Wrongful Death

Chapter Thirty-Six

Anna was absolutely livid as the custody sergeant explained that he had received a phone call from Deputy Commissioner Walters instructing him that Lady Gloria Lynne was to be allowed to see her daughter. The sergeant said he had informed Walters that DCI Travis had left orders that Aisa was not to have any visitors, but Walters pulled rank and the sergeant was left with no choice but to comply. Anna asked if Walters had given a reason for his actions and the sergeant told her that his exact words were, ‘It would be beneficial to the investigation and may lead to a full confession.’

Anna had a quick look at the custody record and saw that Ian Holme had been served disclosure and then had a twenty-minute consultation with Aisa. Gloria had been with Aisa for nearly an hour. Anna stormed off to the interview room and on opening the door she found Gloria standing next to Aisa, who was looking in an even worse state than before. On seeing Anna, Gloria leaned forward, put her arm round her daughter and started her act. ‘Don’t worry, my darling, Mummy is always here for you, but you must tell DCI Travis the truth about you and Josh.’

Anna felt sick to the stomach knowing that Gloria had what she craved for, total domination and control over her daughter. She had an overwhelming urge to put Gloria up against the wall and tell her exactly what she thought of her sick, warped existence, but she knew that would be futile and playing into Gloria’s hands. So Anna fought back her anger, told herself to remain calm and forced a smile.

‘Sorry, I thought Mr Holme was with Aisa having a consultation. I was wondering if she was ready to be interviewed,’ she said as if nothing was wrong.

‘She will be shortly, won’t you, darling? I just need to speak with Ian to assure him that there will be no more lies from her, and then she’s all yours,’ Gloria said, as if Aisa were some form of commodity to be handed around. Anna held the door open as Gloria walked out of the room and followed her up the corridor.

‘May I ask what you said to your daughter, Lady Lynne, as she seems really upset?’ Anna forced herself to ask politely.

Gloria stopped and deliberately kept her back to Anna for a few seconds before turning to face her. ‘You should be thanking me, Detective Travis. The great Ian Holme could not get my daughter to tell him anything – but for me, you’d get nothing out of her. I have done what any caring mother would do, persuaded her to tell you the truth.’

‘And that would be in whose best interest?’ Anna asked.

But Gloria’s only response was to sneer and look her up and down as if she were a piece of dirt before walking away.

Anna stormed back into her office to tell Langton what had happened, to find Jessie Dewar was already there and had informed Langton that something had gone terribly wrong.

‘Bloody Walters, she’s using him; if he walked in here now, I’d kill him!’ Anna said, gritting her teeth in anger.

Langton told her to take a deep breath, calm down and explain what had happened. Anna told them about Walters’ call to the custody sergeant, her brief chat with Gloria Lynne, the state of hopelessness that Aisa was in, and how Gloria was revelling in it all.

‘God knows what Walters told her, and if Ian Holme revealed the disclosure Gloria had everything she needed to prime Aisa,’ Anna said despairingly and banged her hand on the desk.

‘Why would Walters tell Gloria anything?’ Langton asked.

Anna remembered that she had not as yet told Langton anything about her confrontational meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, and now explained how he flew off the handle after Gloria Lynne complained about Aisa’s arrest. Walters had demanded to know why she was back in London and she had, at first, only told him about evidence that implicated Aisa. Langton pressed Anna as to what she meant by ‘at first’, so she told him that the Coroner had spoken with Walters as Dr Harrow had made a complaint. She had to tell Walters that Samuel Peters was related to Josh and stole money from him, and as far as Walters was concerned Samuel died of a heart attack.

‘Anything else?’ Langton glanced towards Dewar.

‘No,’ Anna said. She knew it was not a good time to mention everything else that had been said in that extraordinary meeting.

‘Basically, you lied to him,’ Langton told her.

‘I was economical with the truth,’ she said, trying to justify her position.

‘This case goes from bad to worse.’ Langton sighed.

