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I feel omnipotent. Strong. I place one foot inside the house.
I move into the kitchen and pull the door shut behind me. Soft footsteps into the darkened hallway. I pause next to the door into the living room, but then I hear a noise. A car, a man pulling up outside. I imagine her looking up with a smile. Greeting him with a kiss and a hug. An enthusiastic welcome I envy with every cell of my being.
I turn, reluctant to forgo my mission, and climb the stairs. I head toward the open door.
This is the bedroom. The bed is made, and I look at the tables either side. Two books on one, paperbacks—historical fiction. A pair of glasses and an inhaler. On the other is a crumpled paperback, the spine broken, the cover pink. This is her.
I go around to her side of the bed and pick up the pillow. I put it to my face and breathe in deeply. I know now for sure she is right. This life—this beautiful life she leads—makes me burn with jealousy. I want what she has. Love. Peace. Family. I want it.
And I will take it all.
Under the pillow is a vest top. Thin and lacy. Delicate. I rub the soft material between my fingers, imagining it’s her skin. Perfect, unsullied.
I have my knife in my pocket. A simple penknife, but long and sharp. Easily hidden, quickly pulled out and used. I know there is blood on there, from the others. From those who showed themselves to be unworthy. But I know this won’t be her. When the time comes, I will make her last. Just as she needs to.
I press the tip of the blade against the light fabric of her top; it punctures the material easily. Gently, I push it further through. I feel the rip, I imagine it to be her skin, her flesh. I pull it down, the anticipation, the excitement catching in my throat. It’s lust, but not the dirty carnal kind. It’s more base than that. A need deep in my soul. I run the knife all the way through, thinking about the tear of her skin, the blood flowing.
I hear a call from the kitchen. The shout of a man’s voice. I hurry to the bedroom door and look carefully down the stairs. The man is there, bottle of wine in his hand, offering her a new glass. She agrees; he hums under his breath as he pours one for himself, then carries the bottle into the living room.
I push her ripped vest top into my pocket and put the knife away. I dart out of the bedroom and scuttle quickly down the stairs. Their excited conversation masks the clunk of the kitchen door opening and closing.
I back out of her garden, close her gate with barely a click. I walk away, to the street. Back to watching everyone, from a distance. From the cold.
She thinks she is safe in her house. In her bed as she sleeps. She thinks no one can touch her. I watch, and I know.
Not today. But soon.
Soon.
Forensic Postmortem Examination
Date: November 20, 1995
General Information
The decedent has been visually identified by next of kin as Grace Summers, female, aged 34 (DOB 04/04/61). Dental records have been requested and DNA samples taken for formal identification. The decedent was found in the outhouse of the garden of The Beeches, Gloucester Road, and death pronounced at the scene. Medical intervention was attempted by paramedics but unsuccessful. The circumstances of her death have been recorded as suspicious. Grace Summers, a professional ballet dancer, was reported as a missing person on September 12, 1995, by her husband. She was married with one child, age 2.
Previous to her disappearance, the decedent was in good health. She had no long-term illnesses. She was taking no prescription medication. She had a broken arm at the age of 13, which had healed in a satisfactory manner. She was fitted with an IUD.
The body was found partially clothed in a red T-shirt and knickers, and covered in bedding. The clothes have been sent for further testing; initial inquiries confirm these to be the clothing worn when she disappeared.
The ambient temperature of the room was 5oC, rectal temperature was 33oC, body weight approximately 50 kg. This gives an approximate time of death of eight hours before the discovery of the body: between 11 PM and 2 AM on the early morning of Saturday, November 18. Traces of rigor were reported still present on discovery of the body.
Description of Body
The decedent is severely malnourished and dehydrated. She was of slim build, Caucasian, with no tattoos or identifying marks. Hair is blonde and medium length, dirty and matted. Fingernails are long and unkempt.
Hypostasis is evident across the back and buttocks, indicating the body lying on its back after death. No signs of petechiae present on skin or eyes.
Blunt force trauma is evident across the right-hand side of the head, resulting in a linear laceration to the scalp, approximately 7 cm long, and a depressed skull fracture. Large extradural hematoma associated with underlying damage to the meningeal artery and subsequent bleeding into the extradural space was found. Rapid onset of symptoms would have occurred, with collapse and death within approximately 2–4 hours.
Multiple lesions on both wrists and ankles found consistent with ligature restraints. Infected sores are present across the decedent’s back and feet. Abrasions also evident on spine, knees, and arms in a distinctive pattern: parallel lines both horizontal and vertical in a grid profile, two cm apart. Evidence of previous injury clear across the face, including a broken nose and multiple abrasions, partially healed. Some defensive injuries present on hands and lower arms, including ripped fingernails on all, and breaks across the intermediate phalanges on both the index finger and middle finger of the right hand, as well as joint dislocations.
Extensive bruising, abrasions and tearing around the vagina and anus indicates a strong likelihood of repeated sexual assault, including scarring and some healed wounds. High vaginal, low vaginal, and endocervical swabs have been taken for analysis.
Cause of Death:
(Ia)Extradural hemorrhage
