Chapter 55
Chapter Fifty-Five
Time spent in prison: nine years, ten months
There was a knock on Freya’s office door. She looked up, saw Dr Caspian Tandy through the glass and beckoned him to come in.
‘Caspian, what are you doing out of your lab? I thought you practically lived there.’
‘My wife certainly thinks so. I’m not disturbing you, am I?’
‘I’m filling in an overtime report and trying to justify my department’s overspend for the seventh month in a row. You’re very welcome to disturb me. Can I get you a coffee?’
‘No, thanks, I can’t stop. I’ve got some news for you.’
Freya removed some files from a chair and gestured for Caspian to sit down.
‘You usually telephone when you have news. Something tells me I’m not going to like this,’ she said, going round to her side of the desk and sitting down.
‘On the contrary. Something tells me you’re going to love this. That’s why I came to deliver the news in person.’
There was a smile he was trying, but failing, to hide.
‘What’s going on?’ she asked, intrigued.
‘We’ve got a DNA match on the sample from Alice Patterson’s underwear.’
‘You’re joking.’
‘I never joke when it comes to forensics.’
‘Who?’
‘Ah. That’s the chink in the armour. Whoever the DNA belongs to isn’t on the National DNA Database so I can’t give you a name. However, I can tell you who the DNA doesn’t belong to, and that is Anthony Winstanley.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘One hundred per cent sure.’
Freya bit back the urge to cry, but couldn’t manage it. A tear rolled down her cheek and she wiped it away. ‘Sorry.’
‘No. Don’t apologise. This is huge.’
‘Caspian, I don’t think I can thank you enough.’
‘What for?’
‘For everything you’ve done.’
‘I’ve simply done my job.’
‘I want to hug you.’
‘I accept hugs.’
Freya jumped up, ran around the desk to him and threw her arms around his neck, squeezing him tight.
‘I also accept a good malt whisky.’
She laughed. ‘Consider it done.’
Jennifer was in the kitchen trying to make something out of whatever hadn’t been packed.
In two days’ time, they would be moving house.
Jennifer was sad to go but, according to Malcolm, the Home Secretary couldn’t live in a two-bed semi.
They’d been in this house for more than fifteen years.
Jennifer loved it, especially the kitchen.
The new house, three miles away, was far too grand for them both, but this was their lifestyle now.
‘Did I give you my wallet?’ Malcolm asked, coming into the kitchen.
‘Yes. You always give me your wallet because you always say you’ll lose it.’
‘Where is it?’
‘It’s in my handbag which contains more of your junk than mine.’
‘Ah.’
Jennifer’s handbag was on the sofa in the corner of the open-plan room. He went over to retrieve it when the thunderbolt hit Jennifer.
‘Wait, Malcolm, don’t…’
It was too late.
‘What’s this?’ he asked, turning back to her and holding up a box of tablets.
‘What’s what?’
‘This. Medication. I didn’t know you were taking medication.’
‘It’s … erm … it’s for…’ She wasn’t quick enough to think up a convincing lie.
‘This is the contraceptive pill.’
Jennifer didn’t say anything.
‘Isn’t it?’
She nodded.
‘How long have you been on this?’
‘A … while.’
‘How long is a while?’
‘On and off for … a few years.’
‘On and off?’ His voice was calm, but his face was red with rage. ‘And are you on or off it now?’
‘On,’ she said, barely audibly.
‘So, all this time—’
‘Malcolm, please,’ she interrupted. ‘I’m not ready for a baby yet.’
‘And how long will it be before you are? You’re thirty-eight, for crying out loud.’
‘Yes, and my mum was almost forty when she had me. Let me ask you this: if we had a baby, would you expect me to give up work and look after it?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then that’s why I don’t want one right now. I’m too busy to have a baby. I’m a partner in a law firm. I’m running a very busy charity. I have cases coming out of my ears and I cannot give all of that up.’
‘I can’t believe you’ve been lying to me all these years.’
‘I haven’t been lying to you.’
‘Then what’s this?’ He threw the box of tablets at her. They bounced off her chest.
‘I’ve been telling you I’m not ready for years.’
‘But all those tests I went for. You never once stopped me.’
‘You never told me you were going for any tests. You just told me the results.’
‘Because I was embarrassed. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is to sit in a sterile room and wank off into a little plastic dish?’ he shouted.
‘You didn’t have to put yourself through that.’
‘I did it because I want us to become a family.’
‘And we will. Just not yet.’
‘When?’
Jennifer let the silence grow. ‘I don’t know.’
‘Will you ever be ready?’
She shook her head. ‘I don’t know that either.’
The doorbell rang.
Neither of them attempted to go and answer it.
The doorbell rang a second and third time.
‘I’ll go,’ Jennifer said.
She opened the front door to find a grinning Freya Sloan on the doorstep.
‘Can I come in?’ she asked. ‘I’ve got the most amazing news.’
‘Now isn’t really the best time, Freya, I’m sorry.’
‘I promise I won’t stay long.’ She pushed past her and entered the house.
Jennifer closed the door behind her.
‘Oh, hello Malcolm. You well?’ Freya said upon entering the kitchen.
‘Couldn’t be better,’ he said in an acidic tone.
Freya was so exhilarated she didn’t pick up on the friction between them.
‘I’ve had a visit from Dr Caspian Tandy earlier.
He’s been checking the semen stains on Alice Patterson’s underpants since …
well, it seems like since the dawn of time.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, he’s got a match.
Whoever it is isn’t on the National DNA Database, but the semen does not belong to Anthony Winstanley.
He’s in the clear, Jennifer. We can get Anthony out now. ’
Jennifer tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. ‘What?’ she eventually said.
‘This is what we’ve been waiting for. Proof. Definite, unequivocal proof that Anthony is innocent. No more waiting for the CPS to order a retrial.’
‘I can’t believe it!’ Jennifer was bursting with excitement. ‘So, do we know who the real killer is, then?’
‘No,’ Freya said. ‘He’s obviously not a serial rapist or serial criminal, or we’d have his DNA on file.
We may never find out, but the main thing for now is that Anthony Winstanley can come out of prison.
I’ve asked Caspian to write up a report.
He’s going to do that tonight and send it over first thing in the morning.
I’m guessing you can set the wheels in motion to get Anthony pardoned? ’
‘Well, yes, I suppose I can. This is wonderful,’ Jennifer said, suppressing a grin. She glanced across at Malcolm. He had one arm on the mantlepiece.
‘I know. I really want to tell Pauline, but I think we should wait until we see Caspian’s report.’
‘Yes. Definitely wait until it’s all in black and white.’
‘I never thought this day would come. I’m so happy.’
Freya lunged forward and hugged Jennifer tight. Jennifer looked over Freya’s shoulder into her husband’s eyes. She mouthed ‘I’m sorry’, but he turned away.