Where Is She?

by Roger Rapel

  Vicky clenched her fist under the table, she felt like shouting yes yes yes; but curtailed her enthusiasm.

  ‘Thank you Mr Sumner, just confirm how you killed her and why?’

  ‘Well that’s obvious isn’t it?’

  ‘No, not at the moment enlighten me?’

  ‘She had been raped so I needed to stop her from going to the police.’

  ‘How did you kill her?’

  ‘I strangled her.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘How did you strangle her, with a rope?’

  ‘No with my bare hands.’

  ‘Thank you; when we recovered the body of Janet we were also shown four other graves and found four more bodies, and those coincide with these four tapes, shall we go through these or do you want to tell me about them, their names, and how you killed them.’

  Sumner then gave a detailed account without viewing the tapes of the rapes and murders of the four women. He named them which also tallied with the identification made from dental records and jewellery found on the victims.

  Sumner was charged and placed before the court to await trial.

  Jim gave Vicky a hug and congratulated her for the interview. ‘Oh Jim I’m so glad we went through the evidence before, and being with you on other interviews really helped as well.’

  ‘No the credit is all yours well done. You fancy a beer?’ ‘Love one thanks.’ ‘Right you ring Langton and tell him the result and tell him about the beer as well in the Nags Head later.’ ‘You sure Jim, shouldn’t you do that?’ ‘No you do it; you did a great job, well done.’

  ‘Hello guv it’s Vicky, I think Jim should be making this call, but he wanted me to call you; the interview went well, he coughed it, the lot.’ ‘Well done Vicky good girl and thanks for the call; Jim was right to select you for the team.’ ‘Oh yes, Jim also mentioned a beer in the Nags Head later.’ ‘Sorry, tell Jim I’m at a late meeting; enjoy the evening.’

  Jim met Jackie at Central ‘hey Jack great result today, young Vicky did a great job, we’re having a beer in the Nags Head later, you fancy a beer?’ ‘No Jim I’m exhausted, plus my visitor has arrived, so not up to it.’ ‘Okay babes I won’t be too late.’ Jackie knew once in the Nags Head and amongst the lads he would go for it. ‘Don’t drive home either get a cab promise?’ ‘Yes babe’s promise.’

  The Nags head was full of the guys from CID and some from the Drug Squad; that was it, the beer flowed as the banter and piss taking hit the air, the pub was full of laughter and raucous jokes. Jim saluted Vicky for a good job as they chinked glasses. The CID was a great club to be in, the comradery was good. Although the work was hard the hours long and gruelling; when a good result was had, it was a great feeling especially when dealing with the likes of Sumner.

  Jim shouldn’t have driven, but he did, and just made it as police traffic car was on the slow prowl around the side streets. There had been a change in their department and they were now known colloquially as the black rats. Get bagged by them, then your job was gone. On seeing the car he ducked down as it cruised by. Then he vowed never to run the gauntlet again. He got in and decided to sleep on the couch and let Jackie have an undisturbed night.

  He awoke in the morning with a thumping headache as he dragged himself to the bathroom and spooned two big spoonful’s of Andrews into a glass, as soon as the water hit the powder, the volcanic reaction rushed up the glass, it bubbled with effervescence as he downed it in one go, the reaction took his breath away as he gulped air as soon as he stopped drinking. Then from the depths of his ankles he let out the biggest belch, it was like an earthquake, the sound rattled around the bathroom. He looked in the mirror as he shook his head at the reflection looking back at him. His eyes were sunken and his hair was like he’d just seen Marely’s ghost. He forced himself into the shower letting the power of the water hit him in the face. It was like a thermometer rising, he could slowly feel life coming back to him.

  He got out and dried himself as he wiped away the condensation from the mirror with the towel and saw a better reflection looking back.

  He shaved and splashed on his aftershave as he felt the stinging sensation of the liquid as it hit his face. Jackie was just rising as she looked into the bedroom she looked rough. ‘Hey babes you okay?’ ‘Not really Jim, I feel awful.’ Jim went to her, he put both hands on her shoulders and pushed her back into bed and pulled the duvet over her. ‘Right you stay in bed, and that’s you for the day; I’ll call in let them know you’re not well, right don’t you dare move, I mean it.’ Jackie protested, as was pushed back every time she tried to move. In the end she gave up and cuddled the pillow then went back to sleep.

