The Body in the Boot: The first 'Mac' Maguire mystery

by Patrick C Walsh

  Angela Moran 21 – disappears Sat 13 Sept – body found Mon 13th October

  Annie McTavish 18 – disappears Sun 12th Oct – body found Sun 16th Nov

  Kayla James 19 – disappears Fri 14th Nov – found Sun 7th December

  Hetty Lewinson 22 – disappears Sat 6th December– found in car boot Mon 5th January

  ‘This is a list of six women, girls really, the oldest is Henrietta Lewinton and she’s only twenty two. They all worked in Luton as prostitutes and they all disappeared without trace for a period of weeks. During that time there was no sign of them in the Luton area. All of the girls left everything behind them, passports, money, clothes and, in one case apparently, a sizable quantity of drugs. Their friends and colleagues said they gave no indication that they were planning on leaving. Five of these girls were found in various car parks and alleys around the red light district, all dead through an apparent drug overdose. Syringes containing a high dose of heroin were found next to all five girls. We can only conjecture that Henrietta Lewinton would have joined them if it hadn’t been for a chance collision.’

  DI Carter examined the board carefully.

  ‘Yes, the dates link them, don’t they?’

  ‘They’re at least very suggestive. The first girl, Mandy Stokes, is found dead on the morning of the twenty third of August last year and the second girl, Barbara Mason, disappears without warning on the evening of the twenty second. Then Barbara’s body is found in an alleyway on the morning of thirteenth of September, while the evening before girl number three Angela Moran disappears and so on. The dates match too exactly to be co-incidental.’

  ‘What about Annie McTavish, she wasn’t found until two days after Kayla James disappears?’

  ‘Yes, we noticed that. Tommy?’

  ‘We have a forensics report that states that Annie had been dead for at least two days when she was found,’ Tommy said.

  ‘So she was lying there for two days and no-one noticed?’ Dan said.

  ‘Perhaps they noticed and just ignored her,’ Mac commented.

  DI Carter nodded glumly then he took off his jacket and placed it on the back of his chair. Mac knew from his body language he wasn’t going to make the end of Midsomer Murders.

  ‘So you think he dumps one girl’s body and then kidnaps another one?’

  Mac nodded.

  ‘You notice that all the girls disappear on an evening between Thursday and Sunday, except for Hetty who was being returned on a Monday. May mean something, may not’

  ‘Where did you get all this from?’

  ‘I’m afraid I can’t say but I trust the source one hundred percent.’

  DI Carter gave this some thought before saying, ‘Fair enough. So what do you think is going on?’

  ‘The pathologist earlier this morning came up with quite a chilling idea, that these girls were being used as some sort of human guinea pigs. Let’s assume that he’s right and let’s also assume that whatever is going on takes some weeks to complete. Prostitutes are an obvious target. They are willing to go into secluded places alone and, when they do go missing, it’s unlikely that the police will be told about it. Let’s be honest, even when we are informed, we’re not likely to do much about it anyway, are we?’

  DI Carter looked like he was about to protest for a moment but he ended up just nodding in grim resignation.

  ‘Now, if we assume that Henrietta Lewinton is a typical case, the one thing we do know is our man has access to some seriously powerful drugs, drugs that can cause a severe coma. If it were me I’d use a stolen car with fake plates, drive around looking for a suitable victim, someone young it would seem from what we know. Once they’re in the car ask for a blow job, take them somewhere secluded and, while they’re at it, inject them with something that will sedate them or knock them out, perhaps the hibernation drug itself. All you need do is wrap them up in a blanket and put them in the boot and drive to wherever.’

  ‘All too easy, isn’t it?’ DI Carter commented. ‘What about returning them?’

  ‘Just as easy. They’re already in a coma, simply take them out of the boot and place them sitting in a dark corner of a car park or alleyway and inject a lethal dose of drugs. Leave the syringe next to the body and drive off to look for the next victim. She’ll be found the next morning, known prostitute, overdose, open and shut case.’

  DI Carter flinched as he remembered he’d used the same words to Mac earlier that day.

