Page 41 of The Unforgiven

Nate was still doing his preliminary exam. “We have some mild contusions on right parietal scalp, but no cranial fracture— possibly sustained through impact during collapse or restraint and there are some minor abrasions noted on the upper spine and rear scalp, which look to be postmortem, through maybe blunt contact during restraint or storage. However, residual rigidity in the hips and knees — along with fixed limb angles — suggests the body remained in a foetal position during the peak of rigor, likely due to compression inside a confined space. This positional imprint, combined with lack of decomposition prior to immersion, supports the hypothesis that the body was stored in a cool,concealed environment – the culvert would be a match - for some time before being submerged.” He stood up, his height dominating the space even more than the body.

“What do you mean by a confined space?” I was beginning to form a picture in my head. Janine Doe was stabbed in the back by surprise. Collapsed. Was put into a container that could be moved, maybe something on wheels such as a suitcase, or a body bag which two people could’ve moved her in, but something small which she was folded into before rigor set in.

“A big box. I’ll be able to tell you more when I look closer at the X-rays. The difficulty you’ve got is that she’s been submerged in water, which has washed away trace evidence. Whoever’s done this knows what they’re doing, Mia. I’d even say they wanted her to be discovered soon after she was dumped in the water, they knew that because of the heavy storms and then the break in the rain, there’d be a falling waterline, and she was poorly concealed. If they didn’t want her to be found, they could’ve left her in culvert.” He tipped his head from side to side. “Those stones, too, they weren’t there by accident.”

“Where will you send them?” Vinny asked. “How long until we might find out where they’re from?”

“I’ll send a sample to the Environmental Trace Analysis Unit, but I have a friend at the university here who’s a geologist. I’m pretty sure he can have a look and give you an ideaof composition and origin. They’ve been cleaned and polished though – someone’s taken care of these.”

“Deliberate. Who was it for though?” I wondered out loud. “The victim? Us? Someone else?”

“That’s your job. Mine is to give you as much evidence as I can to help. Look, Mia, this is where it gets messy. Come back in about three hours and I’ll have more for you. And are you free for dinner tonight?”

“Well, I’m flattered, Nate.” That, of course, was Vinny. “But I actually have a date - ”

“Good job, because you weren’t invited. Mia?”

I always enjoyed seeing Vinny get shot down. “Sure. Where and what time?”

“Eight-thirty, unless anything major comes up, and I’ll text you my address. I moved in last Friday so it’s still full of boxes.”

“You’ve bought a house in Manchester?”

He nodded, studying what implement he was going to use next rather than looking at me.

“And you still have my phone number?”

“Unless you’ve changed it. I know I’ve not used it much. I’m sorry if that’s upset you.” He still didn’t look at me.

I could feel Vinny bristling next to me.

“You can explain later. Text me the address. My number hasn’t changed, and we’ll see you in about three hours.”

Chapter Eighteen

“Thank you for meeting me. I’m sorry I’ve interrupted your Saturday.” We were in a small coffee shop, just off the beaten university track, which was quiet anyway with it being the Easter holidays.

This time I was meeting Daniel with Wrigley’s permission with an agreement on what I could mention about the case, and what to hold back on.

For now.

“You’re never an interruption, Mia,” he said, stirring the pot of mint tea he favoured when he wasn’t guaranteed good coffee.

“I was never sure whether you meant that, or you were just being kind.” I opened the bottle of fizzy water I’d order.

The café was quiet, any lunchtime rush having petered away some time ago. There was no one close enough to overhear, although I did want to speak more confidentially, Ashcombe House was a ten-minute walk away.

I didn’t know where Daniel lived. I’d never been there, despite him asking me for dinner a couple of times, and for a Christmas gathering of the psychology department. I held myboundaries and didn’t get involved as a friend, or more, if that had ever crossed his mind.

I wasn’t sure if he’d ever been interested in me as anything other than a potential protégé, but I’d misread signals before, and it’d gotten me into trouble. That wasn’t going to be a mistake I’d repeat.

“I try never to be kind. There’s no point in that.” He settled back in the chair. “I believe you had another body this morning.”

It was all over the news, footage from drones flying over the scene, speculation going wild, journalists being a general pain, although some were alright and those were the ones that got just enough information to stop mass panic.

“Number three. Technically a serial.”

“How very exciting. Catch him and your career’s made.”