Chapter 19 #2
Linh covered Fox-Carnell’s body with the surgical drape. ‘I don’t know yet. I only sent samples to toxicology this morning but, from the look of her, I didn’t see any of the usual signs of poisoning.’
‘Someone wanted to punish her before she died,’ said Henley.
‘It’s more than a punishment. It’s torture.’ Ramouter’s phone was ringing. ‘It’s Anthony. Must have an answer on forensics for Fox-Carnell. I’ll take it outside.’
‘I don’t envy you,’ said Linh as she peeled off her gloves, threw them into the yellow wastebin and washed her hands. ‘I’ve never seen anyone scalped before.’
‘Neither have I,’ said Henley, following Linh into her office.
‘You know that the images are all over social media, right?’
Henley sighed. ‘I know. It turns our investigation into a spectacle and makes our jobs harder.’
‘Speaking of your job,’ Linh said with a noticeable glint in her eye. ‘How are things with you and Pellacia?’
Henley rolled her eyes and groaned. ‘Do you know what, I’m more than aware that I’ve put myself in this stupid position but I’m doing my best to move on. Focus on family and on my job, but he makes it hard.’
‘What do you expect. You keep playing with his heartstrings and his d—’
‘Linh!’
Linh laughed. ‘You take away all my fun, but I seriously don’t know what you expect. The way that you two go back and forth. It’s not healthy and, if I’m honest, it’s not fair.’
‘Fair to whom?’
It was hard to miss the defensiveness in Henley’s tone. Linh raised her eyebrows in warning.
‘To him,’ Linh said firmly. ‘He’s the single one, pining away and waiting for you.’
‘Are you saying that I’m leading him on?’
‘I didn’t say that. I’m just saying that this back and forth is a dangerous game.’
Henley felt her shoulders slump. The energy it took to defend herself – especially when she knew that she was in the wrong – was exhausting.
‘Bloody hell, you don’t have to look so dejected,’ said Linh.
‘It’s hard not to, especially when Rob has been working really hard on—’
‘Not being a twat?’
‘Linh!’
‘Where’s the lie?’ Linh asked with a laugh.
‘Rob’s doing better and also, Pellacia has moved on.’
‘With Laura Halifax MP?’ Linh snorted. ‘The poor cow doesn’t realise that she’s only getting a piece of him. It’ll never last.’
Henley bristled. ‘Enough about him. I need to ask a favour. An unofficial request.’
‘What is it?’
Henley removed the memory stick from her pocket. Linh’s facial expressions changed from surprise to stone cold seriousness as Henley explained what Eloise had asked her to do and what Ezra had discovered.
‘Why are you indulging Eloise?’ Linh asked. ‘It’s not good for you. It’s not good for anybody.’
‘I’m regretting saying yes,’ Henley admitted. ‘But I need you to go over the full post-mortem report for Rhimes that Ezra found. We only ever had sight of his death certificate. I’m praying that Ezra made a mistake and that there’s a good reason for the discrepancy.’
‘Ezra make a mistake? Really?’
‘Yeah, I know. It’s unlikely.’
Henley felt a panicked flutter in her chest. This request was another step closer to confirming Rhimes’s murder. She wondered if it was too late to take it all back. To tell Linh to ignore her.
‘Fine. I’ll do it,’ said Linh. ‘Have you told the others? Pellacia, Stanford?’
‘No.’
‘Don’t you think they have a right to know?’
‘They do, but not right now. Only if there’s something to tell them,’ said Henley as the door swung open and Ramouter re-entered the room.
‘What did Anthony have to say?’ Henley asked.
‘He took DNA swabs from Fox-Carnell and there was a match,’ Ramouter explained.
‘Why are you standing there with a face like a slapped arse. A match is good news,’ Linh exclaimed. ‘That means you’ve got a suspect, right?’
Ramouter rubbed his forehead. ‘No, it doesn’t. The DNA retrieved from Fox-Carnell matched DNA samples retrieved from Graham Ashcroft’s clothing and the blood found in the kitchen.’
‘Excuse me,’ Henley said. She stepped towards Ramouter forcing him to look up at her.
‘That’s not all. There was a lot of blood on that kitchen floor and DNA analysis produced matches for three people.’
‘Don’t tell me.’
‘The third DNA profile is a match for Tabitha Ashcroft,’ Ramouter confirmed.
Henley closed her eyes, raised her face and cursed the sky. ‘For fuck’s sake.’
‘I know. I know.’
‘The person who nearly killed Graham Ashcroft is involved in the murder of Fox-Carnell. Shit,’ Henley said. ‘You always said from the beginning that the Ashcrofts’ aggravated burglary was too violent.’
‘I just can’t figure out why Ashcroft would be a target. There’s no such thing as a perfect victim but I could understand why someone would seek Fox-Carnell out,’ Ramouter replied, just as his phone started ringing again. ‘Oh.’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing, there’s no caller ID. But. What if … what if it’s—’
‘I’m sure that everything’s fine,’ Henley said reassuringly. ‘It’s probably nothing to do with Michelle.’
‘Most likely someone trying to sell life insurance,’ said Linh.
Ramouter gave a tight smile as he accepted the call. ‘Hello. Oh. DC Copeland. Sorry, yeah. Nia. What can I … seriously? How long? Right. Right. Ok. Thank you for letting me know. Of course. Not a problem. Thanks again. Bye.’
‘Nia?’ Henley asked. She folded her arms when she caught the slight flush on Ramouter’s cheek.
‘That was … well you heard who it was,’ Ramouter said, putting his phone away. ‘Tabitha Ashcroft just called DC Copeland and told her she’s on her way to the hospital.’
‘It’s been nearly a week since someone used her husband as a human target and she’s just turning up now?’ said Henley incredulously.
‘Copeland said that Tabitha should be there in forty minutes.’
‘Graham Ashcroft is at King’s, right?’
‘Yes, he is.’
‘Denmark Hill. We’ll get the train,’ said Henley, grabbing her coat. ‘If we leave now, we might catch her before she has a sweet reunion with her husband.’