Page 24 of Her Last Walk Home

‘Earlier today. I called him to let him know I had a viewing. That’s you two.’ She glanced at Boyd, who’d come back into the house. ‘You never said you were detectives when you phoned.’

He blushed slightly, but recovered quickly. ‘I’m sorry about that, but I thought it best not to mention it.’

‘You should be grateful that we were with you when you opened the door,’ Lottie said.

‘If it wasn’t for you,’ Charlie eyed Boyd, ‘I might never have opened it at all. Now I’m going to have nightmares for the rest of my life.’

23

Jane Dore, the state pathologist, arrived shortly after the forensic team. Once she’d finished her preliminary examination of the body, Lottie walked with her to the hall. Out of Charlie’s earshot.

‘It’s great you got here so quickly.’

‘I was finishing up with the victim from this morning,’ Jane said. ‘I was still in Ragmullin.’

‘And our man back there, can you tell me anything?’

‘Male, mid to late twenties. Single wound to the back of his head. Blunt-force trauma.’

‘Why all that blood?’

‘Cracked his skull. Didn’t die immediately, though he was immobilised. In fact I’d say he had a slow and painful death. I’ll know more once I conduct his post-mortem. And don’t ask me how long he’s been dead, because I don’t know. The heat in here played its part. How can people live in such warm houses? It’s way too hot.’

‘Maybe tell that to Boyd. He’s thinking of buying one. Hence why we were here.’

‘Well, lucky for you. Another couple of hours lying undiscovered and the body would have been smelling to high heaven with flies buzzing like an orchestra.’

‘What’s your take on the death of Laura Nolan? The young woman who was discovered on the cinema grounds this morning.’

‘Stabbed three times, also signs of strangulation. And before you ask, I can’t yet see anything to connect the chap here to her.’

‘Time of death for Laura?’

‘Hard to tell. She was out in the elements. I might know more when I examine her at the mortuary.’

‘Thanks, Jane.’

The pathologist disrobed from her protective suit at the front door, where a tent had been erected. Lottie watched her disappear into the dark afternoon.

Back in the kitchen, Charlie seemed to have recovered somewhat from the shock and was all business again. ‘How long do you think it will be before you remove him? The body, I mean.’

‘It’ll take as long as it takes. You’ll need to be formally interviewed. Fingerprints and DNA. That sort of thing. When can you call to the station?’

‘Now, if you want. I have no more viewings scheduled today. And it might be best to do it before the real shock sets in.’

Here was a woman with her head screwed on, Lottie thought. ‘I’ll phone ahead and have someone waiting for you so that you won’t be delayed unnecessarily.’

‘I appreciate that.’

Once Charlie had picked up her belongings and left, Lottie returned to the garage. Boyd was deep in conversation with Grainne, the SOCO team leader.

‘Find anything to help us?’

Grainne’s green eyes and Boyd’s brown ones looked at her above their masks.

He held up an evidence bag. ‘Phone. We’ll need the PIN, but Techie Gary should be able to unlock it.’

‘We need to know who the victim is first,’ Lottie said. ‘Let’s find the site manager.’

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