by Toni Parks
“Murderer, murderer ..”, rang out as the three fought their way to the perimeter of the media masses. Amy pushed the girls to the left and thrust a letter into Jessica’s hand, advising her of its need for immediate attention and action. She then headed in one direction whilst the two girls took the opposing one. Slowly but surely the following gaggle dwindled to nothing, particularly in light of no new interesting shots or ill delivered comments. Jessica’s unwanted five minutes of fame was at an end, for the moment. She breathed in the fresh, free air and hugged Emma as if both their lives still depended on it.
Her release proved a tonic in itself. And although not overly communicative, happy, nor excited about the court’s direction, Jessica did, on the outside, exude the air of being more composed and at ease with herself. Now that both Emma and her were left to their own devices she surmised, on reflection, that her condition would improve more quickly under medical care. And with Amy having handed over a written introduction for the hospital by way of explanation, the two girls headed south of the city, in its direction. On arrival, their first impressions were of a grandiose building more suited to a hotel than a hospital, situated in parkland style grounds with trees, benches and pathways, and the smell of freshly cut grass permeating the air. Once there, Jessica took a deep breath and both entered through the yellow sliding doors, finding the outpatient department reception area facing them. Still clutching the solicitor’s letter, she introduced herself, handed it over, and an inevitable wait ensued.
Jessica’s personal medical tests and assessment proved to be unobtrusive, and she was then shown the psychiatric rehabilitation ward to which she would be committed. The Sheriff’s order emphasised that she should be detained for observation, but no specific time period was mentioned. Once again, Jessica and her now somewhat expanded belongings were confined under lock and key but at least she did have the freedom of the ward. She was informed that, within a short period of time, she might be eligible for a pass, initially to gain her the necessary permission to exit the ward, and then outside the hospital itself. With Amy’s confidence rising over the lost evidence she had still needed to beg a doubting Emma of the necessity to bring to the court hearing additional clothes and makeup for her sister. These were much appreciated by Jessica and she did not take long in enjoying their novelty all over again. Now, Emma was leaving her sitting on the bed reading a magazine and, hopefully, already on the road to being a new woman. She smiled and bent to kiss her; Jessica held her hand and started talking, quickly.
“M, I just want to say thank you and that’s from the bottom of my heart.” She stopped, looked at Emma intently as if pondering how to proceed. “I’ve been thinking; you know all this money that we’ve been left, from our parents and from dear Jeremy Longthorne.”
“Yes, I know all about it, Jess.”
“Well, I’m thinking about getting your SpiyWeb thing, as you call it to check out the families I’ve devastated and give them all some of my share.”
Emma leaned in and whispered, “Jess, you’ve got to let it go. There’s a few problems with that. One. It’s not my SpiyWeb, I mean you could ask Eduardo yourself, whether they will help or not, I don’t know. And two, which is more important, doing something like that, although charitable and commendable, would be seen as an obvious sign of guilt.”
“Yes, I can understand that, but what if I do it anonymously? It will certainly help me come to terms more easily with the devastation I’ve brought about. I can see that I would not have done those things without Grannie’s boyfriend’s abuse but does the cause really justify the effect?”
“Well, I’m happy for any remedy to help in your rehabilitation but it must be handled from a distance, so that you are not traced. And as to cause and effect, I think we’ve all got a bit of that going on at the moment.” She kissed her cheek and asked her to promise not to mention her intentions to anybody until she was signed out of the hospital.
Jessica agreed, but Emma now left with a slight reservation when really she should have been happy with the news she was about to spread. Terry was first to know and he asked her where she was presently situated, as he wanted to meet up to celebrate. She explained that she was over a mile south of the city centre and so would catch the first available bus back to Princes Street. Whilst waiting, she texted Eduardo, so that he could put any plans he was making for Jessica’s escape, on the back burner. Then she laughed at the thought of what he would have made of ‘the back burner’, had she input that.
Barnham was excited at the news but could not shed any light on his part in the drama. The subliminal thought he had planted in Emma’s brain had been just that, subliminal. The chances of her articulating such an idea were slim to nonexistent, but she had, and Jessica was now closer to freedom than she had ever imagined possible. They sat and enjoyed the silence of each other’s company, with Emma embracing that nagging but warm, childlike feeling, of it being nearly Christmas or the summer holidays, but not quite there yet. She needed to know how long Jessica would be held at the hospital but no one knew. Jessica had to react positively to treatment and therapy, and frequent visits from family and friends would speed up the process of aiding her return to her former self. Eduardo replied back with his congratulations and promised to come over once Jessica was signed off and totally liberated.
So, once again Jessica’s fate seemed suspended in time with her future being transferred and now held in yet another institution’s hands. Although this time, it was to be a different kind of civil servant’s decision, which stood between her freedom and her continued incarceration. And the doctor did not leave them in suspense for too long, either. Seven days after her admission and with significant positive progress she was given clearance to return home. True to his word Eduardo took the return trip to Edinburgh to celebrate her final release back into a society Jessica no longer trusted. Even though she was happy to be back home she did not feel secure and always had a nagging worry about that knock on the door. The previous six weeks had brought on a nervous disposition, which accompanied her now frequent dark thoughts and panic attacks. These, she had controlled, both in prison and the two hospitals but now they had free reign and took every available opportunity to make themselves known.
