by Chris Simms
Jon could see people beginning to lean forwards and the doctor’s confidence appeared to increase as a result.
‘The problem with this case is that we don’t know where the mutilations and killings were actually carried out. However, we can say where the victims came from. Number one, Angela Rowlands, lived in Droylesden. Victim two, Carol Miller, in Bredbury. From this we can extrapolate a midpoint around Denton, where the Hyde Road intersects the M60.’
‘Hyde Road’s the A57,’ Jon muttered to Rick.
‘Now, I realise this is close to where the bodies are being dumped, but I don’t think it’s where our killer lives. And here’s why. When we add in the address of Tyler Young, which is in Stretford to the west of the city, our circle expands to cover the whole of central Manchester with a midpoint around Didsbury and Fallowfield. This is a far more likely area of residence, for reasons I’ll come to in a minute.’
He flipped his top sheet of notes over and took a shallow breath. ‘Now, studying our killer’s temporal patterns reveals a bit more about him. Our victims were all discovered on different days – a Tuesday, a Thursday and a Saturday morning. Times of death suggest they were all killed at some point during the evening before, so he’s killed on a Monday, a Wednesday and a Friday. Angela Rowlands was last seen when she left her office in central Manchester at lunchtime. Carol Miller dropped her infant son at her mother’s house in the late afternoon, and Tyler Young we’re unsure about. Taking Angela Rowlands, there was a gap of about six hours between her last sighting and her time of death. This suggests to me she had initial contact with the killer during the office hours of a weekday.’
He took his glasses off and rubbed tiredly at the red marks on each side of his nose. Come on, Jon thought. The whole bloody room is hanging on your next comment.
With his eyes shut, the doctor continued, ‘We can therefore suppose our killer isn’t constrained by normal working hours.’ Glasses back on, he opened his eyes and had to blink a couple of times to regain his focus. ‘He has freedom of movement during the day to control his own movements. Keep that thought.
‘Next is what he’s doing to his victims. These aren’t, to use the term our colleagues in America prefer, disorganised killings. They haven’t been carried out in a fit of uncontrolled rage. They’re careful, meticulous and unhurried. He needs a private place to carry out his work, somewhere he has no chance of being disturbed. Therefore he’s probably a property owner or has access to commercial premises.
‘He’s organised and, judging from the mutilations themselves, skilled. I would also guess these characteristics apply to him in general. He’s in a professional occupation, probably supervising his own movements during the day. Possibly self-employed in some capacity.’
Rick paused in his note-taking and held his hand up. Christ, thought Jon, does he think this is a classroom? The doctor nodded at Rick.
‘Why do you assume he’s got a job?’
The doctor lowered his notepad. ‘Well, the bodies are turning up on waste ground in Belle Vue, having been moved there from somewhere else. That suggests he owns a car or has access to a commercial vehicle. It needs to be big enough for him to stash a corpse in it quite comfortably. It takes money to run any vehicle – hundreds a month if you build in the purchase price or cost of loan repayments. He needs a regular wage for that.’
‘Like a salesman of latex gloves,’ Rick whispered. Jon shrugged, thinking of Pete Gray’s van.
‘I would also expect our killer to be very organised in his personal life. His place of work will be neat and orderly, as will his appearance – fastidious, even. Given his professional role, I would say suits for work, smart dress outside it. Shirts, leather shoes, trousers, not jeans. We’re not looking for a dishevelled, wild-eyed maniac. Unfortunately, we rarely are. We’re looking for a quiet, unassuming, individual. One with an understated type of charm. Think Jeffrey Dahmer. Unobtrusive, able to merge in without making much of an impression. Probably regarded as “nice” by his neighbours.’
While Rick eagerly noted down the doctor’s words, Jon sat back and mulled the information over. Pete Gray drove a van with blacked-out windows. And God knew why, but it seemed some women believed he had a certain charm.
‘How is he selecting his victims?’ the doctor continued.
