Dead Inside

by Noelle Holten

  Calleja ran his hand through his hair. ‘We’d better gather everyone together, see if we can make sense of any of this.’

  ‘Good idea.’ Maggie headed towards the open-plan office.

  The briefing didn’t last long. Her colleagues listened and thrashed out ideas, listing possible persons of interest they would need to talk to, but there was a sense that the investigation was running away from them.

  Everyone was assigned a task and asked to report back as soon as possible. Calleja looked in shock, his hair ruffled and his tie in disarray, as he stood at the front of the room and addressed the group. The team was at breaking point: Mark’s shoulders sagged. Pete rubbed his temples and Kat’s swearing had reached the verge of her being mistaken for someone with Tourette’s. Maggie jiggled her foot uncontrollably as Calleja told them that he feared that the DAHU would be disbanded soon if he didn’t have answers for the PCC. Maggie could tell he was not looking forward to preparing his report, his statement for the media or the response he was likely to receive. They needed to catch the killer – or killers – soon or they wouldn’t have any nominals left for the team to manage.

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

  It had been a long day. Maggie looked at the information on her desk and resigned herself to the thought that she still had a few more hours’ work before she could get home. She rubbed her forehead wearily and noticed a shadow over her. Dr Moloney peered down at the papers on her desk.

  ‘How’s things, Kate?’ Maggie sat up straight and tried to smooth down her hair, hoping she didn’t look as rough as she felt.

  ‘Fine. Just wondered how you are? You’re all looking pretty stressed lately.’ Kindness glowed in her eyes and Maggie’s heart fluttered.

  Turning her attention back to work, Maggie forced a smile. ‘Actually, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been through these papers and have a few thoughts I’d like to run by you.’ She paused and took a deep breath. ‘Maybe we can grab a bite to eat afterwards … my treat?’

  ‘How can I say no to that?’ Kate pulled up a chair. ‘Right, so tell me what you have.’

  Maggie gave Kate a brief rundown of the evidence so far. The way Kate creased her forehead when she was thinking made Maggie smile. She couldn’t help staring at the doctor. Kate suddenly looked up.

  ‘What? Is there something on my face?’ Kate wiped her chin self-consciously.

  ‘No. Sorry, I was just watching you process the information. Do you have any thoughts?’ Maggie couldn’t believe she was caught out … again.

  She moved the papers on her desk and showed Dr Moloney her notepad. ‘I think I’ve found some similarities between these cases, and I’d like to recap what we have so far and then run my thoughts by you, if that’s OK?’

  Dr Moloney smiled. ‘Sounds perfect. Let’s hear what you’ve got.’

  ‘Well, none of these men put up a fight. There were no defence wounds. Talbot was hit over the head and a needle was found stuck in his neck. Robert Millard also has a needle mark on the right side of his neck. Mick O’Dowd may have one too, but his face and neck were burned, so we’re waiting for the pathologist to confirm. All three men were severely beaten with some sort of blunt object – probably a bat or wooden pole, but it could even have been fists.’

  ‘Yep. What else?’

  ‘All three men had their throats slit and bled out.’ Maggie pointed at the photographs on her desk. ‘And they seem to have been lying down, facing their killer.’

  ‘I noticed that too. Why the difference in kill methods? Why didn’t they fight back? Do you have the toxicology reports?’

  Maggie smiled as it was almost like she was talking to herself. Dr Moloney reached into her bag, pulled out a notebook and jotted something down.

  ‘Talbot’s and Millard’s tests showed no drugs in their system at the time of discovery, but any drug used could have left their system, especially in Millard’s case, given the time he spent lying on his floor before being discovered.’

  Maggie took a sip of water.

  ‘As for Mick O’Dowd, he was set alight with lighter fluid. That’s what alerted the neighbour so quickly. The killer wasn’t trying to dispose of the evidence – as the whole body wasn’t covered in fluid – but O’Dowd suffered serious burns to the face, neck, hands and genitals. We don’t know how long the attack lasted before his throat was cut—’

  Kate interrupted. ‘Surely the autopsy report should be able to shed more light on that? It will be able to at least tell us whether the attack happened before, at the time of, or after the throat was cut.’

