by Wyer, Carol
Mike was standing on the bottom step as she turned to go back upstairs. She hadn’t been aware of his presence.
‘Have you seen the piece in the Watfield Herald?’ he asked.
‘I have – the cow!’
‘Don’t let it get to you.’
‘I’m trying not to. Cheer me up. Tell me you’ve found something promising.’
‘I won’t lie – we’re not faring too well. We’ve found no blood, no prints and no traces of DNA on either girl’s body, not on their clothing or anywhere in the vicinities where their bodies were found.’
‘Nothing at all?’
‘I know. It’s the first time I’ve been this stumped. The killer knew what they were up to when they dumped the bodies outside, especially on a rubbish dump. There’s almost too much for us to go through. It’ll take days – weeks even – to sift through it all.’
‘Think they did it on purpose then?’
He nodded. ‘Pretty sure that’s the case.’
‘Anthony Lane’s downstairs, waiting for his lawyer to turn up. I’m not going to be able to charge him with anything other than loitering at this rate. But every time a girl has gone missing, he’s been spotted watching her. He might have something to do with this.’
‘If he has, his DNA isn’t on their clothes or bodies.’
‘This is getting increasingly difficult. I don’t think we’ve ever had a case with so little evidence.’
‘I don’t think we have either. We will find something but it’ll take time. I wish I could speed things up for you but it is what it is.’
‘I don’t have the luxury of time. I’m worried about Katy’s safety.’
‘I can tell you are. There’s a huge search going on for her. It was on the early news.’
‘But what if it’s already too late? Savannah and Harriet were killed soon after they went missing. If the killer is sticking to the same MO, she’s probably already dead.’
‘There’s no body yet, Nat. Keep the faith. If the perp did kidnap her, then they already changed their MO. They snatched her at night rather than on her way home from school, which also means they might not have harmed her.’
‘I’m desperately clinging to that hope, Mike.’
‘Getting anywhere with CCTV?’
‘Apart from spotting Duffy’s car, no.’
‘We’ve prioritised his Toyota but it’ll still take a while to examine it thoroughly.’
‘So I was told. I’ve let him go for now. Apart from his car we haven’t got anything. I could do with some extra help on this but every department is stretched to the limit.’
‘Tell me about it. We’re struggling too. Talking of which… I only came down for some chocolate – food of champions,’ he joked.
He pressed a pound coin into the slot and tapped out three numbers. The machine whirred into action – a series of clatters – and threw a bar of chocolate into the drawer. He retrieved it, peeled back the outer wrapping and offered it to her. She snapped off a section with thanks and, waving it in the air, said, ‘The killer must have driven Harriet’s body to the fly-tip down that lane. They can’t have carried her through the woods.’
Mike mumbled his accord through a mouthful of chocolate. ‘They’d definitely have left behind some forensic evidence if they’d come through the woods.’
‘And they must have moved her into position after the Missing Persons unit had passed through that area. They were taking a huge risk of being spotted. It was the same with Savannah. Her body wasn’t in Western Park when the search teams were looking for her. The killer moved her body there after the search party had cleared away.’
‘Sounds logical to me.’
‘Somewhere on that CCTV footage is a vehicle driven or owned by the killer.’
‘All I can add is whoever it is, they’re methodical. Can’t find a shred of evidence on either body. We haven’t even found the little star earring Savannah was wearing.’
‘Do you reckon it could be somebody who understands the way we operate?’
‘Could be but let’s face it: there are enough crime dramas on television to give whoever it is sufficient information about how the police go about their business, or they could even find out from Google.’
‘But to leave no DNA, they must know what they’re doing.’
‘I’d say that’s the case. They’ve covered themselves up well, probably worn gloves, or even shaved their body so they left no hairs. I’ve seen it before but we’ve always found something eventually, no matter how clever they were in covering their tracks.’
Natalie popped the chocolate into her mouth and licked her fingers clean, tasting a mixture of rich cocoa and the salty residue from her crisps. It was an agreeable combination. ‘This killer’s confident. To dump a body when there are officers close by takes bare-faced nerve.’
