Flawed Justice by Emma K Nichols

Author:Emma K Nichols [Nichols, Emma K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-07T16:00:00+00:00

17.

Tuesday 15th February

“Boss, I’ve got something,” Lisa said.

Grace looked up, coffee mug in hand. “Hit me with it.”

“Jo Simms, seventy-three, was one of Franton’s victims.”

Grace sipped her drink, taking care not to spill it. “And?”

“She died fourteen months after she was burgled by Franton.” Lisa looked up from her screen. “Her family tried to argue that Franton’s burglary had been the cause of her deterioration and subsequent death. Their argument was rejected.”

“Where did she live?” Grace asked.

“64 Paignton Street.” Lisa dipped a biscuit in her tea and ate it in one piece.

Grace plotted the address on the map on the board. “We now have four victims close to each other.” She allowed the information to settle in her mind. “Did the killer take Franton’s life because he believed that Franton had caused Jo Simms’ death and got away with it?” she asked.

Thankfully, they hadn’t found a single person within the judicial system who had worked on all their current victims’ cases, so it was looking more likely that the killer was someone who knew the victims of people he’d targeted. That was going to make the search for a link between the cases even harder.

“The cold cases weren’t about justice,” Lisa said. She flicked the biscuit crumbs from her blouse, studied the packet for a few seconds and eased out another. “There’s nothing tying them to the current murders. Neither had a criminal record, and there was no obvious reason for revenge or justice being the motivation.”

Grace agreed. “We have to focus on the current murders and anticipate who might be next on our killer’s list.”

“I’m still working through the list of potential targets from prison intel and victim profiling, but it’s difficult to predict,” Jack said. “We’ve got an Ellen Frazer who’s being released on March the seventh, but she was sentenced for petty theft. I can’t see why he would target her. I haven’t come across anyone else that close to town.”

“Extend the radius to offenders who lived within five miles of the town centre before being sentenced,” Grace said. “We’re looking for people who committed serious offences, not petty crime.” She turned back to Lisa. “And Jo Simms’ family? Anyone there?”

Lisa shook her head. “The family were angry and upset at the time, but none of the relatives have any previous, let alone anything that would suggest they were capable of something like this. They’re well known and respected within the community. Her husband worked as a church warden.”

“Right, okay. Is there anything in any of the religious texts about paying for a life?” Grace asked.

If someone had a strong connection with the church, a motivational passage could have given them the impetus to right a wrong, and especially if they were passionate because they knew her.

Lisa dunked another biscuit. “I don’t know about that, but it’s possible that someone within her church friends wanted to avenge her death.”

“Okay, find out who else she knew and who moved within her circle at the time. Remember, we’re also looking for someone who could have access to the criminal justice system databases.

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