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There was little new intelligence to report at the briefing but Dylan informed the team he was waiting for a call from Forensic. Meanwhile, he prepared an arrest and interview strategy should the result be positive in respect of Elliot Black. This preparation meant they could act immediately.
The administration work kept his mind occupied and he waited patiently for the call. Every now and then he would look into the outer office and could see Vicky pacing the incident room floor. Every time his phone rang she looked across at him for confirmation, or not that it was the call they were waiting for: the call that would put Elliot Black in the frame for his stepdaughter’s murder or not.
At ten-thirty am the call came. Semen had been found on the vaginal swab taken at Patti’s post-mortem and a full DNA sample was being run through the national database. Dylan waved Vicky into the office as he continued to listen intently to what the caller had to say. Vicky sat quietly, her hands gripped in her lap, her face eager and expectant.
Immediately the phone went down Dylan was eager to move forward. ‘Full DNA profile from the vaginal swab.’
Vicky moved to the edge of her seat. ‘We can start to eliminate.’
‘Black’s DNA is being checked and Forensic are continuing working on other exhibits to see if anything can be gleaned from them.’
‘We need to know if the footprint is his,’ said Vicky.
‘Give them a call. It’s not going to be the same person working on the DNA.’
Vicky left the Dylan’s office to be met by the expectant faces of those working in the main office. Not a word was said as she walked to her desk and sat down. Eyes lowered, as they returned to their work.
Dylan constantly checked his mobile and his inbox. The silent telephone he willed to ring, an update, news, hoping and praying for a quick resolution. When it did ring he had to check himself from snatching it off its cradle.
The news that the bloodied footprint was Elliot Black’s was not surprising and the confirmation came quickly. Another piece in the jigsaw and confirmation of what Patti’s stepfather had told them but, not evidence that would prove he was the murderer. The following update from Forensic was a blow. The DNA profile that they had from the rapist, Patti’s murderer was not anyone that was recorded on the national database – Elliot Black was out of the frame.
Dylan stood at his door and shook his head. ‘No match on the database,’ he said turning back into his office to answer the ringing phone.
‘Boss, DC Donna Frost, just to let you know we have located Stuart Sykes in Burford Park. He’s sat on his own on a bench next to the playground. His presence was a concern to the parents whose children were playing on the swings. Rachael attended, and notified me. We’ve persuaded him to come back to the nick for a chat.’
‘Did he say why he hadn’t turned up for his appointment for his DNA taking?’
‘He said his dad had told him that he wasn’t obliged to.’
Dylan raised his eyebrows. ‘That’s helpful!’
Stuart Sykes had no previous convictions and whilst he answered the questions put to him, his responses were somewhat vague.
When asked if they could take his DNA by means of a simple swab and the process explained to him, the officers were taken aback by his negative response. Even telling him that it was a quick and easy way of eliminating him from the murder enquiry, which in turn meant they wouldn’t have to trouble him again didn’t work. They offered him a hot drink. He declined, but instead asked for a glass of water.
‘We haven’t sufficient evidence to arrest him. We can’t force him to give us a sample,’ said Dylan.
‘Don’t you think the refusal in itself may suggest he might be involved?’ said Donna. ‘He lives opposite the scene, he has binoculars on the windowsill, a telescope in his room, a straight chair positioned where he can see into Patti’s...’
‘What else is he saying?’ Dylan frowned.
‘He’s cooperative in his own weird way but he’s refusing to let us swab him for no other reason he says but that his dad says he doesn’t have to. He’s still in the station. What do you want me to do sir?’
‘He’s had a drink of water?’
Donna nodded.
‘Seize the glass. We should get his DNA and fingerprints from it. We can have him checked without him knowing it.’
‘And then release him?’
‘For now.’
DS Mike Scott was busy creating a database on the HOLMES system for DNA processing and submission.
‘In the first instance they’ll call you but you’ll get the confirmation through from Forensic. This will be our only elimination factor for all suspects now we have a full DNA profile,’ said Dylan.
‘Elimination for males by DNA sample only,’ said Ned Granger.
‘You going deaf?’ Vicky Hardacre clipped him around his curly head, as she walked past.
‘No,’ he said rubbing his ear frantically. ‘I’ll have you for assault!’ he said with a scowl.
‘You’ll have me for assault what?’
‘Boss,’ he said sulkily swinging his legs back under his desk. He held his hand up to the sky. ‘For god’s sake why doesn’t some member of parliament do something good for a change, and lobby for a compulsory national database, and every child born, or person entering the country should go on it automatically. Think how much easier catching a criminal would be?’
‘True,’ said Dylan. ‘And, if we had no match we would instantly know it was someone who was in the UK illegally too.’
‘Let’s face it, compulsory DNA is never going to happen is it?’ said Vicky.
‘Sadly no, because of legislations within the Human Rights Act nineteen ninety eight.’ Dylan ran his hands through his hair. He stopped for a moment. ‘But, why the hell they don’t they see it’s about protecting the masses. Being able to identify, locate and arrest the murderers before they had chance to strike again or exit the country would save hundreds of lives.’
Vicky followed Dylan into his office.
‘Sykes has refused to have his DNA taken,’ he said over his shoulder. He sat behind his desk and she sat facing him. Dylan’s concentration was on his computer screen.
Her eyes narrowed and she screwed up her face. ‘He’s a wanker.’
‘Vicky!’
‘No, really! Not long after he left here apparently uniform patrol officers responded to a call. Someone acting indecently in the park. Guess who they’ve found?’ Her eyes were wide, head cocked to one side and her lips formed a pout.
‘Really?’
Vicky nodded. ‘A double unit attended and he was still there laid on his back, on the grass, masturbating. Apparently the officers had to shout at him to stop!’ Vicky bit her lip and her eyes sparkled before she burst out laughing. ‘Shelagh got out her baton to hit it apparently.’
Dylan put his head in his hands. ‘Tell me she didn’t?’
‘No, no,’ she chuckled. ‘He got up when he saw the baton, fled and her and Rachael gave chase, floored him and had him in handcuffs before he knew it.’
‘Well done them. And what did he, have to say for himself?’
‘He told them his parents wouldn’t let him do it at home so he had to do it outside.’
‘I’ve heard of parents being blamed for a lot of things, but that takes the biscuit.’
‘Shelagh’s booking him in as we speak and then she’ll be coming to speak to me whilst the cells arrange a solicitor for him.’
‘He’s got to be a priority to eliminate.’ Dylan’s computer beeped an incoming message and his concentrated on the screen. ‘Since Donna Frost and Michelle Robinson were speaking to him earlier, update them.’
Dylan looked up from the documents he was signing when he heard laughter. Three women stood around Vicky’s desk – Ned Granger was hovering. By weight the DC was worth the three ladies put together. Dylan paused and threaded his pen slowly through his fingers – something he did when he was thinking. There was a serious side to this. Sex offenders were addicts just like drug users, looking for their next fix and taking things to the next level to achieve the desired result. They were dangerous predators who were a menace to society and should, in his opinion never be under estimated as to what lengths they would go to to satisfy themselves. Stuart Sykes at the age of nineteen was a name Dylan wouldn’t forget – he had already shown to Dylan that he had no self-control. ‘Was he the person that raped and killed Patti?’ he asked himself.
