Arriving at the scene moments later, Paula had been gripped with shock and revulsion. She’d seen plenty of blood over the years, but that didn’t mean she’d lost sight of its significance. One life lost, other lives changed utterly. And now answers would forever be denied to those whose lives had been altered forever by Mark Conway’s crimes.
‘At least now we know he did it,’ Steve said when Paula walked through the door. ‘Innocent people don’t run.’
‘Well, that’s bollocks,’ Alvin said. ‘All sorts of reasons why innocent people run. I’m not saying Mark Conway was innocent, but we’re no closer to proving him guilty than we were last night.’
Paula crossed to her desk and sat down. Karim gave her a sympathetic look. ‘Should you even be here, boss? I mean, you’ve had a shock. You probably need a bit of space.’
‘I’m fine,’ Paula said. ‘I need to write my report while it’s fresh in my mind.’
Before she could start, Rutherford and Sophie walked in together. The DCI took a few steps into the room then stopped. ‘Well, that wasn’t the result we were looking for. We’ve got a dead body and a worryingly thin file of evidence.’
‘There’ll be forensic evidence in due course,’ Alvin said.
‘You hope.’ He shook his head in disgust. ‘Looks like DCI Fielding will be the one to get a clean result, even though it’ll only be assault, preventing the lawful and decent disposal of all those bodies, failure to register death. Small beer compared with serial murder.’
Paula and Stacey exchanged a look. They both knew policing wasn’t a competitive sport. Even the best results were always tainted with the crime that had preceded them.
Sophie, ever eager, chipped in. ‘Theoretically, you can get a life sentence for preventing the legal disposal of bodies.’
‘If it ever gets to court,’ Rutherford said cheerily. ‘From what we know, those nuns aren’t the kind of witnesses the CPS rejoices in.’ He frowned as the sound of Alvin’s phone ringing cut across his words.
‘It’s the lab,’ Alvin said, taking the call. Instantly he had everyone’s attention. ‘Hello, Doc.’ Then he frowned as he listened. ‘Just hold on, would you? I want to put you on speaker, we’re in the middle of a ReMIT briefing and the whole team needs to hear this.’ He fumbled with his phone then held it up. ‘Could you just say again what you told me?’
They all leaned in and strained to hear Chrissie O’Farrelly. The tinny voice said, ‘What I told you is that your idea of looking for invisible DNA that’s been stripped of its chromophores is looking very promising. One of our researchers is very keen to make it work and he thinks he’s worked out how to do it.’
‘That’s good news, Doc,’ Alvin said.
‘It’s interesting news, Sergeant. But it might prove to be unnecessary. We found a fingerprint on the end of one of the pieces of tape used to bind the body wrappings. Whoever did the taping clearly wore gloves. All we’ve got apart from this are smudges. But I think he had already used the roll of tape for innocent purposes. He wouldn’t have thought to cut off the first couple of inches before he put it to more nefarious use. So we do have a single clear print.’
‘Is it on the database?’ Rutherford butted in. ‘DCI Rutherford here, sorry we’ve not met yet, doctor.’
‘It’s not on the database.’
There was a collective sigh. Karim actually groaned.
‘But don’t worry,’ she continued. ‘I spoke to the path lab this morning and even though they’re up to their back teeth in human remains from the convent, a very helpful technician printed Mark Conway’s body when they brought it in.’
Paula realised she was holding her breath.
‘And?’ Rutherford obligingly asked.
‘It’s a match. We can definitely say that Mark Conway had handled the adhesive tape that bound one of the murder victims. I hope that helps.’
‘It takes us a long way down the road,’ Rutherford said. ‘You’ll keep on with the DNA though?’
‘It’s running as we speak. You know the chromophore theory is untried in the courtroom, yes?’
‘It’s not going to a courtroom, though, is it?’ Rutherford said. ‘But it’s going to cover our backs.’
‘Not for me to say. I’ll be in touch as soon as I hear anything.’ And the line went dead.
Before anyone could react, the door to the squad room opened and a uniformed PC hurried in, pink and flustered. ‘DCI Rutherford?’ He looked around, uncertain.
‘What is it, Constable?’ Rutherford asked impatiently. ‘I’m in the middle of something here.’
‘The custody sergeant sent me up. Martinu’s been with his solicitor. Now his cousin is dead, he’s insisting he needs to make a statement.’
Amid the exclamations, Rutherford said, ‘Sophie, take Karim and see what Martinu has to say for himself. Before the day’s out, I want him charged with illegal disposal on all the bodies, the girls and the young men. And accessory to murder. And no deals on the table.’ Everyone, including Sophie, looked surprised. Alvin muttered something under his breath as they made for the door.
‘DI McIntyre?’ Rutherford continued.
‘Sir?’
‘There will be an inquiry into this morning’s fiasco. Best thing all round is if you go on gardening leave till that’s done and dusted.’
Paula was taken aback. ‘That could be weeks. Months. And I’ve got my report to write.’
‘You can do that from home and email it in to me. You have to look at it from my point of view. It’s easy to interpret what happened out there as recklessness on our part. It’ll be all over the media, and social media. I can’t have you doing frontline police work until that’s laid to rest.’ He folded his arms across
