Chapter 10 #2
“This is true.” She started to give her instructions, Jenna advising her of the conditions and what’d already been done. The two of them were friends outside of work, joining up to go urban exploring, trawling through various abandoned buildings.
I watched as Dr Miz tracked down the smooth path, lacking any vegetation.
I was pretty sure this wasn’t the entry point for the body; that would be further upstream, but upstream where we wouldn’t know – it’d been footwork along the path.
The river travelled underground, beneath the Merseyway Shopping centre, and carrying on under the M-Sixty to its source where the other two river met to form it.
There was every chance our new victim had joined the river further along. This could be another forensic nightmare if she didn’t enter the water close by.
We’d get more information from the post-mortem. Dr Miz would be able to tell us roughly how long the body had been in the water, if she drowned or the wound on her back was fatal, and what damage had been caused from the river itself.
Dr Miz had put on waders, already in waterproof clothing, which I guessed was going to be the trend for the new forensic season, wading out to where the body was caught.
The power of the water over the weir meant I couldn’t hear the conversation between them.
It felt like I was watching a film, but the sound wasn’t working properly, just white noise.
“I think we might have ourselves a second victim.” Wrigley’s sudden presence made me jump.
“There are too many similarities, or we’re forcing a pattern that isn’t there. Stabbed, left in water, remote spots that are close to civilisation. They knew the areas where they were doing this, the locations are just under seven miles apart, so - ”
“Within a predictable radius for a marauder profile, if we’re looking at geographical profiling. I read those books you left for me.” There was humour in his voice. “So did Pam. I think she enjoyed them more than me.”
“Good, but remember this is a built-up area, so that range can shorten. I do think we need to really focus on the location. See what we can dig up on someone checking out the area, because they would’ve had to have known they’d be undisturbed and - ”
Dr Miz chose that point to reappear. “Okay, here are the headlines. Rigor mortis is fully fixed across all joints, consistent with twelve to twenty-four hours post-mortem in a cold aquatic environment, such as the one we’re stood besides, obviously.
I’d guess she’s been in there since yesterday evening.
This is different than your first; she hasn’t had time to break down in the same way.
There are multiple stab wounds to her back, so whether she drowned because she ended up face down in water or she died because of the injuries inflicted from the knife, I can’t say yet.
” She suddenly fell silent, her stare going straight over my shoulder.
I turned around and saw Vinny, who was keeping a safe distance. Best to ignore him and hope Dr Miz did too. One body in the river was enough for today.
“How are you getting her out? I’m assuming it is a female.” Wrigley was watching what was happening down at the bank of the river.
“I haven’t checked properly yet, but I’d say that’s accurate.
We’ll slide a body board underneath her and lift her out, making sure nothing bursts.
The temperature of the water will have helped – it’ll preserve the rigor for longer.
I’ll start the post mortem at six if you want to send a couple of officers down.
” She looked down at the officers about to recover the body, dressed in drysuits and holding throw lines.
“Don’t rush it,” she shouted to them. “Take your time because we don’t want any accidents.
” There was a pause while she found Vinny with her gaze. “I think I gave you similar advice.”
Vinny looked away from her. “Sir, I think we might’ve found where the body went in the water. I’ve got officers widening the cordon.”
“Good lad, let’s take a look.” Wrigley gestured for me to follow and we left CSI and Dr Miz to recover the body.
CSI would be there until dusk, recovering what they could from the site.
A couple of officers would stay, keeping an eye out for anyone with a gory wish to see the place where the body had been found, or if the perp themselves took a trip back to revisit their handiwork.
Stranger things happened.
We walked along the path that ran parallel to the river as it took an incline, creating more space between it and the water. Vinny came to a stop after about five minutes and pointed a few metres ahead where a CSI was already taking photos.
“I think she went in here. Look.” He pointed to flattened grass that was the introduction to a strip of land with broken branches and skidded soil, evident even though there had been a lot of rain overnight.
Wrigley nodded. “Aye, lad. I think you could be right. Let’s get this covered and preserve whatever we can, eh? This could be a bit of a break.” He instructed Vinny to crack on with securing the scene, and me to co-ordinate officers to search the area, looking for any CCTV or inhabited buildings.
“Do you still think this is the same person?” I asked Wrigley as we headed back to where the body was being recovered.
He shrugged. “I think it’s likely. Looks like this one was stabbed from behind.”
“So she went into the water, and trace evidence was lost. Again. This is someone who’s smart. I don’t think it was opportunistic – I think this was planned.”
“Which suggests a connection between the victims, although I’ll feel happier once we can discount the boyfriend.
” He briefly paused before we got to the melee of people, the CSI techs now bringing the body up onto the path.
“I want you and Nick to go to the postmortem. I know you did the last, you might find a connection others won’t. ”
“A fresh pair of eyes might see something I’d miss.” We were both laughing.
“Nice try, Mia Mac, nice try. I’ll see you back at the office about eight. It’ll be a late one tonight, I think, so if you’ve got a date planned, you might want to give him notice.” He patted my arm and started to pass on more orders, co-ordinating like he’d done a hundred times before.
I watched as the body of our new victim was moved along the path, the crime scene assistants moving carefully but competently.
A drone whirred above us, one of the techs controlling it to get an aerial view of where the body had been.
People moved like ants, everyone with their purpose, a team that was well-oiled and efficient.
What Wrigley’s team did was only the tip of the iceberg; there were the forensics team checking water samples, soil samples, looking at the weather over the last twenty-four hours, the river flow, the temperature.
They never received any of the glory when we cracked a case; it was only when a true crime show focused on a case that people realised just what went into it.
Maybe I should’ve done my research better before I chose this as a career or maybe given what my father did for a living, I was never going to have the choice.