by Sara Dalton
“It’s not home though, mum won’t be there.”
“I’m so sorry Anna. We will get the person who did this.” Addison told her. She heard Fletcher clear his throat. Anna glanced over at him.
“That’s my partner, Andrew Fletcher.”
“He’s cute,” Anna smiled.
“He is,” Addison put her hand on Anna’s arm. “Anna, we have some things to ask you.” Anna nodded.
Addison pulled out her notebook from her pocket and had a look through her notes. “I met your Aunt, Mandy. Do you see her often?” Addison asked.
“Not much, mum and aunt Mandy were always arguing. When Mandy would come over, mum would throw her out.” Anna said.
“What did they argue about?” Anna glanced up at Emily and she nodded. “It’s okay, you can tell me. Was it drugs?” Addison prompted. Anna looked up at Addison surprised and then nodded. “Do you know when the last time was you saw Mandy?”
“I saw her a couple of days ago. I came home from school early and she was here raiding the house. Mum was working that day.”
“What was she looking for?”
“Mum’s jewellery box.” Anna glanced at Emily again.
“Did you know what was in that jewellery box, Anna?” Addison asked her. Anna was still looking at Emily who had moved closer to the bed. She gave her a nod and Anna looked back at Addison. It was the first time she made eye contact with her since Addison arrived.
“There were Drugs.”
“Did Mandy take them?” Anna nodded. She started to pick at the bandage on her wrist. “Can I ask you questions about your mum?” Anna nodded again and glanced back out of the window. Addison quickly looked over at Jake who was still playing with the Lorries on the floor. “Where does your mum work?”
“She’s a receptionist at Ford, you know the cars,” Anna replied.
Addison recorded it in her notebook. She glanced round to see Fletcher still sitting quietly behind her as she spoke to Anna. He hadn’t jumped in with any questions yet.
“Do you know if your mum had a boyfriend?” Anna glanced down at her hands picking at the bandage on her wrist again. Addison found herself touching the scar placed in the same area. She finally shook her head. “Did you hear any voices that night other than your mum?”
“I heard voices.”
Addison’s head shot over in Jake’s direction. He sat staring at her. Even Anna was looking at her brother, surprised that he remembered anything from that night. There was a long silence as everyone sat in shock apart from Fletcher.
“I was going to Anna’s room.” Jake carried on.
“Did you go to Anna’s room because you were frightened by the storm?” Addison asked him.
“Yes, I heard mum too. She was talking to someone.” He said.
“Do you remember what she was saying?” Addison asked. Jake shook his head. “Do you remember hearing anything else?” She continued.
“I saw shadows on the walls.” Addison glanced over at Fletcher who was now sitting on the edge of his seat. “One was bigger. One was Mum.” Addison had written down everything into her notebook with the new information that Jake was relaying.
“Jake, what happened when you hid in the wardrobe with Anna?” Addison noticed Anna had moved next to her when Jake started talking to them. She was surprised that her little brother knew so much. She shuffled next to her brother and put her arm around his shoulders, comforting him.
“Anna covered my eyes,” Jake said. He turned away and carried on playing with his Lorries. Addison knew he wasn’t going to say anything else, but this was enough. Anna got up and sat beside Addison, she put her arms around her.
“He left twenty minutes later,” Anna whispered. She moved away from Addison and showed her the bandaged wrists. “He said to me that I must keep silent or he will come back and kill me and Jake.” Anna started to cry. “But I still told you everything I know. He’s going to kill me, isn’t he?” Addison pulled her back and tightened her arms around her.
“Your dad will be here soon. He will take care of you. You’ve got nothing to worry about. I promise we will catch him.” Addison said. Although she knew she shouldn’t say anything, she wanted to make Anna feel better and safer.
“There was one more thing I wanted to ask,” Addison said. Anna moved away, and Addison signed with her hands. Where did you learn sign language?
