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Gardener glanced at the charts, realizing that one or two subjects were outstanding. Most notably, Chloe Summerby.
“Dave. Anything on the Murder Ballads CD?”
“Not a lot to go on, but I did find a link. Seems a bit tenuous, but the way this bloke is operating, nothing would surprise me.”
“Go on.”
“The only connection I have at the moment is the rose.”
“Oh Christ, the blue rose.” Gardener had momentarily forgotten.
“It was the ninth studio album by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, released in 1996 on Mute Records. The album consists of new and traditional murder ballads, songs that relay the details and the consequences of crimes of passion.”
“Well now, that’s what we were thinking about the prostitute,” said Reilly. “Crime of passion.”
“Apparently, it’s the band’s biggest commercial success to date.”
“Who is it again?” asked Frank Thornton.
“Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.”
“I’ve never heard of them,” said Thornton.
“Neither have I,” said his partner, Bob Anderson.
“Not surprised,” said Rawson. “Don’t think you two have got past Mozart yet, have you?”
“Cheeky bastard,” mumbled Anderson. “At least they made music in my day.”
Rawson continued without rising. “The song you guys heard in the prostitute’s kitchen was called The Curse of Millhaven. Apparently, it’s about a mad woman called Loretta. She has green eyes and yellow hair. In the song, she describes the deaths of the people who live in Millhaven. She points out how all God’s creatures have to die.
“There’s a failed stabbing of a woman called Mrs Colgate, which reveals that Lottie is in fact the killer. Millhaven itself is a fictional town created by the author Peter Straub. You’ll like this next bit: the book’s about the ‘Blue Rose Murders’. The song also has the largest number of deaths in a recording, there’s at least twenty-three murders.”
“So the blue rose must be the key here,” said Sharp.
“Anybody ever seen a blue rose?” Reilly asked.
Gardener knew that Thornton was a keen horticultural man. “Frank?”
“No. It doesn’t really exist. From what I know, it’s usually a white rose that’s been dyed. The Australians and the Japanese came up with the idea.”
“Did you check out the florists?” Gardener asked.
“Yes,” said Rawson. “Same story. None of the shops I spoke to sell them.”
“So where’s he getting them?” asked Anderson.
“Maybe he’s growing them,” offered Reilly.
“Can we get someone on to that?” asked Gardener. “See if anyone imports them, or dyes them here locally? See if it’s possible to actually grow them.”
The team made notes.
“What about the second song, Dave, the one at Morrison’s place?”
“That’s the tenuous link. It’s called Where the Wild Roses Grow, a popular duet with Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was a hit single and received two ARIA Awards in 1996. It was inspired by a traditional song called The Willow Garden. Basically, it’s a classic tale of a man courting a woman and killing her while they are out together.”
“Anyone have any thoughts on that?” Gardener asked.
