‘You think he’s involved?’
‘Too early to say, but he had access to the sports hall, and he seemed mightily jumpy when I mentioned the murder. Also, see if you can find out who the other shareholders are. I want to make sure we don’t miss anything vital. Let’s get back to the office and see if SSD have the DNA results.’
Laura paused. ‘Do you think it could be Daisy’s?’
Kate fixed her with a genuine look of concern. ‘I just don’t know.’
12
The technician handed Kate the report. ‘It’s definitely not a match with the follicles we removed from the hairbrush DC Trotter gave us.’
Kate let out a guttural groan, unsure if it was relief or disappointment. ‘Daisy isn’t our victim.’
The technician shook his head in agreement.
‘What about the National DNA Database? Still no matches?’
He shook his head mournfully again. ‘No hits on the UK version. We’re trying to reach out to our neighbours in the US, but it’ll take a few days until we have something back.’
Kate pocketed the piece of paper and thanked him for his support, before heading back to the incident room to update the team. If Daisy wasn’t their victim at the school then it meant she was still out there. But it also meant they now had a new victim to identify. And there was only one person who might be able to shed light on who that victim was.
*
Kate was relieved to spot Ben’s car in the staff car park behind the entrance to the mortuary, in the basement of the hospital. Given how late they were out last night before they’d gone their separate ways, she wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d decided to come to work later. He was stretching his arms above his head as they walked into the laboratory.
He poked his head out from behind the computer monitor. ‘To what do I owe this pleasure?’ he asked, as a yawn escaped.
Kate raised the cardboard tray of coffee cups into the air. ‘Thought you might be in need of refreshment.’
He smiled at the gesture, before moving out from behind the desk. ‘How are you? How’s the investigation going?’
‘I’m okay,’ Kate answered. ‘Daisy Emerson isn’t our school victim. I’m hoping you can give me some clue about to whom the foot may have belonged. Have you had a chance to look at it yet today?’
‘I went to bed late but I couldn’t stop thinking about it,’ he admitted. ‘In the end, I gave up trying and came in. I haven’t stopped since.’
‘And?’ Kate couldn’t prevent her naturally impatient nature.
‘And I kept thinking about ways in which we identify victims. Where possible, we opt for one of the primary identification methods: DNA, fingerprints and dental comparison. And then we might use secondary identification features, such as scars, birthmarks and tattoos. Finally, we’d cross-reference this to the victim’s personal effects, such as clothing and jewellery. But we can’t do any of that with just a foot. And then it hit me: forensic anthropology.’ He turned the monitor so she could see. ‘Kate Matthews, I’d like you to meet Dr Xander Garcia. Xander, this is the brilliant detective I was telling you about.’
Kate leaned closer to the screen, seeing an olive-skinned man with a jowly face and wearing thick lens glasses. His image blurred slightly as he waved at the screen. Kate nodded at him, and he nervously returned the gesture.
‘Xander is a forensic anthropologist,’ Ben continued. ‘He provided support with a study I completed while at medical school, and we’ve been great friends ever since.’
‘Friends who only speak on the phone or video calls,’ Xander interjected, a Hispanic tone to his American accent. ‘When are you going to come and visit me over here, Ben? My wife thinks you’re a figment of my imagination.’
Ben smiled into the camera. ‘You know I’d be over in a flash if I didn’t have so much work to do.’
Kate watched the two men exchanging light-hearted banter, surprised that Ben had never mentioned him before, and wondering if there was another reason he hadn’t crossed the pond to visit him.
Kate cleared her throat. ‘Sorry, can one of you tell me what forensic anthropology is?’
‘Do you want to take this one?’ Ben asked the camera.
Xander nodded. ‘Forensic anthropology is the study of skeletal remains to determine who they belong to and how they ended up in the condition in which they were discovered. I’m trained in anthropology, archaeology, human osteology, and chain-of-evidence procedures. I often support the local PD here in New York with cases of identifying victims. The biological profile derived from skeletal examination has the potential to reveal a victim’s personal history. For example, if we discovered an orthopaedic implant in a victim’s knee, we might be able to determine that they were an athlete or—’
‘So, you might be able to build a picture of the owner of the foot?’ Kate concluded, hopefully.