‘They’re from three different parts of the city. The first two mentioned they were going somewhere specific before disappearing. A liaison with our killer, but for what? A date? An appointment? They’ve made the decision to meet him. Has there been prior contact? If you haven’t done so, check all three victims’ neighbours for any recent visits. I don’t mean by trades people such as window cleaners – too menial. Someone flogging conservatories, satellite TV, free holidays. Professional salespeople basically. As I said, he can turn on the charm when required.’
Jon glanced over and saw Rick shooting him a look of triumph.
‘What is he trying to achieve through his murders? I’m not sure, but he’s certainly settling into it. More flesh is being removed and, in the third instance, the face and teeth as well. I’m assuming the surgical avenue is being treated as a priority?’
McCloughlin gave a tight nod.
‘It wouldn’t surprise me if the next victim were to be completely stripped of her flesh.’ The atmosphere in the room tightened perceptibly and the doctor flushed red on realising his gaffe. ‘If he isn’t caught before, of course. But he’s getting more careful. Removing the third victim’s face and teeth is a way of preventing identification. He’s covering his tracks in order to carry on. This also links into the general lack of evidence recovered so far. He’s wearing gloves, probably a facemask and gown. Of course, that suggests medical knowledge, but it also suggests forensic awareness. So he may well have a record for similar, more minor crimes. Mutilating pets, for instance.’
‘What about sex crimes?’ a female officer asked from the back.
The doctor shook his head. ‘I don’t think so. All three victims were discovered with their underwear on. There’s no sign of sexual activity, forced or otherwise. Of course, they might have believed they were meeting him for that. But it’s not his motivation. Mutilations of this nature are often ritualistic, and in ritualistic killings the genitals are frequently the focus of mutilation. But not here. He’s seeking to achieve something else here.
‘Another point to consider is this. Why is he choosing Belle Vue as his dumping ground? It suggests to me that he has good familiarity with the area, but I don’t think he lives there. More likely is that he regularly passes through, perhaps to and from a place of work. As I mentioned earlier, given his likely profes- sional status and the level of house prices in Didsbury, I suspect that is his area of residence. Taking into account the need for privacy, we should be considering detached houses.’
Wrong! Jon had to make an effort to stop his head from shaking. Pete Gray worked at Stepping Hill hospital and lived in a terraced house near Davenport train station. Neither was particularly close to Belle Vue. He’d chosen the area for another reason.
‘Also, he has to get the bodies into his vehicle and then dump them in Belle Vue. Perhaps he has a drive-in garage or a garden with a screening hedge. My final comment is this. From the intervals between his first three killings, we can unfortunately expect him to strike again any day.’ He lowered his notes, stepped back and looked at McCloughlin.
Taking the cue, McCloughlin nodded. ‘Thank you for that, Doctor.’ He turned to face the room. ‘A summary of Doctor Heath’s observations will be coming round. In the meantime, we focus on Tyler Young – victim number three and a whole new avenue to investigate. You all know her details; now we need to start delving into her life. Her parents told us she was angling to get a job in Tempters, that topless bar in the centre of town. I want the management and all the staff questioned – barmaids, cleaners, glass washers, the man who stocks their condom machines, the lot. Gavin, your team can handle that?’
‘Certainly, sir,’ the
DI replied. Jon could almost see the team rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of interviewing the barmaids.
‘We need to map out her last twenty-four hours. Usual routine – friends and family first. Obviously Mum and Dad were abroad on holiday, but she has two aunts living nearby. The reason they didn’t come forward was because they thought she was on holiday with the parents. Nevertheless, we still need to talk to them. She didn’t have a boyfriend as far as her parents knew, but we need to verify that with her mates.
‘Vanessa, that’s your team’s shout. I also want you to get over to the family home and have a good look through her stuff. The mum doesn’t think she kept a diary, but you know how it is with teenage girls. Go through her bedroom, check the backs of her drawers, under the carpet – you probably know better than me where she might hide stuff. We’ll need the family computer, too, to see what email she’s been sending or receiving.’
As Jon watched the young DI brush her hair off her face, he wondered what McCloughlin had in mind for him and Rick.
