When a Killer Strikes, page 3
‘Trouble is that’s what they’re relying on, people loving their jobs. It shouldn’t be the case.’
‘The world will be run with volunteers in the future, my mum says. And, “we can all have too much of a good thing”. I wonder what’ll happen when the novelty wears off. What will they do then?’
The skirt on her floral dress swished to and fro as she left Dylan’s office. Dylan shook his head. ‘God knows,’ he muttered under his breath.
Detective Constables Donna Frost and Michelle Robinson weren’t hard to find. Dylan spoke briefly with them outside the room where they had been talking to Elliot Black. It was the first time Dylan had seen him, though the window. He would introduce himself shortly, but not just now. Donna told Dylan that Elliot had maintained his original account of what had happened that morning.
‘Mr Black’s partner, Sandra, is here,’ Dylan told the officers in a hushed tone. ‘If you give me a couple of minutes to speak to her first, then we’ll all sit down together. That way they’ll be able to support each other. I’ll get someone to message you with our location in the building once I know where Mrs Heinz is being looked after.’
In a private office on the first floor of the building he met up with DC Jaene Booth and Patti’s mum. Sandra Heinz held a mug in both hands, at arm’s length in her lap. She stared right through the officer in front of her who was coaxing her to take a sip of the warm drink. Patti’s mum was shaking, her eyes red-rimmed and her pale face tear-stained. She didn’t speak, she didn’t blink. Dylan walked into the room and Sandra turned to him, her puffy eyes following him. He sat down and introduced himself and leaned towards her. Putting his hands together as if in prayer, he said, ‘Your partner Elliot is here at the station and we will be joining him in a few minutes. Sandra, there is no easy way of breaking this news to you, and I need to tell you what we know so far. I promise you I won’t keep anything from you and anything you don’t understand or want to know please ask me or Jaene. It is Jaene’s job, as part of our team, to give you constant support as the family liaison officer.’
Sandra Heinz held Dylan’s gaze. After a moment or two she swallowed hard. Her grip on the cup became tighter. So much so that Dylan could see her knuckles turn white. Dylan went on. ‘Earlier this afternoon Elliot discovered Patti’s body on the landing of your home.’
Sandra gasped. Dylan continued. ‘He immediately telephoned the emergency services, the police and ambulance responded. Sadly there was nothing the paramedics could do. She was dead.’
The cry emanating from Sandra’s lips was like that of an injured animal. After a few minutes she managed to compose herself, her voice quivered. ‘How did she…?’
‘We think from an injury to her head, but a post-mortem will ascertain—’
‘She fell?’ Sandra interrupted, her expression one of confusion. ‘Where did she fall?’
‘Please let me finish.’ Dylan lowered his eyes and paused for an instant. When he continued he spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully. ‘She has an injury to her head, which is unexplained at this time. Patti was naked when she was found, except for her bra which appears to have been used to strangle her.’
‘Christ almighty!’ Sandra’s body jerked forward. ‘It’s not an accident?’ With presence of mind Jaene swiftly took the cup from her flaying hand. ‘No!’ Sandra screamed. She fell backwards in the chair with a thud. ‘Who the hell would want to hurt Patti? No! No! No! I can’t…’ she sobbed, covering her eyes with clawed, ridged fingers.
Just then the door was opened by Donna, and in walked Elliot Black. Sandra looked up at the officers greeting each other, and jumped up and threw herself at Elliot, clinging to his shoulders to keep her upright, then to his waist as her crying subsided. Looking physically shaken Elliot helped her back to her seat. He held her hand as he sat down beside her.
Dylan gave them a moment before introducing himself to Elliot. Sandra watched the unspoken exchange of words in their eyes and her eyes finally rested on Elliot Black’s face. As she did so her eyebrows knit together and she looked at him as if seeing him for the first time. ‘Why are you dressed in that suit?’ she asked him. ‘Why is he dressed like that?’ she asked Dylan. She turned her head back to Mr Black. ‘Do they think you did it?’ Her voice rose. ‘Is that what they think?’ Her eyes widened and she leaned as far away from her partner as the chair would allow. ‘Oh my God! Tell me it’s not…?’ she said to Jaene. ‘Patti wasn’t just strangled, was she? She was raped!’
