“See?” She pointed to one of them.
“He mentions the face cutting,” Greco said.
“So what are we saying? That these are from him — the killer?” Speedy asked.
“Can’t we find out who sent them?” Craig said.
“The techie people are hard at it,” George told them. “But they’re having the same problem I had and it’s going to take a while.”
“Apart from these, where are we up to?”
“Some of the forensics are in, sir,” Craig said. “The blood on the safe did not belong to Jenna Proctor but they have no match on file.”
Greco groaned. He had hoped the blood would yield something. “The cameras at the house?”
“Nothing. Not a flutter. The killer hasn’t been back.”
“We got the tox report for both girls. They’d both been given a high dose of tranquiliser. Enough to make them unaware of their surroundings,” George said.
Greco had suspected as much. It was a blessing of sorts, given what was done to them. “Anything interesting on Jenna’s phone?”
“The Duggan sent through what they could from the sim card, but the fire damage was too extensive. They got her history from the service provider. I’ve printed out copies for everyone,” George said.
It was the usual stuff, teenage angst and a host of acronyms. Greco had no idea what most of it meant.
“We got a partial car registration from one of the videos Dan Fuller gave us. We’re trying to match it to something local.”
That would take time too. “What else are we still waiting for?”
“The prints on the beer can, sir,” Speedy replied. “The one I pulled out of the bin in the park. It might be an idea to look at the care home a little closer. There could be something in the theory that the killer has a link with it. He knows how things work — the key safes for example. He knows where the new residents lived previously. He can tell which of those houses will suit his purpose.”
He was right.
“Speak to the nurse, Lorraine Hopkirk, and also the manager,” Greco said. “See what you can turn up.”
“Sir!” Grace called out. “The papers are in. You should look at this.”
Greco took the tabloid she held out for him. It was one of the nationals. There, on the front page was a piece by Oliver Laycock. He had written in lurid detail about the killings and once again he’d pulled the police apart for their lack of action.
Greco sank into his chair. This was all he needed. This morning the nationals — and tonight?
“Stephen!” DCI Green came in.
“You’ve seen this, sir?” He passed him the paper.
“I’ve just had the super on. He wants a meeting — you, me and him. It won’t be pleasant. The editor of that rag contacted him earlier.”
“We are doing everything we can, sir. The Duggan are working flat out on every bit of evidence we send their way. But none of it leads anywhere.”
“Can you produce a short report? Wilkes wants us in his office at four this afternoon.”
Greco nodded.
Once the DCI had left, Greco addressed the team. “You all heard that.”
“We’re doing our level best.” Speedy shook his head. “That man wants to try it. Things have changed since his day. Villains are more forensically aware. They don’t make the mistakes they used to.”
“But he has made mistakes,” George reminded him. “The blood on the safe, the footprint, playing loud music that half the street heard. The fact that he’s been seen by the neighbours and they are able to describe him — it all adds up.”
“George has a point . . .”
Greco suddenly recalled what Laycock had said — this one was a planner. “But they’re not mistakes. These so-called mistakes are deliberate. He’s been leading us on. Planting stuff for us to find.”
“Why? I don’t see the point.”
“Neither do I, Speedy, but he’ll have one.”
“Inspector Greco?”
They all turned round. A woman was standing in the doorway. The team fell silent, looking at her. She was tall and slim, but the most outstanding thing about her was her long glossy black hair. Despite an attempt to pin it back it hung in soft waves, framing her face. The hair turned an attractive woman into a stunner.
“DS Scarlett Seddon from Daneside.” She smiled at them.
He finally found his tongue. “I’m Greco.”
“Sorry I couldn’t get here sooner. You know how these things are. We’ve had a series of armed robberies to deal with.”
Green had mentioned help from Daneside but the DCI hadn’t updated him since then. Greco wondered if a DS from outside would help or hinder the investigation.
“We were going over what we’ve got so far,” he said. “Come in and join us.” He pointed towards the incident board. “I don’t know if you’ve been briefed or not. We suspect a serial killer. Two murders, both the same MO.”
“All I was told was that you’re up against it. I’ll read the reports, get up to speed.”
“I’m DC Grace Harper.” Grace stepped forward and held out her hand. “If you want anything, just ask.”
“You can have that desk. It’s going spare,” Craig said.
“Do you have any suspects?”
“No. He’s careful. We were just discussing the probability that he’s leaving a false trail. He wants us running around chasing our tails.”
“Sounds personal.”
Greco hadn’t considered that one. Perhaps a fresh face with new ideas wasn’t such a bad idea after all. He introduced his team.
“That’s DS Quickenden, DC Merrick and Georgina Booth, our information officer. They’re not a bad bunch — and friendly. They’ll fill you in with what you need to know.” He paused. “Can I suggest that for today you work with Grace?”
She nodded.
It wouldn’t be a good idea to put her with Speedy just yet. He knew what would happen. Speedy needed his mind on the case, not on the new DS.
“Craig? You and George continue looking for the car that goes with that partial registration. Enter everything we’ve got so far into the database and see what it spits out. Grace — you and Scarlett attend Dan Roper’s PM at the Duggan. While you’re there, check if any other results have come in.”