‘If I were in Anna’s shoes I’d have done the same,’ Dewar said, coming to her defence.

‘Well, I’m no angel when it comes to feeding Walters with a load of crap. We have to assume that Gloria sweet-talked Walters into telling her everything he knew. The agenda now is damage limitation,’ Langton said, looking at Dewar again.

Dewar realized that he wanted her input about what Gloria might have said to Aisa, and how best to deal with the situation, and so she commented that it was interesting that the woman had never come to the station to play the loving and caring mother when Donna was arrested. Dewar believed the reason for this was that Gloria had nothing to fear simply because Donna had nothing to tell as she was the only innocent party in the whole sordid affair.

‘That poor girl has been put through hell,’ Anna said.

Langton found it hard to comprehend that Gloria Lynne was prepared to let Donna take the fall.

‘A sociopath like Gloria Lynne has no feelings of love for either of her daughters in the way that a mother should,’ Dewar informed them. ‘Donna and Aisa are her pawns, little trophies that she likes to pander to so she appears to be the perfect, caring mother.’

‘The woman’s something else. How has she deceived everyone for so long?’ Langton asked.

Dewar explained that Lady Lynne had spent her life impressing people of high standing and integrity through lies and deceit. ‘The reality is, Gloria doesn’t want friends, she craves loyal followers, people who believe in her and thereby unwittingly do everything they can to help her achieve her own conceited goals.’

‘She’s more dangerous than I realized,’ Langton said.

‘Well I think we know it now, but Gloria Lynne is dangerous because of ignorance… not her own, but everyone else’s understanding of who or what she really is. It’s rare that anyone is able to see through the mask of a cold-hearted sociopath,’ Dewar said calmly, adding that Aisa and Donna’s reputations didn’t matter a jot to Gloria, as ultimately she had to be the one in total control.

Langton remained silent for a moment but then said that Donna seemed to be different as she had, prior to meeting Josh Reynolds, rebelled against her mother by leaving the family home to become a stripper.

Dewar smiled. ‘Ah, yes, but the grief of others is sheer pleasure to a sociopath – any weakness, especially in a time of sorrow, and they’ll move in and take control. No sooner was Josh Reynolds dead than Gloria used the situation to once again take over Donna’s life by playing on her grief, organizing Josh’s funeral, the sale of the Bayswater flat and the Trojan.’ Dewar looked to Anna.

Anna hesitated and then said quietly, ‘I think Gloria saw Aisa in her bloodstained dress when she got back to the Savoy from Josh’s. Then under immense pressure Aisa confessed to her mother about the affair and being present when Josh shot himself.’

‘Yet again that is just bloody supposition – you don’t know what happened,’ Langton said, unable to contain his frustration.

Dewar again sided with Anna. ‘What we do know about for certain is Aisa’s fear of her mother’s wrath. She clearly didn’t tell her about the theft of the money from CCS Medical, or the love nest at Esme’s, as that would have led to the discovery of her buying Josh the Ferrari.’

Langton looked slightly perplexed. ‘Okay, I understand Aisa being terrified of Gloria and thus the partial confession, but why didn’t she just up and leave like Donna did?’

It was Anna’s turn to look to Dewar for an explanation.

‘You have to understand that deep down both girls may know Gloria doesn’t love them, but that won’t necessarily stop them loving her. The difference with Aisa is she’s spoilt, likes life in the fast lane, the swanky parties, mixing with celebs, but most of all she likes the money.’

‘Is she like her mother – you know, like a mini-sociopath?’ Langton asked, still trying to digest the information.

Dewar grinned at his terminology. ‘She’s inherited her mother’s love of money and taste for the good life, but, no, I don’t think she’s a sociopath in the real sense of the word.’

‘If Aisa’s terrified of Gloria, and she’s primed her about what to say in interview, then basically we’re screwed,’ Anna predicted.

‘You don’t know until you interview her and if anyone can break Gloria’s hold on her, you can,’ insisted Dewar, keen that they remained optimistic.

