She had no defensive marks, Sean reminded her, so he raped her when she was dead or almost.
Or he threatened her into submission, or hes strong enough to totally overpower her, Anna argued.
So what is he? Sean asked. A rapist or a necrophiliac?
Neither, Anna answered. His reason for attacking wasnt to have sex with them dead or alive. That was merely a byproduct.
A release? Sean shared his own idea.
His excitement would have been intense, she agreed, knowing what he meant. It would have manifested itself in some physical way.
You mean he got so excited he became sexually aroused? Sean cut to the point. He needed to orgasm to calm himself down?
I believe so.
So we should be looking more closely for signs of sexual activity with the second victim?
Yes, she told him, but you were already going to werent you?
I was considering suggesting it, he admitted. Though Roddis and his team would probably have done it anyway.
Im not sure I can help you, Sean, she told him, shaking her head. Youre always at least two steps ahead of me ahead of anyone. Anything I can see youve already seen.
Youre not going to start telling me I can think like them and all that shit? he pleaded.
Well? she asked. Cant you? Isnt that what happens?
I dont think like them, he said, his voice betraying his frustration. I can imagine what they might be thinking theres a difference.
Is there?
Why dont you tell me?
Before Anna could answer, Sally walked into the office and slumped into the one vacant chair, too tired to notice the tense atmosphere. I wish I still smoked, she announced. A ciggie and a coffee would go down very nicely round about now.
What you got for me, Sally? Sean ignored her plea for vices of the past.
Well, the victims Oyster card is being examined today, so we should know his movements soon enough. And weve seized the CCTV from Borough tube station. The transport police are going to find out what train he used and seize the CCTV from that too, so if he was being closely followed we might get something. It was late and the station was pretty quiet. Could be our best bet.
Then he didnt follow him, Sean killed off any optimism. He waited for him. Hes too smart, too careful to get caught following either victim on CCTV. But check it out anyway. You get anything from your trip to the West End last night?
Nothing that sounds like its going to help, she admitted. We tracked down plenty of his so-called friends and associates from the street. He was well known and well liked, but nobody has any idea why this happened to him. There were lots of sightings on the day and night he died, but he headed for home alone. No one knows what happened.
Can they say what tube station he used? Sean asked.
Some reckon Tottenham Court Road, Sally told him. Well know for sure once the Oyster card is examined.
OK, fine, Sean agreed distractedly, suddenly aware of an absence in the room. You seen Dave this morning? he asked Sally.
No, she shrugged. Havent seen him since yesterday afternoon.
Sean thought about his other trusted second in command for a few seconds, remembering how in the past he was virtually always the first one into work every morning. Since the Goldsboro shooting, he was usually the last. If you see or hear from him, he told Sally, let him know I need to speak with him, will you? Sally nodded as Seans mobile began to ring. He checked the caller ID and answered.
Andy, he began. What you got for me?
Early, peripheral findings only, DS Roddis from SIUs specialist forensic team told him. The Crime Scene Log tells me youve been to the scene, twice, so I doubt Ill be able to tell you anything you havent worked out for yourself. Why wasnt I given this scene when it was fresh? It doesnt help that Ive had to contend with another forensic team trampling over most of it and making off with exhibits.
Exhibits that will be handed over to you, Sean tried to calm the unlikeable perfectionist that was Roddis, the best at his business Sean had ever known. And the murder wasnt connected to a series until it was too late. If were unlucky enough to get another scene, youll get it before anyone else steps foot in it.
Except you, Roddis accused him in advance.
Id be interested in your observations, Sean encouraged him. And I want you to look for a couple of things the other forensics team may not have considered.
Anna gave him a knowing look.
Such as? Roddis asked, intrigued. Hed worked enough investigations with Sean to know to expect surprises.
Semen. Probably close to where the body was found, but could be anywhere in the garage or just outside it.
You think he sexually assaulted the victim? Roddis asked, confused by Seans suggestion.
