Asheto Ashes: Evidence
Chapter 11
The Trial: 3rd witness DCI Robertson
The witness looked briefly and with a sense of satisfaction at the defendant in the dock.
'Gotcha!', he thought.
The DCI hadn't liked her from the moment he had first set eyes on her on the day of her arrest.
His dislike of women in the police force was well known at his own station and this trial was the culmination of his belief that this one was, as the saying went, 'guilty as sin'.
His opinion had been reinforced as he had interviewed her. All through the interview Robertson had felt that this woman was hiding something, that she was in possession of details she still hadn't revealed.
None of her answers contained plausible alibis and no solid explanations had been given. She had appeared more and more worried as his questioning had continued, until, finally, he had charged her.
He knew when someone wasn't telling the whole truth, his copper's eye always spotted it.
"DCI Robertson", Alison began, "As the arresting officer, can you please tell the court what lead you to arrest Detective Inspector Drake?".
Robertson nodded, this would be easy and then he would be down the pub with the boys in time for a round of drinks.
It was, in his eyes, a clear open and shut case.
"We acted on a tip off advising that there were items of interest in the flat occupied by Detective Inspector Drake", Robertson explained, "We didn't know what exactly, only that it related to the deaths of Mister and Mrs Price".
Alison nodded for her witness to continue.
"We arranged a search warrant and did indeed find many items of interest in DI Drake's flat. She immediately became the prime suspect in this investigation and was taken into custody by myself and DI Matthews a short while later", Robertson concluded his explanation of the chain of events that had led to Alex's arrest.
"And what did you find that so convinced you of the defendant's involvement in these murders DCI Robertson?" Alison asked as several items of evidence began to be handed around the court.
"We have quite a few items here as you can see", Robertson replied.
There was silence for a few moments as the evidence was handed around and examined..
"The first item drew our attention straight away and we believe it is key to this case", Robertson explained, "A makeshift calendar dating from July 1981 to October 1981. As you can see, the days have been marked off as they have passed...Yet mysteriously the markings stop and are marked with a cross on the day of October 10th, the day the Price's were murdered so horrifically and their young daughter orphaned".
Again there was silence as the jury took in the evidence before them.
"We interpret this as being a countdown to the bombing. A timetable if you will", he continued, "making sure everything went according to schedule".
Robertson waited, watching as the jury took a good look at the calendar.
"This calendar clearly demonstrates the level of premeditation and planning behind this crime", he added, "That this was carried out by a calculating individual who had planned everything to the last detail".
"And what else did you find DCI Robertson?"
"Several items relating to the Price family and legal firm", Robertson continued, "a scrap of paper was stuck to the wall with a private telephone number written on it, this number being 9460549".
"For the benefit of the court the defence would like to point out that this telephone number is confirmed as being the Price family's own home telephone number", Alison explained to the court.
"Yes that's right", Robertson nodded, "It has also been established that the defendant found this piece of paper on the body of Mister Martin Kennedy who I believe has already been mentioned in this case".
"The defendant kept this piece of paper, thispiece of evidence", Alison went over the facts, "on the wall in her own flat with this disturbing calendar?".
"Yes", Robertson nodded once again.
"And were there more items DCI Robertson?' Alison continued.
"On the wall we discovered a poster for 'The pop group' bearing the slogan 'We are all prostitutes'. This is a replica of a poster owned by a young suspect initially thought to be involved in making threats against the Docklands developer Mister Danny Moore", Robertson continued, "This young lad, whilst under investigation by the defendant's CID was charged by DI Drake and represented by none other than Caroline Price herself. I might also add that these charges were later dropped."
"I see...", Alison said listening intently, "I understand there were further items also?"
"Oh yes. A leaflet advertising functions onboard the private yacht 'Sunborn'. The defendant arrested a young man on suspicion of rape onboard that very ship", Robertson explained..."A Mister Ryan Burns who it transpires went on to be represented by Mister Evan White of the Price legal firm. I might add that the charges against Mr Burns were also later dropped".
