by M A Comley
“That won’t be necessary. I know where it is. Who found the body? It’s usually a dog walker, am I right?”
“Not really. A man called it in, we dispatched an ambulance and a patrol car, but when the ambulance got there first, they contacted base to say there are actually three bodies at the scene, not just one.”
Katy frowned. “How peculiar. Any sign of the man who made the call?”
“I thought it was odd as well. I tried to ring the number back and one of the paramedics answered the phone. The man was lying dead, holding his wife.”
“How strange. Okay, I’ll shoot over there now and try to fathom things out when I get there. Can you arrange for my partner, DS Simpkins to join me?”
“I’ll give her a call now, ma’am.”
Katy completed a three-point turn and drove back the way she’d come until she reached the main junction five minutes away. There, she took a right and continued for fifteen minutes until she arrived at the forest car park.
She let out a relieved breath. Patti was there and so was Charlie by the look of it. Katy pushed open her door and raced to the boot where she put on a white paper suit. She collected a set of shoe coverings and carried them to the edge of the scene. One look from Patti, warning her not to come closer, had her putting the covers on swiftly.
“What have we got?” she called out as she got within a few feet of Patti and Charlie.
“Do you want the facts or my interpretation of what happened?” Patti replied.
“Wow, that’s unusual for you to have the lowdown on things so soon, we usually have to wait until you’ve carried out the PM before you divulge your theory.”
Patti grunted, turned her back, walked past the couple lying on the ground and entered the depths of the forest which had been lit by her crew. They stopped alongside the bloody corpse of a man, surrounded by leaves.
“This is what I believe occurred. This unfortunate specimen of a man was hacked down, intentionally.”
Katy stared at the man and shook her head. “How do you know that, Patti?”
Patti sighed and pointed at the thin nylon wire lying on the leaves which Katy hadn’t noticed. “A tripwire, in all senses of the word.”
“Ah right, remind me to visit Specsavers the next time I’m in town, Charlie. That way I’ll be sure to spot something that’s staring me in the face next time.”
Charlie chuckled, but knew to keep her mouth shut.
Patti glared at Katy. “Sarcasm isn’t going to help this young man, is it, Inspector?”
“You’re quite right, it isn’t,” Katy replied, slapping herself on the wrist. “Behave, DI Foster.”
Patti ignored her and continued with her analysis. “The man was brutally attacked after his assailant tripped him up. He has several broken bones.” She pointed to the shin bone breaking through the fabric on his left leg. “He suffered a sustained attack, perhaps involving dozens of blows from a hard object, which at this time remains unknown.”
“So the culprit took the weapon with them? All we have to do is trace that person and hope they still have the weapon in their possession.”
“Mock all you like, DI Foster, it’s not uncommon for criminals to either dispose of the weapon or leave it at a crime scene, hence my reason for mentioning it.”
“I was joking, Patti, I didn’t mean to cause offence.”
Patti ignored her and knelt beside the victim. She raised a gloved finger and traced a patch of wet on his face. “He was gobbed on, sorry, spat on, therefore, I predict we’ll have genuine DNA evidence on this one.”
“Makes a bloody change,” Katy mumbled.
“I’ve taken a sample and sent it back to the lab already, because I’m efficient like that.”
“I’ve never doubted your professionalism or efficiency before, Patti, so stop sniping at me.”
“Just in case the thought crossed your mind. Anyway, as I said, the man suffered a sustained attack. Maybe he shouted out for help which angered his assailant more, hence the over-the-top thrashing he received. Going back to the other scene, mind your step, keep to the edge of the trees instead of the middle of the track to ensure we don’t disturb other possible evidence, if you don’t mind.”
Katy and Charlie did as instructed and within a few moments they were back with the couple. “What’s their story then, oh, Wise One?”
“This is pure conjecture on my part at this stage, but I’ve considered the scene carefully and feel sure I’ve made an accurate assessment, given the facts before me.”
