Separated at Death (The Lakeland Murders) by J J Salkeld Read Free Book Online Page A

and fibres under the fingernails, and we have recovered some samples from under the fingers on the right hand, but as I said this wasn’t some sort of argument that turned into a scrap and then murder. There’s no other bruising, nothing. The killer just grabbed her and that was it. She didn’t have a chance to struggle. Otherwise Amy was in perfect health when she died.’
     
    The irony of that wasn’t lost on any of them, and there was silence for a moment. Somewhere nearby a tap was dripping onto stainless steel. Hall broke the silence. ‘So what you’re saying is that Amy very probably knew her killer, and that he probably met her with the intention of doing it, and that he never deviated from that intention?’
    ‘You’re the detective as they say, but yes, based on the evidence so far I think that’s a reasonable assumption.’
    ‘So we probably are looking at the dad then’ said Mann, a little gloomily.
    ‘Not necessarily’ said Hall quickly. ‘And you’re saying recent sexual activity, but no indication of a sexual assault?’
    ‘Exactly, I’d be astonished if we change our view on that. We did get some samples for DNA testing, so we’ll get a profile, and if you’re lucky a match, in another day or two. We know from her GP that she was on the pill incidentally. Had been for a few months.’
    ‘No chance of hurrying that lab work up I suppose?’ asked Hall.
    ‘No, that’s using the very latest equipment that they’ve got down in Manchester. One of your traffic boys took the DNA sample down to the lab just as soon as we recovered it. Toxicology will be sooner, probably today, but I’m not expecting much in the way of surprises. And I’m certain that she was killed right there, within feet of where she was found. She certainly wasn’t moved much after she died, and not at all beyond ten or twenty minutes after death. There’s more work to do on her clothes and shoes to confirm it, but everything physical points to that. I assume you’re still pursuing the theft angle as well?’
    Hall shrugged. ‘Only her mobile was taken as far as we know, and the killer didn’t even bother to take the cash from her purse. I know it was only twenty quid, but people have died for less, believe me. So while we certainly won’t ignore it I think it’s more likely that our killer took the phone because of the SIM. What do you think Ian?’
    ‘Agreed, though he’d have to be a total plank really. We’ll have a complete record of every number called, and the content of any texts, this morning. So that was a bit pointless really. Of course if the killer doesn’t understand the technology, then I suppose it is possible.’
     
    Mann sounded as if even a hint of technophobia came as a huge surprise to him. But Hall had been walking with him just a week before and Mann had complained loud and long about the complexity of his new TV and satellite combo.
     
    Hall nodded anyway, and asked Beech if that was it. Beech said he’d be in touch with an update before the end of the day. Hall was glad to be able to leave the mortuary without having to look at the body. He couldn’t see what earthly good that could possibly do.
     
    The two detectives walked back to the car in silence. Then, as Mann drove them back to the office, they talked through the resource plan for the day, and about which detective would be assigned which task. ‘Doesn’t sound like a random killing, does it?’ said Mann as he drove slowly round the one way system in town, ‘at least that’s something.’
     
    Hall had been thinking much the same, and he agreed. But he’d never believed that a teenage girl would just decide to go for a walk in the woods, even if she was found just a couple of dozen yards or so from the nearest house, on a cold winter evening. She had to have been meeting someone already known to her. Her car had been parked outside her friend’s house, but they already knew that Amy hadn’t gone in, and she’d been due