STRANGE BODIES (a gripping crime thriller) by Antonia Marlowe Read Free Book Online

station, now on the ground floor. There were also four sub-basements of parking for police and VIP vehicles, monitored by security cameras.
     
    The security monitor recognised his code. The barrier slid up as Adams drove in to his personal slot. He headed for the elevator and his office on the sixteenth floor. Although he was a few minutes late for the morning meeting, he made time for a few words with Mrs Halifax who followed him into the big conference room.
    As in London, she was immaculate in a soft blue dress, a string of pearls and low heeled shoes. ‘There’s fresh coffee,’ she said. ‘And you might find some cake in the tin.’
    ‘Thanks, Mrs. H. You’re a gem. Still don’t know how you—or the Commander—managed to persuade London to let you go,’ Fraser said.
    She exchanged a brief glance with Commander Adams, a smile touching her lips. He nodded slightly to her before she turned and went out of the room.
    Everyone grabbed coffee then found seats around the table, docking their minicomps with the BigSys network.
    Commander Adams asked, as usual, ‘Anything we should be looking at? Anything turn up on the central computer? Who’s monitoring what this week?’
    ‘I’ve got the CATCR roster here. I’ll put it up on the screen.’ The information from the police crime computer, Crime And Terrorism Central Register appeared.
    ‘Alright, I see it. Anyone got a buzz, calls from any areas?’
    DS Trevor Warne, monitoring the reports from stations immediately outside Sydney said, ‘There’s that Fig Tree murder, that wealthy couple, the Richardsons. A couple of officers from Penrith checked it out then called in Sydney CID. I haven’t gone into all the details yet but it sounded pretty gruesome. It’s been splashed all over the media since the bodies were found last week. The CID people haven’t approached us for assistance so I guess they’re handling it okay. Still, there’s been no progress all week as far as I can see.’
    ‘Anything more on the Daintree murder? Who’s looking at that?’
    ‘When we went up to Cairns last week I asked the bods there to keep us up to date. As far as I know nothing’s come through.’ said DCS Gabriel Thomas.
    ‘Not a lot we can do till they ID him. Now remind us of the details.’
    ‘Yes. Hang on, I’ll bring the shots up on the wall screens,’ said Warne.
    The grisly photographs were stark. In the first picture a partially decomposed body was tied to a palm tree, upside down. There was not much left of his face which was about two metres from the ground.
    ‘Mmm. Not much left of the poor bugger. What predators are there?’
    ‘It’s mostly bugs, insects been at him … birds, probably. Then there’s mice and rats, frogs, snakes, goannas, bats. Crocs, but not near there. Hang on, I’ll find the local ME’s report. Here it is.’ He loaded the report on to everyone’s personal comps and the post-mortem shots on to the wall screens. ‘There’s video of the autopsy too if anyone wants to see it.’
    No one did.
    The latest pictures showed close-ups of the wounds that had been inflicted on the man. Whether done before or after death was impossible to ascertain at this stage, according to the ME’s report.
    ‘We’ve arranged to have the body shipped down to our people here for a second autopsy. Should be here in a few days.’
    The intercom flashed. Mrs Halifax said, ‘Sorry to interrupt, sir, but I have a DI Kerry Jacobsen on hold. He’d like to speak to you about the Fig Tree murders.’
    ‘Thanks, Mrs Halifax. Hang on a sec.’ He turned to Fraser. ‘Talk about coincidence. DI Kerry Jacobsen. Find out where he’s based.’
    Fraser punched it in then said, ‘Surry Hills CID. That’s not far away. He’s in charge of one of the murder squads there, heading the enquiry into the Fig Tree murders.’
    ‘Mrs Halifax, can you ask him if he can come here? Now if possible.
    ‘Bring up everything you can find on those murders, Fraser. Images on