Maggie’s footsteps echoed down the cold, clinical halls. She pressed the buzzer once she reached the doors leading to the pathology department at Stafford Police Headquarters. Unique to Staffordshire, the lab was purpose-built, and Dr Blake based herself there as often as she could.
‘A visit without an appointment. To what do I owe this honour?’ Dr Blake removed her glasses and held the door open for Maggie.
‘Sorry to just show up, but I did try and call and it just rang out. Where are all your admin staff and assistants?’
‘Don’t get me started. Agency staff at the moment, need I say more?’ She rolled her eyes.
‘I just wanted to speak to you in person because I’m at a loss. I plan on going to both the crime scenes, to look at things from a different perspective I guess, and I’m hoping you can give me something from your findings to narrow my focus.’
‘Everything you need to solve these crimes and find your killer is here.’ Dr Blake spread the crime-scene photos across the table. ‘Let me help you see what I see, see it through the killer’s eyes, and you’ll find exactly what you need.’
‘You make it sound so simple. I don’t think like a killer …’
‘OK. Think of it this way. When you arrive at a crime scene and see my guys and gals standing around, looking, talking to each other … what do you think they are doing?’
‘Deciding where to start?’
‘In a way, yes. They’re initially looking around to establish what may have happened before deciding what tests they need to do and which items they need to take back for testing.’
Maggie put her finger up to her lips. ‘Right. When I get there, I need to look around and see the likely entry point. Which direction the killer came from and I might be able to establish why. It also might point me towards the likely area where he resides.’ Maggie knew all this but had really been feeling off her game so far and she hoped that saying it out loud and talking it through with someone not so close to the actual investigation would help her focus. Her ability to process the simplest information was skewed by the fact that her friend was in danger.
‘You’re definitely on the right track. So now you’ve had my help with that, I’d like some help from you.’
‘Do you mind if I sit down?’ Maggie had forgotten to eat again and was starting to feel light-headed.
‘Please do. I was speaking to one of our document analysts about those letters that were sent over. No fingerprints or saliva found, but I think we all knew that would be the case. However, they also advised that handwriting is unique and personal to each individual. The writing habits we pick up in school tend to stick with us over the years, even if we vary or adapt the style as we get older.’
‘I’m sure I’ve read about handwriting analysis in the academy – or maybe it was uni. But don’t we need a sample to compare it to?’
‘Yes, they’ve compared the notes sent to Kate and to Tracy Holloway and confirmed that they were written by the same person. We can conclusively say that Kate’s stalker has turned into a killer, if we assume that the person who sent Tracy the notes is the person who abducted her. I think that’s a safe assumption. Once you have a suspect or persons of interest, let us know and the analysts can do a complete comparison. However, we don’t want to give them the opportunity to disguise their handwriting, so chances are you’ll have to gather the samples when their home is searched, or you can get them to write something when they’re being interviewed. Don’t suspects write out their statements? If not, I’m sure you can use your imagination and come up with a creative reason to get them to write something. It will take a little longer to analyse, but it would definitely be more conclusive.’
‘Right. I’ll bear that in mind. I’m sure the team and I can come up with something.’
Dr Blake’s phone rang, and she checked the screen. ‘I’d better take this. See you later.’
Maggie let herself out. She hadn’t planned on spending that long at the lab but Dr Blake had left her with a lot to think about. She texted Nathan to let him know her plans. The pool car wasn’t due back at the station for another two hours, which would give her just about enough time.
In the car, she set the GPS and left Police HQ. It was time she channelled her inner killer.