Police Inspector Stonestreet walked towards them. A small duck sat contentedly in his hat.
‘Victor!’ exclaimed Vicky genuinely happy to see the tall uniformed officer. ‘What on earth have you got there?’
‘It’s got an injured wing, I couldn’t leave it to suffer now could I?’ he said handing his hat and duck to a special constable who was guarding the scene, with instructions to take it to the RSPCA.
Peter, known to his colleagues as ‘Victor Meldrew’ was an ex-detective. He wore a flat cap, could display the grumpiest of faces but he had a heart of gold and his knowledge of crime scene procedure was second to none. Dylan was Peter Stonestreet’s aide in CID and Stonestreet his sergeant.
‘Morning sir,’ Peter nodded. Dylan met his greeting with a slight shake of his head and a knowing smile. Peter was a true gentleman, calm and kind and had been very much missed by Dylan when he had gone back into uniform to take up the rank of uniform Inspector.
‘I know, it does nothing for my street cred...’ Peter said, pulling a cursory comedic frown. ‘Bah humbug!’
Vicky laughed at the older man.
‘What’ve we got here?’ said Dylan.
Stonestreet turned his attention to the dead body.
‘A female discovered by a married couple who are also cyclists, whose accounts are being documented at this moment, in the pub.’ He took a step towards the deceased. ‘They contacted paramedics via mobile, who in turn informed us. Basically, their initial thoughts were that she had taken a tumble and was unconscious. The husband, being trained in first aid felt her neck for the carotid pulse but couldn’t find one, which was when he made the emergency call. That waterproof cape that’s flapping about her is one which they used to try and give her some protection from the rain. First impressions given to us from the paramedics having pronounced her dead were that she’d gone over the handle bars. Her mouth is a bloody mess and some of her teeth appear to be missing. But when they looked closer, as you will see for yourself, they discovered a fine line around her neck which is a very thin, deep cut to her throat. My first thoughts were that it was consistent with someone putting wire across the track? However, a quick visual check round hasn’t proven anything of that nature which may have caused the injury lying around. The pathways are clear.’
‘And the paramedics? Where are they now?’
‘Responding to another call but arrangements have been made to get their written statements later today.’
‘Good. And we’ve requested Crime Scene Investigation Supervisor?’
Peter nodded.
‘What we did find in close proximity to the body is a used knotted condom which I’ve left in situ for you to see.’
Dylan raised his eyebrows and looked towards the nearby shrubbery that Stonestreet pointed at.
‘As always, your team never ceases to impress me,’ Dylan said. He looked up and down the canal path and appeared to be pondering over something. His eyes narrowed. His thinking process was tangible. ‘Something across the path you think?’ he muttered. ‘But what would have caused those injuries that has now disappeared?’
‘It is possible that whatever it was, was removed before she was discovered,’ said Vicky.
‘Maybe the person who did this to her took whatever it was with them?’ said Peter brushing a hand over his head.
‘... I’m not sure... Wouldn’t wire drag her backwards off her bike?’
‘Never assume,’ said Peter to Dylan. The uniformed Inspector winked at Vicky.
‘Why, that’s his favourite saying,’ she said throwing her head in Dylan’s direction.
Peter raised an eyebrow and gave her a little cheeky nod.
‘Mmm... Do we have any idea who she is?’ said Dylan.
‘Not yet boss, as you can see she has a hip pouch around her waist. Which might give us further clues but I didn’t want to disturb the body more than was necessary, until you arrived.’
‘Why would anyone do that? What could their motive be?’ said Vicky.
Inspector Stonestreet hunched his shoulders. ‘Your guess is as good as mine.’
***
Dylan looked up at the darkening sky. The investigation was off to a good start in spite of the weather. Light rain sprinkled his face and he screwed up his eyes for an instant. It was obvious there was no time to waste. He bent down to look closely at the deceased’s face. Her cycle helmet had already been removed, by the paramedics, and it lay on the floor to her left.
‘Perfect crime scene preservation,’ Vicky said to Peter.
‘Something that you never forget, the way to protect a crime scene.’