  ‘Okay what else do we know?’

  ‘Well I’ve been looking at what we’ve got on the five dead girls,’ Tommy said. ‘There’s not much. All of are down as dying from a heroin overdose. The analysis showed that the overdose was massive and the opinion of the pathologist was that they were injected with uncut heroin.’

  ‘Sometimes happens,’ DI Carter commented. ‘Drugs get stolen and then it’s assumed that it’s already been cut so it goes straight onto the street.’

  ‘Outside of the girls here we’ve had no fatal incidents in the last three years related to uncut heroin,’ Tommy replied. ‘Not only that we haven’t had a prostitute die on the street from drugs for over a year and then in less than a six month period we get five.’

  ‘Looks like all the facts are stacking up,’ DI Carter said as he returned to scrutinise the white board.

  ‘Not only that,’ Mac said, ‘but my source says that two of the girls, the second one Barbara Mason and the fifth one Kayla James, weren’t even users. Apart from the occasional spliff they never touched drugs.’

  ‘Okay I don’t need any more convincing. Tommy, get back home now and I’ll want you here at eight sharp. Mac, would you be up to helping us out for a few days?’

  Mac was pleasantly surprised by the offer.

  ‘Of course, I’d be more than glad.’

  DI Carter was still staring at the white board as they left the room.

  Tommy was good enough to drive them both back to Letchworth. On the way to the car Mac noticed that Tim was quiet.

  ‘What’s up?’

  ‘I notice he didn’t ask me to help out,’ Tim said, looking quite put out.

  ‘Tim, you’re a furniture restorer.’

  ‘Yeah, I know but some of those desks are in a tragic state, they could do with some real TLC.’

  Mac laughed out loud as he realised that Tim was pulling his leg.

  ‘Back to the Magnets for a few more?’

  ‘You bet,’ Tim replied. ‘And don’t forget we’ve only sorted the defence out so far, our attack is even worse!’

  Chapter Six

  Wednesday 7th January

  Mac awoke slowly the next morning and went through his usual routine. He stayed horizontal until he was fully awake and the weird, lucid dreams, caused by the painkillers he took, had scuttled away out of his head. His pain level didn’t feel too bad but that meant little, he’d only know how severe it might be after he stood up and tried to walk.

  He gingerly sat up and checked again, still not too bad. He then took the plunge and hauled himself erect. If the pain was going to hit him it was usually now. Mac had identified at least six flavours of pain and was grateful that only two of the lesser types were present when he stood up. Mac knew that this was probably as good as it was going to get all day. He walked to the bathroom and blessedly the pain stayed bearable. He smiled at himself into the mirror as he shaved. Even if it was only temporary he was on a case again and doing some proper police work.

  It was still only six fifteen and Mac was determined to be there early. It had been his habit over the years to be the first in the office each morning. He’d always liked having a little space of time to reflect about what the day ahead might bring. He made coffee and filled a travel mug. He’d get breakfast at the station. It had been far too long since he’d had a police canteen sausage and egg sandwich.

  The traffic was thankfully not too bad and he was back in the incident room just before seven. He sat and looked at the white board letting his mind meander around the
facts of the case. He was disturbed some twenty minutes later by Tommy’s arrival.

  ‘Here already? Couldn’t wait to get back in harness?’

  Mac smiled, it was only the truth.

  ‘Something like that.’

  ‘Any new thoughts, since yesterday?’

  ‘No, not really but we do have some leads we can chase up.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘I’ll tell you everything if you let me know where the canteen is, I could murder a sausage and egg sandwich.’

  ‘My favourite too, I’ll be back in a minute.’

  Tommy returned ten minutes later with a tray on which were two sandwiches in paper bags and two cups of tea.

  ‘Tommy you’re a life saver,’ Mac said as he gratefully accepted a sandwich.

  While they were eating Tommy asked, ‘What leads do we have then?’

