Unravel a Crime - Tangle With Women (23 page)

He turned to Lisa. “I don’t
like this. You’re stealing my thunder.” He said only half in jest.

Lisa looked steadily back at
him.

“
This case could be my big
break as well as yours.” she said.

“
What.”

“
I need a chance to show what
I can do as much as you do Jonny, well perhaps more. You’re a solicitor with a
track record. What am I…?” She looked despondent and shrugged.

“
A paralegal, with a law
degree.”

“
Dispensable.”

“
Who’s going to dispense with
you? I’m not.”

“
They would like me to go.”

“
Who’s ‘they’?”

“
The other partners.”

“
Other, you mean ..?”

“
Apart from Gordon.”

“
Oh, I didn’t know. No-one’s
said anything about your leaving to me.”

“
They won’t.

Brakespeare was surprised by
this sudden outburst. She obviously did not feel very secure for whatever
reason. This was not the time to go into that.

“
I was only joking when I said
that you were stealing my thunder. You’re not. I have enough to do in this
place, and I’m not sure where we would be if you hadn’t done that analysis on
the computer; and now this. Lisa, I want you.”

As he said it he was not sure
how he meant it. He reached out and took her hand, and to his relief and
pleasure she squeezed his back. More than that she leaned over and kissed him
gently on the cheek.”

“
Thanks Jonny. Sorry,
sometimes I feel a bit vulnerable. Forget what I said.”

She looked into his eyes, but
then her mood changed back to her professional role.

“
Now look at this one”, she
said, turning over more pages. “19
^th
July. You just read this.”

Brakespeare did so, out loud
once more. It was a letter from Thorpe at Redshaw Linden & Steele to
Walters at the National.

“Further to our telephone
conversation today, I confirm that we have been approached by a third party,
Jonathan Skinner and Associates, a company with whom we have dealt before who
on behalf of a client are seeking a portfolio of properties very similar to
those recently valued. Accordingly, and in accordance with your instructions,
we have sent them a list of properties together with the rents passing and
tenure etc., in the hope of arranging a sale of the whole portfolio.

It is appreciated that you are not
issuing instructions to sell to us on a blanket basis, however we note that you
have agreed to pay a sum of 1% plus VAT for any effective introduction that
leads to completion.

As soon as I have heard anything
further, I will of course contact you.”

Lisa watched his face closely
for his reaction as he read. It was one of pure astonishment.

“
Well that’s a load of
bollocks.”

“
Jonny!”

I’m sorry but it is. ‘We have
been approached.” Redshaws have been trying to find a buyer more likely.”

Lisa nodded in agreement.

“
That’s what I thought. How
would these Skinner people know that there was a portfolio for sale if Redshaws
hadn’t told them.”

“
And a one percent commission.
What’s that on Five or Six Million?”

“
Fifty or Sixty Thousand
Pounds.”

“
Not bad. Did anything come of
it?”

“
I don’t know. There’s nothing
in the bundle about any offer” She turned yet more pages. “However we know that
that offer wasn’t accepted. Look here’s a letter from the National to Redshaws
rejecting the offer on the 6
^th
August.” She showed him the letter.
It was from Walters at the National.

“
Having considered the
components of their offer, it is with regret that I must advise that it is
insufficient to enable me to recommend acceptance, and can advise for your
information that a considerable improvement would be required.” Brakespeare
read the letter aloud again.

“
Is that it?” he asked half
guessing that it wasn’t.

“
Well look at this handwritten
note at the bottom of the letter.”

Brakespeare did. It read “At
least we tried” and with the initials “J.B.”

“
That’s odd”, said
Brakespeare. He turned back through the pages. “You say that this bundle is
produced as an exhibit by Martin, but all the letters are copies of originals.
They all are written on headed notepaper. Have you got the statement from Mick
Martin – Michael Roger Martin, the witness.”

Lisa bent down to the floor
and picked up a bundle of witness statements.

“
Sure, here it is, but it
doesn’t say much.” She folded the bundle over at Martin’s statement and handed
it to Brakespeare. She was right. Served under section 9 of the Criminal
Justice Act 1987. It began with the required declaration by the witness to the
effect that the statement was true to the best of his knowledge and belief, and
that he made the statement knowing that if it were tendered in evidence, he
would be liable to prosecution if he wilfully stated in it anything which he
knew to be false or did not believe to be true.

It was signed by Martin. It
simply read:-

“I am the Manager of the Property
Fraud Section of the National Building Society.

There is now shown to me a bundle
of documents which I now produce marked ‘XS2.”

Brakespeare shook his head in
disbelief.

“
What’s the matter”, asked
Lisa.

“
Well, in any case where there
are exhibits, they have to be produced, or if you like proved. The way this is
done is by a witness, who might say, “
On the 25
^th
December I attended at the scene of a
reported break in at such and such an address, where I found a red hat with a
white bobble on it, which I now produce marked ‘Xmas1”.

Lisa laughed, “I get the
message. Martin has produced them, but he hasn’t said where he got them.”

“
No, and it looks to me as if
this is a made up bundle from more than one source.”

“
Which is why we have the
originals of letters both from the National and Redshaws.”

“
Exactly. If it was a National
file we would have the originals of letters received from Redshaws, and only
copies of letters sent by the National.”

“
What are we going to do,
Jonny”. She looked at him almost pleadingly.

“
Well, the Prosecution have to
make a full disclosure of all documents in their possession, whether they go to
proving their case or not. I think we’re going to have to see what they’ve got
and ask for copies.” He paused, and thought. “I might make some discreet
enquiries myself.” He said, half aloud, thinking of what Joe Gargan had told
him.

