Getting Warmer by Alan Carter

Author:Alan Carter [Carter, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction/Action & Adventure
ISBN: 9781782432630
Publisher: Michael O'Mara Books
Published: 2014-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

‘It’s not Ocean’s Eleven,’ snapped Hutchens. ‘Split-second timing, my arse. We’re talking low-level bikie scum and screws who can’t wipe their bums without an instruction manual.’

It was a rather uncharitable view of his colleagues in Corrections but DI Hutchens wasn’t well known for his generosity of spirit. They were in the waiting room at the mortuary. The Professor was busy on an overnight car crash but she’d be with them asap. Cato kept his mouth shut while his boss fumed. Hutchens was tetchier than usual today, despite the capture of Dieudonne.

‘Look, Wellard’s given somebody the shits, and Dumb and Dumber stepped up for the job. End of story.’

‘They were both due out later this year,’ Cato reminded him. ‘Now they’re looking at life.’

‘Like I said, Dumb and Dumber, these people rarely think about consequences. Look at the statistics. Master criminals and fiendishly clever plots just don’t figure. I agree that they’ve stepped up to do a job and I’d like to know who it’s for, but I don’t buy the collusion shit. That’s going too far.’

‘So we steer clear of Corrections staff for now?’ asked Cato.

‘We steer clear of Corrections staff, full stop.’

Cato looked at his boss for any signs of an agenda. Inconclusive. ‘Sure,’ he said.

They were saved by a summons from the pathologist’s assistant, a surfie-type with a scorpion tattoo on the inside of his wrist.

‘Lead on, Igor,’ said Hutchens.

‘Ha friggin’ ha,’ the assistant muttered.

Professor Mackenzie hadn’t come across anything like it before. ‘It’s quite an impressive way to kill somebody. A combination of force and almost pinpoint accuracy.’ She nodded in admiration. ‘Killing a man with a toothbrush to the brain. That’s creative, resourceful, very classy.’

Hutchens was less impressed. ‘Was that what did it or was it the stamping on the head?’

Mackenzie waggled her scalpel thoughtfully. ‘Six and two threes? The intracranial bleeding from the toothbrush would probably have led to death all by itself. But the stomping certainly sped things up and added a degree of certainty.’

‘I wouldn’t normally associate these guys with finesse and class,’ said Cato.

‘Ach, there’s no telling what a man can achieve when called forward in his hour of glory.’ Mackenzie’s assistant finished putting labelled bags of organs back inside the body ready for the closing sutures. ‘My report will be with you in due season, Inspector. Was there anything else, gentlemen?’

Hutchens gave her a grumpy shake of the head. Cato lifted a finger.

‘If you’ve only got a margin of a minute or so to work with, is this the best way of killing somebody in this situation?’

Mackenzie slipped off her butcher’s apron. ‘I’m not an expert in prison assassinations but I can think of at least half a dozen quicker, easier, and more reliable ways of killing somebody with limited time and means. A sharpened toothbrush through the eye to the brain isn’t high on my list.’ She ran her arms and hands under the tap and grabbed some paper towels. ‘But very theatrical, don’t you think?’

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