Steel and Shadows by Stuart Field

Author:Stuart Field [Field, Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crime Scene Books
Published: 2018-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

Having composed himself, Dr Davidson had returned to his room at the precinct and was absorbed with sifting through the new data on the victims. Installed behind his desk, which was now brimming over with paperwork, he made notes from this page and that. ‘Fascinating, oh, intriguing,’ he muttered to himself, as he went through the transcripts. He was utterly possessed by the case; this killer was, for him, the ultimate psychopath.

As McCall and Steel entered the room she knocked loudly, but he was preoccupied and didn’t seem to hear. She threw Steel a can you believe him look, then tried coughing, but still he didn’t answer.

‘Morning, Doc,’ she announced loudly. This finally had an effect. The doctor glared at her, and she stared right back at him. He seemed discomfited by her assertive presence. After all, he was usually the one in charge, but she had somehow turned the tables. It was an interesting new experience for him.

‘Can I help you, detective?’ he said slowly, his voice grating, ranging in pitch from high to low.

‘Well, yes, I thought that was the point of your being here?’

Steel tried to hide a smirk as she took the doc down a couple of pegs.

‘Forgive me,’ Dr Davidson apologized. ‘You see, I’m used to working alone, you understand, and, er…’

He only then seemed to notice Steel and stared at him in surprise. ‘Who’s this?’ He pointed to the second detective, who was studying the doctor’s information board.

‘That is Detective Steel, don’t mind him, he always wears his shades indoors, he’s British. I don’t think they have artificial light over there.’

Steel turned around and adjusted his sunglasses with his middle finger.

‘Pleased to meet you, sir.’ Steel stepped towards the strange doctor and extended a hand so they could shake, but the doctor ignored it and looked straight through him.

‘So, what have you got so far?’ Sam McCall asked, snickering to herself at the Englishman’s rebuff.

‘Well, your man is calculated, brilliant, methodical, and cunning, which may make him the most dangerous character you’ve ever tracked.’

They all moved forwards towards the information boards. There were pictures of the victims with any defining characteristics noted down under their names.

‘He is a master with the scalpel and other surgical tools and he is well-versed in their methods of employment,’ continued the arrogant medical man.

‘And you know this how?’ asked Steel, somewhat uncomfortable with the respectful tone Davidson used in describing the killer’s attributes.

‘Well, let’s look at the evidence. All the cuts are precise – whereas most lay-people, when they cut someone up, would create saw marks all over the bone.’ He pointed to a close-up picture of the severed stump where an arm had been removed.

‘As you can see, it’s properly separated at the joint. The synovial capsule has a straight incision, no jagged edges, no nicks on the bone. Our killer took his time and he knew exactly what he was doing.’

Steel peered closer at the photos and shook his head.

‘What’s wrong, detective, not got the stomach for this?’ The doctor tittered.

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