Catherine

by A J Hollingsworth

  'I still want to run a few more tests Logan,' Thomas stated, as he looked up from the paperwork.

  'That's OK Thomas, just give me what you've got for now.'

  Logan had his notepad at the ready.

  'Catherine Holmes was strangled between half-past ten and eleven o'clock last night.'

  'Murder weapon?'

  'Some form of electrical cord, similar to what would be attached to many household appliances. A toaster, kettle or lamp. Things like that. Wrapped tightly around her neck. You can see from the marks against her throat where the cord crossed over.' He passed Logan a photograph of the marks around Catherine's neck.

  'She was facing the killer?'

  'Yes. The killers hands would have one side of the cord in each hand and he twisted the cord over itself, as if you were tying your shoes laces and then he simply pulled each end until she suffocated.'

  'Any signs of a struggle?'

  'Yes. Catherine put up a fight. I found fragments of skin and hair under her fingernails.'

  'Any results?'

  'Not yet. Still running DNA tests but once I have them, I'll run it through the database and see if we can find a match.'

  'Let me know if you do. Anything else?'

  'Yes. I found a strand of wool tangles in her hair. Maybe it's nothing, but running tests on it. That's about it for now though.'

  'OK Thomas, keep me posted,' Logan shook the nylon gloved hand of Thomas and started to walk towards the morgue door. He had taken half a dozen steps.

  'How's the new boss working out?' Thomas called after Logan.

  'She's having a wedding anniversary lunch as we speak,' he replied with resentment.

  'That's nice. Leaving you to do all the leg work then?'

  'Something like that, typical woman after all!'

  The pair of them began chuckling.

  'Just before I go. What colour is that strand of wool you found?' Logan asked.

  'Burgundy!'

  Chapter 12

  "Thank God," Rachel thought to herself. The relief of ten minutes away from the murder of Catherine Holmes was overdue. Ten minutes were actually more like an hour and a half and she definitely needed that away from Logan. It was now almost one o'clock and the message she just received from Nathan told her, he was less than five minutes away from the restaurant. The Little Greek was Rachel's favourite Greek restaurant and where the pair of them had their first date. That felt an eternity away for her now, so much had changed since then.

  Rachel drove down High Street as fast as she could, slightly breaking the speed limit as she went, but this was a must if she was not going to leave Nathan waiting too long. She already felt guilty for having to work when he had planned such a lovely day. Though it wasn't her fault this poor young woman had been murdered, she somehow still took on the guilt.

  Human nature she surmised, the feel of guilt to let someone down even when there was no alternative. Or was that just an excuse, she could have always refused to take on the case. But on her first assignment as DCI? How would that have looked to Superintendent Jepson? Her career could have been over and Nathan understood how important the police force was to her. No, she decided she had no conceivable alternative but to take on Catherine's murder.

  Rachel turned off the main road and into a small car park at the end of Turner Street. The traffic into town had now hit its peak and there were only two remaining spots in the car park. She picked the one she liked between a white off-road SUV and a small blue three door hatchback and carefully manoeuvred her little Audi into place between. In the rush that morning she had forgotten to bring her purse, frantically searching through her pockets and the ashtray in her car, she managed to muster up a little over three pounds. That was enough for a couple of hours at least.

  The restaurant was just around the corner and took her less than five minutes before she spotted Nathan standing outside waiting for her to arrive. He held a wide grin on his face as she approached, bubbling with excitement to see him she skipped the rest of the way before throwing her arms around him and kissed him passionately.

  'Maybe I should treat you to lunch more often if I get that kind of response.'

  'I wouldn't complain,' stated Rachel coyly.

  They entered the restaurant hand in hand like a pair of love-sick teenagers. Once inside the Matradee confirmed the booking with Nathan before escorting the pair to a cosy little table in the back corner of the restaurant. The old-rustic look of bare brick walls encased the circular wooden table painted white and then distressed afterwards, observed Rachel on approach.