Langton was still unsure, but like Dewar he felt he should encourage Anna, and so he gave her a rueful smile.

‘Let’s get on with it, and see what the outcome is.’

Ian Holme was waiting in the corridor as they approached and, recognizing Langton, shook his hand, asking him how he was. From his facial expression and manner, Anna could see that Holme was not being ingratiating, but obviously had a genuine respect for Langton. He asked to speak to them both in private, and so Anna led them into an empty interview room, while Dewar made her way to the viewing suite.

‘Aisa Lynne has made full and frank admissions to me about her affair with Josh Reynolds and the use of the charity fund monies,’ Holme said. ‘On my advice, she has made a prepared statement, which I will read out to you in the interview.’

‘Well, dependent on those admissions we may still need to put further questions to her concerning Mr Reynolds’ death,’ Anna said, making her point clear.

‘I have no problem with that, Detective Travis, and I will advise my client accordingly. What I will object to is any line of questioning concerning the fact that Josh Reynolds was Aisa Lynne’s half-brother.’

Anna knew that he could only have got the information from Gloria Lynne. The problem was, she didn’t know how much the woman had told him.

‘Can I ask why, Mr Holme?’ Anna asked.

‘Neither Aisa nor Donna Lynne are aware that Joshua was really Arum Peters. Lady Lynne herself did not know Josh Reynolds’ true identity until recently. She is concerned that any revelation to her daughters, of their incestuous relationship, could have devastating psychological effects.’

Anna knew there and then that Gloria had Ian Holme exactly where she wanted him: he had become one of her followers, a duped disciple who could see no wrong in her.

‘Why has Lady Lynne not brought this information to our attention before?’ Langton asked.

Holme said that as Lady Lynne’s representative he would be breaching her trust if he said anything more, but she had indicated that she would like to talk to DCI Travis after the interview with Aisa. Langton told Mr Holme that he and DCI Travis would join him shortly in the interview room.

As soon as they were alone, Langton turned to Anna.

‘You do not raise the birth certificates or anything to do with them.’

‘But Samuel gave the documents to Josh who then showed them to Aisa, so they are relevant evidence about which I am perfectly entitled to question her.’

‘You have no proof of that, and Aisa’s prints aren’t on the certificates. Don’t you get it? Gloria Lynne is trying to rile you. Even if Aisa already knows about her relationship to Josh, she’ll make out she didn’t, act all hysterical and Holme will accuse you of deliberate oppressive tactics and end the interview.’

Anna knew that he was right, but it galled her that Ian Holme was so blissfully unaware that Gloria was using him.

‘Okay,’ she said begrudgingly.

On entering the main interview room, Anna could see that Aisa looked much calmer than she had when her mother was with her, and suspected that she was not as nervous because she had given Ian Holme the story that her mother had concocted. As she turned on the DVD recording equipment, Anna tried to make eye contact with Aisa, while Langton made the formal introductions and reminded the young woman she was still under caution. She looked down at the floor and simply nodded. Ian Holme stated that his client fully understood why she had been arrested and that anything she said could be used in evidence against her.

‘Aisa Lynne has made a prepared statement, which I will read out on her behalf. She has signed it as being a true version of events concerning her relationship with Joshua Reynolds,’ Holme said as he placed the statement down on the table in front of him. He was about to start when Anna interjected.

‘Have you made the statement of your own free will, Aisa?’ she asked, still desperately trying to make eye contact.

Aisa kept her head down and spoke quietly. ‘Yes, my mother told me I must tell you the truth.’

Anna sighed. ‘I’m sure she did, Aisa. Mummy always knows what is best for her little girls, doesn’t she?’

‘We should be grateful that Lady Lynne is such an honourable woman; many mothers would advise their offspring to say nothing,’ Holmes replied, refusing to react to Anna’s sarcasm.

