The Running Girls(31)

“Annie never told Frank why she disliked his brother so.”

“Bad blood runs in that family. The father was a nasty piece of work.”

“He still around?”

“No, long gone.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, Warren, did you get an alibi for Maurice?” It was a loaded question, and Laurie was reluctant to ask it, but with the similarities in the two homicides it had to be asked.

“He wasn’t a suspect,” said Warren, puzzled.

“OK, good to know. Thanks, Warren. And please, don’t go paying Frank Randall any visits.”

Warren sucked in his cheeks, offering her a brief shrug before moving off.

“What’s this about Maurice Randall?” asked Filmore, as they watched Warren shuffle back toward his car.

“I’m going to need to look at the Annie Randall investigation. The whole thing.”

“I thought you were certain that Frank Randall wasn’t responsible?” said Filmore, not trying to hide his sarcasm.

“I may have been a bit hasty there.”

“Annie Randall would have been your mother-in-law,” said Filmore.

“I’m aware of that. But she wasn’t at the time, and I didn’t start seeing David until much later.” Laurie had gone through so much over the last forty-eight hours, she had no intention of letting the investigation be taken away from her now.

“I may need to speak to the chief.”

“You’re kidding me,” said Laurie, heat rising to her face. “Lieutenant,” she added, as an afterthought.

“This is going to be news, Laurie. The lead detective happens to be the daughter-in-law of the original victim.” He shook his head. “We can’t risk anything undermining the investigation.”

Laurie inched closer. “Annie Randall died sixteen years ago. I have nothing to gain from this investigation other than finding out who did this,” she said, pointing toward the crime scene where Grace’s broken body was still being examined.

Filmore nodded. “I appreciate that, and I’m on your side. Hell, maybe they won’t even pick up on it. You carry on as normal for now.” He nodded down toward the crime scene. “Crosby wants to speak to you.”

Terrence Crosby was the lead CSI. Laurie had known him for ten years and they’d always got on well, rising through their respective ranks together. He nodded to her as she approached the knot of white-overalled figures still gathering evidence, the search for the murder weapon extending out into the grasslands.

“You remember the Annie Randall murder?” said Laurie, as they watched the paramedics preparing Grace Harrington for her transfer to the mortuary.

“Bit before my time,” Terrence deadpanned.

“You suggesting you’re younger than me, Crosby? I know for a fact that isn’t true.”

He made a little doubting sound. “If you say so, Laurie.”

“Well, I’m old enough to remember, and from what I can see of this poor girl, there are a number of similarities.”

“Of course I remember Annie Randall,” said Crosby. “I’ll have to look at the old pictures, but I agree the positioning of the bodies is similar, if not identical. It will be interesting to see if the cut to the carotid artery was by the same blade.”

The murder weapon that had killed Annie Randall had never been found, but the laceration had been caused by a blade 4.44 mm thick. “And the fractures to the legs?”

He nodded. “It appears both patellae have been fractured as well as the ankles, as I believe was the case with Annie Randall. Again, I’ll have to check, and obviously the autopsy will tell us more.”

“What else can you tell me?”

Terrence grimaced. “We’re going to have to wait for the ME’s report, but I would estimate the time of death to be within the last ten to twelve hours.”

If that was true, it suggested the killer had kept Grace in captivity prior to killing her. Laurie took in a deep breath. Her chest felt heavy, as if she was recovering at the end of a long run. They both knew there was a question being left unasked. Laurie wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer, but Terrence wasn’t going to volunteer the information. “The injuries,” she said, her voice wavering. “Post or pre-death?”

“Again, we’ll have to wait.”

“Come on, Terrence.”

He shook his head again, his eyes downcast. “From what I can remember, Annie Randall’s injuries were sustained when her husband attacked her and he fractured her legs before killing her. I would say something similar happened in this instance. If I had to guess, I would say this poor young lady was still alive when her legs were fractured.”





Chapter Seventeen


Laurie waited until Grace’s body was in the back of the ambulance before leaving the scene. Terrence and the CSIs would remain for the time being, working with her team in a final sweep of the surrounding area before darkness fell. She left Rodriquez in charge and returned to her car, calling Remi as she made the short journey to Frank Randall’s house.

“I’ve found Glen Harrington’s ex-lover,” said Remi, on answering. “A young intern by the name of Bonnie Webb.”

“You’ve spoken to her?”