She confided in Emma of the fact that she had to get away to recuperate and both had agreed Secondigliano and Mama’s comfort, was the best option. Eduardo was more than happy with this suggestion, as he had been trying to broach the possibility for several days. So once it became an open secret, flights were booked and bags packed. Edinburgh Airport saw the exodus of its almost infamous serial killer, her sister and Eduardo, an unknown notorious Italian.
Not wishing to draw unwanted attention to herself, Jessica wore a floppy hat and sunglasses. This had the effect of making everyone glance to see who resided underneath, and then be disappointed when they did not descry anyone famous. Jessica was happy with that and so kept a far lower profile than Emma, who was full of life. She fussed over her sister and looked after her every whim, and during the two hours’ wait for the flight she asked Jessica what she now planned to do with the rest of her life.
“Oh, I don’t know I might find some quiet place to contemplate and hide away from this dreadful world, a world I’ve helped to make even more dreadful.”
“You’re not going all funny on me and wanting to run off and join a monastery, are you?” asked Emma with concern.
“No, anyway those are for men only. But, hey, that would be more up your street, don’t you think? They would certainly have to adhere to the vow of silence, after what you’ll have taught them.”
“Yes, I guess I’d be able to teach those abbots some unusual habits. When in Rome.”
“Naples actually, but near enough. Same country, anyway.”
“ So if there are no men, is it some of that, you know, selfflagellation thing? Get the whip out, like S&M, but just a solo trip?”
“Give over, will you? Are you trying to make me more depressed?
I’ve avoided all that self-mutilation stuff in prison, I’m hardly likely to start it now I’m free, am I? But all this hanging around is making me nervous. I’ve got this gut feeling that all is not well. This waiting around is making me ill. I’m off to the loo, are you coming?” With that the two girls took their leave of Eduardo and headed down the corridor to the ladies toilets unbeknownst that there were four burly police officers heading in the opposite direction.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE Jessica’s bag, containing a quantity of tops and leggings had remained in exactly the same position, as it was positioned, for several weeks. Jimmy Carr, the forensic scientist assigned to the task had been told, ‘no rush, not a priority’. Then the rush did arrive, by way of an overspill from Aberdeen. A ten-storey building had collapsed with a number of bodies beneath it, would you believe. Identification of the bodies and the likely cause of the incident were uppermost in everyone’s minds for the foreseeable future. Fingerprinting, DNA testing and delicate handling of wallets, mobiles and any other documents were painstakingly undertaken and then matched up with one of the numerous bodies. With limbs being blown off, the DNA testing was often multiplied several times over. And for those still indistinguishable bodies, dental records were sought and checked too. The work was harrowing, repetitive and mostly unrewarding, except for the times the final jigsaw piece fit and a reinstated body could be put to one side and taken to the morgue proper for respectful preparation, prior to family identification, and then burial or cremation.
Upon completion of the enormous task, the bulk of the teams, having worked on identifying the bodies around the clock, were given time off to rebalance their personal lives, declutter their fogged brains and recharge the batteries. Jimmy needed all three: his girlfriend threw a wobbly when he missed their second anniversary, and that was of just getting together, not engaged, not married! The horror of the damaged bodies was weighing heavily on his mind and he, along with most of his colleagues, was literally exhausted. Hence the reason Jessica’s bag, containing a quantity of tops and leggings, had remained in exactly the same position, as it was positioned, for several weeks. But now it was the next job on his agenda, and Jimmy was happy to work on it, as firstly it was inanimate and secondly it had a far more pleasant smell than what he had been working on. But, ‘no rush, not a priority’, meant that he was not about to bust a gut over it.
In the first instance, he was somewhat puzzled as to why he had been given the items and as to what he was looking for. So, making a start with a blank canvas, he expected to find at least a DNA sample on the clothing but anything else would be a bonus, he supposed. And bonus it was not; he even tested the inside of the polythene bag for any residual rub off. But then, almost as an after thought, he tested the outside of the polythene bag too, not for fingerprints because again, he presumed anybody and everybody could have left those, so he tested for anything else. And the anything else confused him so much that he had no idea what it was. He spent several hours making up test strips and running colour tests, using various chemicals to identify the mysterious substance trace. Without success he moved on to the ultraviolet spectrophotometry, to see how the trace reacted to UV and infrared light. This allowed him to recognise two substances but both very weak in nature.
