There was a cough and a quiet voice beside them. ‘When you’re ready, Kent. I hoped to get a round of golf in this morning.’
‘Sorry, Doc. How does this body appear to you?’
The medical man grimaced and peeled off his disposable gloves. ‘Nasty. Pretty much like the previous one. This girl I think is slightly older; about eighteen I would say and, taking a quick guess, by the purple marking on the lower part of the body I think she was more than likely killed elsewhere and then was dumped here with her clothes folded up neatly beside her like the other victim.’
‘Could it be the same killer?’ Kent said gazing down at the latest victim where she lay in the tangled undergrowth of briars and tufted grass. Her blood streaked, velvet brown irises saw nothing of the sun shining down through the cathedral of green trees, and the wavering shadows from the leafy branches overhead that dappled and camouflaged her naked body. ‘Is it another local girl or a local? Could it perhaps be a copycat killing? Although I think we can strike that, Turner, as no details of the other victim have been given out so far.’
Turner put away his notebook. ‘So it looks like he’s done it again, guv.’
17
‘Yep. Another young girl in similar circumstances and not identified so far. Let’s hope someone comes forward with the right information pretty quick so that we can make some moves on the killer.’
In the Incident Room, there were loud groans all round when Kent announced the new crime. ‘We’ll have her picture ready to circulate as soon as they can make her look a sight better than when we saw her last. I wouldn’t like to be the one having to identity her. The poor woman who found her hasn’t got over the shock yet.’
‘Why do these young kids choose to come home late, on their own, from the nightclubs and dancing on the pier? You’d think that this girl would have been on her guard after the other death, sir.’
‘They never think that it’s going to happen to them, Carter.’
‘Well let’s hope they will be more careful when this one has been made public.’
‘You reckon?’
Turner took the last peppermint lump out of his pocket, popped it into his mouth and wished himself anywhere but there. ‘Going to the canteen, guv? Or do you want me to bring you a tea and sandwich up here? I fancy a bacon sandwich myself.’
‘Well - -you can get me one too. There’s a yawning hole in my stomach which needs filling. If we’re having brunch, Turner - see if they have any apple tart and custard? Oh, wait a minute, I’ll come along with you.’
They walked into the canteen and looked along the counter where someone was working at the stove. Turner grinned. ‘It’s a bit early but I expect Marie will fix us up okay, won’t you? Two teas to start with please, love.’
The canteen cook, a small blonde woman with a button nose, round rosy face and bright blue eyes, didn’t seem at all surprised to see them. She smiled and poured out their teas. ‘What are you after, Stan Turner? A bacon sandwich I suppose. Doesn’t our Carole feed you properly at home? Can I get you something, Inspector?’
‘A bacon sandwich will do me fine too.’
They took their drinks over to a table and sat down. ‘Another cousin, Turner?’
He grinned. ‘You’re getting warm. Marie’s my sister-in-law, guv. My brother, Eric’s, wife. She works extra hours Sunday morning sometimes during the holiday times. She’s putting her son, Richard through college. He wants to be a vet.’
Marie brought over the plate of sandwiches with a smile. ‘Here you are Stan, Mr. Kent. Is it right that there’s been another murder? Another young girl?’
‘I’m afraid so.’
She waited with a plump hand on the table top. ‘Do they know who she is?’
‘Not yet. Why?’
‘Well, my Eric said when he came in early this morning from his night shift that he picked up a young girl in his cab in the street near the Nag’s Head last night.’ She had their full attention immediately now. ‘And she asked to be taken to that old chapel at the back of the town on the West hill. So he made a quick comment like ‘isn’t it a bit late for a service?` But it didn’t go down very well with her. So he kept quiet after that.’
‘Did he say what time it was, Marie?’
‘Nearly midnight. He was going to take a break and have a snack. That’s how he remembered it being so late.’
‘Is there anything else you can tell us?’
Said she looked nervous when she got into his cab. Looked as if she wanted to change her mind at the last minute and hesitated, when he stopped outside the chapel. Then he asked her if she’d rather be taken straight home and she said, ‘No!’ A bit sharp with him she was.’