The Murder Mile

by Lesley McEvoy

  Callum was studying me intently.

  ‘I don’t believe I’ve dealt with this killer before, Callum. But I can tell you one thing for sure.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘That if this is what I think it is, we’ll be dealing with him again.’ I hesitated a heartbeat before dropping the bombshell. ‘By the thirty-first of this month to be precise.’

  He stared at me for a long moment, becoming very still.

  ‘How come?’

  ‘Because I think our man is a copycat of Jack the Ripper.’

  He watched me before slowly shaking his head. ‘I think you’re letting this so-called “conversation” with “Jack” affect your judgement, Jo. At this stage we can’t make that leap. This could be a one-off.’

  ‘Tell me what you’ve got first,’ I countered. ‘If it fits with what I found last night, I’ll give you the rest.’

  He pulled a preliminary report from his inside pocket.

  ‘Martha Scott, aged twenty-two. Found on the first floor landing of George House on Manchester Road. Pathologist estimates time of death at around 2.30am to 3am. Body found by a taxi driver at 3.30, who said she still felt warm, so that fits with the pathologist’s estimate. Cause of death, probably multiple stab wounds. At the moment, he’s unsure which was the fatal blow. But you can pretty much take your pick. Out of thirty-nine stab wounds, her left lung was penetrated five times, her right lung in two places. There was one stab wound to the heart and five to her liver. Her spleen was severed in two places and she had been stabbed in the stomach six times.’

  ‘Type of weapon?’

  ‘Two weapons involved. Looks like a thin, short-bladed knife inflicted most of the wounds, but a strong, longer-bladed knife was also used.’

  ‘Anything about the killer?’

  ‘So far, blood splatters on the walls are in an upward direction, indicating the wounds were inflicted while she was on the ground. He also thinks the killer sat over her to inflict the wounds, and the shape and direction of the blows would indicate a right-handed killer.’

  I thought for a moment. ‘You said cause of death was probably multiple stab wounds?’

  He glanced back at his notes. ‘Probably because there was extensive bruising to the face and some on the neck. Plus no sign of defence wounds. Doubt she just laid down and waited for him to stab her.’ He pulled out another sheet of notes. ‘I asked Frank to get some info on the original Ripper murders.’

  ‘Frank?’ I asked.

  ‘Frank Heslopp. I believe you’ve met.’

  ‘Oh, the obnoxious, foul-smelling misogynist?’

  ‘You obviously caught him on a good day!’ Callum grinned. ‘I asked him to look at the original murders of 1888 and tell me about the first one. I had a feeling you’d be looking at similarities, so thought I’d pre-empt you…’

  ‘Really?’ I raised an eyebrow. ‘I love it when you try to outwit me, chief inspector.’

  He grinned. ‘If you think this killer is replicating the Victorian murders, how closely would he stick to the originals?’

  ‘As closely as possible.’

  ‘Well, I can tell you he hasn’t. You’re barking up the wrong tree, Jo.’

  I smiled. ‘You’d better put me straight then.’

  He leaned back in a gesture of cocksure confidence. I savoured the moment and the pose. It would make my counter thrust all the more delicious when it came.

  ‘Jack the Ripper’s first victim was Polly Nichols. She was found in Buck’s Row in Whitechapel at 3.40am on the thirty-first of August. She had a circular bruise on the left side of the face caused by pressure of fingers. On the left side was a circular incision, which completely severed all the tissue down to the vertebrae, almost decapitating her. Jagged wounds to the abdomen, which opened her up. Three or four similar cuts running downwards on the right side, all of which were caused by a knife that had been used violently and downwards.’

  He looked across to me as he finished.

  ‘Martha’s throat wasn’t cut. She wasn’t killed on the same date or in a similar location. She had far more injuries than Polly and although she was stabbed in the stomach, it wasn’t ripped open in what became his classic style and gave him his name. Most of Martha’s injuries were to her chest and upper body rather than lower body.’