‘Then they’re either an arrogant git or supremely confident,’ Mike said. He offered her the last piece of the bar and she shook her head.
‘The latter worries me most. I’m anxious they’re playing us, and worse still, they’re one step ahead of us.’
Mike balled the wrapper and sucked his gums. Natalie pointed out a blob of chocolate on the corner of his mouth and wiped it off for him. He studied her for the longest second. ‘They’ll trip up. They always do.’
Natalie thought about Alisha Kumar lying by the rubbish bags close to her parents’ restaurant. ‘Not always, Mike.’
‘Work the facts, Nat. That’s all you can do.’
‘Aileen’s breathing down my neck for instant results, like I can magically find a killer with only three team members.’
‘Firstly, you have three phenomenal officers and you have quite a reputation here for results, and secondly, the rumour mongers are saying Aileen might be replaced.’
‘You’re kidding! She’s one of the top superintendents in the force.’
‘Makes no odds. We operate out of one of only four special headquarters in the country. We are the crème de la crème, and if we don’t get the best results, we are all in danger of being moved along.’
‘Shit! I’d never have expected anyone to be brought in to replace Aileen.’
‘Seems like there’s a chap in London they’re considering, but it’s only rumour.’
‘I hope that’s all it is.’
‘Speaking of being replaced, I’d better get back.’
They parted on the first floor and Natalie ambled along the corridor towards her glass-fronted office. The door was open and she could hear Ian’s and Murray’s raised voices. The truce that had fallen between them following Ian’s stabbing seemed to be over.
* * *
He peeled off his shirt, damp with perspiration, and admired the snake in all its glory. It was satiated for now. It’d been a long wait since the day he had squeezed the life out of Alisha Kumar. Vee Patel, who’d married Ali Kumar, would never know why her daughter was killed. It was a shame she would never understand the message he’d sent: her daughter’s strangled body left by rubbish bags. How fitting.
After the first victim, the snake had been cunning and lain low, biding its time, amassing information on its other victims. It had tracked both of them down using the all-powerful Internet and waited calmly. Revenge was a dish best served cold, and this dish was so icy no one would ever guess who was behind it.
Vee wouldn’t mock anyone ever again. Her soul had been destroyed. The snake had slithered away back into hiding… plotting carefully before striking again.
Missy wouldn’t be able to work out who was behind the murder of her wild, rebellious daughter – a girl who showed off and acted brashly and who took after her mother. Although the snake had already been plotting to murder the girl, it had been delighted when Harriet had decided to take up a dare of all things and go into hiding and, moreover, given him two further sacrifices that the snake took as reward for his patience. That had been most exhilarating. It was a shame Missy, who’d been the thickest of the trio, would never w
ork out the significance of three girls being strangled and found in areas associated with rubbish. Maybe he should send her a letter to explain it to her.
He laughed at the thought of her distress and the snake joined in, its jaw opening and closing in appreciation of the joke. And for Harriet to die while doing a dare! The universe had truly been generous to the snake.
Suddenly his eyes narrowed. He had not quite succeeded, and he had a thirst that needed to be quenched. Faye’s recent death due to overdose had been unfortunate and hugely frustrating. Apart from anything else, he’d been saving her for last. She had been the leader, the brains of the gang that had tormented him, and would have presented a far greater challenge. As it was, her death had left the snake feeling unfulfilled.
The snake hissed something and he understood. The Watfield Herald was lying open on the table. He wandered across and read it then smiled. DI Natalie Ward, as arrogant as Faye, made a wonderful substitute. The snake had enjoyed killing so much it seemed churlish to spoil the spree.
Twenty-Five
Thursday, 19 April – Afternoon
‘Go and take a break for fuck’s sake.’ Murray scowled at Ian, who was rubbing his eyes.
‘What’s going on?’ Natalie asked.
‘The martyr here thinks he should keep working even though he’s in agony.’
‘You feeling rough?’ Natalie had to admit Ian’s face had turned quite grey.
