It had been a long day. Maggie looked at the information on her desk and resigned herself to the thought that she still had a few more hours’ work before she could get home. She rubbed her forehead wearily and noticed a shadow over her. Dr Moloney peered down at the papers on her desk.
‘How’s things, Kate?’ Maggie sat up straight and tried to smooth down her hair, hoping she didn’t look as rough as she felt.
‘Fine. Just wondered how you are? You’re all looking pretty stressed lately.’ Kindness glowed in her eyes and Maggie’s heart fluttered.
Turning her attention back to work, Maggie forced a smile. ‘Actually, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been through these papers and have a few thoughts I’d like to run by you.’ She paused and took a deep breath. ‘Maybe we can grab a bite to eat afterwards … my treat?’
‘How can I say no to that?’ Kate pulled up a chair. ‘Right, so tell me what you have.’
Maggie gave Kate a brief rundown of the evidence so far. The way Kate creased her forehead when she was thinking made Maggie smile. She couldn’t help staring at the doctor. Kate suddenly looked up.
‘What? Is there something on my face?’ Kate wiped her chin self-consciously.
‘No. Sorry, I was just watching you process the information. Do you have any thoughts?’ Maggie couldn’t believe she was caught out … again.
She moved the papers on her desk and showed Dr Moloney her notepad. ‘I think I’ve found some similarities between these cases, and I’d like to recap what we have so far and then run my thoughts by you, if that’s OK?’
Dr Moloney smiled. ‘Sounds perfect. Let’s hear what you’ve got.’
‘Well, none of these men put up a fight. There were no defence wounds. Talbot was hit over the head and a needle was found stuck in his neck. Robert Millard also has a needle mark on the right side of his neck. Mick O’Dowd may have one too, but his face and neck were burned, so we’re waiting for the pathologist to confirm. All three men were severely beaten with some sort of blunt object – probably a bat or wooden pole, but it could even have been fists.’
‘Yep. What else?’
‘All three men had their throats slit and bled out.’ Maggie pointed at the photographs on her desk. ‘And they seem to have been lying down, facing their killer.’
‘I noticed that too. Why the difference in kill methods? Why didn’t they fight back? Do you have the toxicology reports?’
Maggie smiled as it was almost like she was talking to herself. Dr Moloney reached into her bag, pulled out a notebook and jotted something down.
‘Talbot’s and Millard’s tests showed no drugs in their system at the time of discovery, but any drug used could have left their system, especially in Millard’s case, given the time he spent lying on his floor before being discovered.’
Maggie took a sip of water.
‘As for Mick O’Dowd, he was set alight with lighter fluid. That’s what alerted the neighbour so quickly. The killer wasn’t trying to dispose of the evidence – as the whole body wasn’t covered in fluid – but O’Dowd suffered serious burns to the face, neck, hands and genitals. We don’t know how long the attack lasted before his throat was cut—’
Kate interrupted. ‘Surely the autopsy report should be able to shed more light on that? It will be able to at least tell us whether the attack happened before, at the time of, or after the throat was cut.’
Maggie watched Dr Moloney writing in her notebook again.
Seeing Maggie’s curiosity, Dr Moloney held up the notebook. ‘Sorry, when something niggles me, I have to write it down. It prompts me to revisit the information. The needle marks and the throat cutting have gone in the book.’
Maggie understood, she often did the same thing.
Revenge? Anger? Was there more than one killer? Were the murders all connected or just a strange coincidence?
‘The cut to the throat suggests a connection, but that had been reported in the news. Anyone could have heard what happened and copied the crime.’
‘I definitely think it’s one killer though.’
Maggie looked at Dr Moloney.
She was tugging at her ear, her tell that a thought was brewing, and she was ready to share. ‘I agree … but I’m struggling to determine whether the killer is male or female. Given the beating, the assumption by you guys is that we’re looking for a male suspect. However, if a weapon was used, couldn’t the killer be a woman?’ Dr Moloney flicked her hair back and continued. ‘Would a beating with fists or kicks rule out a woman? Especially if the victim was incapacitated somehow.’ She glanced up at the ceiling. ‘There are two possible profile types in my opinion. The killer could be targeting these men because they witnessed someone important in their life – like their mother – being abused. They’re angry and seeing the abuser as someone personal to them – a father or stepfather. Hence the viciousness of the attacks. The killings won’t stop until they feel they have sated their anger.’ A line etched between Kate’s brows. ‘The other is a vigilante. These men are known to them. Has either hurt them or someone close to them. Once their revenge has been exacted, the killings will stop.’ The notebook was out again. Dr Moloney finished writing and looked at the clock on the wall.
Noting the time herself, Maggie wrapped things up. ‘Thanks so much for this. I think we should bring our ideas to the team tomorrow. How about we go and grab that bite to eat now? I don’t know about you, but a glass of wine might help me wash the meal down perfectly!’
Maggie was pleased that Dr Moloney was still up for it. She enjoyed her company, her intelligence, and the way she put people at ease.
She’s your colleague, Maggie … focus on the job.