Dylan spoke first. ‘The reason that Elliot is dressed in one of our paper suits is that he had blood on his clothing, from when he found Patti. We have had to take possession of his clothes, so we are arranging to get him some more to wear, that’s all.’
Sandra reached out for Elliot’s hand and begged his forgiveness, crying uncontrollably when he took her in his arms.
‘Can we get some more drinks, Jaene and arrange for a doctor?’ Dylan said softly.
Jaene moved swiftly and quietly towards the door. As she did so she nodded at Dylan, her face full of concern.
Sandra’s sobs were intermittent and Elliot comforted her. ‘Where’s Patti now? Can I see her? I want to see her. Is she at home?’
‘She’s in a private ambulance en route to St Martin’s Hospital. And of course you will be able to see her. I need you to understand that there will have to be a post-mortem examination carried out by a Home Office pathologist, though.’
Sandra looked puzzled. ‘Why?’
‘To find out exactly how she died.’
‘I thought you said she was murdered, strangled, raped. Was she raped? I can’t remember.’ She shook her head. ‘When I find out who did this to her, I’ll kill them…’ Sandra’s eyes were searing. ‘Why does she have to have a post-mortem? I don’t want her to have a post-mortem. I don’t want anyone touching her. She’s suffered enough!’ she cried.
‘I’m sorry, Sandra. I know you’re upset, but that isn’t your decision. I’m sure you want us to secure as much evidence as we can to catch Patti’s killer, don’t you?’
‘Will you be there?’
‘At the post-mortem,’ Dylan nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘Thank you,’ she said softly before her face crumpled and fresh tears fell unchecked upon her cheeks.
Dylan could almost physically feel her pain. ‘We have to prove exactly how she died, Sandra, and we can only do that with help of a Home Office pathologist. Although we believe she was sexually assaulted we need to find out if she was, and if so, secure the evidence so that when we catch the person or persons who did this to her, we can put them away. At this stage of the enquiry we also need to understand how Patti died, what caused the injury, and if that killed her. The post-mortem will hopefully be able to help us with that, too.’ Dylan was aware he was repeating himself but he would do that as many times as necessary to ensure Sandra understood what was happening and why.
‘I just don’t want her hurt anymore. I just want to hold her… I’m her mother and I should have protected her… I’ve let her down.’
‘No, you haven’t let her down. She has been murdered in her home, a place where she should have been safe. As yet we don’t know who is responsible. Now, I need you both to try and think about any recent events, boyfriends, major upsets that may have occurred for her, anything that you think may help us find her killer.’
Sandra scoffed. ‘She’s fourteen. She didn’t have boyfriends. All her spare time was spent at the gym. She ate, drank and slept gymnastics. Round the house, where other kids slob about in jeans, she wore her leotard. She was forever stretching, exercising or dancing. Don’t you understand? She lived for gymnastics. Her coach told us she’d represent her country one day. Tell him, Elliot,’ she said turning to look at her partner.
Elliot Black had been quiet. He nodded. His eyes briefly closing. He sighed heavily and looked down at his knotted hands. ‘She’s right, she loved gymnastics. It’s all she ever wanted to do.’
‘We will be speaking to anyone and everyone who knows or has had contact with Patti. We’ll be digging deep. Starting with today, we will work backwards, mapping out her daily routine. For instance, what time did she normally return home from school? And, would she normally be home at any point during a normal school day?’
Elliot and Sandra looked at each other and then back at Dylan. ‘No,’ they replied in unison.
Sandra appeared thoughtful. ‘Hold on. It’s Tuesday. Maybe she forgot her swimming stuff. There’s a class after school that her coach encourages her to attend.’ She turned to Elliot. A frown appeared on her brow. ‘How come you were at home?’
‘I’ve already explained to the police. I nipped home for my phone charger. If only I’d have gone earlier…’
‘Where do you work?’ said Dylan.
‘Tesco Express, Church Street, I’m deputy manager.’ Elliot straightened his back and instantly his chest rose. ‘Takes me literally five minutes on my bike.’