Anna’s eyes widened. “Not a lot of people know sign language.” She said. She started signing back to Addison with her hands and fingers. I was taught when I was younger, our cousin who lived next door was deaf. I learned it from her.
Addison smiled.
Fletcher was up from his seat and Addison noticed that he wanted to leave now. She glanced up at Emily and she gave her a soft smile. They both finally left the ward and headed back down in the lift.
“What did I say about getting too close to the children, that was a bad mistake? You can’t promise them anything.” Fletcher said. He crossed his arms over his chest.
“They are children, a bit of comfort wouldn’t hurt anyone. I think they’ve done well telling us what they know considering what they’ve been through.” Addison retaliated.
“Addison, this is only the beginning. We will find out much more as we dig deeper. For a start, this person who killed Wendy knew her.”
“Yes, I know that, Andrew.” Addison rolled her eyes.
“Don’t do that, it makes you look childish,” Fletcher said bitterly. Addison didn’t say anything else, as they exited the lift she slowly trudged behind him feeling like a naughty child. They got back into his car and she pulled her notebook out to have a look through the notes she had jotted down.
“Do you remember what time the storm started last night?” Addison asked breaking the silence between the two of them.
“I’m pretty sure it was around nine that the storm began. I was finishing a shift when I got home. I remember the downpour as it soaked me through.”
“So, the killer was at their house anytime after nine last night.” Addison considered.
“Jake mentioned hearing their voices and seeing the shadows. How did they not hear anything? Was there any struggle?” Fletcher questioned.
“Maybe he drugged her?”
“That’s possible.” Fletcher threw his phone into Addison’s hands and she noticed that Robert was calling him. “Answer that,” he said. Addison rolled her eyes and answered his phone.
“Fletcher is driving. You can tell me.” She responded to his abrupt attitude. Fletcher heard her grunt.
“Yes sir, be there as soon as possible.” Addison hung up the phone and glared at Fletcher. “He wants us at the morgue, Dr. Charlie Richards has something for us concerning Wendy’s body,” Addison instructed.
“We better hurry then, we don’t want to keep Robert waiting.” Fletcher laughed.
Chapter Seven
7th April 2016
Mortuary, Sawbridgeworth, United Kingdom
Fletcher finally pulled up outside the entrance of the mortuary hospital where Robert stood. Addison noticed that he was stubbing out another cigarette butt on the ground and then shoving his hands into his trouser pockets.
“Why does he do that?” Addison started. “There is a bin next to him,” Addison huffed. Fletcher laughed as they both got out of the car.
“What took you so long? And don’t even comment on my fag butt kid.” Robert said. Addison raised an eyebrow but kept her mouth shut. Fletcher went inside with Robert while Addison tagged along from behind. They passed through the entrance doors and by the reception desk. No one was there so they continued down the corridor. Addison watched as Fletcher and Robert engaged in an animated conversation. Fletcher was filling Robert in with all the information they had gathered from Mandy Phillips and the children. Robert glanced back at Addison of the mention of the children, she hadn’t asked or informed him of their plans and she was now wondering if she should have told him.
They rounded the corner and arrived
at the room. Fletcher opened to door and Robert entered first. Addison waited for Fletcher to go in, but he didn’t.
“Ladies first,” Fletcher gave her a cheeky wink. She smiled and entered the cold room. Robert was walking around the silver table where the body was lying. The body was covered whole with a white sheet which only showed the shape. The smell wafted up Addison’s nose and she was holding back a heave which was trying to escape, she dug out the now crushed menthol cigarette that her boss Dowell had given her at the crime scene. She quickly ran it under her nose before anyone noticed. An older man entered the room with a clipboard in his hands. The big round glasses sat on the tip of his nose while he studied the paperwork on his clipboard.
“I see you have a new partner, Robert.” He said. He put the board down beside the covered body and pushed his glasses up with his index finger. Robert watched the little old man move towards Addison who was stood at the back of the room. He put his hand out to her. “I’m Dr. Charlie Richards the pathologist. Don’t be afraid to ask me a question young lady.”