  Jim made the call then made toast and marmalade he took Jackie some toast and a cup of coffee. She was just nodding off as Jim brought it in, ‘oh thanks Jim, what did work say?’ ‘They had no option I just said you were ill and wouldn’t be in.’ Jackie drank her coffee and tried to eat her toast, but she wasn’t hungry. ‘I won’t be late this evening so will grab a take away on the way home, what do you fancy?’ ‘Chinky would be nice, spare ribs and fried rice.’

  Jim arrived at HQ’s where he saw Langton who looked at him and shook his head ‘must have been a good night.’ Jim nodded ‘as far as I remember it was.’ Langton laughed; then he stopped laughing ‘come into my office Jim.’ Jim had seen this look before he knew something was in the offing. ‘Sit down; right, I had a long conversation with Yvonne on the phone last night, which is why I couldn’t have a drink. She said Barney would be calling you today sometime. There’s going to be a meeting in London between him, Yvonne and you. This is high powered stuff Jim. The information regarding Portugal was false though, it has triggered a chain reaction, which is what they have been looking for.’ Jim cocked his head to one side and raised his eyebrows, asking silently for an explanation. Langton looked at him and smiled, ‘that’s all I know Jim.’ ‘Yeah right, and pigs might fly. I feel like the lamb to slaughter again.’ ‘I’m sure they will explain all when they see you.’ ‘Any idea when?’ ‘Yvonne spoke of a couple of days.’ ‘Okay I better get the decks cleared.’ ‘All I know Jim is your last job opened a can of worms, that’s all I know.’ Jim smiled as he got up and went to his desk.

  He sat there still wishing the hammer blows in his head would stop; he went to see Sandy again. ‘Oh my Jim, another heavy night was it?’ Jim smiled, not with the normal lecherous smile followed by banter, just the knowing smile that she was on the right track. ‘Aspirin Jim?’ He nodded, saying ‘please.’ Sandy opened her desk drawer and opened a small brown bottle handing him two white tablets. ‘I can only give you two as before, as they are extra strength.’ Jim thanked her as he popped them into his mouth and crunched them as he walked out.

  Jim got the Chinese meal on the way home. He was met by Jackie spread out on the sofa with the duvet over her as she cuddled a hot water bottle. She smiled at Jim and nodded at the white plastic bag containing the silver foil containers. ‘Crack open the wine Jack.’ Jim dished up; then they sat eating their food on their laps as they sat watching the TV. Jackie commented on her day of being a lazy cow and loving it, although at the same time feeling guilty. Dinner eaten they retired for the evening.

  They hadn’t been in bed long, about an hour when his phone went, ‘Hi Jim control room, we have a suspicious death at 24, Mill Field Avenue you know where it is?’ ‘Yeah think so, off Carlton Road?’ ‘That’s the one.’ ‘What’s suspicious about it?’ ‘The victim has a knife in the back Jim.’ ‘Okay good start; call Vicky Howser and D/Supt Langton please and ask them to meet me there.’

  Jim got out of bed quickly showered then he dressed on the hoof and was out the door; Jackie slept through it all.

  Jim arrived at the address as he began to make enquiries with the officers first at the scene, trying to ascertain the background. The street was now like a scene from a TV program with blue lights flashing, police radios blaring out loud, and noisy officers and an ambul
ance crew talking.

  This helped, as neighbours were now awake standing at their gates in dressing gowns and slippers. Jim was busy interviewing the officers at the scene trying to get a full picture before Langton turned up. SOCO were there already in their white suits undertaking their investigation; they had taken a couple of Polaroid pictures to satisfy curiosity. They also confirmed the pathologist had been called. Jim instructed the officer on the door of the victim’s house that no one other than SOCO was to enter until they had finished their examination.

