Page 45 of No Safe Place
‘It’s linked,’ she answered, grimly. ‘Our victim was found in the street by a Callum Mulligan. He told the skipper who was first on scene that he can’t leave the house – OCD.’
‘Fuck,’ Riley breathed.
‘I’ve only managed to get a few words out of him. He’s in shock, but he’s confirmed he was in the Maudsley with Sam. They were both part of the trial.’
‘So that’s two of our five missing kids—’
Field nodded.
‘Fuck,’ Riley said again.
He followed her gaze fifty metres up the road, to where the huddle of paramedics blocked the figure in the road from view.
Field lowered her voice. ‘Victim is a woman this time. Samantha Hughes. Still alive, but barely. It’s not looking good.’
‘So that’s two attacks in twenty-four hours.’
Field took a steadying breath. Everything was turned on its head, now they were looking for a serial offender. Prioritising the right lines of inquiry was crucial, when you had an attacker who could be poised to strike again.
Multiple attempted murders, potentially escalating. The onlylink between them a completely anonymous medical study from fifteen years ago.
Field turned back to Riley, and caught the gleam of excitement in his expression. ‘Where do you want me?’
She shot a glance back at the house. ‘Sit with Mulligan. Keep him calm, and don’t question him until I’m there, okay?’
‘Boss,’ he said.
Riley adopted a more solemn expression and hurried towards the house.
A tall, red-haired paramedic was in charge of keeping Field up to date. She kept her focus on him, and not the victim.
Field clenched her jaw as he put his hands on his knees and pushed himself up to standing.
A few paces, and he was next to her.
‘Anything?’ she asked in a low voice.
He shook his head. ‘No. No response.’
After twenty-five minutes of sustained CPR, defib, epi, fluids – the victim still had no vital signs.
‘Time?’ Field asked, simply.
He nodded. ‘I’m going to ring the medical director. He needs to call it.’
The CPR continued, the paramedics sweating – pushing themselves like it had only been thirty seconds, like there was every chance she’d pull through at any moment.
Field exhaled. She took out her notebook, flicked it open, made a note.
Time of death:
Her pen hovered over the page.
Chapter 25
Thursday | Early hours
Field
