Twisted Power by Valerie Keogh

Author:Valerie Keogh [Keogh, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-07-07T22:00:00+00:00

28

Back in the station, Tom nodded to Lisa who had the phone glued to one cheek. Hanging his jacket on the back of his chair, he stood unmoving, names running through his head, nagging him. Imelda Green. Sally Dunsford. Anna Richards. There was a connection. He damn well knew it. Instead of sitting, he headed to the squad room and retrieved the other two files.

Lisa was still on her call so he sat, opened the files and took out the photographs of Imelda Green and Sally Dunsford. Then he took the photograph of Anna Richards, and lined it up beside them. He’d expected to see a similarity. He thought it would leap out at him and he’d be able to say, look see, they’re so alike. Instead, they couldn’t be more different.

A similar age, true. But Sally was a tall, willowy blonde; Imelda, small and dark; Anna, of medium height and build, with hair that was mousy except for a streak of pink that was obviously growing out.

But, the voice in his head nagged, Picasso’s victims hadn’t looked alike either.

Lisa hung up the phone, and came to stand beside him. ‘You think there’s a connection?’

‘Sally went missing four years ago, Imelda two, now Anna.’

Lisa looked at the photographs, and then at Tom. ‘Not exactly a riveting pattern, Tom. And they don’t even look alike. If you’re thinking serial killer, don’t they normally go for a certain type?’

Tom turned and frowned. ‘Not always,’ he said, ‘Do you know why Picasso chose the women he did?’

Lisa shook her head. ‘I read about the case, of course,’ she said, ‘but don’t remember the details.’

Tom sighed. ‘They were rude to him. Or he thought they were. That was all. That was the link between them. Nothing to do with looks, colouring or age.’ He looked up at her. ‘In two years, if another woman goes missing, will you still say it’s not a riveting pattern?’ He saw the reply on her face. ‘Exactly. If it happens again in two years, then we’ll have a better pattern. So...what? We wait two years, until another woman goes missing, and then do something.’

Lisa, annoyed, took a step backward. ‘I wasn’t suggesting we sit back, and do nothing Tom. But it’s a big leap to what you’re thinking, perhaps it’s just...’ She stopped, returned to her chair and sat down.

‘Just what?’ Tom said, his voice tight.

Lisa shook her head, refusing to answer.

‘You think I’ve been warped by the Picasso case. That I see serial killers everywhere. Is that it?’

Lisa used the same tactics she had with the Superintendent, and said nothing, sat back and let Tom’s ire roll over her. When he stopped, and glared at her, she said quietly, ‘I think we shouldn’t leap to conclusions. That’s all. It was, to an extent, easier with the Picasso case. You had dead bodies. We have nothing.’

‘Easier,’ Tom almost snarled.

Lisa shook her head. ‘You know what I mean, Tom,’ she said, keeping her voice even. ‘I’m on your side, remember?’

Suddenly deflating, Tom leaned back in his chair.

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