  Jim asked ‘who discovered the body?’ ‘It appears there had been a party which ended at about midnight, most people drifted away, but a few stayed; the victim was one of those who stayed.’ ‘Was there any identification on him?’ ‘Mc Cavity, P Mc Cavity, not sure what the P stands for yet, he has an address in Essex.’ ‘What’s he doing up here?’ ‘No idea sergeant, I have a list of others who were at the party, so they may be able to throw some light on him.’ ‘Okay get a telex off to Essex police requesting a home visit and the notification of a body with identification on it in the name of P Mc Cavity and ask them to obtain a photo and get that faxed to us asap, we need to know that the identity on the body is one and the same.’

  Vicky arrived looking bleary eyed; ‘hi Jim what is it?’ Just then Langton arrived ‘I’ll brief you both together, so you get to know what is needed when you get to be first on the scene.’

  Jim waited for Langton ‘morning guv, right the known factors so far. This is a shared house; there was a party last night which ended at about midnight, most people drifted away, but the deceased with I.D. in the name of P Mc Cavity was one of the one’s who stayed. He has an address on him in Essex, I have requested Essex police undertake a house visit to confirm with the occupants he lived there and also obtain an up to date photo if possible, to ensure we are talking of the same person. I haven’t seen the body yet as SOCO are still undertaking their search but, they took a couple of polaroid shots, as you can see he has a knife in the back, he was found in the kitchen; from the position of the knife I would say death would have been pretty quick.’ Langton nodded as he thanked Jim for his information.

  Jim then set Vicky to task, recovering the names and addresses of all the people who had been at the party from the uniformed officers, and ascertain who normally occupied the house, also to try and ascertain the mood of the party during the night; any animosity? Then get some of the uniform guys to ask the neighbours if there had been any trouble between party goers and them.

  Slowly a picture began to emerge of the evenings events; it appeared that Mc Cavity had been a gate crasher, well not fully; he had latched onto a few people when he heard there was a party; everyone presumed he was with someone in their group. He had been pissed which upset a couple of people, although nothing to the extent to cause him to be stabbed.

  The morning sunrise chased away the darkness; by this time most of the police cars and the ambulance had gone, the road was cordoned off with police tape as a daylight search was to be undertaken to look for anything which may give a clue as to who the assailant was.

  Jim, Vicky and Langton had gone to a local greasy spoon and had a full English breakfast; the stomach noises could be heard growling as they waited for the food. The café soon filled up with builders and painters on their way to work, the noise of chatter and banter filled the cafe. It was obvious who Jim and company were by their dress code, no one took any notice of them, just being mindful of their comments about nicked and snide gear, which was normally one of the main topics of conversations, as someone usually wanted something or, had something for sale that was a shade warm, if not red hot.

  Breakfast over Jim received a call confirming the pathologist was on the way. Jim then received a call. ‘Essex police have attended the address; confirming the full name was Phil Mc Cavity, but he wasn’t living at the address anymore, he had moved out some 10 months ago to an address near the City, he was a bit of loner he didn’t mix much with them, according to the residents.’

  Jim then informed Langton that they had for the moment the real identity although, something wasn’t quite right, something smelled; his sixth sense hackles were pricking the back of his neck again. Jim then said ‘this doesn’t seem right guv, I don’t know why, it ain’t right.’

  The pathologist finished his examination as he confirmed the post mortem would be at 8 am the following morning; from his preliminary investigation the knife wound was undoubtedly the cause of death, but as in all cases confirmation would be withheld until after the full post mortem.

  The day was spent interviewing the partygoers and neighbours, trying to build up a picture of the night and who did what and where. Jim was trying to place people in certain positions at midnight; just the normal reconstruction process. It was painstaking, firstly trying to find all the witnesses and secondly trying to get those who were found to recall their actions, especially when they had in the main all been pissed; there appeared to have been a lull at midnight when everyone was crashing to sleep, which was the point when the assailant had struck.

  The incident room had been set up with the normal action teams undertaking the tasks in hand.

  Vicky got home after a hard slog, it had been a long day; she had been at work for some 18 hours and was now fading fast. Her husband was looking at her as she collapsed into bed not saying much, then she set her alarm for 6 am ‘what time you going in tomorrow?’ ‘Got a job that is important, not nice, it’s a post mortem.’ ‘What? You shouldn’t be doing that, it’s not your place; I’m going to complain. Who’s your boss now?’ ‘Leave it, I want to do it. This will be part of my new job now so, just leave it. I’m tired and have a heavy day tomorrow; so just leave it will you.’

