Belsay: A DCI Ryan Mystery by LJ Ross

Author:LJ Ross [Ross, LJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-01-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

While Ryan and Frank dug further into the life of the late Kimberley Foster, Jack and Melanie oversaw the transfer of human remains from the dockside at North Shields to the mortuary at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. A wide cordon had been erected to prevent any rubberneckers muscling their way through the gathering crowd while the remains were bagged and transported by a pair of sombre-looking technicians and, disappointed not to have caught a glimpse, the looky-loos eventually dispersed.

Melanie watched the last of them wander off in search of fried fish, and wondered whether she could stomach a bite to eat, since it was past lunchtime. “Shall we head over to the fish shop and have a word with the owner?” she asked of Jack, who walked beside her, lost in thought. “I could probably manage a few chips, now it’s over and done with.”

Jack made a non-committal sound in the back of his throat. “If you like.”

Mel glanced at him, then down at the wooden decking beneath her sensible walking boots. “What d’ you reckon about the body parts?” she asked. “Professional or amateur job?”

Jack thought about it. “Could be either,” he said. “I’d lean more towards a professional killing but, if they aren’t buried or drowned in acid, remains are usually weighted down more thoroughly than those were. The idea is for them not to be found too quickly.”

Mel grimaced, but nodded her agreement. “The cuts were clean,” she said. “Whoever dissected the body knew exactly where to make the incisions, and had the right sort of tools to perform the task neatly. That suggests to me a perp who’s either inexperienced but confident and well prepared, or someone who’s had plenty of experience in that line of work.”

“Neither option is particularly appealing,” Jack had to say.

Mel nodded. “I know what you mean,” she said. “It takes a certain kind of personality to handle a body like that. Somebody like—”

“Jeff Pinter?”

She cast a surprised glance in his direction, then nodded slowly. “Yeah,” she said. “Somebody like Jeff, if he was a killer rather than a forensic pathologist.”

“Both occupations need the same detachment, don’t you reckon?” Jack said, thoughtfully. “They say there’s a higher percentage of psychopathic personality types in medical professions and, let’s face it, we’ve known a few dodgy doctors in our time.”

She smiled. “You’re not wrong, but, don’t forget, there’s an equal number in the police force, so they say. Deviant personality types without empathy or remorse are often attracted to positions where they can exert significant power. It makes sense, when you think about it.”

“It would keep me up at night, if I thought about it too much,” he shot back. “Next, you’ll be telling me Frank keeps a stash of bodies in his basement.”

“There’d be no room, what with all the boxes of Turkish Delight he probably has stashed down there already.”

Jack smiled, finding it all too easy to imagine.

“Joking aside,” Mel continued, “Frank’s in the best shape I’ve seen him in years. How did he manage it? I always thought wild horses couldn’t drag him away from the Pie Van.

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