Anna would have loved to press Aisa further on exactly what her mother had said but Langton frowned at her and she knew it was best to listen to the statement before proceeding with any further questions. Holme started to read:

Around mid-summer of 2012 I started an affair with my brother-in-law Joshua Reynolds and our love for each other grew quickly over the weeks that followed. We used his deceased mother’s flat as a place to meet and carry out our affair.

At the beginning of September, Josh asked me if I could loan him some money as his club, the Trojan, was in financial difficulties and he needed funds to develop the premises. Josh had spoken with my sister Donna about asking my mother Lady Gloria Lynne for a loan, but Donna refused to ask her for any financial help. I did have funds of my own but I didn’t want my mother or Donna to know that I would lend Josh the money, as I feared them finding out about our affair and ending it.

I told Josh that I would loan him the money through the Lynne Foundation, and it was agreed that he would repay the loan once the Trojan was back on its feet and in profit. He opened a bank account using his mother’s maiden name and address so that all correspondence would go there and Donna wouldn’t find out. I made two online transfers to this account from the CCS Medical Trust charity. Each one was for fifty thousand pounds. I also borrowed ninety-eight thousand pounds from CCS Medical to buy Josh a Ferrari as an early Christmas present.

I know CCS Medical is an account that Donna looked after, but it is our biggest charity and I thought that none of the money would be missed in between lending it to Josh, buying the Ferrari, and then repaying it all. I did not mean for Donna to get into trouble but when Josh committed suicide, I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t say anything about our affair, I didn’t have enough of my own money to repay everything, and I couldn’t get the Ferrari from the garage to sell it. I decided to say nothing, and as time passed no one noticed, so I just left it as it was, sort of put it out of my mind. I am truly sorry for what I did but it was my intention that all the money would be repaid.

As Holmes turned a page of the statement, Anna glanced to see if there was any reaction from Aisa, but she remained with her head bowed. Holmes cleared his throat and continued reading:

On the night of 5 November 2012, I did leave the Savoy Hotel in my sister’s car to go and see Joshua Reynolds at his flat in Bayswater. In the afternoon I was busy organizing the Charity Ball and had switched my mobile to silent. I remember someone from reception coming to find me saying I had a call from a Mr Peters. I knew it was Josh but I told them to tell the caller that I was busy and I would ring him back. About fifteen minutes later Josh rang the reception again and I went and spoke with him. He sounded really upset about something and said he wanted to come and see me. I told him he couldn’t come to the Savoy as it was too risky but I would ring him later while I was getting ready for the ball. He called the hotel again about two hours later and this time he got put through to the room I was sharing with Donna, who was in the shower at the time. He still sounded upset and demanded to see me. I asked him why it was so urgent, but all he said was that it had to do with my mother, Donna and me. The way he sounded really freaked me out. I said I would say I felt ill and come to him later in the evening.

I didn’t have my car with me so I used Donna’s Mini. When I got to his block of flats I rang the buzzer, but got no answer so I tried ringing his mobile, but again there was no answer. A man came out of the flats through the residents’ security door and I took the opportunity to go in and knocked on Josh’s flat door but again I got no answer. I should say that the caller ID is blocked on my outgoing calls, and Josh was using a special application thing to hide my calls and texts on his mobile from Donna.

Anna sighed with impatience – it was infuriating to listen to Holme’s upper-class voice, and hear just how much detail Aisa had made in her statement. Holme glanced towards her and turned a page, and again cleared his throat. Langton opened a bottle of water and placed it in front of him. Holme sipped a few mouthfuls, and then he continued reading:

At the time, I was really annoyed with Josh as his earlier call had me frightened that we had been found out. My nerves really got to me and on my way back to the Charity Ball, I suddenly felt ill, stopped the car, got out and was sick on the side of the road and down my dress. I put the dress in a bath of cold water when I got back to the hotel. My mother came into the room while I was doing this and asked how I was feeling. I told her much better and she said to put on another dress and come back down to the ball so I did. I didn’t try to ring Josh again at the time, I was upset that I had gone to all the trouble of going to the flat to see him and he wasn’t even there. It was not until the next day when I heard about his death that I realized this was why he never answered the door or my calls.