“We off to the care home, sir?” said Speedy.
“Yes. Then I’ll have to come back and write that report.”
* * *
Grace and Scarlett made for the car park. “Have you worked on many murders?” Grace asked.
“A fair few. It’s never pleasant. I don’t like PMs much either. Pity that’s what I get on my first day.” She got into the passenger seat.
“This one will be easy compared to what the boss and Speedy have seen this week. The man we’re after is a cruel bastard and no mistake.”
“Speedy?”
Grace laughed. “The tall thin one with the face and the short hair — DS Quickenden,” she said.
“Ah, I see. Quick — Speedy,” she laughed. “And what do you mean — the face?”
“I don’t know what it is with him, but he just can’t get the hair right. It’s that long face and those sticky-out features. He had a head full of curls up until about three months ago but the boss made him get it cut.”
“What’s he like — DI Greco?”
“I find him okay,” Grace didn’t want Scarlett thinking she was up for gossiping about their boss. “He can come across as a bit odd sometimes. He has a thing about cleanliness and keeping things tidy.”
“But he gets the job done and that’s what counts.”
“Yes, and that’s why he’s finding this one so hard. We’re putting in the graft but we’re getting nowhere.”
Grace tried to keep the chat light as they drove down the dual carriageway. She didn’t want to discuss her colleagues any further.
“You’ve made sergeant young.”
“I’m not that young,” Scarlett laughed. “Twe
nty-five — and it took a lot of hard work, believe me.”
“Still, you did it. That’s what I want — promotion. It would be great if I could do it within the next couple of years. I need the extra money. I’m the breadwinner in my house. There’s only me and my daughter.”
“Can’t be easy with a child in tow.”
“It’s not. But I get by with some childcare help from my mum. You got any?”
She shook her head. “And I’m not attached either — just in case you or the others were wondering.”
“Here we are — the Duggan Centre. Does your team use this place?”
“No. Daneside hasn’t decided if it’ll outsource yet.”
“Doctor Barrington is the pathologist who’ll be doing this one,” Grace said as they went in. “The young man was found stabbed in Oldston Park. The reason we’re so interested is because a piece of scalp was removed — same as with the girls.”
Grace and DS Scarlett Seddon stood on a raised platform looking out over the post-mortem room. The body of Dan Roper was laid on the table, ready for the scalpel.
“Hate these,” Scarlett whispered. “All that cutting and the gore. Makes me want to heave.”
“Good morning!” Natasha Barrington entered with her assistants. Mark Brough was with her again plus a couple of lab people and the photographer.
“DI Greco alright now? He seemed a little off colour yesterday afternoon in the park.”
“He’s fine!” Grace called out. “Must have been the lunch he ate. This is DS Scarlett Seddon. She’s joining us for a while.”
Natasha nodded. “Right, folks, let’s get this done.”
“Hang on to your stomach,” Scarlett said.
“Dan Roper. He was identified by his GP. He was twenty-two years old and had a history of drug abuse. I’ve done a tox screen. I’ll report back when the results are through.”
She removed the sheet covering his body. His skin was white, his extremities and lips blue. Grace shivered.
“He has one wound to his chest,” Natasha probed with a gloved finger. “The cut is deep.” An assistant passed her a scalpel. They watched as she carefully exposed the wound so she could see how deep into the body it went.
“The blade went in deep. It most likely pierced the heart. We’ll know that shortly. One stab with force behind it — in and out.” She made the movement with her hand. “It will have taken just seconds and his life was over. Apart from that there are no other recent cuts or bruises on his body.”
“What about his scalp?” Grace asked.
Natasha moved the hair so she could examine it. “Interesting . . . the skin has been removed in a similar fashion to the girls, but not with the same finesse. Whoever did this was clumsy. The wound is ragged — the skin cut into then torn away. Get a good shot of this,” she told the photographer. “Greco will want to compare it with the others.”
“Whoever did that knew about the girls?” Scarlett asked.
“We’re presuming so. It’s an extremely unlikely coincidence.”
The pathologist opened up the body and began to remove the internal organs. The detectives could hear a slosh as the wet intestines slithered into a waiting bowl. Grace turned away.
“His heart was damaged beyond repair,” the pathologist said, holding it up. “He’d have died within seconds. Interestingly, the direction of the cut is very similar to that of the heated poker. The same area of the heart was destroyed.”
“The question is, was this done by the same man? Were there any witnesses at the scene?” Scarlett asked.
“No. A group of lads using the skateboarding rink saw two young men sitting on a nearby bench watching them. They appeared to have an argument. One rushed off and the other gave chase. Unfortunately no one could give a useful description,” said Grace.
“Shame.”
“That’s what we’ve been up against since the start. No one sees, no one tells. It’s as if this man is invisible.”
“The report will be on the system later,” Natasha said. She left the room.
“The photos will be available sooner,” Mark Brough told them. “My colleague will upload them when we’re done.”
“He seems okay. Easy on the eye too.” Scarlett whispered to Grace.
“I don’t know anything about him. He could already be seeing someone for all you know.”