‘Why did you leave CID?’
‘We had to go into uniform to get the next rank and I got put in charge of public order control at football grounds,’ he grinned from ear to ear.
‘Don’t be fooled by his cool, mild mannered persona. You should see him at a football match,’ said Dylan. He turned to look at the pair. ‘The poor ref...’ he said shaking his head.
‘I’m a passionate man,’ said Peter. ‘A red blooded male... Nothing wrong with that.’
‘Way too much information,’ said Vicky.
‘We’re talking football here,’ said Peter. ‘I’m no Don Juan.’
‘Who?’ said Vicky.
Dylan cocked an eyebrow at his colleague. ‘Yes, but I’ll have you know he’s been known to try and sneak a full hip flask into football grounds with him.’
Vicky gave Peter a wry smile. ‘Well, I guess he can’t abuse referees any worse than the hierarchy did you Dylan.’
Peter looked inquisitively at Dylan. ‘Why what’s happened?’
‘Oh, me and another lad scored the highest at the recent Chief Inspector boards but the powers that be decided not to put anyone through this time round.’
‘How come?’
‘They raised the benchmark, after the event,’ said Vicky.
‘Can they do that?’
‘Presumably so, when it’s in-house. We’re in a disciplined service after all,’ said Vicky.
Peter’s mouth hung open for a moment – in a silent oh. ‘Ah I see and you and this other person were not on their list of officers the bosses wanted to be promoted?’
‘That about sums it up,’ said Vicky.
‘We can only speculate,’ said Dylan wearily.
‘Yeah, whatever,’ said Vicky. ‘Talking of mild manners, is it true you took the Assistant Chief Constable to task about the system?’ Dylan looked sheepish.
‘Dylan?’ Peter growled. Vicky watched Dylan’s face. His was serious.
‘Just leave it,’ he said. ‘We’ve a job to do. Karen Ebdon CSI Supervisor is here.’
Ned was on hand to help carry her load.
***
Low, black clouds hovered directly above now threatening heavy rain. It was a clear warning to everyone that the brief respite was over and the weather was about to worsen.
‘Don’t bother with the tent Karen,’ Dylan said as Ned threw the bag to the ground at his feet. ‘I think we had better concentrate on getting the necessary photographs and samples.’ He pointed out the condom. ‘Seize that will you.’
Dylan needed to make quick decisions. As if someone above was listening in on his thoughts hailstones, as big as golf balls, hurtled down from the sky. They bounced off the already sodden ground and quickly created a thin white covering across their path. The team ran under a nearby tree that was luckily in full bloom and provided them shelter. Coveralls were not rainproof.
‘Talk about raining cats and dogs,’ said Vicky shaking herself. Control room shouted for Inspector Stonestreet over the radio and he turned his back on the others to hear what was said.
‘Did you know Shakespeare would have said haddocks and bloaters?’
‘What’s that to do with the price of fish?’ said Ned.
‘It’s called educating yourself numbskull.’
‘You’re so full of shit.’
‘It’s true!’
‘We’ll give it another minute or two and if there’s no sign of the weather improving, we’ll have to brave the elements until we’ve got what’s necessary from this scene,’ Dylan said raising his voice to be heard. ‘Then let’s get her body to the mortuary. In drier conditions I’d have had that tent erected and the Home Office pathologist out but it looks like we’re not going to be that fortunate today.’
Peter tapped Dylan on the shoulder. ‘I don’t want to add to your problems but the canal is known to overflow at this stretch and I’ve just been told it’s reached its maximum.’
‘I saw the amber warning on the Chief’s Log.’ He looked at the others. ‘Let’s just do what we can.’
Within seconds the hailstones had stopped and the sun shone through the fast moving clouds spasmodically. Sadly Dylan could see the thorough scene protection he had been so impressed with was losing its effectiveness fast. Soaked to the skin they worked industriously. Vicky arranged for the body and the bike to be recovered as the photographs were being taken.
‘How old do you think she is?’ said Dylan.
‘Early twenties,’ said Karen.