I know that I should have told the police at the time but I couldn’t, Donna was already devastated and knowing of my and Josh’s affair would have totally destroyed her. When I heard that Josh’s death was a suicide I was surprised and I wondered if he had killed himself because of our affair. It even crossed my mind that he may not have been able to repay the money and he was worried about that. I also knew that he was very depressed about his business, and upset that his partner and best friend Marcus Williams had been making money by selling the girls to clients for sex.

This statement is true and what I have said is to the best of my memory accurate about what happened between Josh Reynolds and myself. I would like to apologize to my mother, my sister and the police for all the trouble I have caused.

Throughout the reading of the statement, Aisa continued to look at the floor and only during the last few sentences did she begin to cry. Anna had not realized the full extent of Gloria’s cunning until now. She had weaselled out of Walters and Ian Holme exactly what she needed to know, then conned her way into a ‘visit’ with Aisa. Anna knew that Gloria would have manipulated her daughter, terrifying her into submission to do exactly as she was told. The affair with Josh was a betrayal of Donna, but not a criminal act, and in fact Aisa’s only admission to a crime was taking money from the CCS Medical charity.

Holme now took longer sips from his water. Langton said nothing, picking at his thumbnail. Anna knew something didn’t seem right, and she asked Ian Holme if she could look at the prepared statement.

The room was silent as she read through the document. It took her a few moments to find it but then it hit her: not once had Aisa actually said she stole the money, but always referred to it as a loan. She was about to question Aisa about the inconsistency when Ian Holme pre-empted her.

‘In respect of the money given to Josh Reynolds, for the club and to purchase the Ferrari, my client had always considered this a loan that was to be repaid; there was no intention on her behalf to permanently deprive CCS Medical of the funds. Lady Lynne has also informed me that she does not wish to press charges against her daughter and this morning she repaid every penny out of her personal funds.’

Anna looked at Langton, who shrugged his shoulders. They both realized that to prove theft they had to show that Aisa’s intention was to appropriate the money with the intention to permanently deprive. Anna knew that Gloria must have discussed the charity money with Ian Holme, who would have advised her, and Aisa, that if it was a loan and repaid there was no case to answer. Holme now followed up his bombshell by stating that as there was no evidence to substantiate any charges against Aisa she should be released forthwith.

Anna was not prepared to give in so easily. ‘There is the question of Aisa perverting the course of justice.’

He smiled, as if he was about to address the court.

‘Perverting the course of justice is a very serious offence, DCI Travis, and as I’m sure you are aware it carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.’

‘I am aware of that, Mr Holme, but I don’t think Aisa is,’ Anna replied flippantly.

Holme placed his pen on the table. ‘The original investigation was treated as a suicide and the Coroner’s verdict was suicide. There was no suspicion of a criminal offence; if there had been I’m sure your murder squad would have been called in immediately. Aisa Lynne was never asked to provide a witness statement by DI Simms, or to give testimony during the Coroner’s inquest. Ergo, officer, my client Aisa Lynne did nothing to intentionally pervert the course of justice.’

Anna was not to be outdone. ‘Who said I was talking about the original investigation, Mr Holme? When DI Barolli and Special Agent Dewar went to see Aisa, at the Lynne Foundation, Josh’s death was being treated as a murder investigation.’ Anna flicked through the printed documents in front of her, found Barolli’s report of the meeting with Aisa, and slid it across the table for Ian Holme to read.

‘She said she left the party because the lobster and prawn tian made her feel ill and came back down later for the fireworks. There is nothing in her prepared statement about leaving the ball for nearly two hours, ergo she lied to and misled my officers in a criminal investigation.’

Holme was still reading the document as Anna pressed on: ‘So tell me, Aisa, why did you lie to my officers?’

Aisa said nothing and could not look up at Anna, but Holme was again quick to interject. ‘For the same reasons as she said in her statement – she did not want her mother Lady Lynne or Donna to find out about her affair with Josh Reynolds.’