  The night before I had written out a list in two columns. On the left were details of the original Ripper murder in Whitechapel. On the right, corresponding details of Martha’s murder.

  I looked at my notes. ‘Pick up any book on Jack the Ripper and most will cite Polly Nichols as the first victim of his series. What became known as the “canonical five”. However, recent studies allow us to go back and look at other unsolved murders in the same area at the time. It’s generally accepted by researchers today that it’s more likely to be six. Search hard enough and some say he could have done nine or even fifteen!’

  ‘So think of a number and double it, right? Where does that leave us then?’

  ‘I’ve always agreed with other experts that it’s six.’ I looked across at Callum, who was watching me in anticipation. ‘And if you go with the six, Polly Nichols is number two.’

  ‘Then who’s number one?’

  I pushed the sheet of paper over to him. He glanced down at it without picking it up.

  Victim:Martha Tabram

  Date:7 August 1888

  Time of death:2.30am

  Body found: First floor landing of George Yard Buildings.

  Discovered by: Alfred Crow – licenced cab driver.

  Cause of death: Loss of blood through thirty-nine stab wounds to the trunk and upper body. Wounds inflicted whilst the body was prone.

  Wounds:Left lung penetrated five times; right lung twice.

  One stab wound to the heart; liver stabbed five times.

  Spleen severed in two places; six stab wounds to the stomach. Eighteen other wounds, scratches or minor flesh wounds.

  Weapon:A penknife and a long, strong-bladed knife, possibly a bayonet or dagger.

  Killer:Right-handed. Killed the victim where she was found.

  Identity:Unknown.

  Callum slowly looked up from the list. ‘Shit.’

  ‘Polly Nichols was number two, and she was killed twenty-four days later.’

  His eyes met mine and they were filled with emotion I couldn’t quite read.

  ‘So the only way we know that your theory fits, is to wait for another murder in three weeks’ time? You’ll be pleased to be proved right then?’

  I was shocked by the slur. ‘I may deal with cold-blooded psychopaths, Callum, but it doesn’t make me one! I don’t want the body count to rise any more than you do. I’d love to be wrong – but I’m not!’

  ‘Shit!’ was all he said.

  21 August

  Fordley Police Station

  As I entered the briefing room, the team began to settle. A few familiar faces nodded in recognition as I followed Callum to the front. In the intervening period since I’d seen him, the team had been following up dozens of actions and lines of enquiry. Callum had called me the day before to tell me that when they had applied to the Home Office for an expert on the Victorian Ripper murders, my name had been put forward. Despite being a material witness, my involvement had been approved. It was unusual, but nothing about this case was usual or straightforward – and the irony wasn’t lost on anyone, least of all me.

  Callum made the introductions.

  ‘Most of you know Dr McCready. She’s helped us out before. She’s here to explain the connections and similarities between Martha’s murder and the original Jack the Ripper killings. Jo?’

  I took my cue and stood at the front, looking out at a dozen or so receptive faces. I couldn’t help but notice Heslopp in the front row. He slouched with his legs stretched out in front of him, his belly straining at the buttons of his shirt. Surprisingly, he smiled at me, nodding slightly.

  ‘This is the photo that was sent to me.’ I tapped the picture
of Martha taken in the stairwell. ‘Presumably by the killer, who calls himself “Jack”.’

  I noticed everyone had a folder and a few started flicking through the paperwork, until they came to what I recognised as Jen’s transcript of Martha’s last hypnosis session.

  ‘If you’ve read the file, then you know Jack appeared during a hypnosis session with Martha. Claiming to be Jack the Ripper.’ I glanced over to them. ‘I’m sure no one here needs an explanation of who he was?’

  There were polite chuckles around the room. One young officer held up his hand.

  ‘You’re talking about “Jack” as though he’s a real person. Surely this was just Martha talking to you? There was no third person involved here.’