‘Headache, that’s all. Murray’s making a fuss.’
‘Okay, bugger off home. You’re no use if you can’t be fully focused. You were only allowed back if you took up light duties. I don’t want to be responsible for your recovery going into reverse.’
‘But, Natalie—’
‘Go on. Come back tomorrow morning if you feel better.’
He stood reluctantly and swayed slightly.
‘See, you’re not in a fit state to work. You need a hot meal and some kip,’ Murray commented.
‘You’re worse than my mother… and nowhere near as good-looking.’
Murray grinned. ‘Ah, good. Banter again. That’s more like it. You’ll live. I’ll take over here.’ He waved Ian off airily.
Lucy passed Ian as he was leaving. ‘You look like shit,’ she said.
‘I told him that too,’ Murray shouted.
‘You want a lift home?’ Lucy asked Ian.
‘No. I can manage. Thanks.’ He trundled away down the corridor.
Lucy breezed in and dropped a box on the first desk. ‘He really does look like shit. Here, got a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. There’ll be more for everyone now Ian’s gone.’
‘Any news on Anthony’s lawyer?’ Natalie asked.
‘I think he’s on his way.’
‘And his computer?’
‘With Forensics. They fired it up straight away but there wasn’t anything of concern at first glance. He’s a funny one. His flat was almost empty, like he doesn’t live there full-time, and very tidy.’
Natalie collected a doughnut from the box and took it to her desk. ‘Mike says there’s no DNA on either victim. He’s struggling to find any evidence.’
Lucy licked yellow icing from her first doughnut. ‘None at all? That’s unusual.’
‘Isn’t it? This killer’s intelligent – three girls in three days, two dead already and their bodies returned almost under the noses of the Missing Persons unit. The bastard is messing with us – showing us they’re better than we are. I bet they also called MisPer anonymously to tip them off about seeing Savannah in the park the morning her body was found, and I expect they knew full well Harriet’s phone would give off a ping when that video of her was uploaded. They deliberately hung around close to Harriet’s house before turning it on and uploading it – that’s how fucking clever they are!’
Murray chipped in. ‘Or they live near Harriet.’
‘Yeah, that’s a possibility but I can’t shake off the impression they’re enjoying all of this… this… taunting us. Harriet’s phone was smack bang next to a bag marked rubbish. The fucker set it up, maybe even before they moved Harriet’s body to the fly-tip.’
Lucy agreed. ‘Unless the perp’s a crazed maniac who gets off on a daily killing spree and has just been fortunate enough not to be discovered, this has been in the planning for a while.’
Natalie nodded. ‘I agree. The fucker’s avoided detection and hasn’t left any prints or forensic evidence at the crime scenes. The other thing that bugs me is that we’ve no idea how this person even knew that the girls would be taking up the Disappear dare, not unless they overheard them discussing it in the coffee shop Saturday before last. Does that coffee shop have CCTV?’
Murray shook his head. ‘Katy’s not been found dead. Maybe the perp hasn’t got her and only ever intended killing Savannah and Harriet.’
All of a sudden Natalie couldn’t face the sticky cake on her desk. ‘Christ, I hope for Katy’s sake that’s true. See if Anthony’s lawyer is here yet, Lucy. I really want to crack on. He’s the only suspect we’ve got at the moment.’
Lucy said, ‘And he swears he’s innocent.’
Murray reached into the box and snorted. ‘Innocent, as in he was only hanging about the supermarket because he likes staring at teenage girls? I suppose that’s possible. It would marry up with his past record.’
Lucy phoned downstairs to see if the lawyer had turned up. Natalie continued talking to Murray.
‘Past record or not, Anthony could be involved in this, after all, he was in Aldi car park just before each of the girls went missing.’ Even as she spoke, Natalie had a feeling Murray could be right. Anthony had no history of violence. Then Mike’s words work the facts came back to her. That’s what she had to do.