“Enough of the waffling, get on with it,” Katy urged with the palms of her hands raised upwards.
Patti raised a finger in the air. “Here’s my take on the proceedings, then. I believe the killer may have been interrupted by the couple, either as they entered the forest or as they were standing right here.”
Katy frowned. “Why would the killer risk being seen in a public place like this? Do we know how popular this place is? What about in the evenings? Would you bloody go walking in the forest at night? I know I wouldn’t.”
“All valid questions.”
“I have a suggestion, if you want to hear it,” Charlie piped up.
Katy and Patti folded their arms and listened. “Go on,” Katy urged, aware of how insightful her partner could be at intriguing crime scenes. Katy put this down to Charlie’s time working with the K9 team and having to assess the scene thoroughly before setting the dog loose to track down a criminal or to search for an injured victim.
“What if the murderer, shall we call them, because, let’s face it, that’s what he or she is, after all, what if they were leaving the scene behind us and bumped into this couple? Fearing they might be able to identify the murderer, they decided to finish them off instead of just driving away from the scene.”
Katy mulled her partner’s suggestion over for a while under Patti’s watchful gaze. “The cogs are turning.” Katy grinned.
“I can actually see them gaining momentum,” Patti added with a grin. “I have something else to say, if you’ll allow me?” she added.
Brow knitted, Katy nodded. “Go on. What have we missed?”
“First of all, you need to listen to the original nine-nine-nine call. The man was the one who raised the alarm.”
“Okay, what are you suggesting happened then?”
“The killer emerged from the woods, possibly bumped into the couple who were just going in for an evening stroll. Yep, I can’t imagine why someone would come out here during the evening either, they had torches though.” Patti pointed at a couple of pen torches on top of the exposed tree roots close to the couple’s feet. “Anyway, my suggestion is that the couple discovered the other victim’s body and maybe ran back to confront the killer. Foolish of them, given what’s happened.”
“Okay, and then the killer attacked them, perhaps while he was placing the nine-nine-nine call,” Katy added, following Patti’s line of thinking.
“Sort of. Look at the way he’s holding her.”
“It hadn’t gone unnoticed, Patti, what are you getting at?”
She raised another finger and narrowed her eyes as she put her suggestion across. “What if, he rang nine-nine-nine and the killer decided to run, or drive off, I should say?”
“There’s something you’re holding back, what is it?”
Patti smiled. “You know me so well. I go back to what I initially said about the way he’s holding his wife.”
Intrigued, Katy said, “Go on.”
“What if the killer, in their haste to leave the scene, mowed the woman down?”
“Hmm… is that likely? Maybe, I’m not sure. Okay, I’ll go along with your scenario. What next? The killer returned to finish off the husband?”
“Maybe, that’s the part that I’m finding perplexing at present.”
Charlie jumped in. “It makes sense to me. Maybe the killer had every intention of driving off, getting away from the scene quickly, perhaps the woman jumped in front of the car to
prevent the killer from leaving the scene. The husband was distraught, cuddled his wife, rang the emergency services to get the ball rolling. What if he was on the phone when the killer decided to return to get rid of any loose ends?”
Katy and Patti glanced at each other with raised eyebrows. Katy nodded several times. “Sounds mighty plausible to me. Charlie, get on the blower, ask to hear the nine-nine-nine call; we’ll see if our combined theories match the events.”
Charlie stepped away to place the call.
“Either way, it’s a disgusting thing to happen,” Katy admitted.
“I agree. I believe these two were innocent victims and that the killer has an agenda and was conscious about leaving any witnesses in their wake.”
An excited Charlie rejoined them and put the emergency call on speaker. They heard a man asking for the police.
“Hello, police. It’s urgent. We’ve just discovered a dead body and believe the killer is trying to get away. Please hurry, we’re out at Hawthorn Forest.”
“Please remain calm, sir. Is there somewhere you can hide? Perhaps secure yourselves in your car.”
“No. We’re on foot.”
