by Candy Denman
“Do you have enough evidence if he does make you wait?”
He nodded, and she let her breath out in relief, not having been aware that she had been holding it as she waited for his answer.
“The car had a foldaway bike in the boot for his getaway, as well as a container of petrol,” he said.
Callie couldn’t stop a slight shiver at the thought of what might have been.
“And we found fake number plates in his garage. His laptop computer has gone for analysis but they have already confirmed that he used the SusSEXtra website and was in touch with each of the victims under a variety of aliases. We also found a bottle of” – he hesitated – “not sure how to pronounce it but sodium oxybate?” He looked at her questioningly.
“Medical GHB. Used for narcolepsy, I think.” She was glad to have something practical to think about. “But I’ve never had a patient on it. It’s very rarely used.”
He nodded.
“We’re going through the hospital records, but it seems that he used to help out in a sleep clinic.”
Callie mentally kicked herself. She had known that, why didn’t she make the connection earlier?
“But surely someone would have noticed it missing? It’s a controlled drug.”
“You would have thought so, but apparently the one bottle they had some time back was out of date and listed as destroyed. The two signatures to the statement of destruction are pretty unreadable, so no prizes for guessing that they could both be him.”
“But you’ll need to prove that. I could help. Check the previous drug registers–”
“You’re too involved.” He cut her off, sharply, then softened. “We have people checking them and doing handwriting analyses. We’ll prove he took it, don’t worry.”
Callie nodded. She suddenly realized that what she wanted, more than anything else, was for him to hold her, and looking at him, she thought, for a moment, that maybe that was what he wanted too. She looked away quickly. That would never do.
“Well, it looks like you’ve got it all sewn up. Thank you for coming to let me know. If there’s anything I can do, do let me know,” she said brusquely and he nodded and went to leave.
As she opened the door, he hesitated again and spoke in a husky voice.
“Take care of yourself, Dr Hughes.”
“I will. Goodbye, Detective Inspector Miller,” she said, holding her hand out. “And thank you.”
He briefly shook her hand and hurried out. As he left, she closed the door firmly behind him, before, finally, sinking to the floor and allowing herself to cry.
THE END
More fiction in this series
If you enjoyed BODY HEAT, you’ll love DEAD PRETTY, the first book to feature Doctor Callie Hughes
When a woman is found dead in Hastings, Sussex, the medical examiner feels a murder has taken place. Yet she feels the police are not doing enough because the victim is a prostitute. Dr Callie Hughes will conduct her own investigation, no matter the danger.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086K14RLN/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086K14RLN/
Other titles of interest
MURDER IN THE VALLEYS by Pippa McCathie
Having left the police following a corruption investigation, ex-superintendent Fabia Harvard is struggling with civilian life. When a girl is murdered in her town, she can’t help trying to find the killer. Will her former colleague Matt Lambert stop her, or realize the value of his former boss to the floundering inquiry?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JYH46VW
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JYH46VW
DEAD HILL by John Dean
The gruesome murder of a gangland member on a deserted hill brings DI Jack Harris out of his rural reverie. But when the pursuit of the truth sheds light on the detective’s own shady past, those around him will question their loyalties.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XH2ZJQ4/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XH2ZJQ4/
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