Maggie walked back to the car and rolled her eyes as Nathan watched her go around to the passenger door.
She opened the door, sat down and buckled up. ‘That guy was weird.’
‘Why? What did he say?’ Nathan started the car, indicated, and pulled out onto the road, heading towards Markston.
‘It wasn’t so much what he said. It was his behaviour. He kept trying to look over my shoulder at the body. He seemed to get excited when telling me he touched the victim.’ Maggie looked out of the window at the scene as they headed back to the station.
‘What the hell? He touched the body?’ Nathan turned his head towards her.
‘Yes, he said it was the only way he could see if she was alive. What I also found strange was, instead of leaving her face up and explaining what he’d done, he placed her back in the exact position he found her.’ She rubbed her chin.
‘I take it he’ll be going to the station to provide prints and DNA.’
‘Most definitely. I’ll be looking into him a bit more, that’s for sure. Does Kate know we’re on our way?’ Maggie looked at her watch.
‘Yes. DI Calleja will have told her, so she’s expecting us, and then I think we’ll have to formulate a plan of action to make sure the risk to Kate is minimized and figure out how the public should be kept informed. If this person can’t have Kate, they’re likely to abduct another female until they can get to her.’ Nathan looked in the mirror and changed lanes.
‘What has the press been told? This guy is escalating and I’m not sure how we can explain who may be a target without revealing something about Kate, or at least her appearance.’ Maggie scratched her neck.
‘I disagree. Tracy Holloway bore no resemblance to Kate until our killer made her look that way, and I’d bet the same applies to this current victim. Physically, their features are similar – small build, tiny but pointed nose, full lips and high cheekbones. But that could describe thousands of people. We have to be careful what information is shared with the press.’
‘Yeah, I know. Christ, this is just so frustrating.’ Maggie saw the sign for Markston Police Station, and before Nathan had even stopped the car fully, she had grabbed her bag and was ready to get out of the car.
‘Hang on, Maggie. I don’t want you barging in there and raising anxiety levels through the roof, OK?’
For a moment, Maggie felt angry. Was Nathan implying that she would let her emotions cloud her judgement? She’d never done that before. Then again, she’d never been in similar circumstances before. After a few deep breaths, she calmed down. He was right. This case was different, and she needed to look at it from a totally different perspective. Each of the women were important and deserved the same treatment.
‘I promise. And Nathan …’
He turned and faced her. ‘Yeah.’
‘Thanks. I needed to hear that.’ Things had been tense between them since he’d told her some home truths that she was finding difficult to process. She hoped he could see she was trying.
Nathan smiled. ‘I know. Now let’s get this part over with.’
Maggie exited the car and jogged up the stairs. When inside, she went to the enquiry desk and signed in. Nathan did the same. Because Maggie had previously worked at Markston, her pass still allowed her access to the station. She swiped her card and walked through the doors to the stairway.
When they reached the floor occupied by the DAHU, Maggie stopped and stepped out of the way to let Nathan pass. She needed a moment to collect her thoughts, and Nathan realized this as he pointed in the direction of DI Calleja’s office and raised his hand. ‘Five minutes …’
Maggie had dealt with a lot of death and sadness in her time with the police. But she’d never had an investigation hit so close to home. Beyond the friendship, Maggie had stronger feelings towards Kate and she needed to compose herself. She’d make sure she did nothing that would compromise her friend or the case. Maggie plastered on a smile and walked through the door, heading to DI Calleja’s office.
You can do this. If she told herself enough times, maybe she would believe it.