  ‘Okay, off the top of my head, we have dates and names. If it is one man kidnapping all these girls it’s quite likely that he might have staked them out first. Someone may have seen him. We need to question everyone they knew and if we can connect anyone with even two of the girls we might be onto something. We can look at where the car was stolen from and see where other cars were stolen from around the dates the girls disappeared. It might be that he’s stealing cars from an area he’s familiar with, perhaps he lives or works there or perhaps it’s near where he delivers the girls. Does he favour a particular type of car? The car Henrietta Lewinton was found in was a BMW, perhaps that’s what he likes to drive, perhaps that’s what he’s familiar with. Also the cars he steals have to be big enough to get a body in the boot so that narrows it down a bit. Have we any CCTV footage from the area the girls were abducted from or traffic cameras? A long shot perhaps but it might we well worth having a look around the dates the girls disappeared.’

  Mac took a big bite from his sandwich.

  ‘And why Luton?’ he continued. ‘I know with serial killers there’s a thing most of them have about knowing their area of operations well, it’s like a comfort zone. Is that why he keeps abducting girls from Luton? Perhaps he is or has been one of their clients and if that was the case he’d certainly know the drill. If so it’s highly likely he lives here or he’s lived here in the past and he’d know where to drive the girls so he wouldn’t be overseen. Then there’s probably the most important lead, the hibernation drug itself. I’d guess that the medical research field is relatively small so someone may know something about who developed it. That’s what I’m going to volunteer to do today.’

  ‘Bloody hell, that’s all off the top of your head?’ Tommy said looking impressed.

  ‘Yes, just first thoughts,’ Mac replied honestly.

  ‘How are you planning to follow up on the hibernation drug?’

  ‘We’ll talk to Dr. Tereshkova at the hospital first and see if there’s anything new. Then there’s my neurologist who works in the Royal Free Hospital in London. I’d guess that a hibernation drug must primarily affect the brain so with any luck he, or one of his colleagues, might know about such a thing. I’m also going to see my daughter Bridget who’s a doctor at the same hospital. She’s a paediatrician but they have a big medical research centre there and she knows some of the researchers. I think it might be well worth a try.’

  ‘Sounds like a plan,’ Tommy conceded.

  They were interrupted by the arrival of a smiling DI Carter.

  ‘DCS Maguire, couldn’t wait to get back into action I see.’

  ‘Please, I’m no longer a DCS, just call me Mac.’

  ‘Okay, just call me Dan.’

  They shook hands.

  ‘Mac’s just been telling me his thoughts on what we should do next,’ Tommy volunteered.

  ‘Oh really? Would you mind telling me?’

  ‘Of course not.’

  Mac went through the leads again as he saw it.

  Dan was quiet for a while.

  ‘I must admit I’d thought of most of those. I was going to get the team to start interviewing the girls in the area and I’ve got a real whiz kid on the computer, Martin, who I’m hoping might be able to spot any patterns related to the car thefts and look at any CCTV, but I hadn’t really considered the possibility of a hibernation drug though. How would you go about investigating that?’

  ‘We’ll try the hospital first, see if they’ve identified the drug yet. If not I know a neurologist at the Royal Free who might know something and my daughter’s a doctor there too. Although she’s a paediatrician she knows some of the medical researchers and I’m hoping she’ll know who would be best to talk to. As I was saying to Tommy it’s probably a relatively small field so someone must have heard something about a hibernation drug.’

  ‘Right, as you two know what you’re doing today, you might as well get on with it. Tommy use one of the unmarked police cars then come back here afterwards and let me know if you’ve found anything. Mac, mind if I have a few words with Tommy before he goes?’

  ‘No problem, I’ll start walking towards the car park.’

  When Mac had gone Dan looked seriously at Tommy and said, ‘You’re going to be his minder while he’s with us. I had a chat with an old friend at the Met last night and he told me all about Mac. He’s a really good copper and we could do with him on board but he has a chronic pain problem, a really bad one, that’s why he was forced to retire.’

  ‘He told me about it yesterday, must be crap being in pain all the time like that.’