Alison nodded at the latest Price connection.
"Were there other paraphernalia on the wall? More, shall we say, 'normal' things?"she enquired.
Robertson shook his head.
"No. Almost everything on this wall related in some way to the Prices. Newspaper clippings of interviews they had given, the aforementioned telephone number, business cards, leaflets", Robertson listed the items, "Everything was in some way connected to the Price family or cases connected to the Prices".
"Did the defendant give any explanation for these items she had displayed on her wall?" Alison asked.
"No she didn't", Robertson was shaking his head, "all she said was that it wasn't how it seemed".
"And how did it seem DCI Robertson?" Alison got straight to the point.
"It seemed to me that we were dealing with someone utterly obsessed, dangerously obsessed, with the Price family", Robertson said sounding confident "we may never find out the reason for or cause of this obsession...but I do believe it became twisted as time went on and finally lead to murder".
Alison nodded but said nothing, clearly wanting Robertson to continue.
"I believe the defendant manipulated all around her with her psychology expertise to cover her tracks. I believe she used her police resources to pretend to be trying to prevent the car bombing, whilst all along she was actively working with the drugs lord Arthur Layton to arrange the bombing".
"And why do you think this DCI Robertson?" Alison quizzed.
"Oddly enough, one of the items of the defendants disturbing wall, was a mug shot photograph of Arthur Layton. As you know the defendant met with Arthur Layton twice in Wormwood Scrubs prison", Robertson stated, "We believe Layton had been working for Drake in exchange for striking a deal. With her knowledge of the Prices, Drake may well have known that Layton was applying for bail that day, so here she had an ample opportunity to offer Layton a deal - plant the bomb and all the evidence against him would vanish...and with it the charges against him. In his position, how could he possibly say no?".
Alison nodded as she listened.
"In her position she would have been well aware that Layton's record showed he had form for the use of explosives....It's all a bit convenient really when you look at the overall picture. He had the expertise needed, he was represented by the Prices and he was in no position to say 'no'", Robertson nodded in agreement with his own words.
"We also believe that the supposedly anonymous tip off that DI Drake is alleged to have received was almost certainly Mister Layton calling to agree to the deal he had been offered".
Again there were several moments of silence before Alison ended her questioning.
"Do you have anything further to add DCI Robertson?"
"No", Robertson shook his head, "I believe the case against DI Drake speaks for itself".
"In that case my Lord", Alison looked to the judge, "the prosecution rests".
Jarvis glanced at Alex as he stood up, giving her as reassuring a look as possible.
"DCI Robertson", he began as he made eye contact with the witness.
Jarvis didn't like Robertson's 'cocky' demeanour one bit.
"Your belief that the anonymous telephone call the defendant received in CID, on the morning of the 9th, was a call from Arthur Layton...Do you have evidence to prove this?"
Robertson's face fell.
"No, but it fits the facts. If you look at the whole picture there is really nobody else it could have been".
"So is it unusual for the police to receive anonymous tip offs, DCI Robertson?" Jarvis continued.
The anonymous telephone call was a point Jarvis had noticed something interesting about and was certainly going to turn this one around on Robertson if he could.
"It's not uncommon", Robertson reluctantly admitted, "someone may, for various reasons, not wish to give their name".
"I see..." Jarvis paused.
He waited again before he continued.
"DCI Robertson, as you have such a problem with DI Drake's anonymous telephone tip off", Jarvis himself began to sound extremely confident now, "then could you please tell us again how the defendant first came to your attention?"
"We were tipped off", Robertson explained again, "that there were items of interest at her flat. I said this before".
"Yes, yes you did", Jarvis nodded, "and in what form did this tip off come?"
Robertson scowled at Jarvis. The lawyer had tricked him into a corner as was now going to make him look a fool in front of the court.
"Our tip off was received by telephone", Robertson stated.
"And who did it come from DCI Robertson?"Jarvis said raising an eyebrow.
Jarvis heard Robertson's annoyed sigh even from where he stood.
