Blood Work

'South Hampstead Tube.'

'Sir?'

Delaney walked beside her and held out a photofit picture that the computer artist had generated from Valerie Manners' description of the flasher on the common. 'Our man might have been wearing a suit, she said?'

'Apparently. Under his mac,' Sally confirmed.

'So what does that tell us?'

'That flashing isn't just a blue-collar crime and he's probably not a student.'

'Exactly, he's up too early in the morning for a start. Maybe he was giving his John Thomas a quick airing before putting in a hard day at the office . . .' He looked at Sally and smiled. 'As it were.'

'Which do you reckon came first, sir? The book or the expression? I've often wondered.'

'What are you on about?' Delaney asked, puzzled.

'John Thomas and Lady Jane. Lady Chatterley's Lover.'

Delaney threw her a look. 'I know you've got a degree and all that shite, Detective Constable, but do you think you could save the book-club chit-chat for your weekend dinner parties and concentrate on the case?'

'You reckon he was heading for the Tube?'

'He lives or works near here. And given the timing it is more likely he was on his way to work somewhere out of the locality.'

'So you think he lives somewhere near the heath?'

'Sexual predators like to operate within a comfort zone. Somewhere they know well. So if something happens they know where to run to.'

'And the murdered girl. Does she live locally, do you think?'

The desk sergeant called out as they headed to the front entrance. 'Good to see you back, Jack.'

'Cheers, Dave.' He opened the front door for Sally. 'I don't know about the girl. It depends if it was an opportunistic or planned killing. Time of death will help.'

'Not going to be wandering on the heath in the dead of night you mean.'

Delaney nodded as they walked over to Sally's car. 'It's unlikely.'

'Mind you, it was a full moon last night.'

'Meaning?'

Sally fished out her car keys and opened the driver's door to her car. 'Well, it brings out the crazies. And her being a goth. Maybe there's a connection. The mystic power of the moon and all that.'

Delaney got into the car next to her and stretched his legs forward. 'The moon might play a part in paganism. Witchcraft, Wicca, that kind of thing. Not sure it applies to goths.'

'No. But the belt buckle. I've been thinking about it.'

'What about it?'

'Looking at the photos more closely both sides had a representation of the Green Man. Big pagan symbol.'

Delaney nodded thoughtfully. 'Maybe, and there may have been a full moon last night, but you'd never have been able to see it. Not with all that cloud cover and rain.'

'I suppose not. So, it looks like the body was dumped there. She could have come from anywhere.'

''Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania.''