Maggie looked at all the crime scene photos and material collected in the Talbot case. No fingerprints were found on the syringe and no DNA evidence was collected. CCTV footage showed a white van in the area, which PC Reynolds was tasked with tracing. There were no other witnesses.
Holding up one of the photos, Maggie looked closely at the injuries. Hands mutilated – was the killer sending a message? Maggie felt there was something personal to this crime. For Maggie, a crime scene photo was like a film in her head: she could picture the crime as it happened.
She looked across her desk at Mark. ‘What do you think occurred?’
‘Sorry, what?’
‘These images. I can see, almost step by step, what I think the killer did. They knew where Talbot would be – it was carefully planned – and they had everything they needed with them. They followed him and, when they believed they wouldn’t be seen, snuck up and hit him from behind. The pathologist’s report suggests that the killer searched his pockets and found the empty syringe. They wanted to inject him with an air bubble to kill him.’
‘I was still trying to work things out but what you’ve said is interesting. I was wondering about the syringe – that obviously didn’t work. What else do the pictures tell you?’
‘I think when the needle failed, they turned him over. It looks like all three wounds to the body were done around the same time – so let’s say throat first, and then the legs – just to be sure. The killer used a hammer or heavy-duty meat tenderizer to bash the shit out of Talbot’s hands … why? A statement maybe? He’ll never hit a woman again?’ Maggie ran her fingers through her hair.
‘Sounds plausible. So it was revenge?’
‘Perhaps … Though after speaking to Wendy Parker, I don’t think it was her. Too frail. And her daughter was in hospital, it couldn’t have been her. So, who? Drew was an only child, and his parents are devastated. They claim he has no enemies but, given his lifestyle, I find that unusual. Perhaps he screwed someone over? Maybe this has nothing to do with domestic violence.’
‘Let’s see if anything comes from that white van trace. Reynolds should have something soon enough. Who is interviewing Talbot’s erm … associates?’ Mark started typing something on his computer. ‘Looks like Kat is on the case. We’ll see if she can shed any light on that front.’
‘Sounds good.’ Maggie tapped the photos on her desk with her pen. ‘Maybe you could give Lucy a bell and see if she has anything on this guy. He’s a repeat offender, so he must be known to probation.’
‘Will do, Maggie.’
Maggie’s gut told her that they were missing something. A piece to the jigsaw that would point them in the right direction. If only the dead could speak …