Dead at First Sight

77 Wednesday 10 October

After the abortive interview with Dunstan Ogwang, Grace went down to the privacy of his ground-floor cubicle of an office. He first called Cassian Pewe, who had left a message wanting an update and insisting he attend the press conference himself. Determined, of course, to steal the limelight — and any future glory.

Ending the call to the ACC, he pondered on his lunch tomorrow in London with Alison Vosper. What did she have in mind for him? An escape from that plonker on the first floor of the building housing the brass?

He turned his attention to the reports he needed to read through before his meeting in London, tomorrow afternoon, with Emily Denyer and the prosecuting counsel on the so-called ‘Black Widow’, Jodie Bentley — one of the nastiest and most devious human beings he had ever had the dubious privilege to arrest. Responsible for the deaths of at least three rich lovers — and very nearly for the death of Norman Potting — Bentley deserved to be behind bars for the rest of her natural life. But, of course, thanks to the skewed justice system, that would never happen, he thought, gloomily.

There was a rat-a-tat-tat on his door, then Norman Potting blundered in, beaming. ‘I’ve spoken to CPS, chief, and run through the evidence with them. They’re happy for us to charge him with GBH with Intent.’

‘Good... did you discuss with them his selection of names and which to charge him under?’

‘Since he first came into this country as Kofi Okonjo, and that’s the name on the international arrest warrant, they think that’s the one we should use. Do you agree?’

‘Yes. You can explain it to the magistrate in court when he appears, with luck this afternoon. I’ve checked and it’s Juliet Smith who is the senior one on today. I doubt she’ll be sympathetic towards him.’

Grace had a soft spot for her, because of all the magistrates he’d ever been in front of she was the most supportive towards the police, but always fair in her decisions.

‘Do you want to do the honours, chief?’

‘No, I have a ton of stuff to prepare for a meeting with counsel in London tomorrow, so the pleasure is all yours, Norman. With the severity of the charges and Okonjo clearly a flight risk, there shouldn’t be any problem in getting the magistrate to agree to denying any bail application and remanding him in custody. So fill your boots.’