She's not There by F E Birch

Author:F E Birch [Birch, F E]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Kat had the file ready for her meeting with the DI and the Chief Superintendent who had come over from Dundee especially. Statements, pathology, policy log, actions, mug of cold coffee. She looked at the office clock. Five to eleven.

She had to be at the crematorium no later than twelve thirty. Plenty of time. She called over to Guy. ‘Ready?’

Guy was reading a printout that had arrived in the post a few minutes ago. ‘Kat, you need to see this.’

‘Hurry up, the guv’s waiting. We’ll walk while we talk.’

Guy took the bundle of papers from Kat and handed her the A4 sheet. It was a lab report. ‘You remember when you told me to check then double check everything? Go the extra mile? Well, I thought I’d follow up on a few things, like the Frasers…’

As they climbed four sets of stairs, Kat read, squinting. She held the paper further out, then a bit closer in. ‘I really must book an eye test. Still free here?’

‘Yes, get in quick, they won’t be for much longer.’ Guy pointed to a section in the last third of the report. ‘This is the important bit. I got the DNA profiles checked against each other.’

Kat read the paragraph. And read it again. ‘What exactly does this mean for us?’

‘I’m not entirely sure … could be significant … I think?’

‘Turns it up a notch though, doesn’t it?’ Kat stopped on the next landing and looked at him. ‘We’re going have to think this through. Carefully. But first, the Chief, and not a word yet.’

‘Got it!’

Kat wasn’t prepared for the Chief and his point of view. There was never an endless pot of money, she knew that, never enough manpower and demands always exceeded need, but connections and systems meant there was usually someone somewhere who could help. She was learning quickly that things were different now.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Shaftoe looked the kind of boss who might squeal if his hands got dirty. She knew his type. He was a far stretch from the old-fashioned kind of senior officer she’d learnt her craft from and she’d be surprised if he had twelve years in the job. She suspected he was a fast tracker, a spokesperson, more a politician than policeman.

Once Kat had finished relaying the facts, he jumped straight in.

‘You see, DS Dubois, this isn’t even a murder, is it? The first coat of paint is dry on this now and we need the second layer to bring it to a close. There’s some misunderstanding somewhere along the line. There has to be a straightforward explanation and I would have thought with your expertise, you’d have found it by now. We haven’t time for dragging heels.’

‘We are not. It doesn’t help that every enquiry takes us up down the A9 like we’re on elastic, and what with the road works and accidents, half our time is spent travelling. That’s without going across in the other direction to Dundee. Add in waiting time for toxicology and the like, people on leave, others with court cases, and the time disappears.

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