‘So Patti would pass the shop to go to school?’ Dylan held Elliot’s gaze. ‘I want you to know that we have to confirm everything you say.’
‘Yes,’ said Elliot.
Sandra’s hooded eyelids instantly rose to show bloodshot eyes. Her mouth opened and she turned to her husband.
‘It’s routine,’ Dylan said as he slowly turned to face her.
Elliot looked down, reached for her limp hand and lifted it into his. He squeezed it tight. ‘It’s okay. Everyone is a suspect until proven otherwise. I’ve heard them say that on the telly.’
Dylan leaned in towards the pair. ‘What I really need from you, as soon as you feel able, is a list of Patti’s friends, acquaintances, anyone you know who knew her.’ There was a spark of life in Patti’s mother’s eyes. Dylan fixed upon the flicker and spoke softly to her. ‘Sandra, who’s your daughter’s best friend, the person she might confide in? You see, shortly our experts will be examining her laptop and her mobile phone. They’ll be looking for contacts, any contacts, but that takes time. I promise you we will be working around the clock to find Patti’s killer but what you can give us, in the meantime, to quicken up that process, would be like gold dust to me right now.’ The light Dylan had seen in Sandra’s eyes had faded and two black granite ones stared right past him to the blank wall beyond. ‘Patti maybe only fourteen…’ He tried again to cut through the pain, ‘…but she was an attractive girl and she will no doubt have had her admirers. Who were the regular callers at your home?’ Dylan continued, unperturbed by the blank, jaded faces. ‘I know I’m asking a lot of you and truly, I don’t expect immediate answers, but maybe Jaene, your family liaison officer here, our FLO as we call them, could help?’
Sandra’s head started to shake in short jerky, side to side movements. ‘My daughter didn’t have a boyfriend if that’s what you’re thinking.’ Her reply short and sharp. She glared at Dylan. ‘She didn’t have time, did she?’ she spoke to Elliot.
‘She was beautiful, the image of her mother when I met her.’ Elliot looked down at his wife’s hand and stroked it gently with his thumb.
Dylan shifted in his seat and glanced at Jaene, then back to Patti’s mother.
‘You will need to inform your family about Patti’s death. Who do you need to tell?’ Again, blank faces looked back at him. ‘If there is anything we can do to help, let Jaene know.’
There was silence.
‘One of the reasons I ask is that is that I haven’t yet revealed any details to the press, but at some stage I will have to, and you might want to identify somewhere you can seek some solitude. We have a lot of specialised people at our disposal but, in my experience, the ability of the media to spread the word and ask for help from the general public is one I am eternally grateful for. Do you have a photograph of Patti that we can use? Again, experience tells me that if we give the media a picture, they won’t go seeking another elsewhere. You’re going to see a picture of Patti on television and on the front page of every newspaper in the next few days and beyond, so it makes sense to provide one you like, rather than them getting hold of one by other means – such as social media.’
Uninvited tears once again sprung into Sandra’s eyes and she dabbed them with a clean tissue Jaene handed to her. ‘She’s just had one taken with her medals around her neck at the Regional Championships. She looks happy and proud.’
‘Good, thank you,’ Dylan’s eyes found Jaene’s and nodded. ‘We’ll arrange to take you to see Patti.’ Sandra’s lips parted and she took an audible breath of air. ‘At this moment in time it will be through a glass screen, until after the post-mortem. Then you will be able touch her.’
‘When will that examination take place?’ said Elliot.
‘I’m hoping later today. I’m awaiting a call from the coroner’s officer to confirm that the Home Office pathologist is available and what time he or she will be attending. But make a note of any questions, and it’s Jaene’s role in the dedicated team to keep you updated at all times. That’s why she’s here, for you.’
‘WilI I be able to see Patti before I go to bed tonight, please?’ said Sandra her eyes pleading.
‘I’ll make sure so,’ said Dylan. ‘I know just how important it is for you both to see your daughter. I appreciate it’s a big ask for you to be patient, but we want the best opportunity to secure any evidence her body may be able to give us to help us catch her killer. Now,’ he said as he rose out of his chair, ‘I need to chase people to secure a time for the post-mortem.’ He looked down at three sets of expectant eyes. ‘Jaene will stay with you. Please try to focus on the questions she will be asking you about your family history, details of Patti’s friends and her routine. Anything you can tell us will be really helpful.’