  Nathan being the perfect gentleman, pulled out Rachel's chair for her and waited for her to be seated before he took his. The Matradee placed two menus in front of each of them before asking if they would like to place a drinks order. Rachel ordered a coke, still having a feeling of nausea after the alcohol she consumed the previous night. Nathan, who had recently discovered a new health regime, ordered a kale and orange smoothie. The Matradee disappeared leaving Nathan and Rachel alone.

  The call for Greek cuisine at lunchtime in York must be somewhat lacking as there were only two other parties sat at tables across opposite ends of the restaurant and several tables away from themselves. It was peaceful that way and allowed for conversation to flow between the two of them. As first it centred around their anniversary and how Rachel had saved a little special something for the bedroom that night, which had sparked Nathan's interest to say the least. But then, with the last mouthful of Tiropitakia's, Nathan asked a question that had her intrigued.

  'Have you arrested Mark yet?'

  She paused with an answer to the question, repeating it in her head. Why would he ask if she had arrested Mark? He said it with such flippancy that it appeared a fore-gone conclusion. A murder investigation was never that straight-forward.

  'Why would I arrest Mark?' Rachel asked keeping her voice low just in case anybody could overhear their conversation.

  'I assumed he would be your number one suspect?' Nathan quizzed.

  'He is only one of our suspects at the moment, but he does have an alibi.'

  'What alibi has he got?'

  'He claims he was studying late at the library.'

  'Mark Jenkins was at the library studying. Mr know-it-all needs to study?' said Nathan chuckling loudly. 'Mark has never spent one minute studying. Trust me, I mark his coursework and believe me he never reads any of the texts I assign. I am certain that if he didn't murder that poor young woman, he was definitely not at the library either.'

  Rachel processed what Nathan had said, 'Stephanie is providing us with the CCTV footage, so we'll soon find out if he is telling the truth or not,' she responded.

  Nathan remained quiet, simply answering with a nod of his head. The waiter stopped Rachel from talking further when he arrived beside her with their main courses.

  'Pudding?' Nathan asked after Rachel had swallowed her last mouthful of feta stuffed peppers.

  'I think I may just have a coffee. I don't think there is any more room left in there for me. Feel free to order yourself one though.'

  Rachel offered an olive branch as Nathan ordered a Cappuccino for her and a portion of Galaktoboureko, a Greek custard desert, for himself. The waiter disappeared with the order as the pair lent forward over the table towards each other, Nathan gently placing his hands around Rachel's. They chattered for a bit about nothing of any importance, just the usual everyday trivialities, but soon the conversation veered back around to Catherine Holmes.

  'Did you know if Catherine always carry her mobile phone with her? I mean, did she have it on the desk in your lectures perhaps?' Rachel asked.

  'I can't remember darling,' Nathan paused looking away to Rachel's right and his eyes began to glaze over as he attempted to remember. 'I think she might have a couple of times. I would say not a lot though. I mean I would have to shout at a few who would often text during my lectures, but Catherine wasn't one of them.'

  Rachel looked directly at N
athan without seeing him.

  'Why? Is her phone important?'

  'I'm not sure, we didn't find it on her and the dog walker who found her said he stepped back when he realised she was dead and called the police straight away.'

  'Do you think he may have took it?'

  'Anything is always possible, but the gentleman was in his sixties with a Yorkshire Terrier. Not exactly the profile of a phone thief.

  'So, what do you think may have happened to it?'

  'One of two things really, in a case like this. Firstly, there is something on that phone the killer doesn't want us to find and took it after her killed her. It may even prove to be the motive for her murder. Or, secondly, it could be at her apartment. We haven't checked there yet. She could have just forgot to take it with her. I was hoping you might have cleared that up for me.'

  'How would I clear it up for you?'

  'Can you not see how? Perhaps I wasn't clear. If she was the type of student who was glued to her mobile then I could say the phone had been stolen from her. But, now, either scenario is equally plausible.'

