Are You Smarter than an Ex Detective?

CHAPTER FOUR

Sandra arrived in work early on the Wednesday morning. Glancing over the original paperwork including the coroners report. Sandra noted down anything that appeared unusual. The report had found that Simon Jackson had been treated for what was believed to have been a begnign tumour that had been removed approximately six months before his death and that though he had suffered a large heart attack when in his thirties, that a 'myocardial infarction' was only a possible cause of death rather than the probable one. A Post-Mortem had revealed that the heart still seemed to be in relatively good shape considering that it was a suspected heart-attack that had killed him. Sandra noted that this was the reason why the coroner had reached an open verdict. Which the distressed wife of Simon Jackson had quickly determined that he must have been murdered and pressed the Met to have keep the original investigation open.

The further she read into the report, the further she seemed to think that the original team in CID seemed to try and conclude this investigation in the quickest time possible. With the lead DI making a note saying that given Jackson's known heart condition, that it was likely that heart trouble would have played some sort of role in the cause of death. But it seemed like 'any C.O.D.' would do if it meant that the Met could get this one quickly done and dusted.

"Morning Sandra," Jack announced as he entered the room hanging up his coat. "What time is Clare Bernard arriving?"

"She should be here for around about 10am, I know she wanted to be done rather early as they've got another episode to film tonight."

"Did she say much last night?"

"Nothing much, but it did seem that the Coroner was rather skeptical that Jackson

"So what did the Post Mortem say?" Jack asked, supping his first tea of the day.

"Made important note that Jackson had had a heart attack in 1990, and that few expected him to have survived that one. But that there was no noticable decline in the heart since then and up until his death."

"Any other natural causes then?"

"Nope" Sandra shook her head. "Probably explains the open verdict."

"Morning" Gerry said, whist whistling towards his desk.

"You sound pleased with yourself Gerry"

"I am Guvnor, last night. I was really buzzing."

"Gerry," Jack said, "you buzzed in ten times last night and you got eleven of those wrong." Sandra couldn't resist a smile.

"What does that mean?"

"It means that unless you improve, we're sacking you from the quiz team?" Sandra snapped. This time Jack smirked while Gerry went off to find a cup of tea. "Don't ask me for a cup of tea" he told Sandra, "that goes for you an all" he said to Jack.

"Alright, I'll have a coffee then" Jack said. Sandra couldn't help herself this time.

She composed herself as she answered the phone "Hello? right, well we'll meet her upstairs. Thanks."

"Who was that?"

"Clare Bernard, she's in reception now."

"You want me to come with you?"

"You can do?" Sandra and Jack headed towards the door.

"Gerry"

"Christ, what now?"

"Make sure the drinks don't go cold."

"Thanks"

"And while you're at it, you and Brian when he gets here try and trace contact details for all those who worked in

"Wouldn't the studios hold those."

"Don't contact them until we need to. I don't want anyone there getting suspicious that we're there for more than answering questions."

Some fifteen minutes later and Sandra and Jack were seated in an interview room with Clare.

"Just to let you know Clare that this interview is off the record and that you may leave at any time" Sandra explained.

Clare nodded.

"You said last night that you heard of a row on the night of July 17th 2002."

Clare nodded again.

"Could you care to tell us who was involved in that particular row?" Jack asked.

"It was between Simon and Emily"

"Any idea what it was about?"

"Simon had just turned 60, earlier on in the year and he'd said that he was thinking about retiring as host. Given he'd done it for twenty years."

"Right" Jack said, taking brief notes. "Did Emily have any objection to that?"

"God no" Clare said, taking a sip of water. "Emily was actively pushing him to retire?"

"How do you mean?"

"Upto a year before that, Emily had hosted a 15 minute Celebrity interview programme on the channel, broadcast really late at night."

"Well?"

"Well, she'd wanted to try something different. And when Simon said that he was going to retire, she thought about asking whther she could take over as host."

"And what did Mr Jackson say about this?" Sandra asked, glancing at the clock.

"At first he seemed very happy about it. He'd seen the potential she had from her hosting of 'The Goss Show'.

"This is before the night of the 16th July right"

Clare nodded.

"So what changed?"

"Simon announced in April that he was planning on quitting the show at the end of the 2002 series. Which would be completed on the Friday the 19th July."

Jack noted the date down.

"But the staff didn't want him to go. Thought it wouldn't be the same without him."

"I can see that" Jack said, "I've not really watched them since he left."

"So you see what I mean. They wanted him to stay on."

"What did Simon say to that?"

"He said he'd think about it."

"And it would seem Emily Fletcher didn't really like this happening."

"Superintendent, the row was about him deciding to do another three year contract. She said that he'd regret what he had done."

Are You Smarter than an Ex Detective?