No, but its possible he felt the need while at the scene. To reduce his heightened state of excitement.
The need? Roddis questioned. A killer masturbating at the scene when no sexual motivation is suspected? Ive seen defecation, urination, killers that like to eat and drink from the victims fridge, but never what youre suggesting, not when the crime isnt sexually motivated.
Lets just say this ones possibly confused, Sean told him. Lets not assume there was no sexual element to his motivation and lets look for traces of semen.
If you really think its worth it, Roddis climbed down in the face of Seans irritation. But it wont be easy not at a scene of this type and not after its been trampled over.
I know, but just do it for me, will you?
Very well, Roddis conceded. And the other thing?
There was a lot of blood at the scene, Sean reminded him. He was in close proximity to the victim when he cut through his carotid artery, meaning he must have had a significant amount of blood on him.
One would imagine so.
Which means he needed to clean up, Sean continued. At least enough to get him past casual looks. Theres no water supply in the garage, so chances are he brought his own, something he may have chosen to dispose of after hed used it a plastic bottle, anything. Check inside the cordon further afield too for anything he could have used.
Why you so worried about finding it? Roddis asked. All itll give us is more DNA and fingerprints. We already have plenty.
Itll help paint a picture, Sean explained. Itll show he planned it. That hes organized and careful premeditating. If he tries to plead diminished responsibility, well be able to disprove it.
So be it, Roddis sighed. Well look for your water bottle. Anything else?
No, Sean told him. You find anything interesting or unexpected, phone it straight through to me. Understand?
I understand, Roddis answered.
Sean ended the call and threw his phone back on to the desk where it immediately started chirping and vibrating again. Christ, he complained, snatching it back up. He didnt recognize the number but answered anyway. With an investigation like this, hed be getting a lot of calls from numbers his phone didnt recognize and hed have to risk answering them all or miss something potentially vital. Hello, he said, withholding his name until he knew who he was speaking to.
DI Corrigan? a mans voice asked.
Whos calling? he probed.
PC John Croft, the man answered. The Coroners Officer.
Youre speaking with DI Corrigan, Sean told him. What have you got for me?
Dr Canning will be doing the post-mortem on your victim, William Dalton, later today. Ive had a message from him asking if youll be there.
My victim, Sean thought about Crofts expression. Was that what Dalton was another of his victims? Yes, he said after a slight pause. Tell Dr Canning Ill be there.
About eleven a.m. then, Croft told him, and hung up.
The post-mortem? Sally asked.
Yeah, he answered.
Want some company?
No. Ill go alone. Youre better off staying here and keeping everybody on it. As he spoke, his eyes scanned the main office through the Perspex wall. Where the hell is Dave?
David Langley paced the showroom floor of the furniture store. Head office had given him the grand title manager, but since they refused to supply him with a team of sales assistants to command just an assistant manager who was more trouble than he was worth most of the time Langley was reduced to the role of a glorified salesman. There was a time when that would have bothered him, but now he knew it was simply something he had to put up with while he laid the foundations for his true purpose in life, his reason for being. He congratulated himself on possessing the strength of character to continue the charade of working in the furniture store until the time came to reveal his legacy to the world. The fantasies that had begun as a young teenager were now becoming a reality. He had everything planned, culminating in a final act that would see him seize complete control over the endgame. Something no one could imagine or predict. Not even Corrigan.
The automatic doors at the entrance to the shop slid open with an electric whoosh, drawing his attention to the attractive, dark-haired woman in her early thirties who casually drifted into the shop. He took in the fitted jacket and tight jeans that showed off her trim figure. No doubt another bored, wealthy housewife plenty of those had moved into the area over the last two decades. She didnt look old enough to have children, not for this part of London anyway. Hed had plenty of success with the bored ones in the past and fancied his chances with her, but at the same time he found himself looking on her as something other than a potential conquest, evaluating her instead as a possible victim. It would be risky; dangerous, even. This was no homeless loser or prostitute whom no one cared about; this woman would be missed and mourned, and her family would push the police hard to find her killer not to mention the press, who would be all over it. For that reason alone, taking her life would be worth it. She would give him ten times the publicity hed gained from killing the druggie and the whore.