‘Hopefully,’ Ben replied. ‘Xander is an expert in this field, which is why I reached out to him this morning. I hope you don’t mind?’
‘Of course not,’ Kate replied, appreciative of his out-of-the-box thinking. ‘This is exactly what I was hoping you might be able to do. So, what have you discovered?’
The smile quickly left Xander’s face. ‘Skeletal trauma analysis is a time-intensive process. Ideally, I’d need to examine the foot, and in particular the bones, but you’ll have to make do with me guiding Ben through the video call.’
Kate suddenly noticed the curtains hanging from the wall behind Xander’s head. ‘Oh Jesus! What time is it where you are?’
‘Thankfully, I’m on the east coast so it’s just after six in the morning. I can talk for another hour, but then I’ll have to get ready, as I’m guest speaker at a conference later today.’
‘Really appreciate your help, Xander,’ Ben offered.
‘You’re welcome. It sure as hell beats listening to my wife snore.’ He chuckled to himself. ‘Anyway, Ben has sent me some close-up images of the foot, as well as X-rays, which I’ve been reviewing. I appreciate this is an open investigation, so I will delete the files when we’re done here. Are you happy for me to continue?’
What choice did she have? Kate nodded, and Ben pulled the sheet back from the slab, revealing the foot. ‘The X-ray showed two stress fractures: one in the second metatarsal, and the other in calcaneus.’
‘At the risk of sounding like the class idiot, can you dumb-down the explanation a fraction?’ Kate asked sheepishly.
Ben chortled. ‘The heel and here,’ he indicated, pointing at the two areas on the appendage. ‘These are the two most common areas to find stress fractures, and could indicate our victim had recently taken up a new sporting activity such as running.’
‘It could also indicate that the victim could have been suffering with osteoporosis or some other bone-weakening disease,’ Xander interjected. ‘But that can be determined by testing the bone directly, which Ben will do in due course.’
Ben turned the foot over in his hands. ‘Before, I identified blistering of the skin around the base of the foot, which could suggest some kind of sudden switch to physical activity. When someone first takes up running, it can often take several weeks for the skin around the sole of the foot to adjust to the new activity. It looks like the blisters were being treated with a moisturiser or cream to aid the healing process.’
Kate couldn’t hide her disappointment. ‘Gentlemen, while this is all very interesting and information I didn’t have before I arrived, it doesn’t really help me narrow the pool of possible victims. Please tell me you have something else?’
Ben turned the foot back over, resting the sole on his outstretched palm. He hovered his little finger near the cut site. ‘After I’d cleaned the blood from the foot, I notice this small pattern. Can you see? Last night I took it to be light bruising just beneath the skin, but now I think there might be more to it.’ He raised the foot to allow Kate to look at the small pattern.
‘What is it?’ Kate asked.
&nb
sp; He moved it closer to her face. ‘Unless I’m mistaken, it’s scarring left from a tattoo that’s been removed by a laser. Recently too. The scarring is fresh, suggesting it was removed not long before the victim died. I’d say anywhere in the last week.’
‘What was the tattoo of?’ she asked excitedly.
‘That I can’t tell you, I’m afraid,’ Ben admitted. ‘It seems the tattoo was on the victim’s leg, and we only appear to have the end trails of it on the ankle. I can use negative exposure to try and make the image more discernible.’
‘It certainly gives us a new direction to follow.’
‘I’ll send the image over to you as soon as I’ve sharpened it up. Maybe one of your team can take it around the local tattoo parlours to see if anyone remembers removing it.’
‘Thanks. Do you think you’ll be able to find out anything else?’
‘We’ll see what we can do. Xander likes a challenge, don’t you, pal?’
Xander’s face bobbed up and down as he nodded. ‘Even if I don’t get to handle that foot, I’ll do whatever I can to help you, detective.’