‘Any rings on her fingers?’ Dylan said.
Karen held up the left hand of the deceased.
‘Slight indent on her ring finger,’ said Vicky.
‘Thank you,’ Dylan said. His gaze not wandering far from the dead girl’s face.
‘Let’s have a look inside that bag round her waist Karen,’ Dylan said.
The Scenes of Crime Supervisor carefully unzipped the pouch. A mobile phone, a ten pound note and a letter addressed to Harrowfield Council, sealed and stamped were carefully extracted between Karen’s gloved finger and thumb. Ned Granger held out a plastic exhibit bags for her to drop the articles in. ‘That’s the total contents,’ she said.
‘The letter; correspondence ready to post en route do you think?’ Vicky said.
‘Maybe, probably, but it’s not necessarily hers. Can you open it for us Karen? Inside an exhibits bag please, otherwise the rain could destroy it.’
There was a moment or two when everyone appeared to hold their breath. ‘Let’s see what this tells us,’ said Dylan. ‘The mobile should be a help to us if nothing else...’
Everyone’s eyes were on Karen. They watched as her gloved hands fumbled about inside a transparent plastic bag. Eventually she managed to open the letter and read the contents out loud. ‘It’s regarding a planning application signed by a Davina Walsh of 4, Spring Bank Road, High-town, Harrowfield.’
‘Make the look at the Burgess Roll a priority Vicky. Can you also check to see who’s working that’s a trained Family Liaison Officer too,’ said Dylan.
The scene wouldn’t be abandoned. The tape would remain in situ and the covered area would be thoroughly searched but not until the weather was more settled. Dylan was happy for the uniformed officer guarding the crime scene to remain at the scene inside a vehicle. Offenders had been known to return to the scene of their crime and people notoriously ignored the crime scene tape unwittingly destroying evidence. Although how anyone could miss the police ‘DO NOT CROSS’ instruction was a mystery.
The Anchor Inn, being the nearest building to the incident would be a priority line of early enquiries.
Ned signalled to the others that the private ambulance had arrived and collectively they moved the deceased very carefully into a body bag. Karen was about to fasten it up when Dylan held his hand out to stop her. He wanted one last look at the neck injury. The cut to the deceased was so clean it could have been done with a cheese wire. Her mouth was agape. Dylan spoke aloud as he studied the wound. ‘Tell me, wouldn’t you expect her teeth to be chipped or broken, not actually missing completely if she had fallen?’
‘Yes, yes I guess I would,’ said Karen.
‘The cavities are very clean as if she has had teeth extracted. Look, the loss of that tooth has left such a hole you can see actually see up to her sinuses... And if they have come out due to the fall where on earth are they?’ he said looking about them. ‘Zip her up, we’ll find out more hopefully at the post-mortem.’
‘Is there a chance that she had been to the dentist?’ Vicky said.
‘Dressed as she is?’ Dylan sighed, ‘I’m not convinced. Let’s get back to the nick.’
‘Are you thinking the killer has pulled out her teeth?’ Vicky said as she hurried to keep up with Dylan to his car. He stopped suddenly, she nearly walked into him, he looked over his shoulder. ‘You are aren’t you?’ she said. ‘You think it was a deliberate act don’t you?’
Chapter-Two
‘It’s at times like this when you appreciate the car has air conditioning,’ Dylan said. He sat back in his car seat, undid his shirt collar and pulled at the knot of his tie.
‘I couldn’t agree more,’ Vicky said as she wiped her damp forehead with the back of her hand.
The pair sat in silence as police radio informed them of a road collapse due to the heavy rainfall, causing a power cut at Tandem Police Station, who were now on emergency generator.
‘God forbid that cloud had carried the rain a few more miles up the valley, we’d have lost the scene completely,’ said Vicky.
‘And the body with it,’ said Dylan.
Vicky was unusually quiet as they drove back to the station.
‘So, what’re your thoughts?’
‘I think it was pre-planned. The injury to the neck... The person or persons who did it must have known what they were doing and brought along the equipment to carry out the act. But, it’s the teeth thing that bothers me... that’s totally weird,’ she said, screwing up her nose. ‘Unless she had just been to the dentist.’
