Cold as Ice (Willis/Carter #2)(54)

‘There are signs of damage here. I can’t rule out strangulation or asphyxiation. But with her being in such a poor state, any massive trauma could have been her last. I think she would have died quite fast after he began skinning her.’

‘She was alive when he did that?’

Harding nodded. ‘She wouldn’t have bled like that otherwise . . . she must have been.’ The remnants of trails of blackened blood were streaked down the woman’s body.

Carter looked around him, fighting back the nausea. He needed to breathe in the scent of the pines, the cold from the damp air.

‘Did she die here?’

‘No,’ said Harding. ‘She was definitely moved and placed here. Suspended from the wrists while he mutilated her. The blood has flowed in even paths down over her torso.’

‘Where’s the nearest car park?’ Carter asked, swallowing the taste of bile that filled his mouth.

‘About five hundred metres away,’ answered Sandford. ‘Down by the Lido.’

‘I suppose someone could carry her this far but would have to be fairly fit to get her up this hill.’ Carter looked at Sandford. ‘How else would you get her up here – by car?’

‘You can’t drive a vehicle up here unless you are one of the maintenance gardeners,’ replied Sandford.

‘I’ll see if there’s anyone on their staff list who has history, any padlocks broken or interfered with,’ said Ebony, taking out her radio. ‘And I’ll ask if there’s any CCTV footage we can find in any of the car parks around this side of the park.’

Carter looked around him.

‘He must have gone to a lot of trouble to put her on the Heath. He chose to place her here. He didn’t even try and cover her up.’

‘The snow did it for him,’ said Sandford.

‘But she was always going to be found. It’s too public. Just to stall us then maybe?’

They were interrupted by the approach of a familiar figure climbing the steep bank up towards the copse. Robbo was sweating despite the cold.

‘Any idea who she is?’ asked Carter.

Robbo was taking his time to study the victim. He needed time to see beyond the horror.

‘I have several people on my list I think it could be,’ answered Robbo. ‘I need some DNA confirmation first. Any operation scars?’

Harding ran her gloved hands down the woman’s limbs. ‘I’d say she’d had a few broken bones in her time.’

‘He’s left us a lot more clues this time,’ said Carter.

‘Is there evidence of sexual assault?’ asked Robbo.

‘Yes,’ answered Harding.

‘We might have a chance of getting a specimen of DNA from her then. When can you start the post mortem, Doctor?’

‘We need to wait till she thaws.’

‘How long will that be?’ asked Robbo. He had a million things now that were zapping across his database of a brain. All the photos of all the names on his list.

‘Twenty-four hours at room temperature.’

Sandford unpacked a new body bag and helped Harding wrap the body in its plastic sheet. As they lifted up her left arm a silver charm bracelet slipped to the ground, a silver heart uppermost.





Chapter 25


Tracy looked at her watch; Steve would be heading to work soon from the hotel. She ought to phone him. She prepared herself; a deep breath, a smile on her face.

He answered; she could hear the breakfast news on in the background.

‘Steve? Are you okay?’

He sighed irritably. ‘Is she back yet?’ His tone was sarcastic.

Tracy snapped. ‘It’s serious.’

‘Serious in what way?’ He still didn’t sound convinced.

‘The young woman found in Regent’s Canal was a friend of Danielle’s. The police think that the same man has Danielle. He’s keeping her hostage. It was terrible, Steve. He’s been phoning me.’

‘It’s probably some prank – the whole thing,’ he countered, not taking in what Tracy had said about the phone call. ‘I knew it would end like this. I told you she’d be nothing but trouble. So let me guess. We’re stuck with the kid? I’ll tell you where she is. She’s done a runner and left us with her disabled son to look after.’ His voice rose, almost hysterical. ‘Tell me he’s not staying with us permanently?’

‘I can’t, Steve. I can’t just abandon him. He’s not disabled – he has learning difficulties – special needs that’s all. He’s a lovely little boy and quite bright.’ Tracy found herself screeching back at him. As hard as she’d tried to stay calm, it hadn’t worked and she was tired of staying calm. ‘For God’s sake, he’s got no one else, Steve. It’s not his fault.’

‘She must have got friends, relatives of her own? She must have someone who can look after him?’

‘No she hasn’t. She’s got me and I feel like I have to. He’s my grandson – our grandson.’

‘He’s nothing to do with me.’

Tracy closed her eyes. Suddenly she felt exhausted by it all. She wanted to cry. Instead she put a smile back on her face.

‘I know it’s hard, love. I need your support right now. I’m not going to pretend it’s going to be easy but it just has to be done.’ Tracy reached down and began smoothing Jackson’s hair whilst she talked. He had just come into the kitchen.