Page 86 of Her Last Walk Home

‘Hold it right there.’ Superintendent Farrell held up her hand and settled forward at her desk. ‘Weren’t there signs that this latest victim had been incarcerated?’

‘Yes, according to the pathologist when she was at the scene. Jane has yet to?—’

‘And it seems likely Laura Nolan was abducted off the street or from a pub, seeing as she was out Thursday night.’

‘Yes, boss.’

‘How can you link her to a woman who may have been incarcerated somewhere for however long? You haven’t even got confirmation that the wounds were caused by the same weapon. Come back when you have more.’

‘But we can’t identify her. We need the public’s help.’

‘Her body was only discovered this morning. We have issued an appeal for information via my media briefing and social media. Someone might yet come forward. Run her DNA, chase the pathologist and come back to me when you have the post-mortem report.’

Lottie decided to pedal back. ‘About the child. We have footage of him climbing over the wall close to where Laura’s body was found. We need to identify him. If I draw up details, can you make a plea for him to come forward?’

‘You think a kid watches my press briefings?’

‘His parents might recognise him and bring him in.’

‘Show me what you’ve got.’

She felt a twinge of apprehension. All she had was the grainy footage, but she ran it for Farrell.

‘I want a very good reason why I should make this public.’

‘We need to talk to him. He looks no more than seven or eight and that’s concerning. We have no footage of him coming back over the wall. He may have entered the housing estate that backs onto the cinema complex. I don’t think we can ignore his presence at the scene.’

‘Do a house-to-house then.’

‘We’re flat out as it is, and I haven’t got enough people for that unless you can allocate me more.’ Lottie knew Farrell would be thinking of costs and overtime without adding any more personnel to her spreadsheets.

‘Send me the best image you can grab from the footage and I’ll consider it.’

‘Thanks, boss.’

‘And Parker?’

‘Yes?’

‘Find that missing Shannon Kenny woman before she ends up dead like the other unfortunates.’

Lottie escaped out the door. In the corridor, she leaned against the wall to catch her breath. She was glad Farrell hadn’t mentioned John Morgan’s murder, because she had absolutely nothing to tell her.

62

Martina sent a hasty text to McKeown once Diana and her grandson arrived home.

‘You were gone a long time. Where—’ She clamped her mouth shut as Diana threw her a look that said,If you utter one more word I’ll thump you.

When she’d hung up the coats and folded the buggy into the corner, Diana switched on the television for the boy and began rifling through the cabinet drawers.

‘Can I help?’ Martina offered.

‘No, it’s fine.’ Diana pulled open the next drawer.

Martina settled on the arm of the chair where Aaron was sitting with his legs under him, remote in hand. ‘What are you looking for, Diana?’

‘My daughter is dead and you lounge around here, good for nothing but making tea. I’m fed up with it. I don’t need you here. I’d like you to leave.’

---