The Cold Room by Karen Long

Author:Karen Long [Long, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-05-07T23:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

Laurence was trying to prioritise his actions but intense pangs of guilt and Monster’s unremitting bark were having an adverse effect on his thinking. He’d called Susan Cheung and was now waiting for confirmation of Crime Scene’s ETA. Raven was on her way and, by his estimation, would be with him in about ten minutes. He could see PCs Stamfort and Barns making their unhurried way over to him from the opposite side of the street. Unlooping Monster and standing in front of the steel door, he waited for their arrival.

The two officers, immediately appreciating the implications of discovering Veronica Sizemore in the same spot as the dead dogs, galvanized themselves into action, cordoning off the area and preparing to receive the numerous teams that supported a murder investigation.

“Is he a serving officer?” asked PC Stamfort, nodding in Monster’s direction.

“He’s trained,” answered Laurence vaguely.

“I’ll have him with me while you secure the scene,” he said helpfully. Taking the leash from Laurence’s hand, he leaned towards him. “It’s definitely Miss Sizemore?”

Laurence nodded. “It’s her.”

“Shit,” he said, with feeling.

Laurence caught sight of Claddis McAvoy pulling into his parking space and looking at them with a puzzled expression.

“More shit to come,” said Laurence, lifting his chin towards McAvoy, who was hurrying over to them. “You know who that is?”

“I know him,” snarled Stamfort. “I’ll get rid of him, till you’re ready.”

Eleanor, spotting Laurence and the two patrol officers, manoeuvered her car across the entrance to the parking area and jumped out. Waving her badge at PC Stamfort, she made her way over towards Laurence. “Are you sure?” she asked.

He nodded uncomfortably.

“OK, walk me through,” she said, pulling plastic booties over her shoes and handing spares over to Laurence. Keeping close to the wall, to avoid overstepping any viable shoe prints, she made her way down the steps and into the boiler room.

Laurence opened his mouth but Eleanor put her finger up to silence him.

“Later.” He nodded uncomfortably.

“What do you see?” she asked him, gazing at the body.

Laurence took his time. “She’s been beaten and looking at the lack of congestion, I’d say she was probably dead when she was strung up.”

Eleanor nodded and shone her torch at the face. “How long has she been missing?”

“This is day three,” he answered, feeling his cheeks redden.

“Uh-huh. She looks about three days dead to me. Agree?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Is there a weapon?”

“I haven’t seen one in here.”

“Have you searched the area?”

“Not yet,” he replied.

Eleanor inhaled and counted. “Perhaps you’d better go and take a quick look around,” she said, her voice sounding tight. “I’m going to need the photos of the dogs. You took some?”

“On my phone. I’ll send them.”

She nodded. “Who are we going to be looking for?”

“Male. Late teens, early twenties,” he paused. “Local. Strong and probably white.”

She nodded. “That’s what the stats tell us. Speak to Ruby Delaware, and if this guy’s local, then you’d better get those two patrol officers to start running through likely names. Did I just see Claddis McAvoy?”

“Yeah,” he nodded glumly.

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