Kate thanked them both, and left the laboratory. Although she didn’t yet know Jane Doe’s real name, she felt she was a small step closer to solving the riddle.
13
Kate was pleased to hear the buzz of conversations in the incident room as she returned. Unable to see Laura, she called Freeborn over. ‘Ewan, Dr Temple is going to send over a digital image of what he believes is a tattoo removed by laser from our victim’s foot. When it’s in, I want everyone’s eyes on it, and for you to contact local tattoo parlours and see if anyone remembers removing it. Dr Temple thinks it came off in the last week, so maybe someone remembers doing it.’
Freeborn nodded, and headed back to his desk.
Patel slid his chair over to Kate’s desk. ‘I have Daisy’s boyfriend, Alfie Caplan, in Interview Room Three downstairs. Do you want to sit in on it, or should I take one of the DCs?’
Kate was about to tell him to proceed without her when she thought better of it. ‘I’m sure he knows more than he’s told us so far. I want to ruffle his feathers and see what he spills. Can you dig out the witness statement that waitress gave us yesterday? I want to know what he has to say about it.’
*
Looking like a member of a boyband, Alfie Caplan straightened his sitting position the moment the door to the interview suite was opened. Kate allowed Patel to enter first, giving her extra time to really look at the young man who might hold the key to exactly where Daisy had run off to on Friday night.
Wearing a red and navy checked shirt, with the top two buttons unfastened, she could imagine his slight frame belied his physical strength. With a mane of dark brown hair pushed back and to the side, and hanging over the edge of his collar, he was clearly an individual who took time sculpting his appearance. He had two piercings in his left ear, and a chain of some sort hanging around his neck. He exuded confidence, but Kate had also spotted the rough edging at the tips of his fingers where he’d been chewing at his nails.
Taking the seat next to Patel, Kate offered Alfie a drink.
‘I’m fine,’ he grunted.
‘Are you sure?’ Kate pressed, rubbing her hands together and then holding them over the steam of her mug. ‘The heating’s not up to much in this place at the weekends.’
He folded his arms. ‘I’m warm enough.’
Kate nodded at Patel. ‘Start the recording when you’re ready, DS Patel.’
Alfie suddenly sat forward. ‘You’re recording this? Wait, do I need a solicitor?’
Kate waved away his concern. ‘You’re not under arrest, Alfie. You’re welcome to call a solicitor if you really feel you need one, but we’re just going to chat to you. That’s all.’
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. ‘Why are you recording it, then?’
Kate took a moment before replying, allowing his imagination off the leash a little. ‘In cases like this, we like to keep an orderly account of all interactions with key witnesses.’
He leaned forward slightly further. ‘Witness? Witness to what? I already told you people I don’t know where she went.’
‘You’re a witness to what Daisy was like as a person. I mean, you were her boyfriend so you’re probably the best person we can ask about her state of mind on the day she disappeared.’
Patel pressed record and the machine buzzed in to life. Kate introduced the three of them for the recording, emphasising that the interview was voluntary. ‘You met up with Daisy on the Friday afternoon, didn’t you, Alfie?’
He looked from Kate to Patel, and then back again. ‘Yeah, I saw her.’
‘What time was that?’ Kate asked.
He puffed out his cheeks, relaxing slightly. ‘It was after she’d finished school for the day, so maybe around four.’
‘Did you collect her from the school in your car?’
‘Nah, traffic around there is a nightmare at that time. She caught the bus to Portswood and we went for a coffee.’
‘What car do you drive, Alfie?’
‘It’s a Peugeot 307.’
‘A black one, right?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Is it your first car?’
‘Yeah, used to be my brother’s.’
‘Does your brother live with you?’
He smiled proudly. ‘Nah, he’s the brains of the family, he’s at uni up in London.’
‘Yeah? Which one? I used to work in London.’
‘Richmond.’
‘I remember my first car. A little Fiesta. I miss that car. It wasn’t particularly fast, and it only had a cassette player so I had to copy all my favourite CDs onto tapes, but… I don’t know, there was something about it. You know what I mean? It was mine, and it was my first.’