‘Andy, I want your team to continue with your TIEs on the members of the dating agencies Angela Rowlands met up with. How many have you got left to trace?’
‘She was sent the profiles of twenty-seven men. It seems she had contact with sixteen of them. So far we’ve traced, interviewed and eliminated twelve.’
He turned to another officer sitting at the front. ‘Simon, how’s your team going with the surgeons?’
‘Not bad, boss. We’ve just got to check the alibis for three who have contracts with the Paragon Group.’
‘Good. Keep going.’ He held up a sheaf of photocopies. ‘The most recent photo of Tyler Young her parents could find. Help yourself.’ He dropped them on the table and was turning back to his office when he said, almost as an aside, ‘Oh yes, Jon and Rick, keep trawling through those videos from Piccadilly station. We need more footage before we can categorically say the woman with Gordon Dean wasn’t Tyler Young.’
Jon uncrossed his arms, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice. ‘Sir, doesn’t it now appear that Gordon Dean’s murder is unconnected to the Butcher investigation? I was hoping to invest our time in following up the Pete Gray lead Rick and I unearthed.’
‘Rick and you unearthed?’ McCloughlin replied sarcastically.
‘Pete Gray is not a priority at this time. The whereabouts of that prostitute is. I want her tracked down.’
He ushered the doctor back to his office.
Shit, Jon thought, how do I let him know Gray’s DNA showed up on Angela Rowlands’s body? McCloughlin has enough doubts about my working methods without me announcing that I’ve run an illegal and unauthorised DNA test on a suspect. He pursued them into his boss’s office. ‘With respect sir, Pete Gray is definitely hiding something. He has free access to the type of latex glove found at the crime scene of Tyler Young, he works odd shift patterns, he drives a van with blacked-out windows, he’s a regular at singles’ nights around town. Surely that’s grounds to at least ask the man for a voluntary DNA swab?’
He glanced at Dr Heath, who was peering at McCloughlin over his glasses, one eyebrow raised.
But McCloughlin’s face had drained of colour. ‘DI Spicer, there are many more avenues to this case than the ones you see fit to create. As SIO, it’s my job to prioritise them. You’ll go through that footage if you want to stay on this investigation.’
‘And once we’ve been through it all?’
‘If there’s no sign of her, you can question Pete Gray. Now get out.’
Jon stepped out of McCloughlin’s office and into a mass of excited conversations. He went back to his desk and slumped down in his seat, wondering how to get out of the mess he was in.
Rick looked across at him. ‘Did you tell him about your dodgy DNA test?’
‘Christ, no! I’d be off the investigation by now if I had.’
Rick whistled. ‘You’re sailing very close to the wind. Though personally, my money’s still on Gordon Dean.’ He put a few finishing touches to his notes, swivelled the pad around and pushed it across the desk.
Reluctantly, Jon started reading. Works to his own schedule. Skilled or professional role, probably ‘high end’ of sales. Has his own vehicle. Fastidious in terms of organisation and personal appearance. Familiar with Belle Vue. Rick had a satisfied look on his face.
‘Gordon Dean fits all those criteria – every time he had to get to
Protex he’d have driven through Belle Vue.’ Irritation itched Jon’s scalp. ‘It wasn’t him.’
‘On what basis exactly?’
‘This,’ said Jon, pressing his fist into his sternum. ‘I can feel it in here. He’s not our man.’
‘Great! Discard all the techniques of twenty-first-century policing and go on good old gut instinct.’
Jon hooked a forefinger under Rick’s pad and flipped it over.
‘There’s more to this job than treating it like some frigging university course.’
Rick retrieved the pad and stood up. ‘I’m getting a coffee.’ Jon watched him go, waiting until he was out of earshot before saying, ‘Fucking little smart-arse.’
Chapter 27
The lines of halogen spotlights came on and he crossed the concrete floor, the low cellar ceiling muting the sound of his footsteps.
On the other side of the small room he stood before a counter lined with his collection of surgical instruments. He surveyed the rack of scalpels before picking one out and examining its blade, eyes narrowing under the bright light glaring down from above.