  ‘What exactly happened during that hypnotic induction, I can’t explain yet. Dissociative identity disorder – DID, or split personality as most people know it – is a recognised condition, but it’s extremely rare. Martha displayed what looked like DID and the “alter” personality said he was Jack. So far so good, but what completely defies explanation is that the only other person present during that session who knows about Jack was Martha, and she’s dead. Since then, Jack’s communicated with me. He claims to be “out” and to have murdered Martha.’

  No one said a word. A few officers looked down at their notes, some shuffled uneasily.

  ‘So what you’re saying is that our prime suspect is an alter personality of a dead woman?’ It was Heslopp.

  ‘You and I both know that’s impossible. What we have to work out is how else it could happen.’

  ‘Martha’s not the only person to know what was said in that room, doctor, is she?’

  Everyone recognised the edge in Heslopp’s tone.

  ‘No, I was there too. But I’ve got a distinct advantage over you, detective.’

  ‘Oh, and what’s that?’

  ‘I know for a fact that I didn’t do it!’

  ‘Who else could have known what went on in that room?’ Ian asked, from the back row.

  ‘Lister was there just after the event. He came in with the crash team but he wasn’t present during the hypnosis session.’

  ‘But you told him what happened when you went back to his office?’ Ian asked, looking down at his notes.

  ‘I told him about the abreaction, but I didn’t mention Jack.’

  ‘Okay,’ Callum said. ‘Ian, take a closer look at Lister’s movements after the hypnosis session. Where was he? What time did he go off duty? Where was he when Martha absconded? The usual drill.’ Callum indicated another officer. ‘Lister’s got a swipe card linked to the security computer, so track that around the events we’re looking at.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘And let’s find out if he talked to anyone else about what went on in that room,’ Callum went on. ‘Who else had access to the notes? Who else was on duty, and let’s look back at all their track records, see if we have any backgrounds that might lead us somewhere?’

  Callum turned back to me. ‘Can you tell us more about the similarities between this murder and the original Jack the Ripper killings?’

  ‘Martha’s murder exactly maps the murder of Martha Tabram in 1888. You can see from the table that the time, date, location, number of wounds, use of weapon and position of the body exactly match the original Ripper killing.’

  ‘It says Tabram was found by a taxi driver,’ Ian said. ‘Just like our Martha. Is that a coincidence?’

  Callum stood as he spoke. ‘No. We checked the flat where the driver thought the booking had come from. The couple there didn’t know anything about it. Looks like the call came from the killer to set the taxi driver up to find the body.’

  I nodded. ‘The victimology could never be random in this case. He set Martha up to be his first victim, just as he planned everything else. Her name, the fact that she had such a troubled past, that she came to our attention the way she did. She left Westwood in time to meet her death on the right night in the right place – all planned.’

  ‘The boyfriend is the obvious one to look at,’ Ian said.

  ‘Or Lister,’ Callum added. ‘Anyone who could make sure she was out of Westwood Park and in the right place at the right time to fit the killer’s timetable.’

  ‘Or the doc here?’ Heslopp threw it in almost as an afterthought.

  The suggestion rattled across the floor to land at my feet as the room fell silent.

  ‘I think that one has been covered.’ I picked it up and threw it back.

  Callum said, tightly, ‘Move it on, Frank.’

  ‘Have to keep an open mind, boss,’ Heslopp said, with a grin. ‘Wouldn’t do to let personal relationships get in the way, would it?’

  ‘We heard it the first time,’ Callum raised his voice, just enough. ‘Everyone’s being looked at and if new evidence comes to light, they’ll be looked at again. In the meantime, we have enough to be getting on with.’

  ‘What about the boyfriend then?’ Ian supplied a welcome deviation. ‘John Smith?’

  Callum nodded towards two officers on his team. ‘Beth and Shah are looking into him.’

  Callum turned his attention back to me. ‘So, what else can you tell us about the original Ripper murders?’

  ‘Jack the Ripper of 1888 was the first documented serial killer. He killed six women in what came to be known as the “autumn of terror”.’

