by Jack Probyn
As they entered the bedroom, the sight made Jake immediately want to gag. A load of bile – this morning’s breakfast – bubbled in his stomach, ready to come up. But he fought it, swallowing the sensation back down his throat. He wasn’t going to fall ill to the same attack he had last time.
For a long moment he stood there, transfixed at the sight in front of him. He wanted to tear his eyes from it, but he couldn’t. An invisible, impenetrable force was keeping him there.
Jessica Mann’s arms and legs were spread to the four corners of the bed. Her hands and feet had been dismembered, and a gap about two inches wide separated them from the rest of her body, as though they were missing components of a model that required some screws to tighten them in place. Jessica’s head had been removed too and was in an upright position, staring out at them, like a lighthouse. Her eyes were open, but they were vacant, hollow, ghostly white. A large incision had been made along the length of her body and its contents had been emptied, including her blood.
Jake took a step forward. Then another. And another. As he crossed the threshold into the room, he was hit by the putrid stench of rotting flesh, decaying organs and the surprising smell of cleaning chemicals.
‘Jesus fucking Christ,’ Garrison said. This time it was his turn to vomit. He sprinted out of the bedroom and barged past a duo of investigators on the landing, knocking a camera to the ground and splintering the glass lens. Then he disappeared down the stairs and out of the house.
Jake sympathised with him.
‘Do we know what killed her?’ he asked as his eyes fell over Jessica’s body again.
‘The decapitation couldn’t have helped,’ Drew said sarcastically. Jake couldn’t determine whether he was being sarcastic playfully, or whether he was just being a dick; either way, Jake thought it was unnecessary and unprofessional. The least he could do was show a little respect to the deceased.
Poojah shot Drew a scowl, easily visible through her hood and face mask. ‘Early inspection shows bruising on her cheeks and temple, which could suggest that she was bludgeoned to death. There do, however, seem to be more bruises on the neck, which would indicate strangulation – but they could be post-mortem. It’s difficult to say. With this type of killing, as well as the other one, I’d say it’s evident that strangulation has been used as a form of sexual pleasure. But it would be remiss of me to tell you definitively. You’ll have to wait for my report.’
Jake continued to observe Jessica’s body, leaning forward and peering into the gaping hole of her stomach. It was empty and looked as though half of her blood had been suctioned up through a hoover. The bed sheets surrounding her were surprisingly devoid of blood, and looked as though an attempt had been made to clean them. He swallowed and wiped his top lip. ‘Dare I ask what’s gone on there?’
‘Two possibilities. Her organs have either been removed and disposed of somewhere. Or whoever’s responsible for this has ingested them. The incision marks are sloppy, like the body was hacked at.’
Jake looked at her in pure disgust. ‘Cannibalism?’
Poojah’s dark eyes gave nothing away. ‘I’ve never seen it, but I know the symptoms. If I had to make an educated guess, I’d say he started to cut the organs out of the body, but then changed his mind and used his teeth instead. There are marks consistent with that on the inside of her stomach.’
Just as Jake was about to respond, Garrison returned to the conversation. The colour had left his face and he rested his hand against his stomach, massaging it gently. A small chorus of cheers concerted amongst the group.
Jake waited until the commotion was over before he addressed Liam. ‘What now then, boss?’ he asked.
Liam turned to Poojah and asked where the witness was.
‘One of your guys took her to the station. She was inconsolable,’ she said.
‘Any other witnesses?’ Liam asked.
‘None, sir.’
‘He’s getting cleverer…’ Liam began but was cut off by Drew.
‘What’s the significance of the missing body parts?’ he asked, pointing to Jessica’s fingerless hands. ‘And why’d he remove the tongue?’
‘Liar,’ Jake said without realising. ‘Liar. Jessica Arnholt had that inscribed on her chest, didn’t she? So she must have lied to the killer in some way or another, and removing her tongue is a way of silencing her, making sure she never lies to him again or speaks out about him.’
‘A jaded ex-lover?’ Drew asked.
‘Possibly. Either that or it’s something more spiritual. The tongue symbolises sensuality. Taste. Feeling.’ Jake scratched the side of his face, drawing on the memory of a psychological case he’d studied in university. ‘And that’s what this whole experience is for him. It’s about connecting his soul with the person he’s killing. He did the same to Steven and Jessica Arnholt as well, and maybe he’s getting a taste for it – literally. He tested the waters with it the first time, and now he’s not going to stop until he’s satisfied his cravings, like an urge for a piece of food, or a drink when you’re really thirsty. With Steven and Jessica he just cut them off… with Jessica Mann, he’s upgraded to the consumption of his victims.’ Jake hesitated. ‘As for the fingers…’
He drew a blank.
Poojah carried on for him. ‘Each finger supposedly represents a different part of your body. Heart. Brain. Bladder. Perhaps he’s cutting them off because that’s what he wants to eat next.’
There was a moment’s pause as Drew, Liam and Jake considered the theory.
‘But he didn’t eat anything on Steven or Jessica Arnholt,’ Liam said.