“Yes sir, I’m DS Addison McCain. Pleased to meet you.” She shook his hand.
“Charlie, get on with it.” Robert huffed folding his arms over his chest. Fletcher went and stood next to Addison.
“Charlie has been doing our murder cases for years, the old bastard refuses to retire. But he’s one of the best at his job,” Fletcher laughed. She nodded and moved forward along with Fletcher, as they stood in front of the covered body. Charlie picked up the clipboard as he placed himself next to Robert.
“Wendy Willis is her married name. Phillips is her maiden name, born 23rd March 1975.” Charlie told them. He pushed his glasses back up as he carried on looking through her file. “Female, obviously, she’s white and was born in Hertfordshire.” He carried on. He put the clipboard back down, rolled the sheet and stopped at the body’s shoulders. “There is something that may shock you, but we will come to that in a few minutes,” Charlie mentioned as he glanced at Addison.
“She’s a healthy woman, kept herself in shape, she has no tattoos. She used different chemicals on her skin to keep it looking young. Her last meal was…” He glanced down at the clipboard and lifted a bit of paper. “Lasagne, probably what they had for dinner with her children.”
Charlie Richards was talking rather fast as Addison struggled to keep up with him. Robert and Fletcher were both nodding their heads along with the elderly man, understanding everything he was saying to them.
“Come, look,” he waved them closer and they all leaned in. Addison held her breath as she leaned in over the dead body to see where Charlie was pointing. “Your girl was injected with something, here, there is a puncture wound just on the nape of her neck. The killer put her to sleep, that’s why the children didn’t hear any screaming. There wasn’t any.” Charlie explained. Addison moved away as the other two stayed close. She quickly rubbed her menthol cigarette under her nose before turning back.
“We are still waiting for the toxicology results to come back. As soon as they do, I’ll get them sent to you as soon as possible.”
Charlie rolled the sheet down, setting it on the body’s belly. There was a large stab wound in the middle of her chest.
“She died instantly. One stab to the heart. To the killer this was easy, there doesn’t seem to be any signs of sexual activity. The stab wound was done by a 10-inch knife, most likely a carving knife.” Charlie explained.
“So, he injected her in the neck and then stabbed her in the heart?” Addison questioned.
“Yeah, the killer wanted to get this over and done with. There are no defense wounds, no fighting back, just cutting to the chase.” Charlie told her.
“That’s quite a boring kill,” Addison spoke. Everyone stopped and looked at her. Her hands were behind her back as she started to stroke the scar on her wrist, but nobody could see her doing it.
“We haven’t finished yet. The fun part comes next.” Charlie said. Addison stayed quiet as Charlie rolled the sheet down past her knees. Addison gasped.
Robert moved closer to look. Fletcher turned away cursing under his breath. Addison moved closer to see the word ‘shh’ carved into the stomach of Wendy Willis.
“Did the children see this?” Addison asked. Robert moved around the table and grabbed a magnifying glass to inspect the carving as Addison watched from behind. Fletcher stepped towards the body to have a look. The tissue of the stomach was ripped, and dry blood crusted around the wounds. The marks were horrendous, it wasn’t a clean cut.
“Do you think they knew?” Fletcher asked. Addison shrugged her shoulders. Robert put the glass down and straightened his jacket. He glanced over to Addison who was still looking closely at the wounds.
“Do you know roughly what time she died? If she died instantly, could there be an accurate time?” She asked. She looked up to see Robert studying her. She ignored him and turned her attention to Charlie.
“Time of death is between 9.15pm and 9.45pm.” Charlie said.
“Do you know if this was carved into her stomach before or after she was stabbed in the heart?” Addison asked. She watched as Charlie started to stroke the white goatee around his chin. “Because it would explain the injection in her neck, she would have still been alive when he did this.” Addison threw in her theories as she circled the table. Charlie followed her as she glanced at the puncture wound again.