Lisa said nothing, but looked
at him enquiringly. He was half tempted to tell her of his conversation with
Gargan, but that would be letting her know a little more than he wanted, and so
he said nothing more on the subject.

“
Well Miss Barnes, you have
come up trumps once more.” He was pleased to see her blush.

“
You’d have found them in
time,” she replied looking down at her hands in modesty.

“
Yes but it’s time that is the
problem, and I’ve got to spend heaven knows how many hours with Newberry,
taking his full story. I might not have discovered all this in time.”

He paused again for thought.
“Right, how about this. I will take the proof of evidence, that is his
statement, from David. If he agrees, you can go through these bundles of
evidence with him, and see if he can make any comment on them. In the meantime
we’ll do another letter to the C.P.S. about this correspondence and see what
they come up with. O.K.”

Lisa nodded her head violently
in agreement; a big grin on her face.

“
Good, that will help me no
end. I know that going through the exhibits is going to be boring, but it has
to be done.”

“
I don’t mind skivvying.” Lisa
retorted. “Do you want to come to my room and get this letter done?”

“
What’s the time; Christ it’ s
gone six o’clock. O.K. let’s get it written.”

They had been sitting at the
desk like two excited children with a new toy, grinning at each other as they
talked. Mortimer predictably appeared at the door. He did not know why, but
Brakespeare felt guilty. He wanted to put his hands in the air and shout “I
never touched her.” He then realised that this was what he wanted to do.

When she was in a happy and
excited mood like this, he found Lisa just too inviting. Much more than Mel?
Well Mel was different. With her it was just animal instinct. Lisa was someone
he wanted to know – very well.

“
Working late again?” asked
Mortimer in a tone which suggested that it might not be work that was occupying
them.

“
Another breakthrough” said
Brakespeare. “Tell him.” He commanded Lisa.

With confidence Lisa explained
what she had found.

“
Well that’s it, isn’t it?”
said Mortimer. “They’ve hung themselves.”

“
Well it might be.”
Brakespeare replied. “We still can’t take any chances and that’s why we’re
taking full proofs of evidence from Newberry.

“
It sounds like a lot of
work.” said Mortimer, and Brakespeare could see the pound signs flashing in
front of his eyes.

“
It will more than pay my
keep.” he said boldly.

Mortimer gave a start. “I
wasn’t thinking of that.” he lied. “Well it looks as if you’ll have to lock up
again, Lisa.”

Lisa nodded. “Just another
letter to write while it’s fresh in our minds. We won’t be long”, and she
waltzed past Mortimer out of the door and to her office.

Brakespeare and Mortimer
looked at each other; each waiting for the other to say something. Mortimer
looked as if he wanted to, but then changed his mind.

“
Useful girl.” said
Brakespeare.

Mortimer looked thoughtfully
at him.

“
Remember she’s staff” he
said.

Brakespeare felt as if he had
been hit with a physical blow. Had he made his interest so obvious? He looked
Mortimer directly in the eye; trying to smile and appear nonchalant.

“
Don’t worry, Mr. Mortimer. I
shall not damage the partners’ property.” He was not sure why he said it.
However it was Mortimer’s turn to look disconcerted.

“
That’s not quite what I
meant.” He mumbled. “I’m off now.” he paused. ”and thank you Jonny. Between
you, you and Lisa are doing a good job. I know that Gordon would be pleased,”
and he moved out of the doorway.

Brakespeare found Lisa in her
office; her computer at the ready.

“
Oh, bugger,” said
Brakespeare. “I’ve left that C.P.S. letter on my desk. This one’s not going to
go tonight either, so you can look up the references tomorrow.” Lisa nodded.

“
Right,” said Brakespeare and
he took a deep breath.

“We are in receipt of your letter
of…the contents of which we are most disappointed to note.

However we note that in your
bundle.”

“
XS2” prompted Lisa.

“Reference is made to Redshaw Linden
and Steele, the firm to which the prosecution’s expert witness belongs,
offering to sell certain properties on behalf of the National Building Society,
to a property company, a client of …..”

“
Jonathan
Skinner and Associates.” Lisa said the name out loud as she typed. Brakespeare
continued fluently
“and we see that the bundle also consists of original
letters from both Redshaw Linden and Steele and the National Building Society,
which indicates that the Prosecution are in possession of both sets of file.

We write to enquire whether there
are any documents which are in the possession or control of the Prosecution,
which do not appear in the bundles of exhibits, and which should be disclosed.

Yours faithfully.

That’s all”

“
That’s all?”

“
I think so. I might make a
phone call.” Said Brakespeare, thinking of Gargan.

Lisa’s eyes widened. “Who to?”

“
Not sure I can tell you at
this stage

“
Oh, come on Jonny.” She
opened her eyes as wide as she could and put on her most appealing look. “We’re
a team, aren’t we?”

We really could be if you
wanted, was what Brakespeare wanted to say, but Mortimer’s words rang in his
ears “She’s staff.”

“
Sorry, but there are some
things outside the office… We all have our secrets.”

Rather to his surprise Lisa
merely nodded, if resignedly. “O.K. I expect I’ll find out in due course. Is
that it then.”

“
Yes, thank God. Gosh I feel
knackered.”

“
Did you have lunch?”

“
No, I skipped it.”

“
Then as a reward you can take
me out for a meal. Put some energy inside you.”

It was a request that
Brakespeare could not refuse. He felt a surge of excitement.