‘It is also a criminal offence to conspire with another person to pervert the course of justice. Did you discuss what to say today with anyone else, Aisa?’ Anna asked briskly and watched as she began to shake.

Langton nudged Anna’s leg under the table and the look on his face made it clear that he did not, at this point, want Anna to accuse Lady Lynne of a conspiracy with her daughter. The look on the face of Ian Holme was even more incredulous, but neither of them knew exactly what Anna was up to.

‘Are you seriously suggesting that Lady Lynne would tell her daughter to lie?’ Holme asked, exasperated.

Anna ignored him and put the CCTV picture of Samuel Peters down on the table in front of her. ‘This picture was taken outside the Savoy on the night of the Charity Ball. Do you recognize or know this man?’

Holme was quick to say that the picture had not been disclosed to him before the interview and he would like to know more before Aisa answered.

‘Do you know that man? He came to the Savoy minutes before you left to go to Josh’s flat,’ Anna asked in a raised voice. She knew that she was taking a risk, but considered that if Aisa had been shown the marriage and birth certificates by Josh then she knew the truth about him being her half-brother. If that was the case then she was reasonably certain that Gloria would have discussed Samuel Peters’ existence with Aisa. She also wondered if Gloria had said anything about Samuel to Ian Holme. His next outburst confirmed that she had.

‘Detective Travis, I warned you before this interview about non-disclosure and oppressive tactics and you are now-’

Anna again ignored him. ‘Look at the picture, Aisa, a simple yes or no will suffice.’ Aisa slowly raised her head to look at the image.

‘I am advising you to make no further comment, Aisa, and I want this interview terminated NOW,’ Holme said, and pushed the picture back towards Anna.

‘Yes, I have seen him before,’ Aisa said softly and there was an immediate silence in the room. Holme was about to say something but Anna jumped in and asked Aisa where she had seen him. She looked up at Anna, and whispered, ‘When I was at Josh’s flat, I saw that man there.’

Holme told Aisa that she was not obliged to answer DCI Travis’s questions, but Anna could see that she wanted to say more and she gave Aisa a comforting nod to continue.

‘He was the man who came out when I was pressing the buzzer. He opened the door and I slipped in past him. I’d never seen him before or since, but I remember him because of the dreadlocks and his age.’

Feeling like the ground was about to open up and swallow her, Anna realized that she had just fallen into a trap. She had shot herself in the foot. She urgently looked at Langton to take over the interview so she had time to think about what to do next, but he shook his head in disbelief as he realized that Gloria had won. Aisa’s primed, yet seemingly innocuous reply, had just shifted the whole balance of suspicion onto Samuel Peters as being with Josh Reynolds at the time of his death.

Aisa’s statement had clearly described how she had been unable to get a reply from Josh at the flat by phone or knocking. Anna knew that Samuel had keys in his possession for both Josh and Esme’s flat. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth.

Langton knew the case against Aisa being present at Josh’s death had just been dealt a knockout blow.

‘Thank you for your cooperation and prepared statement, Miss Lynne. This interview is terminated,’ he said as he switched off the recording equipment. Holme sat back in his chair with a smug look on his face and asked about Aisa’s release. Langton told him that they would like to hear what Lady Lynne had to say first. Holme raised the fact that Donna Lynne was in prison for offences she clearly didn’t commit and he wanted her released forthwith. Langton agreed with him and said that he would arrange her immediate release with the CPS and for transport to take her home to Lynne House.

A demoralized Langton, Anna and Dewar regrouped upstairs, gathering once more in Anna’s office. Anna apologized to both of them, adding that for Aisa to say what she did about Samuel Peters, Gloria must have anticipated that Anna knew about him and would show Aisa a picture.

‘No shit, Sherlock!’ Langton snapped back at her.

‘In fairness, Jimmy, none of us could have anticipated that happening, and it shows how intelligent and cunning Gloria is,’ Dewar said.