“You are right detective, she was alive when that happened to her.” Charlie admitted. He turned to Robert and gave him a little nod.
“It would have seemed odd to inject her with something to put her to sleep and then stab her, which killed her instantly.” Addison voiced her thoughts. “But what was the motive?” Addison questioned.
“The key is the children.” Robert said.
“But what does the killer have against the children?” Addison asked. She directed her question at Fletcher as Robert ignored her and left the room. He shrugged his shoulders and followed Robert. “Would you mind sending me that full report as soon as possible?” She asked Charlie.
“Of course, my dear,” Charlie smiled and covered up Wendy with the white sheet. Addison left the room and hurried after Robert and Fletcher. They were both standing outside waiting for her. She saw Robert was smoking another cigarette. They were engaged in a serious conversation until she turned up, they went silent, it made her think it was about her, no doubt.
“I want you to go to Wendy’s work, find out who she was close to, who she wasn’t close to, I want you to find her ex-husbands, both. I want to know if the father sees his children often.” Robert started as he stomped out his cigarette butt. Addison wasn’t impressed, she was being paired with Fletcher again.
“What about you?” She asked.
“I’ll be going down to forensics to see what they have for me.” He told her.
“Fine. Come on Fletcher, let’s go.” She headed towards his car and he followed behind her. Robert stood with his hands in his trouser pockets while he watched them get into the car.
“Why does he have to be like that? He treats me like a child.” Addison said as soon as closed the car door. She placed her seat belt around her and glanced into the rear-view mirror. She watched Robert walked over to a motorcycle which she assumed was his own. He removed his navy-blue blazer jacket and replaced it with a black leather one. He straddled the bike and roared the engine.
Fletcher reversed out of the parking space and she couldn’t see Robert in the mirror anymore. Fletcher watched her from the corner of his eye.
“Do you like him now because he rides a bike?” Fletcher teased.
“What, no, don’t be silly? I’m trying to figure out what type of guy he is. He’s so moody all the time.” Addison sunk into her seat and crossed her arms over her chest. Fletcher laughed at her child-like actions.
“You will never figure him out. I’ve worked with him for three years and I still can’t figure him out.”
“You’ve known him for a bit then, i
s he like this all the time? Did he ever have a partner he liked?”
“He’s a stubborn bastard, I’ll give you that.” Fletcher laughed. His attitude suddenly changed. “He did have a partner, she was a newbie like you.” He mentioned. Addison saw that his grip on the steering wheel tightened.
“Where is she now?”
“She died, almost a year now. She was killed in the line of duty. Robert blamed himself for it and have done ever since.”
Addison didn’t say anything else. She didn’t want to get into something that would make her feel lonely. Robert didn’t want her because of what happened to his old partner. “Her name was Leonie Collins,” Fletcher mentioned.
“Were you close? With Leonie, I mean?”
“We were dating.”
“But?”
“She fell in love with Robert. She told me she didn’t want to see me anymore.”
“I’m sorry,”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I had noticed a bit of tension between you and Robert.”
“Was it that obvious?” Fletcher laughed. The two both fell silent as they arrived at Ford cars where Wendy Willis worked. They drove inside and parked the car outside the entrance. Fletcher opened the entrance door and let Addison through first, he followed her inside as they headed to the reception desk. They both flashed their police badges to the receptionist.
“We would like to talk to the manager,” Fletcher said.
“He’s just out in the showrooms, I’ll go and collect him for you.” The young woman jumped up from her seat and went inside the showroom. She came back within seconds followed by a tall, grey-haired man. He looked young to have grey hair. He greeted them with a smile and shook both of their hands.
“My name is Harry Thompson. How can I help you?”
“Harry, we are here about Wendy Willis,” Fletcher said.
“Wendy Willis, she’s not here at the moment. She is working tomorrow if you come back…” Harry started but Fletcher stopped him.
“Wendy Willis was murdered last night,” Fletcher told him. The woman behind the reception desk gasped. Harry’s eyes were wide with sudden shock.