  ‘Good, he obviously trusts you if he told you that already. Anyway just make sure that he doesn’t do anything too strenuous and if he looks like he’s suffering get him straight home.’

  ‘I will and thanks. I must admit I’m really looking forward to working with him, he’s such a great investigator. Do you mind me asking, is that why you’re so keen to keep him in the team?’

  ‘Yes partly. He is brilliant and I’ve got a feeling that we’re going to need some brilliance from someone to crack this one and I really want it cracked.’

  ‘Only partly?’ Tommy asked.

  Dan cleared his throat.

  ‘Well, last night I could see how happy he was to be back working again, to be involved. That might be me in a few years, who knows?’

  ‘I understand sir and I’ll do my best to look after him. I’ll see you later.’

  Tommy had always thought Dan Carter was a bit of a gruff, uncaring sort but he was beginning to see that there might be another side to him.

  As they drove out of the car park Mac asked, ‘If I was a betting man I’d guess Dan just told you about why I had to leave the force and that he’s asked you to look after me.’

  Tommy smiled and shook his head.

  ‘I won’t ask how you guessed that but yes, he knows about your condition and he wants to make sure you don’t overdo it. So officially I’m your minder.’

  ‘Okay with me but there is something you’ll need if you’re going to drive me to the hospital.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘These.’

  Mac produced his blue badge and time card.

  ‘At least we can park somewhere that isn’t miles away from the hospital entrance.’

  ‘But we can park virtually anywhere when we’re on duty.’

  ‘Believe me the nearest spaces are disabled and, as it’s not an emergency, I think we’d be better off using the badge. Or would you prefer to see your picture on the front of the Daily Mail?’

  Tommy could see the headline, ‘Lazy Police Nab Disabled Parking Space’ and underneath a picture of a woman in a wheelchair who missed her appointment because she couldn’t park her car. He nodded and took the badge.

  Mac got out his phone and called his daughter. She was having breakfast and promised she’d meet him at the hospital. She also volunteered to speak to Dr. Wilkins for him.

  At Luton hospital Dr. Tereshkova told them there was little change in Henrietta’s condition.

  ‘She’s still unresponsive but she is warming up slowly a
nd the unidentified substance is beginning to leave her system.’

  ‘Any idea what the substance is or how it works?’ Mac asked.

  The doctor shook her head.

  ‘We’ve got the facilities here to identify and treat most types of drugs and poisons but not something this exotic.’

  ‘Who might know about something this ‘exotic’?’

  She thought for a moment.

  ‘Of course it could be some natural substance we haven’t come across before but I think that’s less likely than it being man made. It looks like it has a very complex structure so I don’t think this is something that was cooked up in someone’s kitchen. I think you need to talk to someone involved in medical research. If this is a manufactured drug it must have been developed somewhere.’

  Tommy glanced over and he could see that Mac was really pleased that the consultant had endorsed his plan of action.

  Mac went to Section D and looked in through the glass panel before they left. Janet Lewinton was still by her daughter’s bedside, she had a book open and appeared to be reading to her. Again he decided not to intrude.

  Unexpectedly he enjoyed the trip into London. It had been quite a while since he’d been in the passenger seat and he’d almost forgotten how nice it could be to just relax and watch the world go by. Tommy found them a disabled parking space very close the main entrance of the Royal Free for which Mac was grateful. His phone went off as he got out of the car. It was a text and it read ‘At main entrance now x B.’

  Mac smiled. His daughter always put an ‘x’ on her texts to him. He grinned from ear to ear when he caught sight of her in the hospital lobby. She was very like her mother and Mac had thought her the most beautiful creature in the world. She wore a white doctor’s coat over a loose sky blue blouse and dark blue trousers. Her auburn hair was held in a bun, for safety reasons she always said. She liked having long hair but her little patients just saw it as something to swing on. She had eyes of a strange colour, a sort of blue-green, which Mac found enchanting.

  He gave her a big hug and then introduced Tommy. Mac could see that Tommy probably wouldn’t make a good poker player as his face all too clearly showed his pleasure at meeting his daughter.