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In a building adjoining Persford Hospital was the county mortuary and pathologist Alistair Gordon was in the middle of examining the three charred remains discovered in the field. Detective Andy Walters and his boss Inspector Mike Harris were in attendance wearing protective gowns and gloves. They had placed blobs of Vicks VapoRub ointment under their noses to protect them from the awful stench of burning flesh. The three charred bodies were laid out on adjacent tables. Two were clearly larger in height and build than the other one, the obvious conclusion being two males and one female.
Alistair began his examination of the smaller body. ‘This body appears to be female. It is less badly burned than the other two because it was found under one of two other bodies. This has protected it from some of the fire. Also, it was carefully wrapped in a tarpaulin.’
The two detectives made notes throughout Alistair’s description which was being dictated into a handheld recording device.
‘Prior to your arrival we found some pieces of metal in the nose and in the navel which appear to be jewellery from body piercings. The teeth have survived relatively unscathed so we should be able to check dental records. From first observation, the deceased has lost several molars and premolars so dental care has been negligent. She is most likely from a poor background. Several teeth are filled so we can examine the amalgam to check whether it is one used here in the UK.’
‘Any sign of trauma to the body or cause of death?’ asked Mike Harris.
‘Very difficult to say due to the extent of charring. Toxicology is unlikely to be of any use. We may be able to obtain a DNA sample from the brain. The skull can protect the brain against damage by fire. We will take samples and send them off for analysis.’
‘Now, moving along to body number two. This is the shorter of the two males. There is even more extensive damage as this body was not wrapped in any tarpaulin. However, we did find something interesting from the examination of the skull.’
Andy and Mike’s ears pricked up at this statement as it usually meant one thing.
‘We extracted two bullets from the skull. Nine millimetre to be precise. The usual calibre in street crime or gangland assassinations. We will send them to ballistics for identification. The victim would have died instantly from the head wounds. DNA extraction may be possible from some of the less damaged teeth but it could be a lengthy and expensive process. You will have to decide whether we follow that route or whether we can check dental records as a priority.’
‘We will check missing persons and get back to you doctor,’ said Andy.
‘Now for body number three. The largest specimen. Six feet two inches is my estimate although only an estimate I should emphasise as fire can cause contraction and shrinkage of bone. No bullets I’m afraid in this unfortunate man. However, we do suspect there was some sort of trauma in the eye socket.’
‘What sort of trauma?’
‘Difficult to say, again due to the effect of the fire. But X-ray examination did show some slight markings on the eye socket as if something had been pushed into the eye. It will be difficult to tell whether he sustained any other injuries. Again dental records may prove definitive in identification. There are several teeth missing and many amalgam fillings.’
Alistair paused and looked over at the policemen.
‘Thank you, doctor. When will we receive your full reports?’
‘Oh, in a day or so I should think. Then we can decide what further examinations you need me to action. You might have identified them by then from your enquiries.’
The detectives left the room and stripped off their protective gear. The pathologist and his assistant would continue to examine the bodies and remove any internal organs and take samples. It was possible the brains could still yield some useful DNA samples. Now it was time to check missing persons and any other crimes which had recently been reported to see if by chance there was any connection. It was a depressing business but hopefully, they would be able to provide closure to the relatives of the dead.
**
RB had been in turmoil since Lee’s phone had been answered by the person he knew only as Jed and who was one of Cole’s senior lieutenants. He was a ruthless and callous criminal, known for his cruelty who would stop at nothing to protect his reputation and to remain outside the clutches of the police. He was now certain that Lee had been neutralised by Jed who had probably been actioned to clear up any weak links in the chain who might be tempted to sing to the police. What should he do? He could go to the police and confess and then face numerous years in gaol for drug dealing and other offences. What if they could link him to the vicious assault on the man they had presumed to be Dan? Greed had driven him to think that accessing Cole’s network of drug dealing would somehow help him achieve the big time. All he had done was to sign his own death warrant. Cole had remained untouchable for so many years it was madness to think that his own testimony might somehow smash open his illegal activities. RB had been mulling all this over whilst taking some of his own drug supplies washed down with a generous helping of vodka. He was losing the ability to think straight but at least his nerves had calmed slightly.
