Blood Atonement

She shrugged. 'I suppose.' She took another sip of her coffee. 'I think we can say, if these two cases are related and that is by no means certain, that the positioning of the bodies is significant. Three of the bodies -- Katie, Martin and his son -- have been dragged from the house into the garden, no mean feat, and with many inherent risks. The killer would only do this sort of thing if it was necessary. If it fitted into some sort of plan.' Susie leaned forward, warming to her theme. Foster could listen to her voice all day --clear, soft, each word beautifully pronounced. Put it over an advert and he'd buy the product, regardless. The grain of her voice made what she said even more compelling.

'All three victims taken outside were face down. This could mean the killer didn't like to see what he'd done, the look of death in their faces. Maybe he's ashamed. Or . . .'

she paused.

'Or what?'

'Maybe they need to be laid face down as part of what he's doing. In Katie Drake's case he slit her throat after he killed her, when he had dragged her into the garden. In the case of the Stameys, he shot them in their beds, took them outside, where it appears he shot them again. He must have known father and son were already dead when he took them outside. But he chose to injure them some more. It wasn't frenzy or anger; it was deliberate. It's not enough for these people to be merely dead. There has to be an extra act of retribution.' She looked at him. 'The mother, Carol, is left in the house. She isn't a direct maternal descendant of the couple you mention, the ones who turned up in 1891?'

'No. She married into the line.'

Susie nodded. 'That's significant. But then Leonie's mother, Gillian, died of a heroin overdose, didn't she?'

Foster nodded his head. 'I think there's every chance the killer either gave her the dose or the heroin. It was too good for her to obtain. I think he knew that the amount she usually hit up on with this stuff, that kind of purity, was going to kill her.'

'That doesn't fit with these wounds, this sort of ritualistic aspect.'

'This was three years ago. Perhaps he's become more ambitious since then.'

'There is a hierarchy at work here. It's not enough for the direct descendants to simply die. There is another punishment for them.'

'Do you think he expected the daughter to be there?'

You see, that's where it gets interesting. Gut feeling, I think he knew she wouldn't be. He didn't want her to be.

She's eleven?'

Yes.'

'Naomi is fourteen. The other missing girl you told me about, Leonie, she was fourteen, too. They went missing on their birthday. That age has great significance for him. This girl isn't of age yet. If you don't catch him, he'll be back for her. The girls serve some purpose. Purity, virginity perhaps.

The women, they have to die. The men, too. That elevenyear-old boy in your care, he's a target for certain. But the killer needs the girls. He can use them.' She brushed some imaginary dust from her lap. 'I'd hate to think what for.

One other thing: he has a plan he's working to.'

'A family tree, I suppose.'

Yes, obviously. He has a list of victims. But there's more to it than that.'

Foster nodded. He produced the print found in Sarah Rowley's grave. He told Susie about its origin.

She pulled a face but said nothing.

'Do you think this has any relevance?' he asked.

'Maybe. The bodies are laid out, but for burial. There could be something in that. This could be his motivation.

What is it?'

'That's it; we don't know.' He placed it on the table.

What do you think about our killer now; personal characteristics, that sort of thing?'

'If all this is linked, then he's stronger than I thought.

Fitter. He's determined. I stick to what I said earlier about him being charming, able to mix. Even more so if he managed to lure Leonie away. He has charisma, a compelling and persuasive nature. I take away what I said about him having previous with young girls. This is about much more than having his wicked way with the girl of his choosing.'

It confirmed all Foster suspected.

'I would say one other thing.'

What?'

'I don't think he's working alone.'

'He has a sidekick?'

'I didn't say that. Given how prolific he is, how he's working, I think he's receiving support in some way'

Who?'

'That's for you lot to find out.'

Will you come with me and say all this to Harris?' he asked plaintively.

She checked her watch.' I'm supposed to be somewhere twenty minutes ago. Can't you make your own case? I'll submit a report.'

We don't have time. It might have greater power if you came with me.'

Why?' She didn't wait for his answer, but saw a brief flash of amusement spread across his face. 'Because we're seeing each other?'

Until she said that last sentence in the present and not past tense, part of him had hoped Friday had been their one and only date and it had been an absolute disaster.

Yes,' he replied. 'I'm not flavour of the month.'

'I heard. You need to look after yourself. You went through a hell of an ordeal and you need to take things slowly, anathema though that might be.'

'Harris pillow-talking, is he?'

'Grow up, Grant,' she snapped back.

He held his hand up. 'Sorry. That was uncalled for. The fact still stands that I need you to help persuade him that there is more to this case than he thinks. That Naomi may well still be alive but that unspeakable things could be happening to her right now. That another young girl might have been kidnapped and abused. That another is under police protection and could be in danger. That an elevenyear-old boy is in very real danger of being killed.'

She looked at him, brow furrowed, for a few seconds then sighed. 'OK,' she said. 'Take me to him.'

'Thanks.'

'Don't mention it.' She started to collect the papers, then looked at him with a wide grin, blue eyes dancing.

'So. You're jealous?'

As Foster was leaving his office with Susie his phone rang.

Barnes. Despite the background sound of traffic and the wind that distorted the call, Foster listened as Nigel told him about the missing newspapers, the vault and its restricted access. He knew that even if the answer wasn't in those reports, it remained their best hope. He told Barnes to go home and stand by the phone. He ended the call and made his way to Harris, Susie at his side, with even greater purpose.

DS Harris oozed frustration. Even the presence of Susie failed to act as any sort of balm. He kept taking deep breaths and rubbing his hand across the back of his neck, kinking it back as if seeking relief. Foster could see the lack of sleep, as well as the lack of progress in finding Naomi, was taking tangible toll. Blokes like Harris were expected to get results -- and they had nothing.

'Tell me you have a breakthrough, Grant,' he sighed.

'God knows we need one.'

I've got him at exactly the right time, Foster thought. He told him about the Mormon link. Through his weariness, Harris still managed to contort his features into a look of incredulity.