‘Human! You’re saying it’s human?’ Jenny was silent as she listened intently, scribbling notes on her pad. ‘Thank you for calling ahead of your formal report.’
Jenny lowered her phone and turned to her colleagues. Her face was grey.
‘The blood, it’s human. I’ve just taken a call from forensics.’ The young DC gathered herself and spoke quickly. ‘The blood on the paper from Lucy’s shoe didn’t come from some kind of meat. It’s human blood.’
‘Are they certain?’ Ed was shocked.
‘The presumptive test indicated it was human.’
Nat started to speak but Ed cut him off.
‘The blood Lucy smuggled out is human?’
‘Yes.’
Mike swivelled his chair to face the room. ‘If it’s human blood and there was flesh in the package, we’re looking at murder.’
‘Or mutilation,’ said Nat, trying to cap Mike’s conclusion.
‘Hold on, you two. If it’s Lucy’s blood there’s been no murder.’ Ed turned back to Jenny. ‘What about DNA?’
‘It’s a mixed profile, but no male marker.’
‘How many profiles?’
‘Just two. They’re confident they can separate them.’
‘Thanks, Jenny.’
Ed was relieved that the picture was clearer than it might have been. She turned to Nat.
‘Blood with a mixed profile, what do you make of it?’
‘Well, if it’s two profiles, and no male marker, we have two women.’ He paused, thinking fast. ‘If the paper was in Lucy’s shoe, it’s likely mini-taping picked up skin cells from Lucy’s foot and white cells from the blood. If the blood was Lucy’s we wouldn’t have a mixed profile so the blood must have come from another woman.’
Jenny shuddered. ‘Mike’s right, if there was flesh in the package, he’s killed some poor woman. Not just killed but mutilated her and we don’t even know who she is. Thank goodness Lucy’s safely back home.’ Jenny paused, then added with a rising sense of urgency, ‘We must catch the bastard before he takes another victim!’
The four detectives sat in silence.
Ed was annoyed. She’d allowed herself to be convinced the package was some kind of meat. Faced with an unexpected development she spoke decisively, setting out the options.
‘Right … this is where we go from here. Nat’s right, we’ve probably got DNA from Lucy’s foot but that doesn’t mean the other woman’s DNA came from the blood. The blood could be Lucy’s and the second DNA comes from another source.’
‘Skin cells from a woman who touched the wrapping paper,’ said Jenny.
‘Maybe,’ said Ed. ‘Human blood is a game-changer but before we launch a murder investigation we need to be certain the blood didn’t come from Lucy.’
‘Where could the blood have come from?’ asked Jenny. ‘Lucy wasn’t injured.’
‘All I can think is Lucy had a period and it was that blood,’ said Ed. ‘Jenny, get hold of forensics to check if it’s systemic blood or menstrual blood.’
‘If the blood isn’t Lucy’s, what are we to make of that?’
Mike had addressed his question to Ed but Nat responded.
‘In that case, he must have got it from someone else. Perhaps he’s got a second line in killing women after all.’
‘Hold on, Nat,’ said Ed firmly. ‘Let’s not get ahead of the evidence. At the moment two things are important. First, wait for forensics. Second, keep a tight lid on this discovery.’
‘Right,’ said Mike, ‘the last thing we need is stories about human flesh in the tabloids.’
‘Nor menstrual blood,’ said Nat smiling. ‘Local man goes with the flow!’
The rest of the team ignored him. Ed brought the discussion to a close.
‘Until we hear from forensics the only leads will come from our suspects: Drakes-Moulton, Grieves, Leaman and Podzansky. Let’s get back to them.’
Slipping out of the building, Ed called Nigel’s direct line. Ever since she’d found evidence of surveillance in her hotel room she’d been convinced he’d filmed them having sex. She needed her own insurance and she knew how she was going to get it. He answered on the third ring.
‘Drakes-Moulton.’
‘Good morning, Nigel, I’m calling as promised.’
‘It’s good to hear your voice. What time would you like me to arrive?’
‘It’s my treat. You choose the restaurant and say when you’d like me to be there.’
Nigel’s initial silence indicated that dinner at a restaurant wasn’t what he’d had in mind as a celebration of her new home.
‘I’ve a string of viewings today.’ There was only a slight pause before he added, ‘How about supper at 7.30? Nothing formal, there’s a relaxed place in Sun Street that I like.’
‘If you like it, I’m sure it’ll be fine. We can have a celebratory drink while you walk me through the menu. What’s it called?’
‘It’s a no-name place opposite Deakin’s. When you get to Sun Street you can’t miss it.’ His tone softened. ‘I’ll spend the day in anticipation.’
‘Let’s make it 8 p.m. I’ll see you there.’
Eight would give her more time to prepare.