Silent Scream (21 page)

‘Right, let’s see how much progress we’ve made in piecing together our victim’s career. The film industry in the UK is tight-knit, so that should help us find out if she’s worked with any of the same people in other films. She may have been murdered by someone she knew, someone she might have had sexual contact with or someone who had a grudge against her.’

Barolli stepped forwards, saying, ‘All we have been able to mark up are the actual films she starred in. We’ll need to go to production offices or wherever to get the lists of the cast, crew members, et cetera. Her agent Andrea Lesser has given us videos and DVDs of the productions, which everyone should look through . . . These have just arrived.’

This amount of information could not have been assessed overnight, Anna knew; it meant that Langton had been preparing to take over the case almost since they started.

‘We know that Amanda left RADA aged sixteen in 2001,’ Barolli continued. ‘She got her big break shortly afterwards, starring in a film called
Rock Baby.
She won awards and went straight on to film
Gabriella,
then she worked virtually on back-to-back films. In 2003 there was
Jail Girls
and
Marian’s Heart;
neither of these were blockbusters, they were small independents. Then we have a gap from 2003 to 2004 when she starred in
Little Liars,
which was a bigger budget and her salary would have jumped up . . .’

Anna interrupted, standing up. ‘Is the gap in the filming the time she was pregnant?’

Barolli shrugged; it would have been possible.

‘So we should check back to see if she was seeing anyone from that film?’

‘Correct. Her co-star was Scott Myers.’

‘But, timewise, as we know O’Dell visited her in the Drury, she must have known him before making that film
The Mansion
with him, later,’ Anna said.

‘Let’s just get the timeframe sorted first before we determine who knew her when, eh?’ Barolli said impatiently.

Joan turned to Anna. ‘I saw that one,’ she confided, ‘but I can’t remember much about it. It was a horror film, wasn’t it?’

Barolli glared at Joan, before continuing, ‘OK, after she shot
Little Liars
we have her in a really big budget film called
The Last Soldier,
followed by
The Heiress,
and hard on its heels comes a remake of
Lady Hamilton
and then
The Mansion.
Lastly, she was starring with Rupert Mitchell in
Gaslight,
which brings us up to date.’

He stepped back from the board and faced the team.

‘What we get now is a clear picture of how and when she met the three actors we have questioned. I want cast and crew listed from all these movies. Let’s see who else worked with her on more than one film.’

‘I know the make-up girl had worked with her before and I think one of the unit drivers did too,’ Anna said.

‘Right, now you see what I’m after. We also need to verify exactly when she had the termination, and whether it did occur between the two films,
Marian’s Heart
and
Little Liars.’

‘Was
Marian’s Heart
about Maid Marian and Robin Hood?’ Joan asked and Barolli turned on her.

‘I don’t bloody know, Joan, I’ve not seen any of them.’

‘Just that I saw that as well, and I’m sure Rupert Mitchell was in it. Mind you, I could be wrong.’

‘Then you, Joan – and you, Barbara, start the cross-reference going and get onto the companies for their production staff, cast and crew lists.’

Anna sat frowning, returning to her notebook and back to the board.

‘Are you saying that she was older or younger than the age we have down for her? Because I didn’t think you could get into RADA unless you were eighteen, but if we go by this and she was twenty-four when she died, then she must have only been fifteen when she went to RADA.’

‘Check with her parents. Her real age has to be on the death certificate.’

Barolli clapped his hands as everyone started to get up, thinking the meeting was over.

‘Hold it there. I’m not through yet.’ He looked towards Anna. ‘You’re digging into the possibility that she was about to switch agents, correct?’

‘Yes.’

‘Mike thinks we should concentrate first on whether she had some kind of publishing deal, so I’ll leave that with you too. We also want to bring in her accountant to discuss her finances. Mike is handling that.’ He crossed to stand beside Anna. ‘According to Mike, Andrea Lesser has been really helpful, but you have misgivings about her?’

‘Not exactly. I just don’t think she has been as helpful to me. Also, she seemed very agitated when she was seen with this man, just shortly after I had my meeting with her yesterday.’ She showed Barolli the photograph of the two of them together.

‘We should take a close look round at the funeral and see if he shows up,’ Barolli told everyone.

‘Or ask her directly.’ Anna was feeling snappy.

‘Not cool. You don’t want to antagonise her and get her paranoid that you’ve been following her around.’

‘It wasn’t that at all! I just happened to catch her with the guy.’

‘Nah. Just let it hang loose for a while.’

Barolli and Lewis had certainly picked up a lot of Langton’s traits. Anna would have to have a quiet word with Barolli, ask him to show her more respect, especially in front of the team, so as to not undermine her. She didn’t like the way he had spoken to her.

‘Joan!’

The DC arrived expectantly at Anna’s office door.

‘Which publishing companies might be most likely to offer someone like Amanda a book deal? I know you’re an avid reader.’

An hour or so later, Joan returned with a list of publishers, together with the advances the big media stars had been paid, according to the press.

‘Good God, two million. But she’s just a model!’ Anna exclaimed.

Joan chuckled. ‘Goes to show what breast implants can do for you. All of those books were on the bestseller lists, and the topless porno star has had another book commissioned.’

‘Thank you for this, Joan. It’s after five now so maybe I’ll leave it until Monday, but if you could arrange appointments with . . .’

‘Already onto it,’ Joan interrupted, and looked at her watch. ‘I’ve got a family commitment tomorrow, and they haven’t stopped weekend leave, so I’d like to get going as soon as I can.’

‘Thank you. I really appreciate this. I’ll take a couple of the DVDs of Amanda’s films home with me.’