  'What you going to do?'

  'Go and see Catherine's apartment this afternoon. See if it throws up any answers.'

  Rachel finished the last sip of her Cappuccino before walking to the door of the restaurant with Nathan by her side. They kissed farewell before going separate ways to their own cars. Rachel picked up the pace to avoid becoming saturated by, what had changed from a gentle misting to a downpour of rain.

  Chapter 13

  Nathan was soaked when he returned to the University, he had been caught in a severe downpour on his way back to his car from the restaurant. He marched his way through the main entrance on his way to Stephanie's office. He had been mulling over exactly what he was going to say in the car on the way and he had it well rehearsed.

  As he reached the door to Stephanie's door, he noticed that her long-suffering assistant wasn't sat at her desk. She was always sat at her desk, he could genuinely not remember a time, she wasn't there. The door to Stefanie's office was slightly ajar and Nathan could hear faint voices coming voices coming from within, not loud enough to identify whose voices they were.

  This was not going to plan, he was expecting to find Stephanie alone in her office, not for her to have company. What if it was Rachel? Following up on a new bit of evidence. She would assume Nathan would go back to the University but what he needed to say to Stephanie, Rachel could not hear.

  He tiptoed across the last bit of corridor towards Stephanie's office like something out of a cartoon and came to a stop within listening distance of the conversation happening within. He listened for a second and his heart began relaxing and the mystery of the whereabouts of Stephanie's assistant were solved. They were both inside gossipping about holidays away to dream exotic places away from the gloom of York.

  He knocked before opening the door and entering to see Stephanie at her desk with her laptop open and her assistant peering over her shoulder. They were looking at Stephanie's recent holiday snaps from Egypt, she was standing in front of the pyramids with a self-satisfying look emblazoned across her face.

  'Nathan, how was your anniversary dinner? Did you both enjoy it?' Stephanie asked upbeat.

  She was going to start the conversation with small talk, Nathan resisted laughing. She was not interested in how the meal was at all, he thought. Despise was a harsh word, but when it came to describing the way he felt about her, it was the most appropriate word he could think of.

  'It was wonderful. Tried that new Greek place. The food was beautiful. You should try it sometime,' Nathan responded in the same upbeat manner.

  They continued to make small talk until Stephanie dismissed her assistant, sending her to retrieve a cup of coffee for her and Nathan, leaving just the two of them alone.

  'What is happening with the case?' asked Stephanie.

  'We didn't talk about it,' replied Nathan.

  'The weekend of your Wedding Anniversary is interrupted by the murder of a student you taught and you expect me to believe that wasn't a conversation subject over lunch?' she asked with all the dramatics of a Shakespeare play.

  'That's exactly what I'm telling you.'

  'Bullshit. I wouldn't believe you even if you told me a thousand times. Better still, a million times,' she said waving her arms at him while shaking her head side to side.

  'Why are you so interested in the case anyway?'

  'Are you fucking joking? The name of my University is all over the papers and you want to know why I'm so interested.'

  Nathan didn't flinch at Stephanie's aggressive stance, instead he rose from his chair and began pacing back and forth.

  'I think you have more interest in this case than just protecting your school.'

  'What interest would that be?'

  'Rachel is missing one vital piece of evidence,' he stated still pacing, but now he moved a little slower, like a predator seeking out pray.

  'What would that be then?' she responded with a carefree flick of her freshly died auburn locks.

  'Stop playing games Stephanie.'

  'I'm not playing any kind of game Nathan,' she said with venom in her throat.

  'Where is Catherine's phone?'

  Stephanie sat back in her chair with a giant smug smile on her face.

  'Where is it Stephanie?'

  'I don't know,' she paused. 'Boy I wish I did though,' she finished before laughing.

  The laughter pierced through Nathan's eardrums, a high-pitched cackle she managed that made him want to stuff a pineapple in her mouth. The anger was seeping down beneath his skin making the hairs on his arms stand to attention.