"It was anonymous", Robertson admitted.
"Anonymous. The call that led you to arrest DI Drake was anonymous", Jarvis emphasised, "and yet you have the audacity to criticise her for following up an anonymous tip off of her own".
"That's different!" Robertson protested.
"Is it indeed?" Jarvis's confidence was clear.
"Look it was a male caller, who seemed familiar with her" Robertson tried to add some detail.
"But still anonymous?"
"Yes", Robertson huffed.
Jarvis almost smiled to himself in satisfaction but managed to resist.
"Moving along DCI Robertson", Jarvis continued, "these items you found on the defendants wall. You claim they prove her involvement in the bombing but did you find anything amongst these items, or anywhere in the flat at all, that showed a specific plan to kill the Prices?"
"I think the evidence speaks for itself", Robertson shrugged.
"With respect DCI Robertson, that was not the question", Jarvis carried on, "were any specific plans found?"
"No", Robertson replied, his tone clearly annoyed.
"Was any bomb making material or information found?"
"No", Robertson again answered.
"Does the calendar itself mention anything about the Prices?"
"No", Robertson yet again replied.
"Very good", Jarvis did allow a confident smile to appear briefly this time.
"So what you are saying DCI Robertson is that you have arrested, charged and prosecuted the defendant based on nothing more than purely circumstantial evidence?"
"It's not like that", Robertson shook his head feeling angry at his integrity being questioned, "Everything, everything points towards Drake being behind this!"
"Really?" Jarvis said almost mockingly, "and where is your forensic evidence?".
"She was careful", Robertson protested, "the remains of the car were burned too badly for any forensic evidence to be retrieved".
"No fingerprints?" Jarvis quizzed, "Nothing?".
"As I said, the Ford Escort was far too badly burned", Robertson explained, "the flames, combined with the explosives and petrol, were so fierce that some parts of the vehicles metal work had melted into the road surface. Nothing was retrievable"
"So...No actual forensic evidence linking this crime to the defendant..." Jarvis commented to the court.
"No, but then we believe this Arthur Layton was used to do the dirty work", Robertson fought back, "so we didn't expect to find anything forensic to link her with the Escort".
Jarvis allowed a few moments for the court to digest the exchange between himself and Robertson.
"That is all", Jarvis turned to face the judge, "I have no more questions for this witness, My Lord".
As the witness was excused, Alex sat in the dock running Robertson's words through her mind.
She was troubled by one of his points in particular.
Robertson's anonymous tip off, which led to her own arrest, was puzzling Alex.
He had mentioned it during her interview at his station and it had bothered her even then.
But now Robertson had revealed more information about the caller.
A man who clearly knew her and the contents of her flat.
Alex had been right all along about the day before her arrest: someone had indeed been in her flat.
She had had her doubts about the case against her all along but now she could think of nothing but who it might have been who had called the police.
Was it someone out for revenge?
Was someone getting theirown back on behalf of someone she had arrested?
Her initial thought was that it had been Arthur Layton himself, but now he was being tied into the case that seemed far less likely.
Or was it someone who wanted her out of the way?
But why? Out of theway of what?
Whoever it was they were probably enjoying this and Robertson had certainly done nothing to help her case.
Thankfully Jarvis had done an excellent job of tearing Robertson's case to pieces, but Alex wondered if it would be enough.
She looked at Robertson as he left the witness box and was convinced he had mockingly winked at her.
Alex looked down again.
This case was balanced on a knife edge and she had no idea which way it would go.
The time in prison on the run up to the trial had been bad enough but, as Alex had listened to herself being labelled an obsessed killer, she really wasn't sure she would be able to cope if she were to be found guilty.
To be continued....
(As with previous chapters I sometimes have problems with formatting when I upload fics to this website. Sometimes this site randomly loses gaps, bunches stuff all together and generally messes with the layout, despite having been beta'd. If this happens with this chapter, please take that into account as I don't yet know what causes this website to do this during the upload)
As ever, huge thanks to Heidi and Skywise!