Langton remained silent for a moment but then said that Donna seemed to be different as she had, prior to meeting Josh Reynolds, rebelled against her mother by leaving the family home to become a stripper.
Dewar smiled. ‘Ah, yes, but the grief of others is sheer pleasure to a sociopath – any weakness, especially in a time of sorrow, and they’ll move in and take control. No sooner was Josh Reynolds dead than Gloria used the situation to once again take over Donna’s life by playing on her grief, organizing Josh’s funeral, the sale of the Bayswater flat and the Trojan.’ Dewar looked to Anna.
Anna hesitated and then said quietly, ‘I think Gloria saw Aisa in her bloodstained dress when she got back to the Savoy from Josh’s. Then under immense pressure Aisa confessed to her mother about the affair and being present when Josh shot himself.’
‘Yet again that is just bloody supposition – you don’t know what happened,’ Langton said, unable to contain his frustration.
Dewar again sided with Anna. ‘What we do know about for certain is Aisa’s fear of her mother’s wrath. She clearly didn’t tell her about the theft of the money from CCS Medical, or the love nest at Esme’s, as that would have led to the discovery of her buying Josh the Ferrari.’
Langton looked slightly perplexed. ‘Okay, I understand Aisa being terrified of Gloria and thus the partial confession, but why didn’t she just up and leave like Donna did?’
It was Anna’s turn to look to Dewar for an explanation.
‘You have to understand that deep down both girls may know Gloria doesn’t love them, but that won’t necessarily stop them loving her. The difference with Aisa is she’s spoilt, likes life in the fast lane, the swanky parties, mixing with celebs, but most of all she likes the money.’
‘Is she like her mother – you know, like a mini-sociopath?’ Langton asked, still trying to digest the information.
Dewar grinned at his terminology. ‘She’s inherited her mother’s love of money and taste for the good life, but, no, I don’t think she’s a sociopath in the real sense of the word.’
‘If Aisa’s terrified of Gloria, and she’s primed her about what to say in interview, then basically we’re screwed,’ Anna predicted.
‘You don’t know until you interview her and if anyone can break Gloria’s hold on her, you can,’ insisted Dewar, keen that they remained optimistic.
Langton was still unsure, but like Dewar he felt he should encourage Anna, and so he gave her a rueful smile.
‘Let’s get on with it, and see what the outcome is.’
Ian Holme was waiting in the corridor as they approached and, recognizing Langton, shook his hand, asking him how he was. From his facial expression and manner, Anna could see that Holme was not being ingratiating, but obviously had a genuine respect for Langton. He asked to speak to them both in private, and so Anna led them into an empty interview room, while Dewar made her way to the viewing suite.
‘Aisa Lynne has made full and frank admissions to me about her affair with Josh Reynolds and the use of the charity fund monies,’ Holme said. ‘On my advice, she has made a prepared statement, which I will read out to you in the interview.’
‘Well, dependent on those admissions we may still need to put further questions to her concerning Mr Reynolds’ death,’ Anna said, making her point clear.
‘I have no problem with that, Detective Travis, and I will advise my client accordingly. What I will object to is any line of questioning concerning the fact that Josh Reynolds was Aisa Lynne’s half-brother.’
Anna knew that he could only have got the information from Gloria Lynne. The problem was, she didn’t know how much the woman had told him.
‘Can I ask why, Mr Holme?’ Anna asked.
‘Neither Aisa nor Donna Lynne are aware that Joshua was really Arum Peters. Lady Lynne herself did not know Josh Reynolds’ true identity until recently. She is concerned that any revelation to her daughters, of their incestuous relationship, could have devastating psychological effects.’
Anna knew there and then that Gloria had Ian Holme exactly where she wanted him: he had become one of her followers, a duped disciple who could see no wrong in her.
‘Why has Lady Lynne not brought this information to our attention before?’ Langton asked.
Holme said that as Lady Lynne’s representative he would be breaching her trust if he said anything more, but she had indicated that she would like to talk to DCI Travis after the interview with Aisa. Langton told Mr Holme that he and DCI Travis would join him shortly in the interview room.
As soon as they were alone, Langton turned to Anna.
‘You do not raise the birth certificates or anything to do with them.’
‘But Samuel gave the documents to Josh who then showed them to Aisa, so they are relevant evidence about which I am perfectly entitled to question her.’
‘You have no proof of that, and Aisa’s prints aren’t on the certificates. Don’t you get it? Gloria Lynne is trying to rile you. Even if Aisa already knows about her relationship to Josh, she’ll make out she didn’t, act all hysterical and Holme will accuse you of deliberate oppressive tactics and end the interview.’
Anna knew that he was right, but it galled her that Ian Holme was so blissfully unaware that Gloria was using him.
‘Okay,’ she said begrudgingly.
On entering the main interview room, Anna could see that Aisa looked much calmer than she had when her mother was with her, and suspected that she was not as nervous because she had given Ian Holme the story that her mother had concocted. As she turned on the DVD recording equipment, Anna tried to make eye contact with Aisa, while Langton made the formal introductions and reminded the young woman she was still under caution. She looked down at the floor and simply nodded. Ian Holme stated that his client fully understood why she had been arrested and that anything she said could be used in evidence against her.
‘Aisa Lynne has made a prepared statement, which I will read out on her behalf. She has signed it as being a true version of events concerning her relationship with Joshua Reynolds,’ Holme said as he placed the statement down on the table in front of him. He was about to start when Anna interjected.
‘Have you made the statement of your own free will, Aisa?’ she asked, still desperately trying to make eye contact.
Aisa kept her head down and spoke quietly. ‘Yes, my mother told me I must tell you the truth.’
Anna sighed. ‘I’m sure she did, Aisa. Mummy always knows what is best for her little girls, doesn’t she?’
‘We should be grateful that Lady Lynne is such an honourable woman; many mothers would advise their offspring to say nothing,’ Holmes replied, refusing to react to Anna’s sarcasm.
Anna would have loved to press Aisa further on exactly what her mother had said but Langton frowned at her and she knew it was best to listen to the statement before proceeding with any further questions. Holme started to read:
Around mid-summer of 2012 I started an affair with my brother-in-law Joshua Reynolds and our love for each other grew quickly over the weeks that followed. We used his deceased mother’s flat as a place to meet and carry out our affair.
At the beginning of September, Josh asked me if I could loan him some money as his club, the Trojan, was in financial difficulties and he needed funds to develop the premises. Josh had spoken with my sister Donna about asking my mother Lady Gloria Lynne for a loan, but Donna refused to ask her for any financial help. I did have funds of my own but I didn’t want my mother or Donna to know that I would lend Josh the money, as I feared them finding out about our affair and ending it.