  The morning came with the trepidation setting in. ‘Okay Vick you can do this gal, come on’ as she talked to herself silently under her breath as she showered and dressed; taking heed of Jim’s words, she wore an older suit which had seen out it’s fashion sell by date, but it would do for today.

  The drive to the mortuary didn’t help with the anticipation setting in, as she felt the butterflies whizzing around inside her; they were now growing in size and number.

  ‘Morning Vicky, how are you?’ ‘Nervous if I’m honest Jim.’ ‘You’ll be fine, look if you want to be sick just go, don’t hold it in; there’s nothing to be ashamed of; they get easier the more you do. Langton’s just parking his car he’ll be here in a minute; you got your note pad?’ Vicky nodded as she tried to smile

  Langton arrived as he shook hands with both saying ‘We ready then?’ They both nodded as he opened the door as they entered. Vicky took a deep breath as she went in front of Jim. Jim then grabbed her bum as she went in front she turned scowling at him she was about to shout obscenities at him when he said ‘that took your mind off it didn’t it?’ She looked at him and saw him laughing at her. She nodded then said ‘get you back sometime for that.’ He was right though, at the moment he grabbed her, any thought of the post mortem had gone as she had focussed on Jim in anger. Then she laughed at him.

  The pathologist was ready as was SOCO, ‘Ah lady and gents shall we start?’ He checked his watch then commenced by switching on his Dictaphone, nodding to SOCO who nodded back. ‘Okay the time is 8am; we have the body of who we believe is one Phillip Mc Cavity a 25 year old male. From the initial examination at the scene I concluded he had been stabbed in the back with what looked like a kitchen knife, probably a carving knife, pointed with a 9 inch thick blade. From the outside it looked like it had penetrated the heart between the fourth and fifth ribs.’ He took a scalpel as he nodded to SOCO who was taking photos of the proceedings. He nodded as the scalpel slid down from the sternum opening up the thorax exposing the stomach and the intestines.

  Vicky held her hand to her nose as the internal organ smell hit her nose. Jim looked at her and nodded as she nodded back, but inside her stomach was rolling over and over. But she busied herself making notes.

  The patholog
ist then opened the sternum with a set of cutters then placed a spreading tool to open up the rib cage fully. He examined the heart, confirming the knife had indeed penetrated the heart through the fourth and fifth ribs and had just exited the other side. ‘Death would have been instant; no medical help at the scene could have or would have saved him, he would have been dead by the time he hit the floor. The amount of force to have penetrated the outer clothing and then through the rib cage would have been immense I would say probably inflicted by a male rather than a female.’

  He then went about removing the internal organs as he placed the blue/grey intestines onto the slab, then he removed the liver, kidneys and spleen. He took samples for toxicology testing. The stomach was opened as the contents were emptied into a container.

  Then one of the mortuary assistants cut back the scalp hair by cutting at the base of neck, then around the ears and pulled the whole scalp forward exposing the skull then he used a spinning blade to cut around the skull then removed the skull cap and exposed the brain. SOCO was taking photos by the dozen as each procedure was taking place.

  Vicky at this stage was feeling queasy at the sight of the skull cap being removed; although she just about managed to keep it down.

  Once finished Jim, Langton and Vicky met outside where Vicky took a great lung full of fresh air. She looked at Jim who smiled and said ‘you did well, good girl.’ She smiled back and said ‘you grabbed my bum?’ ‘It worked didn’t it?’ ‘Yeah, it did.’ Langton said ‘right Jim get some breakfast and I’ll see you both back at HQ’s.’ Jim nodded as he went to another greasy spoon and had a slap up breakfast. Vicky just had toast which she just about kept down. She watched Jim as he mopped the left overs on his plate with bread and butter, not believing he could eat like that after what they had just witnessed. He looked at Vicky and smiled and said ‘what?’ ‘You grabbed my bum.’ She smiled ‘but thanks it did work, it took my mind off it for a while.’ ‘Like the old saying; if you got a pain in the head, get someone to stamp on your foot, then you’ll forget about the pain in the head,’ He laughed as he said ‘Nice bum though!’ ‘Don’t get any ideas you.’ They both laughed.