‘Travis should have known it was coming,’ Langton said angrily.

‘How could I have?’ Anna said, horribly aware that her game of words with Gloria when searching Lynne House had backfired.

‘Because you told that prick Walters that Samuel Peters was related to Josh, and had stolen money from him. You knew he had spoken with Gloria before the interview.’

‘Yes, but I didn’t know exactly what he’d told her. Aisa is totally under Gloria’s spell so I took a gamble but it didn’t pay off. We can always do another interview with Aisa after we have spoken with Gloria.’

‘What about? The time of bloody day? You have nothing against her and Ian Holme knows that; even perverting the course of justice is on a fine thread,’ Langton said. He leaned back in his chair, trying to control his temper.

It suddenly crossed Anna’s mind that Aisa’s identification of Samuel Peters could be turned to their advantage. ‘Ian Holme will tell Gloria about the identification Aisa made from the CCTV picture.’

‘Of course he bloody will! Did you not see the smug look on his face? Dead men can’t talk, so the blame for everything will be shifted onto Samuel Peters,’ Langton replied in anger.

‘Samuel Peters can’t drive so timing-wise, he couldn’t have got to Bayswater before Aisa,’ Dewar remarked.

‘Don’t talk shite! Holme will simply argue he could have got a taxi and been there five or ten minutes before her.’

Anna was determined to make her point. ‘That picture was taken at the Savoy. Aisa said she didn’t know the man’s name and had only ever seen him at Josh’s flat. We know that Samuel is Gloria’s first husband so I’d like to hear her explanation as to why he was at the Charity Ball,’ she said, relieved that she might yet be able to salvage something from her faux pas in the interview.

Langton paused as he thought about this and then told her that she had made a valid suggestion.

‘Don’t be surprised if Gloria has a convincing explanation,’ Dewar said.

‘Thanks for the vote of confidence, Jessie,’ Anna said, even though she knew Dewar was right.

‘Gloria’s highly intelligent and will have planned and rehearsed her story over and over again in her mind, right down to the finest details. She will have memorized an answer for every possible twist and turn,’ Dewar informed them.

‘What about her bloody micro-expressions?’ Langton asked.

‘Almost impossible to detect,’ Dewar said in a matter-of-fact way.

‘I thought it was one of your specialities!’

‘Yes, but Gloria’s had years of practice at refining her body language and facial expressions. She’s a master of deceit,’ Dewar replied.

Langton felt they were just going over the same old ground. ‘You’re supposed to be the psychological expert, Jessie, so please tell me something we don’t know or haven’t already considered about Gloria bloody Lynne.’

‘A play has a start, middle and end…’

Langton was losing his patience. ‘For God’s sake get to the point, Dewar.’

‘Gloria will have had to memorize the script thoroughly before she can perform it, and her emotions need to match the moment. The story needs to unfold in the order she memorized it – you change the order and she may just fluff or forget her lines and when that happens it can have a knock-on effect,’ Dewar said with a wry smile.

Langton took on board what Dewar was saying and conceded it was worth a try, but he knew that Gloria was not just an ordinary actor.

‘Psychologically, I can understand Aisa lying because she’s terrified of her mother, but even so a second interview with her could be worthwhile,’ Dewar added.

‘We will listen to what Gloria has to tell us first and I will take the lead in any questions that need to be asked. You do not interrupt and you will not arrest her. Do I make myself clear, Anna?’

‘Not really because I-’

‘She’s expecting you to take her on and I don’t want to play into her hands again,’ Langton emphasized.

‘I’m perfectly capable of handling Gloria Lynne,’ Anna told him.

‘Don’t flatter yourself. The way I see it so far, none of us are. She is winning hands down. If she was able to prime her daughter, Christ only knows what other cards she’s ready to play.’

Langton stood up, almost pushing his chair over, and then gave a cool nod and pointed at her. ‘Behave yourself. Right?’ he warned.

Anna nodded.