Sandra looked at Jaene as she moved to sit beside her and Jaene gave her hand a reassuring pat.
‘Can you think of anywhere you could stay for at least this evening?’ Dylan said. Sandra looked up at him and then quickly back at Jaene, her eyes filled with panic.
Jaene squeezed her hand tightly. ‘Your house, it’s being examined by our experts. Nothing for you to worry about but you don’t need to be upset by it. Better you’re out of the way that’s all.’
‘Your Joan’s?’ said Elliot. ‘She’s got a spare room.’
Sandra’s hand flew to her open mouth. ‘She’s going to be heartbroken. And we need to let Gran and Gramps know… I need to inform work – they’ll have to get cover for me tomorrow.’
Dylan put a hand on Sandra’s shoulder. ‘Remember Jaene is here to help you with those kinds of jobs. Trust her. Just one more question,’ Dylan said as he reached the door. ‘I know Patti has had a lot of publicity recently. Do you know if your address was printed in the media?’
‘I think the area where we live might have been mentioned but not the name of the house, as far as I’m aware,’ said Elliot.
‘No, it’s just a matter of trying to think where someone might have got Patti’s address from.’
* * *
The incident room was in the process of being set up and the relevant staffing sourced. Dylan couldn’t quite believe his luck when he was given the news that the pathologist would be available within the hour. ‘Apparently she’s in the area for a meeting which has just concluded far earlier than expected,’ said Sergeant Cracker Craze, a grin as always on his friendly face. He extended his hand and rattled a tin.
‘What we raising funds for this time?’ said Dylan digging deep in his pockets.
‘A shelter for the homeless,’ he said, unapologetically. ‘Didn’t David Funk tell you?’
Within the hour Dylan was stood in a car park, Vicky Hardacre at his side. She kicked off her heels and threw them on the back seat, replacing them with something more suitable for a visit to the mortuary. She locked her car door.
‘We’ll have to stop meeting like this,’ she said with a cock of her eyebrow as they walked together towards the austere building. Her blonde, shoulder-length hair had been recently cut short and bleached; it made her look older than her thirty years and harsher, Dylan thought. Today her bonny face was full of freckles from the sun and her blue eyes were somehow a mixture of the usual mischief, and sadness.
Dylan shook his head. ‘You’re insufferable. Jaene needs notifying after the post-mortem to update parents, and we need to arrange a visit for them.’ Arriving at the entrance Dylan stepped forward and opened the door to allow her to go before him. ‘Get in.’
Vicky shivered.
‘You cold?’ Dylan asked as he followed her down the dark corridor. Their footsteps echoed and the noise seemed to bounce off the shiny, grey walls.
‘No, this place… It gives me the friggin’ heebie-jeebies.’
‘Just remember, luckily for us we get to walk out,’ said Dylan.
‘True,’ she said, pushing open the door to the corridor that led to the examination rooms. She took a deep breath.
‘Post-mortem is about to commence,’ said the lady who greeted them in the corridor, clipboard in hand. She wore half-moon glasses and a no-nonsense expression. The pathologist on the other hand was Mary Morris. A slim, smiley lady in her forties with short dark hair. The police officers acknowledged her, having worked with her on previous occasions, as her assistant was tying her plastic apron. Suited and booted, the face mask hanging around their necks and plastic gloves in their hands, the police officers were ready to go into the examination room. Dylan saw Vicky’s nostrils flare, her breathing become shallow and her lips turn white. This part of the job was the worst for her, but he was so very proud that unlike some she never turned down the chance to see for herself the injuries that had been inflicted on the victim, by the murderer, and therefore get the chance to learn what she could from the experts first-hand. Dylan was on the edge of his seat. On his mind the circumstances of the incident that he would relay to the pathologist once in the examination room.
The lifeless, naked body of Patti Heinz lay on her back on the stainless steel table. Her bra still around her neck, as it was discovered.