He smiled as his shoulders relaxed. ‘Mine’s got a banging stereo system.’
Kate smiled. ‘I’ll bet it has.’ A pause. ‘Was Daisy your first girlfriend?’
The smile vanished from his face. ‘No.’
‘So, you’d been out with other girls before Daisy?’
‘A couple. Nothing serious.’
‘Was it serious with Daisy?’
His shoulders were tensing again. ‘I suppose.’
‘She thought it was serious, didn’t she? Her Facebook page showed her “in a relationship”. That was with you, wasn’t it?’
‘I guess. I don’t do Facebook.’
‘Where did the two of you meet for coffee?’
‘What?’
‘On Friday afternoon. You said the two of you met in Portswood for a coffee?’
He frowned, trying to determine whether she was aiming to somehow trick him. ‘We was at that place that sells ice cream. Can’t remember its name.’
‘The gelato place, right? The one with the pink neon lights?’
‘Yeah, that’s the one.’
‘We know which one you were in, Alfie, because a witness says they saw you and Daisy in there. But what I don’t understand, is why that witness says they saw you and Daisy arguing about something. Why would they say that?’
He shrugged his shoulders, attempting nonchalance, but coming across as defensive. ‘Depends who says they thought we was arguing.’
‘Oh, so you’re saying you weren’t arguing?’
Alfie glanced nervously at Patel, who had been scribbling notes since the conversation had started. ‘No, that’s not what I’m saying… What I mean is, we was talking, but not arguing.’
Kate didn’t miss a beat. ‘That’s not what our witness says. They said Daisy ran out of the place in tears.’
‘No, that’s not what happened. Sh-she was upset, but that has nothing to do with this.’
‘Why was she upset then?’
‘She just was—’
‘Did you upset her?’
‘No, I mean, yeah, I mean… I don’t know. I can’t remember. It was just a silly disagreement.’
‘What were you disagreeing about?’
/> ‘I can’t even remember.’
‘Did you go after her when she left?’
‘No.’
‘That’s what our witness said, too. They stated you just sat there while your girlfriend ran off in tears. Why didn’t you go after her?’
His hand shot up to his mouth as he chewed on a nail. ‘She was upset… she was angry—’
‘Why was she angry?’
‘She was angry with me… I thought she just needed a bit of time to cool down.’
‘Why, Alfie? What had you said that made her angry and upset? What aren’t you telling me?’
‘It was nothing.’
‘What wasn’t?’
‘I just… I-I-I told her I couldn’t see her at the weekend because I was going to my brother’s.’
Kate wasn’t buying it. The phone vibrated in her pocket. ‘There’s something you’re not telling me, Alfie, and I will get to the bottom of it. You saw Daisy that night too, didn’t you?’
‘What? No.’
Kate monitored his reactions closely. ‘Yeah, you did. You’d been together for months, and there’s no way you would have left things like that. Did you go to her place? Is that what happened?’
‘No.’
‘No, of course, because she wasn’t at home, was she? She was over at Georgie Barclay’s house. Did you meet with her there?’
‘No, I didn’t see her. I swear to you: I haven’t seen Daisy since the ice cream place. I swear to God!’
The phone vibrated again. Kate nodded at Patel to continue as she excused herself and left the room.
14
Freeborn was waiting in the corridor, holding a printed image. ‘Dr Temple just sent this over.’
Kate accepted the page and studied the image. ‘This is what he managed to recover from the tattoo on the foot?’
Freeborn nodded. ‘It’s difficult to tell what it is. Claws, maybe? Or the bottom of letters? Do you think it spells something?’
Kate twisted the page in her hand. The scarring was white against the black of the skin where Ben had inverted the colours. She continued to try and decipher the image as they returned to the incident room. ‘That definitely looks like the lower edge of a capital “L” or maybe a “B”,’ Kate suggested, ‘then maybe a lowercase “e” or “c”, or maybe an “o”. Keep playing with possible letter combinations.’
Cold Heart: Absolutely gripping serial-killer fiction Page 7
