‘Hi, Sophia, is the coroner in?’
‘She’s preparing her notes for an inquest, Ridpath.’
‘I saw some relatives outside.’
‘Helen Moore’s inquest. Accidental death was the verdict. I think Helen is writing a prevention of future deaths report for the chief coroner.’
‘Mrs Challinor won’t mind if I interrupt.’
‘Before you go in, I have something to tell you.’
‘Let me see the coroner first, we’ll talk afterwards.’
Ridpath knocked on the door.
‘Come,’ came a voice from the inside.
He entered to see Mrs Challinor sitting at the desk; her face was drawn and white, weariness etched into the creases around her eyes.
‘Is this a bad time?’
‘It’s always a bad time at the moment.’
‘I thought I’d let you know how the Jane Ryder investigation is progressing.’
‘Good, come in, there’s something I have to tell you too. You first.’
‘There have been some interesting developments since we last talked. First, either deliberately or innocently, it seems the Ryders didn’t tell us everything about their relationship with their adopted daughter.’
‘Adopted?’
‘Jane wasn’t their natural daughter. She was fostered first and then adopted by the Ryders when she was nine.’
‘That’s news to me.’
‘As it was to me. But there’s more. She spent her early years in Daisy House Children’s Home—’
‘The same place you are investigating for MIT?’
‘Correct. We’ve now confirmed the backpack in which we found the hands was owned by Jane Ryder. It was the one she took to the music festival on the day she disappeared.’
‘The two cases are definitely connected?’
‘It would seem so. We’re trying to find out more about the social worker, Patricia Patterson, who was involved with Jane Ryder.’
‘Involved? How?’
‘We don’t know yet, but we’ll find out.’
‘Good, thank you for the update. I’ve made a decision regarding the inquest on her presumption of death. Mrs Ryder is now receiving terminal care at the hospice. You know what that means?’
‘She could die at any time.’
Mrs Challinor took a deep breath. ‘So I’ve decided to hold the inquest on Monday.’
‘What? You can’t. I haven’t finished my investigation yet, and didn’t you hear what I said? There are links between Jane Ryder and the hands we found at Daisy House. She may have been one of the victims. I need more time.’
‘But who will give Mrs Ryder more time, Ridpath?’
‘I understand, Coroner, but I also know there should be enough evidence to presume death. I haven’t had the time yet to give you certainty. And I must be certain.’
Mrs Challinor’s jaw clenched. ‘I hear you, Ridpath, but my mind is made up. I have contacted Claire Trent. She will arrange for a police legal representative to ask for an adjournment of the inquest after we have heard from the witnesses. That way I can issue a provisional certificate pending the police inquiry into Jane Ryder’s death. It should be enough for the Ryders to sort out their financial affairs.’
‘But you can’t. We haven’t arranged for the witnesses to attend.’
‘It’s already in progress. Jenny is sending out the requests as we speak.’
‘To whom?’
‘The Ryders have already been informed.’ She checked her notes. ‘The invitations have been sent to a Police Sergeant Colin Dowell, Doreen Hawkins, Rose Anstey and the social worker, Patricia Patterson.’
‘What? But you don’t even know their addresses.’ Understanding spread across Ridpath’s face. ‘Sophia knew. It’s what she wanted to tell me.’
‘Correct. The inquest is going to happen on Monday. As we agreed earlier. I will call the witnesses and hear their testimony, then the inquest will be adjourned pending the result of MIT’s inquiries. Claire Trent and I have agreed to give you till the end of the week to complete them. Afterwards, I will issue the presumption of death certificate.’
‘But you can’t do it.’
‘I think you forget your position, Ridpath. I have made my decision.’
‘Even though Jane Ryder’s death may be linked with at least two others?’
The coroner’s voice softened. ‘We have to give closure to the Ryders. Mrs Ryder is dying, we don’t know how long she will live. Can you tell me realistically when you will finish your investigation and I can hold the inquest without an adjournment?’
‘You know it’s impossible to predict when an investigation can be concluded at this stage, Coroner.’
‘I understand, and therefore we will hold it on Monday. I have made my decision.’
Ridpath stood up. ‘But there is a killer out there who has taken the lives of at least three people in the last ten years, all of whom were linked to Daisy House Children’s Home. We need to find out who he is.’
‘That is a police investigation, Ridpath, not one conducted by this coroner’s office. Our sole focus is Jane Ryder. Can we presume she is dead?’
Ridpath stayed silent.
‘Is there any documentary evidence she is alive? Has she been seen in the last eleven years? Was there a robust attempt to find her eleven years ago?’
‘Not robust, no.’
‘The police followed the correct procedures in a missing person investigation?’
‘Yes, but—’
‘All these questions tell me I can conduct an inquest on the girl on behalf of her parents. Remember, our job is to represent the dead in the world of the living, Ridpath.’
‘There is one element you have forgotten, Coroner.’
‘And what is that, Ridpath?’
‘We have DNA from one of the hands that we can compare with DNA taken from Jane Ryder’s toothbrush. If we get a match, it will confirm she is dead.’
Mrs Challinor exhaled loudly. ‘When will you get the results?’
‘I don’t know.’
She took up her pen and began writing in her file. ‘I suggest we have them before the inquest on Monday, and then it will be no longer necessary to request an adjournment.’
Ridpath stood up to leave.
‘One more thing. Please do not confuse your work for me with your work for MIT. We are not looking for convictions, or even to find out who committed any crime. Our sole responsibly is to represent those who died.’
‘Understood, Coroner. But can we truly represent Jane Ryder and the others unless we know who amputated their hands and why they did it? What happens if the killer strikes again?’
‘I’ve made my decision, Ridpath.’
‘I must ask that you minute my objections, Mrs Challinor.’
‘Noted, Ridpath.’