Devil in the Detail by A.J. Cross (love letters to the dead .TXT) 📗

they talked. Brendan asked for Mike’s watch and phone, my jewellery and my handbag. I just did what I was told.’

‘Mrs Lawrence—’

‘And then … Brendan shot both of us. Mike sort of jolted on his seat. I felt pain on one side and’ – she shook her head, looked away – ‘he left us there. I was bleeding. Mike was just sitting there, his eyes closed, not speaking, not moving and …’ She closed her eyes. ‘I need some water.’

With a glance at Watts, Judd stood. ‘I’ll have some brought to you, Mrs Lawrence. We’ll take a short break.’

They went out of the room and looked at each other. ‘No reference to any sexual aspect,’ said Watts.

‘No. She’s making it up as she goes along.’

Watts went down to the post-mortem suite where Chong was standing before a microwave oven, fumes spiralling inside it. She looked up as he came inside. ‘How are the interviews going?’

‘What looks like truths from one and lies from the other. Got anything for me?’

She nodded at the microwave. ‘Soon, I hope.’

Leaving her to it, he went to his office where Judd and Traynor were sitting in silence.

‘Before Judd and I continue the interviews, you queried how Molly Lawrence was shot. Tell me again.’

‘It didn’t seem plausible that, having shot Mike Lawrence in the head, the gunman wouldn’t do the same to her. Why leave her as a potential live witness? The progression of events appeared to be that the gunman took their belongings and then he shot them. That made no sense either. As for the work I did with her, in that kind of situation I proceed with an open mind. It’s part of the job. But, if each account of a situation starts from the beginning, if the responses themselves are lacking in detail, if it is repeated in similar limited detail, over time I consider I’m being lied to. That the person giving the information is being very economical in order to keep the story straight.’

Watts sat on the edge of the table, his arms folded. ‘Brendan and Molly have both given false information during their interviews. Question is, which one do I most believe? I’m hoping for something else from Chong that will clinch it.’

They waited in silence for a further ten minutes. ‘Science is taking its time.’

‘What if it doesn’t arrive?’ asked Judd.

‘Let’s hope it does, and soon. Ready?’

‘Sarge.’

Molly Lawrence stood as they came into the room. ‘I don’t like being made to wait. It’s extremely stressful.’

Judd switched on the recording equipment. ‘Sit down, Mrs Lawrence. You’re still under caution. This interview is being recorded as before, so we’ll continue. Tell me why you were at Forge Street late yesterday.’

Lawrence looked from her to Watts. ‘You already know why. Brendan told me that he’d left one of my earrings there and that it might incriminate me, and Will confirmed an earring was missing. I thought, if I found it, it might somehow incriminate him.’

‘Why didn’t you simply come to headquarters and tell us about it?’

Lawrence sighed, closed her eyes. ‘I’ve told you. I was under duress. Under threat.’

At a quiet knock, Watts stood, went to the door, returning with two A4 sheets which he glanced at then passed to Judd. She read them, looked up. ‘Mrs Lawrence, can you confirm whether at any time you had physical contact with the gun during the attack on you and your husband?’

She looked up. ‘Of course not. No.’

‘Are you also able to confirm that you had no direct contact with that gun at any time prior to that attack?’

‘How could I? I didn’t even know of its existence.’ Aware of Judd’s eyes still on her, she sighed. ‘No. I didn’t.’

‘For the benefit of the recording, I’m now showing Mrs Lawrence the results of an analysis of a partial fingerprint taken from the gun which was used to kill Michael Lawrence.’ She slid one of the A4 sheets towards her. ‘This partial print has been matched to ones left by you on the car belonging to you and your husband.’

Lawrence stared at the sheet.

‘Do you want to comment on that, Mrs Lawrence?’

‘Yes, I do. It’s either a mistake or you’re lying.’

Judd slid the second A4 sheet towards her. ‘I’m now showing Mrs Lawrence a forensic report on a watch, plus samples of the lining of a coat, both of which were worn by her on the night Michael Lawrence was attacked, which—’

‘What are you saying? I was shot. I was robbed!’

‘Confirms the presence of significant gunpowder residue on both watch and lining.’ Judd paused and looked directly at her. The atmosphere in the room tightened. ‘The presence of that residue indicates that your hand was in extremely close proximity to that gun when it was fired. What do you say to that?’

She stared at Judd. ‘I say it’s ridiculous. I’m beginning to question the expertise of everyone working here.’

‘There’s no doubting the results, Mrs Lawrence.’ She pointed. ‘Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to test samples from your watch and your coat lining.’ Judd looked at her. ‘You described the sleeves of that coat as very long. The right sleeve was tested and gave the same result.’

Judd took back the A4s. ‘We have other information which strengthens our suspicions that you shot and killed your husband and then shot yourself. Evidence is fast accumulating against you, Mrs Lawrence. This is your opportunity to respond.’

She gazed back at Judd, arms folded, lips pressed together.

A further knock took Watts to the door. He returned with information which he handed to Judd.

‘Here’s something else for you to consider, Mrs Lawrence.’ Judd pushed the two stapled sheets across the table. ‘For the recording, I’m now showing Mrs Lawrence a statement by Sebastian Engar, employer of Michael Lawrence, which states that he has been shown a diamond earring, property of Molly Lawrence, and has confirmed he bought a pair identical to it.’

Judd looked up at her. ‘We’re now saying that those were the earrings you were wearing on the night