  I turned to look at the sea of faces before me.

  ‘Certain characteristics made his killing spree become legendary. All the killings took place within a one-mile radius. That became known as his “murder mile”. All the murders were committed over a thirteen-week period, culminating in the almost total destruction of the body of his final victim, Mary Jane Kelly. After which he disappears without trace, never to kill again and never to be identified. That’s what makes him such an enduring figure of terror. He struck anonymously and melted away as if he never existed. A supernatural myth surrounded him that still exists today. Even his name conjures up a primeval fear of being stalked and murdered by a ghost-like figure who can never be identified or caught.’

  ‘What about a profile of our modern “Jack”?’ Callum asked.

  ‘If I’m right, he’s a copycat. He’s chosen to replicate the Victorian Ripper. He’s announced himself. Given us his name and set the scene for us. Martha matched the victimology so closely, there could be no missing the similarities. He’s studied the original killings in detail, so he makes it as perfect as possible when he presents his victim to us. Don’t fall into the trap the people of Victorian London did – believing our man is some kind of lunatic. He’s highly intelligent. Educated, precise, methodical. With a calculating and coldly logical mind. An organised offender. If the “autumn of terror” is his template, then we know when and where he will kill.’

  ‘We don’t know that for sure,’ Heslopp interrupted. ‘He’s done this one, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to do all the others. How do we know this isn’t a one-off?’

  ‘We don’t,’ I agreed. ‘But we don’t know that he won’t try to replicate all the others, either.’

  I sat on the edge of the desk as I thought out loud. ‘If he’s picked this series to copy, he’s picked it for a reason. If he continues, he recreates the terror of the most infamous serial killer of all time. Why would he go to all this trouble and stop now?’

  ‘Okay,’ Callum said. ‘We prepare for the fact that he might and we go on the assumption that it will follow the same pattern. If it does, we can’t get caught with our pants down. So how does the series run, Jo?’

  I handed out a sheet showing the chronology.

  ‘The killings took place at the beginning and end of each month. In 1888, each date fell on a weekend or a Bank Holiday, which meant the original Ripper probably had a job that prevented him killing during the week. Our man is following the Victorian timetable – not picking his own. But what we do know, if I’m right, is that he will stick to the dates, which were: Martha on the seventh of August, Polly Nicho
ls on the thirty-first of August, Annie Chapman on the eighth of September. The thirtieth of September he committed two murders in less than an hour, in what became known as the “double event” – Elizabeth Stride first and Catherine Eddowes second. His final, and most brutal of all, was Mary Kelly. Murdered in her own home on the ninth of November. The only victim not to have been killed in the street. I believe he’ll stick to those dates as closely as he can. He’s confident enough to provide us with his MO and his timetable. All we don’t know is who and exactly where he’ll kill.’

  ‘Thank God for that,’ Ian muttered. ‘For a minute there I thought this was going to be a tough one!’

  There was a ripple of uneasy laughter around the room, and then Shah raised his hand.

  ‘If our man is copying the original as accurately as possible, then why isn’t he doing this in London? I mean, he could go to all the original sites. Why here?’

  ‘I’m not sure yet,’ I said, honestly. ‘Maybe if he was in London, it would be too easy to catch him. All the police would have to do would be to stake out the scenes–’

  ‘Or,’ Heslopp said, ‘someone or something has drawn him here. After all, he sent the photograph to you. Perhaps you’re the reason he’s here.’

  Before I could answer, Callum interrupted.

  ‘We’ve already thought it could be an ex-patient of Jo’s. Or someone she helped convict. And seeing as you mentioned it, Frank, you can be the one to look into the doctor’s back catalogue of cases – should keep you out of mischief for quite a while.’

  ‘Cheers, boss,’ Heslopp said, sarcastically.

  21 August

  Fordley Police Station

  Callum went to the coffee percolator that continuously dripped strong black coffee and poured two cups.