He jumped up from his bed and decided that the best option was to pack up and flee to London. He had some mates there who might take him in for a few days until he could get himself established. Surely there would be a niche somewhere for him in the drugs market. His possessions were few and he only rented a room in a shared house. He would take with him what he could but the rest of his shabby accumulated possessions could stay behind. His housemates could help themselves. He grabbed his large rucksack and began to empty drawers and cupboards of his clothes and bundles of ready cash which he had stowed away. From under his bed, he dragged out a holdall which was covered in dust and fluff. He wiped it down as best he could and continued to pack up other items. Some CDs, a tablet, a small netbook, earphones and jewellery both stolen and taken in part payment from his clients to feed their addiction. Those items he planned to sell at the appropriate time.
He did a final check of the remainder he couldn’t manage to take and using a chair checked on top of the wardrobe in case there was anything else he’d hidden up there and forgotten about. He substituted a few items of clothes and sat down and looked at the two bags. There were only a few items left and it was a depressing sight that most of what he owned or possessed could fit into two bags. There was only one more thing to pack. He pulled back the rug covering the centre of the room and using his knife prised up a loose floorboard. Hidden in a gap between the floor and the ceiling of the flat below were four packets containing white powder. The packets weighed around two hundred grams. He found an old carrier bag wrapped them again before stowing them at the bottom of his rucksack. He rammed the half bottle of vodka into his rucksack and put on his coat and baseball hat. He put the rucksack on his back, picked up his holdall and ran down the stairs.
Over the last hour or so he’d been scanning the road to check whether he could see anyone loitering or any cars that had been parked for a while with occupants within but the coast appeared to be clear. The station was about a half hour walk away and he should easily be able to catch the half-past six train to London. He’d bought a single ticket online so just had to collect it from the ticket machine. His stomach was anxious about the leap into the unknown but he’d moved around before. Surely he would be more anonymous in London than in Persford.
He walked briskly along Clements Road, then turned into Denmark Avenue. His eyes scanned all around his senses alert to any footsteps approaching or suspicious figures. He could feel his heart racing and at times he felt light-headed but he could not afford to stop or slow down. He reached an alleyway by a house which was being renovated. The rear doors of the van were open and a couple of young men were loading some bags of what looked like building rubble into the back. The van was parked across the alleyway with two wheels on the pavement.
Suddenly RB froze. He looked at the men to see whether he recognised any of them but they were turned away from him busy with their job. Was he being paranoid? He now wished he’d not drunk all that vodka or taken another hit of drugs before he left. His senses were heightened to breaking point, his heart was racing. Was this a trap? Jed might know where he lived and suspect he might flee to London. What should he do? If he took a longer route he would miss his train.
He stood for a few moments and took out his phone. Surely if they had recognised him and were after him they would have made a move by then. No, they were just doing a job he told himself, this was ridiculous, he needed to pull himself together. He put his phone away and stepped into the road to get past the van. As he got level with it one of the men stepped out in front of him. RB had to stifle a shriek of terror. He faced the young man in front of him, feeling in his other pocket for his knife.
‘Got a light mate?’ said the man in front of him, producing a cigarette from behind his ear. RB seemed rooted to the spot, his mouth seemed unable to function.
‘A light? Got one?’ the man repeated.
‘Oh, yes,’ and RB produced a disposable lighter. He lit the cigarette and put the lighter back in his pocket.
‘Are you OK?’ said the builder.
‘Yes, fine, in a bit of a rush, that’s all.’ RB nodded and carried on his way. He tripped over an uneven paving stone and just managed to regain his balance. He could smell his sweat drifting up from his body. It was true you really could smell fear. Now he knew that he’d made the right decision to seek anonymity in London. He would never be able to live in Persford looking over his shoulder all the time. If he were to stay he felt sure that one day he might suffer the same fate as his friend Lee.
