Hit and Run - страница 8

‘It’s likely that the body entered the river to the east,’ Richard said, pointing to the wall map and indicating the large area they were searching, ‘so that narrows it down,’ he added dryly. ‘We’re searching all known access points within a five mile area.’

Janine raised the report she held. ‘The post-mortem confirms the victim was in her early twenties. Malnourished as a child and since. Pregnant, about two months.’ She noted the rustle of unease at that bit of information. ‘Signs of recent sexual activity. Cause of death – strangulation. Time of death estimated to be within twenty-four hours of her discovery The trauma to the face occurred post mortem, as did the removal of skin from the thigh. And I don’t think he was collecting souvenirs.’

‘Someone wants her incognito,’ said Shap.

‘Heavy; rectangular object used on the face, possibly a brick,’ Richard elaborated. ‘The lab will do a drugs and toxins screening.’

‘They’ve also recovered some tissue from under her fingernails; we’re running DNA on that. Anything else?’ She invited contributions from the floor.

‘We’ve sent details through the system, missing from home – no match as yet,’ Butchers supplied.

Shap raised his chin. ‘Have we got anything from the post-mortem that gives us the scene?’

‘No,’ Janine answered. ‘A day in the river hasn’t helped. They’ll be examining remnants of bin bags used to wrap the body and the gym weights.’

‘Could be a fitness fanatic – the weights?’ Butchers suggested.

‘Bog standard,’ Richard shook his head.

‘I reckon everyone’s got a set like that,’ said Janine, ‘shoved in the cupboard along with the foot spa and the yoghurt maker.’ People smiled. ‘The pathologist also noted some blue staining on the left ankle, knee and hip.’

‘More tattoos?’ Shap asked.

‘No. Here.’ Richard pointed to the photographs, tracing the discolouration around the hip and knee. ‘It’s faint, no particular shape.’

‘They’ll come back to us when they’ve more on that,’ said Janine. She raised her head and looked round the room at the team before her. Some of the young officers were setting out on their first major investigation; some would never have seen a dead body before. They had no idea how much the case would dominate their lives in the weeks to come or of the peculiar mix of tedium and excitement that would characterise the work they had to do: the referencing and cross-checking, door knocking and listening, the endless paperwork. And, here and there, the surge of action, the buzz of closing in on their quarry; the breaks that made it all worthwhile.

‘We’re looking for a lot of help from the public on this one; it’ll be all over the papers, but you lot, discretion. Please – don’t natter about it down the pub – or at the gym.’ Janine paused. When she spoke again her voice was reflective, a shade quieter, forcing them to listen harder, focus on what she was saying. ‘You all have something to bring to solving this case. If you have ideas – share them. If there’s some detail that sticks out – check it. Don’t be afraid to ask if anything confuses you. We’re here to learn – all of us. The day you stop learning is the day you stop being a good detective. Sergeant Shap will allocate teams for the initial stages and briefings will be held daily, first thing until further notice.’ She gestured at the boards again. ‘A young woman, killed then mutilated. Who was she? Who wanted her dead? That’s why we’re here.’ She motioned to the picture from the riverside, the one of the body on the grassy bank: sodden hair, a slim wrist, the graceful hand, fingers gently curved. ‘That’s who we’re here for.’

Chris Chinley’s heart cracked when he saw Debbie. She was curled into a chair in the waiting area, her head down. No one else about. ‘Debs?’

She started, stood up and his arms went round her. She was tiny; her head barely reached his chest. When he first met her, he thought of her like a bird: all fine bones and a fast heartbeat and eyes bright and alert. But the impression of physical frailty concealed a surprising strength. When things had been really bad with the baby, the one they lost, it was Debbie who had held it together, who’d clung on and kept on and dragged him with her.