To Cast a Shadow Chapter One #3
“Remorse, maybe.” Taz studied the scene. “Forensics are on their way. They were held up at a pub brawl.”
“Early for that.”
“Or late. Some dickhead had held a couple of people hostage in a pub. No one’s dead so it’s not our problem. This is though.” He folded his arms and carried on scanning the scene in front of us.
“She’s been dumped here. In which case, how’d they get the body here and where was she killed?” A scuffle of feet made us both turn around.
Saira Mizra made her way in, taking photos of the body in situ. “Well, I’m now put off candlelit dates.”
“I’ll let Vinny know.”
She spun her head to look at me. “That won’t be necessary. I’ve already told you his penis would need a very small specimen jar. I don’t need to recheck it either to see if it’s grown.”
“I’m not sure I need to know this.” Taz pointed at our vic. “Anything you can tell us?”
She took more photos. Usually that would be forensics’ job, but in their absence and Dr Miz’s time being a precious commodity, she did it herself rather than wait.
“I’ll start with stating the obvious: we have a young female between the ages of fifteen and twenty with significant bruising around her neck that’s red rather than purple, suggesting that the injury was sustained shortly before death.
Superficial cuts are visible; I’ll need to examine her more closely to see if these were self-inflicted or done by someone else.
Early signs of decomposition; it was a hot night so if she’d been here more than twenty-four hours, we’d have a lot more insect activity.
I’ll get more photos and then move the body.
Forensics are going to have kittens when they see this. ” She cast a wider look.
There were empty bottles of alcohol, cheap cocktails and beer, cans of lager and cider. At some point, someone had started a fire. Cigarette ends and vapes, a condom or two; although I couldn’t imagine being desperate enough to have sex with anyone here.
“Let’s hope they don’t have those kittens here,” Taz said, looking around, his face stone. “There’s going to be enough to go through.”
“Do you agree she died elsewhere?” I asked Dr Miz.
“I’ll be able to tell you more when I get her on my table, but I’d have expected to see more signs of a struggle in the area if she had.
” She bent down next to the body, examining the marks around her neck.
“We may be able to tell from the bruising from which angle she was strangled. I can’t do that here, but I will say I think someone used their hands rather than a ligature.
Give me a few days and a decent portion of your budget and I might be able to get some measurements for you. ”
I felt impatience brewing. That was my issue sometimes; I couldn’t wait.
I needed to know things now and sometimes that couldn’t happen.
DNA didn’t come back from the lab in hours; it took weeks, if not months.
Forensics had a backlog, and while we could ask for certain things to be bumped up the list, it still took time.
“Thank you.” Taz had hold of his phone again. “It’s good old fashioned police work for now. When will you do the PM?”
“This afternoon, probably about two. Can I expect you to attend?” Dr Miz’s attention was now fully on Taz.
“Yep. I’ll be there. Mia, you ready?”
It was a suggestion to leave the area, that we’d spent enough time there now. I followed him back to the path, two CSIs and Dr Miz’s assistant walking towards us.
Taz met them, giving directions where he wanted checking, no words minced, no room for misinterpretation.
“When’s the last time you were involved in a murder investigation?” I asked when we were out of earshot.
“Are you questioning my credentials for the job?” He wasn’t smiling.
“No. I’m just curious. You seem to know what you’re doing, which for someone who’s done four years undercover, interests me.”
“There were two murders in the building where I was based. I was the inside guy. I also wanted this position, so I did my homework.” He didn’t look at me.
“Were you ever a target?”
“Yes. Do you think Chloe was killed here?” He switched the topic.
I looked up and down the path. “This isn’t a park where women walk on their own unless they have a reason to, like to walk their dog. She’s been here hours, not days. I can’t see why she would’ve met someone here or gone for a walk round here at night. I don’t think it’s opportunistic.”
“She’s not been walking here, and he’s grabbed her from behind. I’d agree with that. I think they’ve brought her here after killing her—but how, and how did they get the body here?” We started to walk the opposite way from which we’d come.
Taz scanned the area ahead. “He’ll have driven here, parked up somewhere that’s not overlooked and moved the body either down the path or through the vegetation. Chloe probably weighs around a hundred pounds at most. Depending on him, he could’ve carried her.”
“And drawn attention to himself.”
“Depends. After midnight here, blind eyes won’t notice, if there was anyone out.” He came to a stop. “There.”