‘It’s not uncommon for killers to take objects as trophies,’ Jake added. ‘But where he goes next… I don’t know. Unless we can find the link. But his modus operandi is developing – it’s becoming more severe. And I don’t think he’s fully realised what he’s capable of.’
‘I’d rather we find him before he makes that discovery.’ Liam thanked Poojah, ordered her to send him the report as soon as possible and then the four of them headed for the stairs. As they exited the house, they each undressed out of their scrubs and signed out of the attendance log.
‘Tanner,’ Liam began, ‘I want you to head back to the station. Speak with the housemate. Find out what she knows. We’ll be right behind you.’
Jake nodded, hopped into his car and drove off.
CHAPTER 22
THE LION’S DEN
Drew waited for Jake to disappear down the street.
‘What’s the latest, boss?’
‘What do you mean?’ Liam replied, placing his hands in his pockets.
‘Tanner. Is he on side?’
‘You saw him take the money. He was chuffed. Had a smile on his face for the rest of the day.’
‘We just need to tell him where it came from,’ Garrison added.
‘Which reminds me,’ Liam said, taking a step back. He removed his hand from his pocket and massaged his chin. ‘How are we coming along with Archie?’
Drew looked at Garrison sheepishly.
‘He’s on side, guv. We sat him down yesterday and had a little chat with him. He’s aware of where he stands. He’s ready to roll over at any point.’ Drew hesitated. ‘But we need to be cautious of him.’
‘Why?’ Liam snapped. A scene of crime officer swaggered past with a camera in his hands, and the three of them immediately fell silent. After the white scrubs had rounded out of sight, Liam continued, ‘What’s the matter with him?’
Drew looked at Garrison and then the ground before replying. He scratched his thick black hair as he spoke. ‘He’s… well, he seems tight with Tanner for some reason. I don’t know how, nor do I know why, but when they saw one another yesterday, Archie waved to him. And during the questioning Archie said that he liked Jake, that he was nice.’
Liam rubbed the bridge of his nose, deep in thought. ‘Did you not warn him of the consequences of his actions?’
‘We couldn’t have made it clearer, guv,’ Garriso
n added.
‘Right,’ Liam continued, ‘well, with the way this is going, it’s looking less and less likely we’re going to need Archie. Not unless he knows anyone who likes to fuck dead people and eat them. But we need to find another way we can get Jake on side. We need to show him where that money came from.’
‘It’s too soon to start pumping him full of drugs,’ Drew said with a smirk. His attempt to make the others laugh was met with muted, cold stares. His smile dropped and his expression turned flat.
‘What do you have in mind, boss?’ Garrison asked.
Liam opened his mouth to speak but was distracted by a large white van skidding to a halt forty yards away from them, on the other side of the perimeter. Three individuals, dressed casually, alighted the vehicle. One of them carried a large pole with a microphone boom on the end of it. The other held a large video camera in his hand. The final person to leave the vehicle was a well-dressed woman, wearing a pinstripe jacket and pencil skirt that reached just below the knee.
‘Here we go,’ Liam said.
Drew spun on the spot and glanced at the personnel setting up beside the van. He knew who they were. They all did.
‘Tanya Smile… Wow…’ Drew said, grateful he didn’t voice the other thoughts he had in his head about her.
Liam checked his watch. ‘Three hours. That didn’t take long. They’re getting better.’
‘Or we’re getting worse,’ Garrison said.
‘Leave it with me,’ Liam said. ‘I’ll go and do my thing.’
‘Be careful,’ Drew added just as Liam started off. ‘We know how you like to behave in the lion’s den.’
CHAPTER 23
BEST BEHAVIOUR
Tanya Smile was a formidable opponent. At least, that was what he wanted people to believe. He had encountered her many times in his career, at several meetings such as this; at a crime scene where he was further behind the pace than he should have been. Further behind the pace than the public would have liked to hear. Further behind the pace because he was relying on others to do the job – and, indeed, the dirty work – for him.
Liam sauntered towards her and sniffed his collar; the thin scent of aftershave he’d sprayed this morning was still fresh on the fabric. As he approached, he checked Tanya out before addressing her: the black hair, curled at the bottom just south of her ears; the thick black glasses; the long legs he stared at for longer than was socially acceptable; the mole on the side of her neck that she tried to cover with make-up at every opportunity. As he arrived, the cameraman held the camera against his eye and the sound recording artist hovered the microphone over Tanya’s face, issuing her with instructions.
‘Don’t worry,’ Liam called to her, holding his hands in the air in surrender. ‘I’ll save you the time of trying to find me. I’m right here.’
Tanya spun on the spot. At the sight of him, her pupils dilated and her lips parted, revealing a set of almost perfectly white teeth that had been bought with money – and lots of it. She brushed her hair behind her ear, and in a single move, she had disarmed him. It was his Achilles heel, and Liam sensed that she was trying hard to suppress a smile of her own.
‘DCI Greene. You can be a hard man to reach at the best of times,’ she said, gesticulating for the cameraman to lower the device before giving Liam her full attention.
‘It depends what mood you catch me in.’
Tanya placed her left hand on her hip. ‘What mood have I got you in now?’
‘A facilitating mood.’
