‘I think a punter flees the scene immediately after he kills her.’
‘I agree,’ Chandler said.
‘The presence of those fluids on her skin points to her having been murdered by somebody with time on their hands, which suggests they were confident of not being disturbed. It also reveals a cold and calculated mindset in taking anti-forensic measures. I believe she was disinfected and washed down, driven out to the chalk pits and dumped, then whoever did all that later summoned up a cleaning crew for her flat.’
‘But does that necessarily mean Drake was involved? Or anyone else from his organisation, for that matter?’
Bliss shook his head. ‘No. But neither does it rule out the possibility, so we have to look closely at them. Our victim – let’s call her Majidah Rassooli until we know for certain otherwise – worked for an agency run by Drake’s operation. It puts them and him in the frame. I suggest we hold firm on that to keep this investigation under our control. But we also know she tommed for at least one other agency. As a working hypothesis, we could say there’s a good chance that one of her employers caught her moonlighting and decided to take her out. It explains how the agency knew to clean out her flat. The only thing that doesn’t quite work for me at present is the location of the body dump.’
Bishop nodded his agreement. ‘It’s a problem. Why leave her out in the open to be found? Why not bury her or weigh down her body and throw it in the river?’
‘Perhaps she was left that way as a warning?’ Ansari suggested. ‘To the other girls, I mean. “This is what happens if you step out of line.”’
Bliss decided it was a genuine possibility. ‘That’s a good thought, Gul. It’s also another avenue for us to explore. We could speak to some of those other girls, ask if there’s been a general warning recently about them hooking on the side.’
Ansari put her next question to Bishop. ‘I don’t see them talking to us, do you, boss?’
After the slightest of pauses, he responded positively. ‘They might choose not to talk. But they won’t be able to stop us noticing the split second of fear in their eyes when we ask the question.’ Bishop’s own gaze switched to DCs Hunt and Gratton. ‘John and Phil, you two can pick up on that action. You can have the delightful experience of dealing with Nicola Parkinson this time.’
That lightened the mood. There was some chuckling from those who’d had the dubious pleasure in the past. But even though Bliss disliked the woman intensely, he at least had a rapport with her. He thought he and Chandler might squeeze more out of the situation. However, the look he got from his partner when he volunteered their efforts in place of the two DCs almost shattered his resolve. When the team broke for lunch, he did his best to pacify her, but she was not happy with him. Eventually he gave up trying.
Halfway through their break, Bliss took a call. He carried his hot chocolate out of the canteen and moved towards the stairwell, seeking privacy. Thirty seconds later he texted Chandler to tell her he was going off site for a short while and that she should wait for him in the squad room. He booked out a pool car – which raised a few eyebrows, considering he already had a vehicle assigned to his name – drove the short distance to the city hospital at Bretton Gate, found a parking space close to the emergency care entrance, and showed his warrant card at the reception desk. He gave the name of the patient he was there to see. Having checked the details on a monitor, the young man behind the desk provided him with clear directions.
As he turned away, Bliss almost collided with a couple of paramedics. He apologised, without paying them too much attention.
‘Mind how you go with those dodgy ribs, Inspector,’ one of them said.
This time he did look up. The female paramedic was staring intently at him, but Bliss could not place her. She was smiling, waiting for a response. When it became obvious none was forthcoming, she put the smile on full beam for him. ‘And there was me thinking I’d left a wonderful memory of our time together forever embedded in your heart. Tell me, Inspector, how many times have you been stripped to the waist and treated by a vivacious young woman while your car slowly disappears into a lake?’
Bliss couldn’t help but laugh. Even for him, what she had described was a rarity. ‘Kelly,’ he said, nodding to emphasise his certainty about who she was. ‘How are you doing?’
‘Still in at the deep end. You?’
‘Steering clear of lakes. I’m pleased to say I haven’t needed bandaging for a while.’
‘Shame. I’d be happy to help when you do. Always good to keep your hand in.’
‘I’ll remember that.’
Her partner dipped his head. ‘Do you two need a room?’ he asked.
Kelly smiled but kept her eyes firmly on Bliss. ‘I don’t know. Do we need a room, Inspector?’
Bliss knew she was teasing – only, he didn’t know for sure how much of it was a joke and how much of it she might follow up on if put to the test. His response ought to have been the same whatever her intent, but for a moment he found himself teetering on the edge. Laugh it off, or take it further? He’d sensed an interest from her when they’d met, but that was a long time ago and things had moved on a great deal – for him, at least. He glanced down at her left hand, saw no rings. When he looked up again their eyes locked, and he knew she had noticed. He felt almost as