With a deft movement he released the blade from the metal handle and disposed of it in a flip-lid bin that was spattered with specks of red. Then he lifted a small foil wrapper from a box labelled: Carbon steel. Sterility guaranteed if packet unbroken.
He tore the foil open, lifted out the new blade, fitted it to the handle and replaced the scalpel on the rack.
Shutting his eyes, he breathed in. Unable to escape the airless room, the coppery tang of blood hung heavy around him.
So many to choose from, he thought, opening his eyes and looking at the sheets of paper beside him. Women’s names, addresses, hopes and desires were all listed there. He lifted the top sheet and ran his eyes over the form.
Should he select one of these? After a few moments’ contemplation, he decided against it. None of them felt quite right. He wanted his next job to be really special. Something that would leave the crowds of imbeciles gaping with shock.
Another woman would come along soon. They always did. As he put the forms back his eyes shifted to the collection of human teeth in the test tube. The corners of his mouth twitched with anticipation.
Chapter 28
Jon and Rick sat in the front room. Still treating each other a little warily after their argument the day before, they had now waded through the footage from every platform without success. Rick loaded the first tape from the main terminal building and sat back on the sofa with a sigh.
Jon couldn’t concentrate on the screen. ‘He’s fucking sidelined us. This is a wild-goose chase and he knows it.’
Rick half turned his head, one eye still on the screen. ‘Jon, we can do this in less than three days if we keep going.’
‘Three days! We could crack this case in hours if we go after Pete Gray.’ He began picking at the frayed armrest. ‘Look, this is a waste of time, right? Gordon Dean pops up in the Manchester Ship Canal. So why are we looking for him catching a train out of Manchester? Someone else dumped the car at Piccadilly station to make it appear like Gordon Dean had eloped. Probably the prostitute’s pimp.’
Rick was trying to watch the footage.
Jon sat forward to get in his line of vision. ‘Whatever that prostitute’s involvement in Gordon Dean’s murder, it’s a separate case from the Butcher. Tyler Young was killed and her flesh stripped off early in the evening. Dean and that prostitute are together on the CCTV film from the petrol station hours later that night. Tyler Young and that prostitute are di
fferent people.’
‘That’s not to say Dean isn’t the Butcher. He skins Young, then goes out celebrating with the mystery girl from the CCTV. Later, he ends up in the Manchester Ship Canal. We still need to track her down and find out what happened.’
‘OK, I agree the prostitute holds the key to Dean’s death. But I bet she’ll still be in Manchester, back on her old patch in all likelihood. What I’m saying is Dean isn’t the Butcher. When could he have skinned Young? We have his movements mapped out from early afternoon until three in the morning.’
Rick stopped the tape and gripped his head in his hands, growling in frustration. ‘So what do you suggest?’
Jon waited for him to look up. ‘We fuck those tapes off. Let’s tell McCloughlin we split them in two. We phone him later to say we did half each and there’s nothing on any of them.’
Rick fiddled nervously with the remote control. ‘And what do we do in the meantime?’
‘Check out Pete Gray. Ask him for a voluntary DNA swab, maybe put some questions to his colleagues at Stepping Hill hospital.’
Rick remained silent and Jon could tell he was wrestling with the decision to actively deceive his SIO. Finally he said, ‘I’ll agree to take a break from these bloody tapes, but on one condition.’
‘Go on.’
‘We go back and talk to that tattooist in Affleck’s Palace first. We take the photo of Tyler Young and see if it’s the girl Gordon Dean spent time waiting with. I still reckon he’s the Butcher.’
Jeff Wilson walked past Melvyn’s salon, glancing quickly in. Where the fuck was his wife? He knew she wouldn’t have been able to cut off all contact with her friends there. They must know where she was. The vacant-looking girl who seemed to have only just started was sitting at the reception desk, chewing a pencil. It seemed like no one else was there.
Looking at his watch, he realised he could only stay for another fifteen minutes. A business meeting beckoned. Suddenly he saw a way of finding out where Fiona was hiding. With a bit of luck, it might just work. And then he could teach the bitch a lesson for trying to leave him.