  Maggie watched Dr Moloney writing in her notebook again.

  Seeing Maggie’s curiosity, Dr Moloney held up the notebook. ‘Sorry, when something niggles me, I have to write it down. It prompts me to revisit the information. The needle marks and the throat cutting have gone in the book.’

  Maggie understood, she often did the same thing.

  Revenge? Anger? Was there more than one killer? Were the murders all connected or just a strange coincidence?

  ‘The cut to the throat suggests a connection, but that had been reported in the news. Anyone could have heard what happened and copied the crime.’

  ‘I definitely think it’s one killer though.’

  Maggie looked at Dr Moloney.

  She was tugging at her ear, her tell that a thought was brewing, and she was ready to share. ‘I agree … but I’m struggling to determine whether the killer is male or female. Given the beating, the assumption by you guys is that we’re looking for a male suspect. However, if a weapon was used, couldn’t the killer be a woman?’ Dr Moloney flicked her hair back and continued. ‘Would a beating with fists or kicks rule out a woman? Especially if the victim was incapacitated somehow.’ She glanced up at the ceiling. ‘There are two possible profile types in my opinion. The killer could be targeting these men because they witnessed someone important in their life – like their mother – being abused. They’re angry and seeing the abuser as someone personal to them – a father or stepfather. Hence the viciousness of the attacks. The killings won’t stop until they feel they have sated their anger.’ A line etched between Kate’s brows. ‘The other is a vigilante. These men are known to them. Has either hurt them or someone close to them. Once their revenge has been exacted, the killings will stop.’ The notebook was out again. Dr Moloney finished writing and looked at the clock on the wall.

  Noting the time herself, Maggie wrapped things up. ‘Thanks so much for this. I think we should bring our ideas to the team tomorrow. How about we go and grab that bite to eat now? I don’t know about you, but a glass of wine might help me wash the meal down perfectly!’

  Maggie was pleased that Dr Moloney was still up for it. She enjoyed her company, her intelligence, and the way she put people at ease.

  She’s your colleague, Maggie … focus on the job.

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN

  Hooper rubbed at his face vigorously, as if he could wipe away the anxiety before anyone noticed. Three bodies. Similar circumstances. It wouldn’t be long before the press started with the ‘serial killer on the loose’ headline and then he would have all the high ups on his back. And he’d just been given a piece of information from the Custody Sergeant that changed everything. Hooper headed to the briefing room.

  He walked inside, trying to look confident, dreading what he was about to have to tell the team. ‘Right, folks, what have you got?’

  Dr Moloney followed him into the room and took a seat. Hooper looked around. A room full of blank faces. This did not bode well.

  ‘C’mon! I have to brief the DI in an hour. You must have something! Or maybe you’d like me to start? We now believe there is enough evidence to presume that Mick O’Dowd was responsible for the attack on Vicki. Bloodied clothes were found, not far from his property, which contain traces of Vicki’s blood and Mick’s DNA. At least that is one case we can close down, unless Vicki Wilkinson tells us something different when she wakes up. Over to you.’

&nb
sp; Hooper paced the room, his mood darkening as the silence grew.

  Mark was the first to speak. ‘Well, we have the connection to our team. All three men were domestic abuse perps. Do you think it could be revenge killings?’

  ‘I would say that was fucking obvious, Mark.’ Kat smirked. She wasn’t one to mince her words.

  Without taking any notice of Kat, Mark continued, ‘They were also under one kind of probation supervision or another. Do we know who their PO’s are, guv?’

  Hooper rubbed his temples before responding.

  ‘Both the recent victims are – were – supervised by Lucy Sherwood. Turns out, Lucy also has another connection to Mick O’Dowd. The fight he was arrested for … it was with her husband.’ A stunned silence filled the room, and Hooper ran a shaking hand through his hair. ‘The records also indicate that Lucy warned Mick off Vicki Wilkinson hours before she was attacked.’ DS Hooper relayed the information to his team with a sadness in his voice. He didn’t like to assume, but the link to Lucy Sherwood was undeniable.