A revving car could be heard in the background. The man called out for Jackie to get out of the way. They heard a loud thud. The car roared away.
“Jackie, Jackie, are you all right? Please, hurry, the woman has just driven at my wife. I can’t get a response. I think she’s… oh God, she’s coming back. Please, you have to help me!”
That was the end of the conversation. Katy swallowed down the lump in her throat. “My God, did I just hear him right? Did he say the killer was female and that she was getting away?”
Patti and Charlie both nodded.
“Fuckity fuck, you know where my mind is leading, yes?”
Patti and Charlie continued to nod.
Katy turned to face a tree and kicked out at its trunk. “Fuck!”
“You think the cases are connected, don’t you?” Charlie muttered.
Katy swivelled on the spot to look at her and nodded. “Patti, what about you? There’s been an underlying seed of doubt with us for a while about this.”
“The similarities, the killer choosing remote locations and possibly intentionally stalking their prey, plus the fact that the killer is a woman, well, it’s hard to deny. Maybe we should lump them all together and be done with it. Are you any further forward with the other cases yet?”
“We have a possible vague suspect to the second murder, but that’s as far as we’ve got to date. We’re hoping you can throw us a lifeline in the next day or two,” Katy replied. She glanced down at the couple again. “Whoever the damn killer is, in my opinion, she’s overstepped the mark killing this couple. Do you think she returned to the scene, possibly feeling a touch of remorse about the woman’s death and then the husband having a go at her fuelled her anger and she lashed out and killed him?”
Patti shrugged. “Who knows? Only one person knows what truly happened. Sickening to think the killer has an agenda and isn’t afraid to veer off when the necessity arises.”
Katy shuddered. “The worst type of killer. We need to bloody track her down, quickly.”
Charlie gave a brief nod. “I think we’re all agreed on that. What next?”
Katy rolled her eyes. “The usual when we discover a body, the next of kin needs to be informed. Have you located any IDs, Patti?”
“One on the woman and her husband. Nothing as yet on the first victim. Maybe you’ll get a little extra help in that department if someone reports him missing later.”
“I’ll tell the switchboard to let me know if they receive a call. Can I have the couple’s IDs?”
“Help yourself, they’re in the evidence bag over by the van.”
Katy and Charlie left the scene and walked in silence through the wet leaves and snapping twigs to Patti’s van. Katy bent to pick up the evidence bag and with her gloves in place she opened it and read out the address for Charlie to jot down.
“Are we going to try and find the next of kin now?”
“Yep, sorry. Did you have plans? I can tackle it myself if you want to go home.”
“Not on your life. If you’re out in the field, then so am I, we’re partners.”
Katy smiled. “We are that. I’m dying to see AJ and Georgie, but the guilt would tug at me if I didn’t visit the relatives tonight.”
“I’d feel the same. Want me to get in touch with the desk sergeant, see if he can come up with a relative for us to visit?”
“Good idea. I’ll go back and see if Patti has anything else for us. I’ll be back soon.”
She walked the few feet back to the crime scene and spoke to Patti once more. “Charlie’s conducting the search for a possible next of kin for the couple. I’m at a loss what to do about the single male victim, though. Any suggestions?”
“Apart from putting it out in the media, no, you’re just going to have to sit tight for now. You’ve got enough on your hands to keep you busy for the time being, anyway.”
“I know. But the thought of that man lying in a mortuary as a John Doe is tugging at my heartstrings.”
“You old softie, you. I’m sure his identity will come to light soon. Now shoo, I need to get the three of them cleared for transferring back to the mortuary. Then I’m going to leave them and give up my Sunday to perform the posts.”
Katy smiled her appreciation. “You’re such a dedicated pathologist, not everyone would be prepared to put their life on hold the way you do.”
“Get away with you. It’s not like I have a tasty fella sitting at home, waiting to be ravished, is it? Unlike some I could mention.”
“I know. It’s a killer at times. I hate being so dedicated to my work. I’m lucky AJ understands.”