  'You a lying little bitch!' he snapped.

  Stephanie stopped laughing immediately and lent forward against thew edge of her desk, 'what the fuck would I want with Catherine's phone?'

  'To use against me,' he said boldly, only fleetingly losing eye contact with her when the urge to blink proved too much.

  'Oh, I understand now. You worried about your other little secret being freed to roam?'

  'Of course and aren't you?'

  'Why would I be worried? It's not my secret.'

  She was pushing back at him, obviously not intimidate by him as much as he would have liked her to be.

  'What about your "University"?'

  'What about it? Like I said before Nathan, I will quite happily throw you under the bus if I have to. After all, it's you whose sleeping with Catherine or should I say, was sleeping!'

  Nathan was more relaxed by this threat that Stephanie expected. He simply resumed his seat on the opposite side of her desk, crossed his arms and smiled at her.

  'You are very smug for someone who could lose everything if I let slip what I know.'

  'That's the thing though. You do know and have for a long time.'

  'You have no prove that I've known for as long as I have. I will lie and tell everyone I've just found out about Catherine and your relationship. Nice try though, Nathan.'

  Nathan remained seated, untaxed by Stephanie's rebut. She, on the other hand, had begun turning a shade of white, which was difficult to see under the thick layer of foundation plastered on her face. But, Nathan could still see through the exterior.

  'You've forgotten?' he said, smiling.

  'Forgotten what?'

  'Our meeting. Six months ago, I believe.'

  Stephanie laughed and then said patronisingly, 'there was never a record kept of that meeting.'

  Nathan smiled, 'I knew that you finding out about Catherine and I would come back to haunt me someday. So, I had to protect myself-'

  '-let's cut to the chase,' she interrupted. 'You have a recording of it and now you want to blackmail me?'

  'You are smarter than I gave you credit for,' he said chuckling. 'I wouldn't call it blackmail, more self-preservation.'

  'How do I know you have a recording? All I have is your word!'

  Nathan reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his
mobile phone. He opened his menu screen and after a few clicks through his folders, he found the recording and pressed play. Stefanie sat there fidgeting in her seat, just a little bit more as she listened to the recording. She stopped fidgeting, when the last words spoken on the recording were those of hers, agreeing to keep the relationship quiet if he promised to be discreet.

  'I wonder if you would be able to keep your job after you gave permission to one of your professors to date one of your students?'

  'Date? Is that what you calling it now, Nathan. I thought it was just the tight skirt you were interested in. Did you ever promise Catherine, that you would leave Rachel?' Nathan remained quiet. 'Thought not.'

  She was right and he knew she was, despite the affair, he loved Rachel with all of his heart. It was just sex with Catherine. Her young firm breasts and rounded tight bum, made his pants bulge with desire. Was he wrong? Many would blame him and the guilt he had inside, knowing it would break Rachel if she found out, was eating away at him now more than ever before.

  'Whatever you wish to call it, if it gets out it'll ruin the both of us.'

  Nathan waited with eager anticipation, for agreement from Stephanie. 'OK Nathan, I'm backed into a corner,' she finally responded with defeat.

  'I knew you would see it my way, Stephanie. Glad we came to some arrangement.' He finished talking, stood up, courteously pushed his chair back to align with the other one and strolled casually across to the door.

  'One question,' she called after him.

  He turned back towards her, 'what's that?'

  'How do you think I would have got Catherine's phone?'

  'You killed her,' he said leaving before she had chance to reply.

  Chapter 14

  Rachel made her way back along through the midday rush of York's city centre back to Fulford Road Police Station. Her mind was split between leaving Nathan on their anniversary and the need to discover what forensics had discovered. She had two suspects, but knew that was probably going to be extended as they delve into the life of Catherine. It was often part of the course when investigating a murder case and she knew her gut instinct would lead her in many different directions.