  ‘Whoa! Are you saying Lucy is somehow involved in this? No fucking way! Each of us knew those men one way or another. What possible motive would Lucy have?’ Mark’s voice was defensive and, before Hooper had a chance to address it, Maggie joined the conversation.

  ‘Calm down, Mark. I don’t think anyone was implying that. But you have to look at the facts: Lucy is connected to all three men, more than any of us, and she will need to be questioned further. Why didn’t she tell us that Patrick Quinn was her husband?’

  Mark had gone pale, but he shrugged his shoulders in defeat and offered to interview Lucy himself.

  ‘No way is that going to happen. I think you need to take a step back from this one,’ Maggie said firmly.

  Mark turned to Hooper and began to protest, but Hooper interjected. ‘I’m afraid I’ll have to agree with Maggie. You’re too close to Lucy.’ Mark had gone bright red and Hooper raised his eyebrow. ‘I meant in the sense that you both run the domestic abuse group, but looks like it’s more than that by the colour of your face … care to share?’

  Knowing that this would only bring more unwanted attention, Mark shook his head.

  Hooper looked at Dr Moloney. ‘Anything to offer, Dr Moloney?’

  Dr Moloney opened her folder and looked over her notes. ‘Well, DS Hooper, after hashing out ideas with Maggie last night, I can tell you that the perpetrator is familiar with their victims. There’s no forced entry or defence wounds present on any of the bodies. I can’t say for sure whether the killer is male or female at this time. It could be a vigilante, an angry family member of their previous victims, or a female seeking revenge of some sort. I do—’

  ‘Sorry to cut you off, Dr Moloney. After our conversation last night, I thought about everything a little bit more and I’m still not sure what I believe. Do you really think a female could commit this type of offence and if so why would they be targeting these particular men? Maybe you can go over it again for everyone?’ Maggie interjected.

  ‘I was just getting to that. I now know that a syringe, filled with succinylcholine or SUX, was used to incapacitate the victims. I had suspected this after speaking with Maggie last night. This drug, once in the system, effectively paralyzes the victim, but they remain able to see and feel, to a certain extent, what is happening to them. Now this drug wouldn’t show up in the system, unless specific tests were asked for. I had put in the request through DS Hooper. Toxicology rushed through the request and dropped the information off just before I came in. It doesn’t appear to be the case that Talbot had this – or any drug – in his system. Although he was a known heroin user, the syringe found in his neck was clean. Perhaps the killer was still perfecting their MO. However … Millard and O’Dowd did have SUX in their system.’

  Hooper looked a little affronted. ‘Why didn’t they leave it with me, or even DI Calleja; it would have been helpful to know that before I came in here.’ He looked at Dr Moloney with eyes that said – You better have a good answer for me.

  ‘You were already in here and they caught me on the way. I guess because you requested the tests on my behalf, they figured I’d want to know. Does it really matter? I had a brief look before coming in. I know about this drug from the books I read on serial killers.’ All eyes seemed transfixed on Dr Moloney after her last statement and Hooper covered his mouth to hide the smile forming.

  ‘Whaaaat? I’m a criminal psychologist … do you think I read books about fairies and leprechauns? As I was saying, Martin Steventon, an American serial killer also known as The Somerville Stalker, used this drug on several of his victims. I don’t know how someone in the UK got hold of it … but they did.’ Kate sat back down. Scanning the room.

  Mark looked gobsmacked. ‘Jesus Christ! Two of the three victims were injected with this drug? All three were managed in the DAHU? Did the victims know each other in any capacity – outside of probation that is?’

  Kat rolled her eyes. ‘Have you not been bloody listening, Mark? We know all that already! They must have run into each other at the pub more than once – they drank at The Smith’s Forge. Most of our cohort hang out there.’ Kat seemed to be getting more agitated by the minute. ‘Look, I’ll happily go interview Lucy; do we need to speak with her boss or anything, guv?’