“It’s true, you’ve got one in a million there. Make sure you hang on to him and don’t neglect him too much, eh?”
“I won’t, I promise. Speak soon. Get the results back to me ASAP, I don’t have to tell you that, do I?”
“No, you’re right, you don’t.”
“See you soon, not too soon though.”
Katy joined Charlie at her car and slipped off her protective suit. “Any luck?”
“We’ve got an address for the parents of the male, Fiona and Donald Ody.”
“Where? Is it far?”
“About half a mile away.”
“Okay, let’s get changed and shoot over there. We’d better take both cars.”
They jumped into their respective cars. Charlie led the way.
Ten minutes later, they had located a property on the edge of a large estate. They joined up again and approached the well-lit house. “Can’t say I’m looking forward to what lies ahead. Have I told you lately how much I hate my job?” Katy grumbled.
“Only certain parts, I hope. You like it on the whole, right?”
“Debatable at times.” Katy grinned. She straightened her face and rang the bell. “Here we go!”
A bespectacled man in his late sixties opened the door. “Hello, can I help?”
Katy and Charlie produced their IDs. “Hello, sir. I’m DI Katy Foster and this is my partner, DS Charlie Simpkins. I wondered if it would be possible for us to step inside and talk to you and your wife for a moment.”
“May I ask why?” Mr Ody frowned and glanced over his shoulder as his wife appeared.
“Who is it, love?” his wife asked, her voice faltering slightly.
“It’s the police. They haven’t told me why they’re here yet, so be patient.”
Mrs Ody yanked her husband’s arm. “Let them in. It must be cold outside for them.”
He stood back and gestured for them to enter the warm hallway. “Thank you, it’s a little chilly this evening. Still, it’ll soon be spring.”
“I can’t wait, I love getting out in the garden in the evenings to have a tinker with the beds.”
Katy warmed to the woman’s friendly disposition, and her heart lurched when she thought a
bout the task that lay ahead of her.
“Bungalows have larger gardens overall, don’t they?” Katy asked.
The woman led them through to a cosy lounge, which was filled with tasteful oak furniture and autumnal colours decorating the windows in the form of blinds and curtains. Scatter cushions in matching fabrics completed the warming theme.
Mrs Ody sat on one of the single chairs, her husband sat in the other, and Katy and Charlie took a seat on the sofa opposite the couple.
“Now, perhaps you’ll tell us why you’re here on a Saturday evening?” Mr Ody asked, tilting his head to one side.
Katy gulped down the saliva filling her mouth. “We’re here regarding your son, Christopher and his wife.”
The couple shot each other a concerned look. Mr Ody faced Katy again, his brow furrowed and asked, “What about them? Are they in some sort of trouble?”
Katy rested her forearms on her thighs and clenched her hands together until her knuckles turned white. “This is so hard for me to say. Unfortunately, my partner and I were called out to attend a crime scene tonight.” She paused to swallow again. “We received a call from your son earlier this evening to say he had found a body in the woods.”
“Okay, so what aren’t you telling us?” Mr Ody demanded.
Katy inhaled a steady breath. “We arrived at the scene to find your son and daughter-in-law both dead.”
“What?” Mr Ody leapt out of his chair as his wife screamed. He sat on the arm of her chair to comfort her.
“I’m sorry, there’s never an easy way to tell a relative about a loved one’s passing.”
“But how? How did they die?” Mr Ody raked a hand through his grey hair and shook his head in disbelief, all the while still comforting his wife who was swaying back and forth, sobbing her heart out.
“We believe, although it’s pure speculation at this stage, that they discovered a murdered victim in the woods and possibly confronted the killer, who, rather than leave the scene, she decided that she would kill any possible witnesses.”
“She! A woman did this?” he asked.
“Why? My beautiful son, why him? Why Jackie? They were such a wonderful couple, they did everything together. Put their family first, every day of their lives, and now… we’ll never hear their laughter or feel their hugs ever again,” Mrs Ody said between sniffles.