* * *
The snake was lying in wait. This was the street where DI Natalie Ward lived. He drove past the houses slowly, reading the numbers until he reached the one he had been looking for, with its unremarkable frontage but neat garden filled with trimmed rose bushes and shrubs. Surely DI Ward didn’t have time for gardening?
There were no cars on the driveway. DI Ward wasn’t at home and it didn’t look like her husband was either. He wanted to take a closer look at the house and peer through the windows but that would only draw attention to himself, and he had managed to stay well under everyone’s radar so far. Best not to spoil it by being greedy. It was enough to have visited and get an idea of where she lived. He had seen enough to be able to picture her here, in this average house, tears streaming down her face when she learnt her daughter had gone missing.
* * *
It was 5.45 p.m. when Natalie got word Anthony’s lawyer had finally arrived.
‘Thank fuck for that. I’m suffering from a massive sugar overdose,’ said Lucy, jumping up and brushing crumbs from her trousers.
Murray didn’t lift his eyes from the screen. ‘Leave the doughnuts there. I’ll make sure they don’t provide any further temptation for you.’
‘Geez, you are too good to me.’
Natalie was already by the door. She’d sorted through all the questions she wanted to ask Anthony. She hoped they wouldn’t be too long with him. She could do with going home. She tucked a file under her arm. ‘Ready, Lucy? Oh, wait a sec. I’d better take this call.’
It took several seconds for Natalie to understand what was being said.
‘Hi, Natalie. It’s Rowena, Zoe’s mum.’
‘Hi, Rowena. What’s up?’
‘Nothing major. I tried your home line but no one picked up. I just wanted to say if Leigh’s feeling better maybe she’d like to come bowling with Zoe tomorrow night after school. Zoe’s disappointed she couldn’t come today.’
An icy cage formed around Natalie’s lungs, squeezing them and stealing her breath for an instant. She tried to make sense of it. ‘Rowena, I’m sorry… I don’t understand. Isn’t she with you?’
Rowena’s voice was suddenly filled with concern. ‘No. She’s with you, isn’t she? She told Zoe she’d started her period an
d had bad stomach cramps, so she was going to see the school nurse and request that you pick her up early. You didn’t get a call from school?’
It didn’t add up. ‘No. I’m at work. She’d have rung David.’ Her head was telling her that’s exactly what would have happened but a nagging voice made her ask, ‘Zoe didn’t see Leigh go off anywhere, did she? Get into a car maybe?’
Rowena spoke to her daughter – an urgent exchange. The girl came on the phone. ‘Hi, Mrs Ward. We were in the playground after lunch and Leigh had stomach cramps. She said she couldn’t face classes or coming home for tea and was going to the school nurse. I offered to go with her but she said she’d rather go on her own and I didn’t see her after that.’
‘She hasn’t said anything to you about being unhappy at all, has she?’
‘No.’
‘Zoe, this is very important. Has she ever mentioned running away and hiding or disappearing to you?’ Natalie held her breath, waiting for the response.
The girl seemed genuine. ‘No. She just had cramps and wanted to go home.’
Her mother came back on. ‘Is everything all right? I didn’t intend causing any anxiety.’
‘No. It’s fine. She’s probably with David. It’ll be some miscommunication. I’ll give him a call.’
‘You will let me know she’s okay, won’t you? And about tomorrow if she’s up to it.’
‘Yes, sure.’
Natalie rang home but no one answered the phone and Leigh’s mobile went directly to answerphone. She left a message for her daughter then tried David’s number. She listened to his voice asking her to leave a message. Anxious thoughts tumbled over themselves but she picked through them. Leigh had come home, rested up and then David had taken her out as usual, and neither of them had a signal wherever they were. She should calm down. There was no logical reason for David to ring her to say Leigh had come home early. He wouldn’t bother her over something like that. She inhaled deeply, regaining control of her spiralling emotions and thawing the icy fingers that raked her insides. That made perfect sense. If she hadn’t been working this investigation, she wouldn’t have been so anxious, yet still an inner voice told her this situation didn’t feel right. She spoke after David’s message, trying not to sound panicked.