‘DI Sam Barnes. NCA. You’re the Attending Officer? Sergeant Boakes?’
‘Yes, sir. DI James was here earlier.’
‘Is that the guy who found her?’
‘Yes. Leonard Watkins. He was foraging.’
‘Foraging?’
‘For mushrooms. He’s given a statement.’
‘Right. I gather the dogs are on the way. I suggest you get a wider area cordoned off, before the ramblers start hiking through with their lunch boxes. Who’s the pathologist?’
‘Dr Moran, James Moran.’
‘Ah, yes. James. How long does he think she’s been here?’
‘About two days. Possibly three. Just before the storm. Probably buried and uncovered by the rain.’
‘Right. How the hell did they get her here? It’s bloody impenetrable.’
‘They might have brought her along the riverbed. According to Watkins, it often runs dry in the summer. So, probably not much to be found now. There’s been some ant activity.’
‘Nice. Anything else?’
‘Yes, sir… the ant activity. It’s clustered around a large wound.’
‘A knife?’
‘Of sorts. Dr Moran believes it’s the result of… He believes the young woman was recently operated on to remove a child. A baby.’
‘Jesus, fuck! Don’t you just love this job? I’d better get over there and take a look.’
‘Better watch out, sir. One of the young officers is projectile vomiting.’