Page 52 of Her Deadly Promise

‘I know this is hard,’ – Gina swallowed, remembering to treat the man as a victim for now – ‘but would you mind stepping out of the house so that any evidence won’t be disturbed? Please stand outside until forensics have finished, and I’ll come and speak to you in a moment.’

Firstly, she needed to see the crime scene. She wanted to compare the letters on the wall to those that she’d seen at Billie Reeves’s house, and she wanted Bernard’s initial take on what had happened. Deep down, panic was rising for the young missing woman.

‘Of course not. I want my wife found. Please find her.’ He nervously scratched his chin.

Gina wished the man’s response seemed genuine but something in his eyes told her that everything coming out of his mouth was because of expectation. He had to act like the worried husband.

‘Are forensics just swabbing things and looking for fingerprints?’

Gina nodded, knowing there was a lot more to it.

‘They won’t go through all my drawers and cupboards, like on the TV. It won’t be left in a mess. And my son’s bedroom, nothing will be disturbed?’

‘We’ll be as respectful as possible. I’ll make sure of that.’ She tilted her head and bowed her head slightly.

Gina put on her crime scene suit and boot covers before proceeding through the house. Although thin, the extra layer made her feel like she was a boil in the bag meal. ‘I’ll come and speak to you in a few minutes.’

He grunted a response and stepped onto the drive.

Gina heard Bernard’s voice coming from the garage. Stepping plates had been arranged from the kitchen to the utility and to the garage. She carefully used them until she reached the internal garage door, leaving a tinny echo with each step she took. A welcomed coolness hit her as she cleared her throat to get his attention.

‘Ah, DI Harte. If you could stay by the door, that would be great.’

‘Sure. Bernard, can you tell me anything? I know you haven’t had much time to process the scene yet.’ A crime scene officer completely covered in a white suit nudged past her with a camera. The other one was bagging up a brochure that was dotted with blood and various numbered markers had been placed.

‘Yes. The spatter tells us that the victim was struck about here.’ He stood by the wall.

‘And all the brochures?’

‘There are specks of blood on them which means they’d already been scattered all over the floor before the victim had been injured.’

‘So, there may have been a struggle?’

‘It looks that way. There is also a trail of blood on the floor. It’s not too heavy which is why you can’t see much but it runs from here, to here.’ He pointed. ‘It’s consistent with the victim trying to crawl away. The garage door is also slightly open. We couldn’t tell from the outside on arrival, but it hadn’t clicked back into its locked position.’

‘Looking like the perp may have taken our victim through the garage door and into a car?’

He nodded. ‘Yes, because look here.’ She gazed at the grey concrete floor. ‘There are more specks of blood and a scuff mark from a shoe that is consistent with the victim being dragged on her back and it disappears at the edge of the garage.’

‘Do you have the victim’s phone?’

‘There is no phone in the garage, the kitchen or the utility room.’

Again, the phone had gone. Billie’s had also been taken. ‘The writing on the wall, is it the same pen as the writing at Billie Reeves’s house.’

‘It’s a definite match. We have logged the exact colour and make from the previous crime scene which made it easier to match this time.’

‘How common is the pen?’

‘It’s sold everywhere. It’s a basic permanent marker that can be bought anywhere from supermarkets to pound shops. It’s cheap and there are millions of them out there.’

‘Have you found anything else?’

‘A red hair but again, we’re thinking it will be a match from the friend who discovered the scene. There is still so much to do. We should have more in a short while.’

‘Is it okay for us to look around the house or do you need more time?’

‘The attack took place here but if you remain suited and go with care, the other rooms should be okay to search. Mr Anderson came in through the front door and he only went in the snug. Your officer managed to keep him away from the corridor, the kitchen and the garage.’

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