Tanya’s eyes widened. She turned to face the cameraman and motioned for him to leave the two of them to it. After he left, she returned her focus to Liam. ‘What front-page news have you got for me?’
Liam rolled his eyes and chuckled, then edged closer to the white tape that separated them. ‘Come on, Tan. You know that’s not how it works.’
‘Yes. I know. Have I ever let you down before?’
Liam raised his eyebrow. ‘Let’s not hang around long enough to find out the answer to that question.’
‘What do you need from me?’ Tanya asked. They were almost shoulder to shoulder.
‘Something a little unorthodox. We’ve got a newbie in the ranks.’
‘How long’s he been with you?’
‘That’s what we’re trying to work out,’ Liam said. ‘You’re going to help us.’
‘How?’
‘I need you to pile on the pressure. Kick up a fuss about it. Call us out. Call me out. After you’ve done that, we’ll see how the newbie reacts,’ Liam explained. His eyes darted left and right, searching for wandering ears.
‘That really is an unusual request,’ Tanya said, rubbing her right nostril. ‘You reckon it will make a difference?’
‘He’s a good egg, but if this guy turns out to be a rat, then rooting him out is better than finding this serial killer. We’ve got a backup solution for that.’
They both paused as a liveried police car drove past. Liam watched and gestured at the driver as it went.
Tanya touched him on the arm, bringing his attention back to her. The touch lingered longer than it should have – especially in public.
‘What’s in it for me?’ she asked, rubbing the same spot on her nose again.
Liam shrugged, avoiding her gaze. ‘The same as usual. Maybe a little extra… gratis, obviously. I’m sure we can work something out. It depends on how well you can execute your part of the plan.’
Tanya smirked and squeezed his forearm playfully. ‘I’ll be on my best behaviour.’
‘I’m counting on it. And tell your boyfriend that—’
‘He’s not my boyfriend,’ she protested.
Liam carried on heedlessly. ‘Tell him I’m still waiting to hear from him.’
‘That lazy bastard. What’s he done now?’
‘He’s still got a shipment to sell. And he needs to let me know if he’s having issues shipping it. If he’s not the right guy for the job then I n—’
‘No!’ Tanya said, touching his arm again. ‘He is. Honestly. He is. I’ll speak to him. Leave it with me.’
‘I will,’ Liam said. ‘Now, have you ever heard of an organised crime group called The Crimsons?’
CHAPTER 24
COFFEE SHOP
‘Please state your name,’ Jake began.
‘Rebecca Langton.’
‘What’s your relationship to Jessica Mann, Rebecca?’
‘She was my flatmate.’
‘And where were you last night?’
‘At work.’
Jake reached for a closed brown folder on the desk beside him. He pulled out a sheet of A4 containing information on Rebecca Langton. It was the combination of a quick personal profile he’d drawn up of her on his own, combined with the brief question and answers the officers at the crime scene had noted down in order to establish her as a credible witness.
‘Homerton University Hospital,’ Jake said, more as a statement than a question.
‘Yes.’ Rebecca nodded. ‘I worked the night shift. Six till six. I found her when I came home.’
Jake closed the folder and placed the sheet on top of it. ‘And did you notice anything suspicious about Jessica last night? Was she acting strangely? Different in any way?’
‘Come to think of it, yeah. She was… I don’t know. I think she was… she kept telling me to take the night shift.’
‘Were you not supposed to?’ Jake removed a pen from his pocket and began to scribble on the top of a new page in his notepad.
‘Well, yes and no. I’d agreed to do overtime a couple of weeks ago, and they called me asking if I could do the night shift. I told them no because… well, because I was feeling lazy and I couldn’t be bothered.’
‘And Jessica told you to take the shift?’
‘Well… no. It wasn’t quite that simple. I needed the money as well. She just kept trying to convince me to get out of the house.’
‘Did she mention why? Did she say anything about having someone over for a m
eal or a drink? A date?’
Rebecca shook her head. ‘She didn’t tell me anything.’
Jake hesitated for a moment. ‘What about during the day? Did she message you about anyone in particular? Anyone suspicious? Anyone that caught her attention at all?’
Rebecca contemplated for a moment. ‘I think she mentioned something about a man…’ Rebecca reached for her phone. ‘Do you mind if I check?’
‘Place it on the table so I can watch you do it,’ Jake said, making sure to cover his own arse if need be.
Rebecca did as she was told, unlocked the device and opened her messages. She tapped on the conversation with Jessica and scrolled to the top of the chat. The time stamp on the messages dated it more than twenty-four hours ago.
‘For the recording, I am reading the messages on Miss Langton’s phone.’
Jake read them and then, when he found a message that struck him as odd, he stopped.
‘OMG,’ he recited aloud, ‘just met the weirdest man outside the coffee shop! I bumped into him, spilt my drink and then I bought him another one, but I felt like I knew him from somewhere, but I couldn’t remember where.’
Jake scrolled and read the message underneath.
‘OMG! Now I know where I remember him from! I think I’ve seen him online.’
Jake stopped reading and slid the phone back to Rebecca. He swallowed.
‘Did Jessica ever mention anything to you about online dating?’
