‘Yes. I didn’t tell you earlier because we’re not sure yet if the two murders are connected or just coincidence. And we haven’t been able to identify the other woman yet.’
‘Please tell me honestly: do you think Andrew was involved?’
‘I need to check out, in more detail, what he was doing on Friday. And obviously he has yet to make a statement,’ Gibbs replied.
Eager to continue their conversation, he suggested that he get into the passenger seat of her car. Jo nodded. Once he was inside she told Gibbs how desperate she was to find out if Andrew was having an affair. She had come to the hospital to try and trick Andrew by telling him she had smelt another woman’s perfume on the shirt he had been wearing on Friday night.
‘What was his reaction?’
‘He was angry. Accused me of having a wild imagination, and saying that I was being very insensitive considering his mother had just been murdered, and that he was still in terrible shock.’
Gibbs thought about telling Jo that Andrew hadn’t been at the golf dinner. He knew she’d find out in the long run, but was worried if he told her now she’d storm back into the hospital and confront her husband, which could ruin the element of surprise in any later interview with him.
Jo shook her head in disgust. ‘I know he’s lying. The idiot gave himself away by suggesting the perfume I smelt had rubbed off from a waitress when she leant over him to serve his meal at the dinner. I told him I wasn’t stupid and didn’t believe him. He told me to ask Blake, as he was with him the whole evening, then changed the subject back to himself. He went on and on about how distraught he was, how he thought he’d had a heart attack and that they were keeping him in for observation. He’s very good at laying on the “poor me” sob story. A few minutes later Blake walks into the room, much to Andrew’s surprise by the look on his face.’
‘What did Blake have to say?’ Gibbs asked.
‘He offered his condolences about Sybil’s death, told us he would be overseeing a thorough investigation and said if there was anything he could do to help, just ask. So I did.’
Gibbs noticed the sly smile on Jo’s face. ‘What did you ask?’
‘I was still convinced Andrew was lying to me, so I asked Blake if he was with Andrew on Friday night. Andrew didn’t look best pleased, but I didn’t care.’
‘It must have come as a shock when Blake told you that Andrew wasn’t at the golf club dinner,’ Gibbs said empathetically.
Jo looked confused. She tilted her head to one side and looked Gibbs in the eye. ‘No...? Blake looked at Andrew, then at me, then said they were on the same table together at the golf club dinner on Friday night and that they both left the clubhouse shortly after twelve thirty p.m. Andrew had a smug look on his face, as if to say “I told you so.” But I’m not stupid. There was something about the way they looked at each other.’
Gibbs took a deep breath. ‘I’m really sorry, Jo, but Andrew is lying. And for some reason so is Blake.’ He filled Jo in about his enquiries at the golf club and recounted how the club secretary, Major Whitehead, had relayed what Blake had told him about Andrew leaving early because one of the kids was unwell.
Jo looked pale and shocked as she took in what Gibbs had said. ‘Why didn’t you tell me this before? If I’d known, I could have gone in there and confronted Andrew. Instead I’ve been made to look a fool by his and Blake’s lies. I’m going to go out and talk to Andrew.’
Jo went to open the car door but Gibbs took hold of her hand. She tried to pull away but he held firmly onto it.
‘Wait a minute, just wait a minute. I only found out when I went to the golf club, which was after I spoke to you. I wasn’t even intending on coming here, but when I discovered Andrew was not at the club dinner, my suspicions about him increased and I wanted to speak to him.’
Jo leant against him. ‘I don’t understand — why is Blake is lying for him?’
Gibbs knew he was on dangerous ground. ‘Maybe he knows Andrew is having an affair, so he deliberately lied to the major about Andrew’s whereabouts.’
Jo was close to tears. ‘It wouldn’t be the first time I suspected him of having an affair.’
‘The fact is, Blake lied to you as well, which means he’s hiding something. God forbid it should be anything about the murders, but whichever way you look at it, we’ve got nobody who can truthfully corroborate your husband’s movements from six p.m. on Friday night until you saw him in bed at around four a.m. the next morning.’
Jo nodded.
‘So, for the time being, Jo, I really need you to keep quiet about what we’ve spoken about. I could get in serious trouble for revealing too much information.’
Jo turned away to stare through the driver’s window. ‘I can’t stand the thought of being near him. I don’t want him in the house. You have to help me. If he killed his mother and that other woman, then who knows what he could do to me and the kids?’
‘We don’t know for certain your husband killed anyone, Jo. Granted, he’s a liar, but as I’ve just said, it could be because he was being unfaithful to you.’
She began to cry and Gibbs put his hand on her arm. ‘I think you and the children should go and stay with your parents for a while.’
‘Their flat only has two bedrooms, one of which is a storage room.’
‘What about a hotel then?’ Gibbs suggested.
‘No, I don’t want to distress the kids by taking them away from home and school. I’ll pack Andrew’s bags, then when he returns home from the hospital I’ll tell him to go and live at his mother’s,’ Jo said firmly.
‘What will you do if he refuses?’
‘He won’t. I’ll make sure of that. If necessary, I’ll get my father to call some of his old Bermondsey mates. Believe me, Andrew won’t argue with them.’
‘Well, if he ends up being charged with anything then he won’t be going anywhere, other than on remand to a prison.’
Jo shook her head. ‘I just can’t make sense of it all... Although Sybil and I didn’t get on, she mollycoddled Andrew and he provided for her every need.’
‘Have you told the children that their grandmother is dead and that their father is in hospital?’
Jo shook her head again. Even though she had despised her mother-in-law, she never stopped Andrew taking the children to see her. Jo was dreading telling them, and was afraid that kicking Andrew out the house would only make matters worse.
Gibbs knew he had said too much. ‘You have to do what you feel is best for you and the children. I’m not going in to speak with Andrew, especially if Blake is still there. I can ring you at home later and let you know what’s happening.’
Jo nodded. ‘I’ll be on my own. They’re keeping Andrew in hospital overnight and the children will be in bed by eight.’
‘I’ll call you later then.’
Gibbs drove back to Peckham and went to Moran’s office to update him on what he’d found out at the golf club, and about Jo Hastings’ visit to her husband in hospital, as well as Blake’s involvement. He had no intention of mentioning any of the more personal conversation he had had with Jo, or the fact that he would be calling her later. He also decided to tell Moran that he had only spoken with Jo Hastings on the phone, as opposed to meeting with her face to face at the hospital.
As he approached Moran’s office, Jane came out, looking red-faced and distraught. Gibbs was about to ask if she was OK but she pushed past him without saying anything and headed towards the stairwell.
‘What’s up with Tennison?’ he asked, as he entered Moran’s office.
‘I had to give her a dressing-down. She tends to open her mouth too often without thinking of the consequences first.’
Gibbs nodded in agreement. ‘Her heart’s in the right place, though, and she’s diligent. Maybe she’s a bit over keen to prove herself as a new DS?’