Counter Terrorism Command with him before moving tohomicide. You’re lucky to have him. I’ll send you a copy of Liam’s arrest photo.’
Jessica returned to the flat and told Diane and Taff about the clothing the PolSA officers had found. Diane looked forward to examining the items for blood.
‘There was a roll of black bin liners in the sink cupboard where the Rolex and cash were found. I’ll take the roll to the lab and examine the tear-off marks for a mechanical fit to the one containing the clothing. I’ll check it for fingerprints as well.’
‘I think we will all be very busy in the lab for the next few days,’ Jessica said. ‘Any Adidas footprints?’
Taff nodded. ‘We’ve recovered some, which look the same as the ones at the De Klerk house. Unfortunately, there are other footprints over the top of them.’
‘Probably from the detectives. I can ask Chapman to get elimination prints from their shoes if you need them,’ Jessica said.
‘A closer examination under the microscope should confirm if they are the same Adidas trainers, Jess. There were none in the living room, bedroom wardrobes or hall cupboard, but there were in the hallway. They went past the kitchen towards the lounge, ending by the bathroom, where I found some by the toilet. A couple were in the kitchen by the sink, and two more were travelling towards the front door. We photographed them all.’
‘We used the luminol but didn’t find any blood. I also checked the kitchen and bathroom sink waste pipes for blood but found none. Same with the washing machine pipes,’ Diane added.
Jessica noticed the coir mat by the front door. ‘Did you try luminol on the mat?’
‘No, but I can do,’ Diane replied.
‘Let’s bag it and take it back to the lab. If the suspect wiped his feet when he returned home, he might have left blood on themat. There’s also the chance of pollens or soil being recovered from where he stepped in the raised bedding at the De Klerks’. Good work, both of you. Is there anything else you can think of that we need to do here?’
‘Not at present,’ Diane said, and Taff shook his head.
‘I’ll ask DS Wood to arrange for the front door to be secured and new locks to be fitted in case we need to come back. You two head back to the lab and get cracking on the exhibits and other stuff we’ve seized today. The suspect can only be held in custody for thirty-six hours before being charged. It would be good for Chapman to put any positive forensic results to him in an interview. I’ll do one last sweep in here and tell DS Wood what we’ve found before leaving. I’ll see you in a bit.’
* * *
Chapman was informed that Liam was being booked in at the station. He went down to the custody suite, where Liam was being belligerent and refusing to give his full name or any other details. His lip was swollen, a large bandage was plastered to his forehead and the bruising from his fall had spread across his eyelids. Chapman thought he looked familiar but couldn’t place him.
The Custody Sergeant again asked him for his name and date of birth. ‘I got these injuries ’cause that officer assaulted me,’ he said, nodding to one of the two detectives beside him.
‘Do you wish to make an official complaint?’ the sergeant asked.
‘I ain’t saying nothing more till I see a solicitor.’
The sergeant sighed. ‘No skin off my nose, son. I’ll inform the duty solicitor of your arrest while your fingerprints, DNA and photograph are taken.’
The contents of Liam’s backpack and pockets were placed on the counter. Chapman noticed a pair of gloves, but they were made of black wool. Wearing latex gloves, he looked in Liam’s wallet and found five hundred pounds cash and a NatWest debit card in the name of Mr L Wilson. Chapman asked if the bank card belonged to Liam, but he didn’t reply. The detective searching him said it was probably stolen, and he’d check with the bank. The detective then uncuffed him. ‘Follow me.’
Chapman spoke to the officer who Liam had accused of assault. ‘Go to the office, check the bank card and type up your report. Also, get someone to take Liam’s phone and the cash to the lab as soon as possible to examine the phone data and the cash for fingerprints.’
In the fingerprint room, the detective told Liam his fingerprints would be taken on a scanner and asked him to hold out his right hand. Liam put his hands in his pockets. ‘I ain’t doing nothing until I see a solicitor.’
Chapman had an intuition about why Liam might want to avoid giving his name and fingerprints. ‘You wanted for a crime, or did you fail to appear in court?’ Liam said nothing, just smirked at Chapman, who smiled back. ‘My guess is there’s an arrest warrant out for you, probably for burglary.’ Liam licked his lips. Chapman nodded. ‘Thought as much. Now, here are your choices. One, you cut the tough guy act and give your fingerprints and DNA swab voluntarily. Two, my colleague and I, or more officers, if necessary, will take them by force, which we are legally entitled to do. So, what’s it to be . . . the easy way or the hard way?’
Liam’s smirk turned to a look of unease. He took his right hand out of his pocket and held it up. The detective held it and placed Liam’s index finger on the scanner. ‘Thank you, Liam, or should I call you by a different name?’
Liam made a hissing sound. ‘You’ll find out in a couple of minutes.’
‘Are you working, Liam?’ He nodded. ‘Where?’ Liam didn’t reply. ‘I’m only asking because we need it for your custody record. You don’t have to tell me, but we will find out.’
‘I’m a night attendant at the Jet petrol station in Hollybush Hill.’
Chapman nodded slowly. He decided not to ask further questions until Liam was in the interview room and his answers were being recorded. Chapman watched as the detective scanned Liam’s fingers, then looked at the computer screen to see if there was a match on the database. When he saw the name William John Palmer come up on the computer screen and his last arrest photograph, where he still had hair, he could hardly believe what he was looking at. He sat staring at the screen, his whole body tensed as he waited until Liam’s DNA swab had been taken and he was placed in a cell. Then he hurried up the stairs to his office.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