By this time Jimmy was both tired but interested. He had found a challenge, which as yet he was not up to, but perhaps when fresh of mind, he would have more success. So he left the work secure, went home and slept on it. The next morning gave him his obvious logical break. ‘If the substance trace is minimal on the polythene bag, will it be stronger on the inside of the holdall?’ he questioned. The same process as yesterday proved it to be the case. And now he was more hopeful on the spectrophotometry analysis. It picked out benzodiazepines and epinephrine, but that left something else; there was definitely more than those two substance traces. And the best option left to him was the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry test. The theory being that by injecting a small amount of the unspecified substance into a chromatograph, and then funnelling the culminating sample into the spectrometer, would give him the answer. The resulting analysis enabled him to identify the unknown substance, Ketanest, a derivative of Ketamine. Still none the wiser as to what impact his findings would have, he completed his notes and checked on the name of the request instigator. ‘Denny Blister, I might have known. The bull in the china shop, as was and now the great hope for the future of police detection, with his identification of The Borders serial killer. More good luck, I’ll bet,’ thought Jimmy, as he put the final touches to his paperwork. ‘Still, better do as the man says, who knows how high he might travel.’ And with that he picked up the phone and dialled the station in question. The desk was on the ball even if a little gloomy sounding and put the call through.
“Hi, is that Denny Blister.”
“Yes, DC Blister, here. Who’s calling?”
“Hi DC Blister. It’s Jimmy Carr over at forensics.” “Oh, Hi Jimmy. Call me Denny. What can I do for you?” “Well, it’s more the other way, Denny. I’ve just completed
the results on your request.”
“What request was that, then?”
“I can understand you forgetting, but it was that sports
clothing and the holdall that contained them. I know it was a while ago but what with the Aberdeen tragedy, when the building collapsed, we’ve all been working on nothing else.”
“I remember Jimmy. I hope I haven’t put you to any trouble? I only wanted the clothes doing, the bag was just to make it easier to carry them in.”
“Well, it’s a good thing it did. And a good thing I did too.” “Are you talking in riddles now. Do I need a hobbit to help me out with the answers or what?”
“Bear with me, Denny. I tested the clothes. Nothing on them but one DNA sample and that was minimal after the washing machine had done its business. Nice smell though, I’ll have to find out what powder or fabric conditioner was used. Anyway, nothing significant on the clothes. But on the poly bag and the inside of the holdall I got traces of, what was it now: benzodiazepines, epinephrine and Ketanest, if you know what any of those are?”
“Just pass that by me again,” replied a stunned DC Blister.
“I tested the clothes. Nothing on them but one DNA sample and that was minimal after the washing ….”
“No, not all that. The end bit about what you found.”
“Traces of benzodiazepines, epinephrine and Ketanest.”
“Fuck me.”
“Well it’s my girlfriend’s turn, actually, but …”
Blister interrupted with, “Do you know what those drugs are? They’re the ones used by the serial killer to incapacitate her victims. It’s better than I ever thought it would be. This time I’ve got you, you bitch.”
“Eh, steady on, we haven’t been on a date yet,” replied Jimmy jokingly.
“Sorry mate. Thanks ever so much. Can’t chat now, I’ve got a murderer to catch. And you’ve just provided me with the silver bullet.”
“Glad to help. Denny. DC Blister. Mister bull in a china shop,” Jimmy said despondently to the dialling tone left by a man who was moving up the ladder of success.
Eduardo and the other 130 passengers corralled in the departure lounge could not help but notice the four officers, all high vis and high almighty, bulked up with bulging pockets and clipped-on radios, as they barged through the seating area looking threatening, important and on a mission. But out of those present Eduardo was the only one to guess and react as to what or who they were after. Whilst they were scanning the cafeteria at the far end of the designated area, Eduardo nipped into the ladies and quickly rounded up the two girls. Jessica was still wearing the floppy hat and sunglasses film/pop star disguise but that would only last so long. Emma had no such disguise, well apart from the protruding bump, which had not been there several weeks ago, so should the police be on the lookout for her too, then the game would be up.
All three moved into the duty free shop and mingled with
groups of shoppers where possible, then Eduardo tried the handle of a ‘STAFF ONLY’ door. It did not release the door until his shoulder used additional persuasion. A flight of stairs greeted them and on descending they exited another similarly titled door and found themselves in and amongst the melee of lemming-like travellers all wheeling around suitcases, as they looked in confusion for their flight desks. Any external baggage the three had booked in previously was now unavailable to them but they still held on to their hand luggage, which contained all the important items, such as passport, money, phones and now, unimportantly, flight tickets; the value of which now fell through the floor.
Eduardo cajoled the sisters to hurry whilst at the same time encouraging them to retain a nonchalant demeanour. A difficult task at the best of times and now made impossible with the presumed threat of further imprisonment looming, not only for Jessica but now also for those ‘aiding and abetting’ her, too. They broke out through the electronic external exit where both the doors and the girls gave a collective sigh, in unison. Eduardo led the way by setting off at a trot whilst pulling out his mobile and pushing the number two button on speed dial. “Hi, it’s C/IT/942 here. I need urgent information about Scotland, UK,” he gasped as they came upon one of the short stay car parks. The call was immediately routed through to an agent who had a multitude of options at her fingertips. All she needed to know was the problem.