He began to walk towards her as she moved between coffee tables, watching the pulse twitch in her slim, tanned neck imagining slicing through her perfect skin until he cut through her carotid artery, pinning her to the floor as the warm, red blood emptied from her in intermittent sprays until the flow subsided with her dying heart and finally she lay lifeless. He imagined shed smell of expensive perfume and cosmetics.
Can I help you with anything? he asked, flashing his practised seductive smile.
Hi, she smiled back, her eyes making momentary contact before returning to the coffee tables, but it was enough for him to tell she was interested. His nostrils flared at her scent. It was as hed imagined, but warm too. I need a coffee table, she explained in an accent that suited her appearance perfectly. Ideally something I can take away today and wont have to build. You wouldnt believe how difficult its been to find anything. Everywheres saying eight weeks until delivery.
You should buy online, he told her with a smile. Probably shouldnt have told you that, but how could I lie to you?
Not my thing, she replied. I like to see things in the flesh, so to speak, before I commit myself.
Hearing her say flesh fired a bolt of excitement through his body. Well, youre in luck, he continued. We have plenty of good-quality tables and most are in stock, so if your car is big enough you can take one away today. He gave a shrug. Trouble is, most retailers dont keep stock any more. Takes up too much space. Costs too much money. They dont like to build anything unless they know theyve got a buyer lined up. But not here. We know not everybody wants to wait for weeks and weeks. He allowed a few seconds silence between them, until her gaze returned to him. Please. Take a look. Ask anything you like. If you buy today, I can probably do you a special deal if you promise you wont tell anyone.
I dont know, she told him. Im not really seeing anything that grabs me.
Let me guess, he tried to keep her interested. Youve recently moved to the area and upsized. The table from your old house or flat isnt big enough and youve got friends coming around to help you celebrate moving into your new home, so you need a coffee table to fill that annoying space today? Am I right?
She cocked her head to one side and smiled. Thats very clever, she replied.
So what if its not for life? he spoke in the code of illicit suggestion, hoping she would respond in kind. So long as it works in the short term, whos going to know? Once its served its purpose, you can get rid of it, replace it with something more permanent, but in the short term itll give you exactly what youre looking for. Something to bridge the gap without costing a fortune. He stood with his hands on his hips to augment his powerful physique his chest inflated and triangular while his waist tapered away. He felt her eyes flick across his body. Personally, Id recommend this one, he said, resting his hand on the most expensive table in the shop. Its the best we have a little more expensive than the others, but Im sure you would appreciate the quality.
Maybe, she replied shyly, a slight croakiness in her voice, a degree of dilation in her pupils. The flushing of her skin let him know she was interested even if she didnt know it yet.
But, he blurted out cheerfully, whats the best way to test a new coffee table? The woman looked confused. By using it, he explained. Theres a great coffee shop along the street. You may know it Bobs Blends? Bit of a locals favourite.
Like I said, she answered nervously, although he could sense her excitement too at his obvious interest, Im kind of new to the area.
Then you have to try the coffee, he smiled. I promise youll be a convert. Why dont you take a look around he was speaking fast now, denying her the chance to say no while I go grab us a couple of coffees. Dont tell me what you usually have let me surprise you.
I dont want to put you to any trouble, she tried to back away.
Youre not, he assured her in his most cheerful tone his smile friendly, but his eyes serious and flirtatious. Itll be my pleasure. He felt her slipping away. You know what? he said, trying to sound genuinely excited. I just remembered: we have some really nice tables in the storeroom. Theyre old stock, due to be taken away, but theyre great tables. If you wanted one of them, I could do you a really great price and deliver today. I could even drop it round myself. He gave her a few seconds to understand what he was really saying. Got to be worth a look dont you think?