  ‘I would say negative on the boss front for the time being as this is really just to see if Lucy has any further information to add. I don’t have any reason to suspect her of any crime. OK, folks, are we done here?’

  Hooper wrapped up the meeting, tasking individuals before they left the room. ‘Mark, can I see you in my office before you head out?’

  ‘Sure thing. Give me five minutes.’

  When Mark arrived, Hooper was sitting waiting for him, a stern look on his face. He said bluntly, ‘I hate to do this, Mark, but I do need you to be honest with me. Is there anything going on between you and Lucy Sherwood?’

  Mark blushed again. He didn’t know how to answer that, but thought the truth would be a good start. He sat down and told Hooper about the past few months, leaving nothing out.

  After Mark left his office, assuring him that nothing was going on with Lucy but disclosing he ‘may’ have a soft spot for her, Hooper clasped his hands together. What the hell was going on with his team? And with the investigation? The victims, in his mind, were not victims at all – although this wasn’t a view he could share openly with anyone. He knew that he should be putting all effort into finding the killer, but a part of him just wanted to shake the person’s hand. But he had a duty to perform and he didn’t want another murder on his patch, so all efforts had to be made to resolve these crimes as swiftly as possible.

  The team needed to pull together the common themes and try to narrow the suspects down.

  The stress was overwhelming.

  Hooper spread the information across the conference room table, in the hope that something might leap out at him. One thing was certain, all these individuals were linked to Lucy Sherwood. Hooper hadn’t told the team but Lucy had disclosed on her police vetting form some domestic abuse between her and her husband. When PNC checks were undertaken, it was noted that there had been a few police call-outs relating to assaults on Lucy and criminal damage from heated arguments in the early days of their marriage. Apparently, her husband had agreed to undertake a domestic abuse course at the local RELATE charity and no charges were brought against him. Hooper took out his notepad and jotted down: ‘Check whether P Quinn completed the course.’ It could be nothing, but his gut told him to pursue it. Could Lucy Sherwood, her husband, or both, be their killer?

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

  Looking up from her emails, Lucy noticed PC Kat Everett and DC Maggie Jamieson in the reception area. The glass on the doors and windows in probation were one way: staff could see out, but members of the public couldn’t see in.

  What the hell? They never confirmed they were coming today. Lucy glanced through her diary to see if she’d just forgotten, but whe
n nothing was noted, her brain went into overdrive. Maybe they’re here to talk to Sarah or someone else. Please let that be the case. She nearly jumped out of her chair when her phone buzzed. It was reception, apparently the officers wanted to speak with her. Oh fuck. What do they know? Without thinking, Lucy picked up her bag and headed to the reception area.

  Worry gnawed at her. Naturally with three people on her caseload recently murdered the police would, of course, want to speak with her. When she saw the look on their faces as they stood in reception, she knew for sure that something bad had happened. This didn’t bode well.

  ‘Hi, Lucy, how are you? Is there somewhere we can talk privately?’ Maggie asked her softly.

  ‘Sure, we can go into one of the interview rooms.’

  Maggie nodded, and Lucy turned to the receptionist to advise her of where she’d be. Still hoping this was about collecting more information on the murdered men and nothing to do with Patrick, Lucy’s curiosity overrode her nerves momentarily.

  ‘Is this about those murders? Do you need to look at my records or something?’

  The police officers looked at each other warily.

  ‘Well, sort of. But it’s best we wait until we have some privacy, OK?’

  Lucy thought it was unusual for Kat to be so polite.

  They entered the room, and the officers placed themselves directly across from her. Lucy laughed nervously. ‘Why do I feel like I’m about to be interrogated? So, uh … what is this all about?’

  ‘We’re going to be upfront with you. We have been asked to have an informal conversation with you about Drew Talbot, Robert Millard and Mick O’Dowd. Are you OK with that?’

  ‘Well, I guess so, Kat. I have nothing to hide.’

  ‘Right, so I’ll ask the questions and Maggie will jump in if she feels I’ve missed something. Do you understand?’