Anna too wanted to make a quick getaway. She was looking forward to a Sunday off, not that she had, like Joan, any family commitments. She just needed to get some space between herself and the station.

From the first moment Amanda appeared on the screen, the hairs on Anna’s neck stood up. She sat propped on pillows in bed at home, watching as Amanda walked through what was supposed to be Sherwood Forest, silky chestnut hair down to her waist, wearing a gown of soft pale cream wool, caught at the waist by a coiled belt. Her beauty was translucent, her slender neck and shoulders like porcelain. Anna leaned forwards, watching the scene in
Marian’s Heart
where Marian meets Robin Hood for the first time – and the pair fall in love. It was very Mills & Boon, and yet Amanda’s performance lifted it onto a higher level; she was so watchable that whenever she was not on screen it became tiresome. Anna found it almost impossible to block out this ethereal creature and remember the stick-thin, bruised body at the mortuary.

Having had a good night’s sleep, helped by a sleeping tablet, Anna was determined to use her one day off to get herself more organised. She knew she had been lacking her usual energy and was annoyed with herself for asking Joan to do work checking out publishers and theatrical agents that if she’d been on form she’d have done herself. She had to start making more of an impression; come Monday she would be more confident, especially as Langton was now overseeing the case. Simon’s transfer, although she had not really got along with him, had unnerved her. As always, her loss of her confidence was because of Langton, and she grew more determined to prove her position within the team.

After breakfast Anna sat reading the Sunday newspapers. In every one there were articles about Amanda Delany, photographs and gossip columns rehashing her past indiscretions, and interviews from so-called close friends who were heartbroken by the tragic murder. One paper bore the headline
POLICE NO NEARER TO ARREST FOR MOVIE STAR’S BRUTAL MURDER
and there were other snide comments. She came across a lengthy interview with Julian Pike, the director of
Gaslight.
Expressing his shock and sadness, he described Amanda as a consummate actress of massive talent that was proven by her brilliant performance in his film. While he hoped the police would eventually discover the killer, he could think of no one who had held a grudge against Amanda; she was a true inspiration for young girls, and he hoped
Gaslight
would garner her many posthumous awards.

By late afternoon, Anna was feeling at a loose end. It was just after six when she drove to the station to collect more DVDs of Amanda’s films to take home to watch that evening. She was surprised to see so many cars in the car park; with it being Sunday, there would surely be only part of the team working.

When Anna walked into the incident room, she found it a hive of activity. No one really paid her any attention as they stood grouped around the incident board listening to Mike Lewis. Catching Joan’s eye, Anna gestured for her to join her in her office.

‘How come everyone’s in today?’ she wanted to know.

Joan raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘Sunday leave was cancelled.’

‘Nobody told me.’

‘It was on the board. I had to cancel my family lunch. I’d got all the food in as well.’

‘Did it come from Mike Lewis?’

‘Yeah. Barbara had a hissy fit as she was supposed to take her kids to a football match.’

‘Did something come up?’

‘No, I think that’s why we’re all here. They were wondering where you were, but it’s a bit late now as we’re packing it in at six-thirty.’

‘Really . . . Would you ask Barolli if he has a minute as I’d like to see him and I’d also like the DVDs of
The Mansion
and
The Heiress.
I’ve brought back the two I watched.’

Anna was tightlipped as she passed over the boxes. Joan glanced at them.

‘Sort of unexpected, wasn’t it – you know, that she was such a good actress. But then considering what they were paying her …’

‘Do we have the figures?’

‘Yes, Mike Lewis had Miss Lesser here this morning. Not a happy woman, but she brought in copies of contracts so we’ve been—’

Just then, Barbara passed the open office door, saying, ‘I’m going home. We’re calling it quits for tonight.’ Anna then heard her mutter under her breath, ‘All right for some,’ with a glance towards her.

Anna was infuriated. Joan left, and she folded her arms waiting for Barolli, her foot tapping with annoyance.

‘Where were you this morning?’ he said, the moment he walked in.

‘I was at home, and if I had been aware that weekend leave had been cancelled, I would have been here.’

‘We called you.’

‘I might have been at the laundry.’

‘Well, it was on the board.’

Anna stood up. ‘I don’t give a shit!’ she said angrily. ‘It would have been manners if you had spoken to me about it. I also resent the way you’re behaving towards me. Twice you’ve been less than respectful. Perhaps you forget that I’m a rank above you, and as such I want to be made aware of any team reports.’

‘Excuse me for living,’ Barolli retorted sarcastically.

‘No, I don’t excuse you, Tony. Now be kind enough to give me details of what has been taking place today.’

‘I was just going home.’

‘I’ll be in the incident room in five minutes.’

She stared hard at him and he hovered.

‘Listen, I’m sorry if I’ve appeared disrespectful to you in any way – there was never any intention of that. But you know, coming in on the case this late, we’ve had a lot of catching up to do, and with Langton on our shoulders, I’ve been run ragged.’

‘Five minutes.’

Anna took a couple of deep breaths. She was shaking as he left her office; she had never dressed down an officer before. Joan returned with the DVDs, buttoning up her coat.

‘See you in the morning,’ she said, eager to be gone.

‘Whose idea was it to bring in Andrea Lesser?’ Anna asked Barolli when she joined him in the incident room.

‘Langton’s, and she didn’t like it. We didn’t bring her in here, but had a meeting with her in one of the interview rooms. He’s also arranged for the accountant to be brought in first thing tomorrow morning as he wants to know how much dosh Amanda had earned.’

‘Was Langton here?’

‘Yes, left just before lunch.’

‘I see. Well, I’d like an update.’

Barolli sighed. She could tell he was annoyed but she held her ground. He fetched a file and sat on the edge of one of the desks.