‘Well, you know what they say. See how a person lived and you’ll find out how they died,’ said Dylan as they drove into the back yard of the police station. ‘She was someone’s target, for some reason, that’s for sure. Once we’ve got dry we’ll grab a coffee and wait for the family liaison officer to contact us before we go any further. With Ned Granger gone with her body to the mortuary for continuity, I guess we’ve got a while before the Home Office Pathologist gets there. We need to use that time to get the incident room up and running. Then we’ll see what we can find out about Davina Walsh and the address on the letter, prior to making a visit. We also need someone to go and speak to the landlord at the Anchor.’
‘The killer must know her or her routine. Surely no one would put wire across a footpath on the off chance that some stranger would come along on a bike to garrotte them, would they?’ said Vicky.
‘If that’s what it was, wire?’
‘Well, it has to be mighty strong to cause that sort of damage to the poor woman’s neck. What else could it be?’ Vicky lifted her shoulders, tilted her head and gestured with her palms up.
‘And the condom... Connected to the killing do you think?’
‘God knows!’ said Vicky.
‘I’m glad somebody does,’ said Dylan.
***
The CID office was empty apart from Lisa who was attending to her administration duties. She raised her head above her computer screen, lifting her eyes to see who had entered the office and continued to type when she saw it was Dylan and Vicky.
Vicky sat down with a thump on her chair and switched on her computer. Dylan continued down the centre aisle of desks to his office, opened the door and switched on the lights that juddered into action.
Dylan heard DC Andy Wormald’s voice in the outer office. He was talking to Vicky. A few minutes later she knocked at Dylan’s door and walked in. ‘There’s nothing on the intelligence system in relation to a Davina Walsh. The only info we have on the address is on the Burgess Roll.’
‘At least it’s good for something...’
‘What is?’
‘The Burgess Roll; at one time conmen used to go into the post office to look at the Burgess Roll to see where the elderly lived, and who lived on their own. Fortunately for us the criminals weren’t that bright and left their fingerp
rints all over the paper which put them into the frame for the offences.’
‘The Burgess Roll shows her living alone. Andy says the house is a two bed semi-detached in a nice area.’
‘Send Andy into my office will you, I need him to go to The Anchor Inn to get a statement from the landlord.’
The phone was ringing in the outside office. Lisa picked up. Dylan could see her grab Andy Wormald’s arm as he passed her desk and she slipped a piece of paper in his hand; he read it, opened Dylan’s door and walked in.
‘Home Office Pathologist Professor Bernard Stow will be attending the mortuary at four o’clock today to carry out the post-mortem examination, sir,’ he said
Dylan was thoughtful. ‘Thanks. Sit down. Vicky got you up to speed?’
Andy nodded his head.
‘Good. So tell me this. If our victim is Davina Walsh and she lives alone, as the Burgess Roll suggests, then why do you think she didn’t have a house key on her?’
‘She does live with someone but they just haven’t updated the Electoral Register yet?’
‘Mmm... you’re probably right. I want you to find out who was at the Anchor Inn last night. Find out whatever gossip you can glean from the landlord and see what CCTV you can gather for us, and seize it? Is Ned back yet?’
‘I believe the body has been handed over to the Coroner’s Officer and booked in and he’s on his way back from the mortuary, sir.’
‘Take him with you and tell him from me if he comes back from The Anchor smelling of alcohol he’ll be back on the beat quicker than he can say Sir Robert Peel.’
As if the mention of his name conjured him up Dylan saw DC Ned Granger walk into the outer CID office. Andy, signalled his colleague to join them.
‘What’s up boss?’ Ned said with a painfully wide cartoon smile upon his face.
Dylan picked up his jacket. ‘I’ll leave it with you Andy, I’m off to visit the address with Vicky.’
Dylan’s tone was serious. As he walked out of his office past Ned, the detective grimaced at Andy. ‘Who’s rattled his flaming cage?’ he said.
Killer Smile Page 2