Lost in the Depths by Reynolds Steve

Author:Reynolds, Steve
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2024-01-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Over the next two days, they worked through the reports of missing girls. The number of reports was shocking and that so many investigations were still open made it even worse. Using the age of the victim, ethnicity and hair colour helped to reduce the numbers. But just in the Northwest, there were over fifty cases that needed to be reviewed. Andrea was beginning to think that this was going to be a mammoth task when she received a call from the lab. They had found a DNA match and did she want to come down to discuss it? Andrea and Helen went straight to the lab. Could this be the breakthrough that they needed?

“Inspector! I thought you might be interested in the results.”

“I have precious little else to go on, so I hope you have some good news for me.”

“We used the DNA extracted from the young woman and, as expected, there wasn’t anything in our database. So we widened the search to include familial relationships, and we got a hit.”

“From the criminal records database?”

“Her father has a criminal record and, in fact, is currently in prison.”

“Who is it?”

“Colin Barker.”

“Oh my god, the Body in the Bath Killer?”

“The very one. I had a look at his records and there isn’t any record of family other than his mother.”

“Boss, I’m sorry, but who is Colin Barker?”

“A very nasty piece of work. He was convicted of killing his boyfriend about fifteen years ago and there were grounds for believing that he had killed others, but it was never proved. But we need to see him and ask what he knows about his daughter.”

The following Monday, Andrea and Helen drove to Wakefield to visit Colin Barker. As a Category A prisoner, they’d had to arrange their visit via the prison governor. The list of requirements that they had to follow was lengthy, but they had little choice other than to comply. An early start and a journey in heavy rain along the M62 had left both of them feeling worn out even before they arrived in Wakefield. There was little parking near the prison, so they were forced to park some distance away and then walk in the rain to the prison.

They were allowed in through the main gate and then suffered an extended security check before finally being shown into an interview room. Then they were told that Barker would not be available for another half an hour. Andrea resisted the temptation to tell the prison guard what she thought of their punctuality and sat back to wait. They had surrendered their phones and laptops during the security check, leaving them with no choice but to just sit and wait for Barker to finally appear.

“What do you think he will be like, boss?”

“I don’t know. He’s been inside for a long time now. But from all accounts, he is still very dangerous. I had a look at the case again last night and he was only caught by chance. The takeaway next door to his flat had accidentally blocked the drain by pouring fat down the sink.

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