heard apologising, explaining that the delay was due to his representing another client in court.
Helen walked back along the corridor with Anna. ‘Nasty piece of work, isn’t she?’
Anna nodded, not wishing to get into how she felt about Tina.
‘Could you manage to get some lunch brought up to my office?’ she asked.
‘Canteen might be closed, it’s almost three.’
‘Just a sandwich and coffee will do. Thank you.’
By now Anna had a headache. She was just taking a couple of aspirin when Paul called through to say that the duty solicitor was now with Michael Phillips, and had also asked to see her. Sighing, she asked for Paul to give her fifteen minutes and by the time Helen had brought her lunch she was feeling a little better. Still the headache persisted so she took two more aspirin before she agreed to speak with Rhaji Simonie, now representing Michael Phillips.
‘Hello again,’ he said, smiling as he entered her office. Anna stood up to shake his hand, having no recall of ever meeting him previously. He was very young, with tawny skin and gleaming black hair combed straight back from his angular face.
‘Well, I’ve talked with Mr Phillips, or should I say he talked at me, and I think we need to establish a few things.’
He sat down, opening a very beaten-up bulging leather briefcase, and rooted around to bring out some loose pages. He then had another search around and Anna offered him a sharpened pencil from a jar on her desk. He shook his head, patting his jacket pockets and finally smiled as he took out a biro. He clicked it open and closed as he looked over his scrawled notes.
‘Right, my client is not officially under arrest but had agreed to come here voluntarily to assist your enquiry. You have previously interviewed him at his place of work requesting information with regard to the disappearance of someone called Alan Rawlins.’ He glanced up at Anna and gave her yet another wide smile. She was impatient, and his irritating click-clicking of his biro didn’t help.
‘Mr Simonie, your client is the neighbour who lives in the flat opposite.’
‘Yes, yes, to a Miss Tina Brooks. He claims that he had no contact with the missing chap and that he has only recently become friendly with Miss Brooks.’
‘Your client has refused to give a DNA sample.’
‘Yes, yes, I am aware of that, and as he has not been formally arrested that is his prerogative.’
‘The reason why I have requested Mr Phillips to assist us is to basically eliminate him from my enquiry. It is far more serious than whether or not he knew Mr Rawlins. We know that it is possible Alan Rawlins was murdered in Miss Brooks’s flat and we have recovered DNA evidence from the bedding in Miss Brooks’s bedroom.’
‘Wait – just let me make a note . . .’
‘I don’t have very much time, Mr Simonie. Basically, if your client’s DNA does not match the evidence we have then he could be eliminated as a suspect.’
‘Hang on a second, I don’t quite follow . . . you have DNA from bedlinen that is connected to the possible murder of er . . . well, do you have a positive identification of who the victim is?’
‘No, we do not. But let me explain. We have substantial blood pooling beside the bed, blood on the edge of the mattress, and the bedlinen was freshly laundered and obviously replaced the bloodstained set. Are you following me?’
‘Yes, yes, just jotting it all down.’
She watched him scribble away and sighed.
‘It is obvious, Mr Simonie, why we suspect that your client may have been involved with Miss Brooks for a considerably longer time than he has admitted. He could therefore be . . .’
‘In cahoots with her?’
‘Yes.’
‘Is Miss Brooks a suspect in the murder of persons unknown?’
‘Yes.’
‘Ah, the plot thickens. Could you give me an indication of why you believe she is connected to the murder of whoever bled on the bed?’
‘There was blood on the floor and in the bathroom, leaving us to suspect that a body was dismembered inside Miss Brooks’s flat.’
‘Bloody hell! Right – and my client has denied knowing anything about this awful situation, correct?’
‘Yes.’
‘But you believe him to be connected?’
‘You tell me, why does your client refuse to assist us? By not giving a DNA sample it is reasonable to suspect his involvement.’
‘No, no, no, I disagree. My client does not realise the seriousness of why you have been questioning him. If, however, you have evidence that proves him to be connected . . .’
Anna sighed and shook her head.
‘Mr Simonie, it is a very simple request. He has lied, he has denied knowing Miss Brooks or having any kind of relationship with her, yet we have a series of phone calls between them.’
‘These calls, how did you get them?’
Anna tensed up and explained that they had acquired them after Miss Brooks had left her salon to place calls to Mr Phillips, first at his office and then to a mobile phone.
‘Ah yes, but these calls have only recently taken place. He admits that he has become friendlier with Miss Brooks, but this has only occurred over the past few days. Miss Brooks was in his apartment for one occasion only and not since. Do you have any evidence that disproves this?’
‘He can resolve the situation by agreeing to give a DNA sample,’ she snapped, exasperated by Simonie.
‘Do you see his predicament?’
‘What?’
‘Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it?’
‘The only thing obvious to me is that your client’s continued refusal to assist my investigation is because he is withholding evidence.’
‘My client is guilty of nothing, Detective Travis. His refusal to comply with your request for a DNA sample is, as I have already stated, his prerogative – unless, of course, you have evidence that proves he is connected to your murder investigation. As his legal representative I will also refuse to encourage my client to—’
Anna stood up, angrily suggested that he leave and crossed to open her door to usher him out.
‘If we find that your client is lying and perverting the course of justice, he will be arrested and charged. You may take him out of the station.’
Simonie stuffed his loose papers back into his briefcase and, clicking his pen, walked towards her.
‘I will inform my client he is free to go. Thank you so much.’
She wanted to slam the door behind him, but she restrained herself and closed it firmly before kicking out at the chair he had just vacated. Then she rang through to Brian Stanley.
‘Brian, have you got the results on Michael Phillips’s mobile and office calls yet?’
‘I think that’s already in progress,’ he said.
‘I asked you personally to do it and I need them urgently. See how far they go back, then let me know the dates ASAP.’ She banged the receiver back and drained the dregs of her cold cup of coffee.
Fifteen minutes later she was heading down the corridor to the interview room as Mr Hyde had finished talking to his client.
By now, Michael Phillips had left with the irritating Rhaji Simonie, who may have been wet behind the ears, but had won round one. Anna had no doubt that she would be seeing him again.
Chapter Thirteen
Tina Brooks was very subdued. She sat with her head bent down and her hands clasped in her lap. Anna
