Under a Silent Moon by Elizabeth Haynes Read Free Book Online Page A

door that was tucked away, its only identification the simple word MORTUARY . After an age, an assistant appeared. She recognized Lou but still checked her warrant card before letting her in.
    â€œDr. Francis has just finished. You’re lucky to catch her.”
    Adele Francis was in the staff room, changing out of her scrubs and wellies into a smart skirt and high heels.
    â€œHi, Adele,” Lou said. “Sorry, I don’t want to keep you. I know it’s been a long day. I wanted to check if you’ve got everything you need.”
    Adele did look tired, but she managed a smile. “Yes, thanks. You can walk me to the car park if you like and we can talk on the way. I’ve got a date with a bottle of wine and I’m late already.”
    They went out a door marked FIRE EXIT ONLY which was a shortcut out to the fresh air.
    â€œNot bad going, two bodies already. How’s your first MIR?”
    â€œOkay so far, I think. And the second body isn’t officially mine yet.”
    â€œWell, I’m not convinced the two are linked by anything more than location. You’re going to have to wait for the blood results to confirm it.”
    â€œAnything you can tell me that might help? I’ve got the press conference tomorrow morning.”
    â€œPolly Leuchars died of head injuries, multiple trauma with a blunt instrument, plenty of force needed, very aggressive. Someone had had a go at strangling her first. Bruises around the neck, possibly enough to render her unconscious. She was still alive when the head injuries occurred.”
    â€œTime of death?”
    â€œI’d say between midnight and two, no later. There was some evidence of older injuries which may be worth considering in your investigation.”
    Lou stopped. “Older injuries?”
    â€œHealing bruises, mainly. Some around the wrists, barely visible unless you’ve got the best sort of light.”
    â€œSo she’d been restrained?”
    â€œPossibly. Not recently, but within the last week or two. She was a horsewoman, wasn’t she?”
    â€œShe worked as a groom, yes.”
    Adele considered this. “I saw similar bruises around the wrists and lower arms of a child once. She’d been thrown at a gymkhana. Had wound the reins around her wrists. So don’t go jumping to any premature conclusions, Chief Inspector.”
    â€œI’ll try not to,” Lou said, then added: “What about Mrs. Fletcher-Norman?”
    â€œYes, that one was interesting. I only got her late this afternoon. Do you happen to know if she was wearing her seat belt when she was found?”
    â€œI’ll ask. We’re waiting on the CSI photographs.”
    â€œI did phone earlier; someone was going to call me back. Never mind. I’ll do the PM tomorrow and let you have the report as soon as I can.”
    â€œThank you.”
    They had stopped beside a silver BMW, parked in a designated bay in the staff zone, the one reserved for consultants and senior management.
    â€œEnjoy your wine—I think I might pick some up myself.”
    Lou paused at the main entrance, then on a whim walked all the way back to the Intensive Care Unit. She showed her warrant card, said she was here to check on Mr. Fletcher-Norman’s progress. She waited for twenty minutes while they found someone who was prepared to commit to an update, even a vague one.
    Still unconscious. Nothing further.
    That’s it, she thought. I’m going home.
    23:14
    After work, Taryn had phoned the hospital to check if her father was still alive. They’d suggested she should come in, that he was still in a critical state but might respond to her voice. Fat chance of that, she thought, but after speaking to her husband, Chris, she had gone in anyway.
    She was surprised at how old he looked without his glasses on, his eyes closed, and tubes and monitors everywhere. He was wearing one of those hospital gowns and his skin was pink, the