“Like the DI, you mean. He’s got his ex-wife. Doesn’t stop you, does it?”
“The images of the crime scene will be in the same folder as the report,” Mark said.
“You’re new, aren’t you?” Scarlett said. She was smiling at him and playing with her hair.
“Yes. I’ve only been in the job a few weeks. You too, I believe.”
“Oh, I’m a lot newer than that. Just this week.”
“Perhaps we newbies should get together. Fancy a drink sometime?” Scarlett said.
“I’ll leave you to it. I’ll wait in the car,” Grace said.
* * *
“This is an unexpected treat — lunch out.” Suzy Greco smiled as the car door was opened for her.
“You deserve it.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “I thought we’d go for a picnic. Drive out to that country park out Leesworth way. Eat fancy sandwiches and drink coffee.”
“Sounds okay to me.” She took the drink he offered her.
“Sorry it’s in one of those carton things. I’ve got a bottle of wine in the boot.”
“Drunk at work. What will the students say?” She giggled. “Nice coffee.”
“I went to that new deli place. When we finally come out — you know, tell folk — we’ll have to eat there properly. We should do it soon. I can’t see any point in holding back.”
“Stephen already knows,” she told him. “I had no choice but to say something. He saw us in the park yesterday.”
“He knows who I am?”
“No, and I didn’t tell him. He saw me but he couldn’t see you properly. He was there looking into some assault, I think.”
“There was some sort of fight in the park yesterday. A bloke was carted off in an ambulance.”
“Stephen came home in the afternoon and we spoke. He’s confused about what’s going on. He’ll get over it. He did the last time we split. He didn’t come home last night. He’ll have gone to that flat of his to lick his wounds.”
“So I’ve got him worried, have I?”
“This isn’t a game, you know. I might be seeing you, but Stephen has to remain in our lives, mine and Matilda’s. I can’t cut him out completely. You do understand that? This is fun — but we don’t have to get too heavy. Let’s take it slow. See where it goes.”
“Anything you want. Anyway, you know what I think. That man deserves all he gets. He’s like all the rest. It’s all about the job, and nothing else matters. He barely notices you, Suzy. You’re both young. You should be enjoying life as a family. Instead he spends his time up to his armpits in villains and leaves you to raise the kid and keep house. You could have so much more out of life.”
Suzy scrunched up the carton and put it in a carrier bag on the floor of car. She yawned and leaned back. “I’m well aware of Stephen’s flaws. But he’s a good man. Don’t be so hard on him.” She yawned again.
“Tired, sweetheart?”
“Don’t know what’s come over me. I can’t keep my eyes open.”
“Slip the seat back. Close your eyes for five minutes. We’ll be there soon.”
Chapter 14
“That got us nowhere.” DS Jed Quickenden kicked a tyre of the pool car they were using. “A list! What good is a flaming list?”
“Lorraine Hopkirk needs time to think it through. If there is someone working at the home who could have taken those keys, she’ll tell us. She’s a bright woman.”
“Well, she’s told us nothing so far.”
Greco looked around at the large Victorian houses and well-tended gardens. “This is a pleasant area.”
“The posh end of town.�
�� Speedy grinned.
“Shame they don’t appreciate it.” Greco nodded towards a group of youths who were shouting obscenities. Their target was a figure standing in the window of a house beside the care home.
“That place comes in for a lot of stick. It’s Springbank — a place for dropouts.”
“What sort of dropouts?”
“Ex drug-users, psychiatric cases. You name it, they all go there. The local residents don’t like it. They objected when it was first set up but they got nowhere.”
“Has there ever been any trouble?”
“Nothing that we’ve had to get involved with.”
“So the people that run it do a good job then?”
Speedy shrugged. “What now, boss?”
“There’s something I’ve got to do.” Greco was thinking about Doris Hope. He hadn’t dropped her wages off yet and he hadn’t told her about the cameras he’d had fitted at the house in Pierce Street either.
“You take the car and get back to the station. I’ll join you in a while.”
“Don’t you need a lift, sir?”
“No — I’ll walk. I’m not going far.”
Greco still felt rough from the previous night’s drinking. His head had been thumping all day. He couldn’t think clearly. A walk might help.
Doris Hope didn’t live far from the town centre. It shouldn’t take long. Once he sorted that, he’d go back and write the report for the super. It was a pity he had nothing new to add. Everything the super and the DCI needed to know was up on the incident board.
* * *
“Cup of tea?” Doris Hope offered when she saw him on the doorstep.
Greco nodded, and followed her into a narrow hallway.
“Sit down in there and I’ll put the kettle on.”
The sitting room she showed him to was small and full of furniture. But there wasn’t a speck of dust or a thing out of place. Even the cushions on the sofa had been placed just so.
“It won’t be a minute,” she said.
“I came to give you this.” He handed her an envelope. “Also to tell you something about the house you’re buying on Pierce Street.”
“I know about that,” she said with a frown. “My Albert bumped into one of your policemen. He’d been keeping an eye open. He told him about the cameras inside.”
Complete Detective Stephen Greco Box Set Page 31
