Page 54 of No Safe Place
Field held up a photograph of Callum, cropped close onto his face.
‘She was found by this man. Callum Mulligan, also thirty-two. The ambulance was called by a neighbour.’
A few frowns around the room.
Field glanced at Wilson, who cleared her throat and said: ‘From some interviews and articles he’s written, I think Callum is Patient D. Something called magical thinking – about numbers.’
‘Thanks,’ Field said, adding the label “PATIENT D” above Callum’s photograph.
‘Any leads on the other three kids?’ A voice – Field didn’t catch who it belonged to.
‘No. As soon as Callum Mulligan is fit to be interviewed, he may be able to shed light on that. Either way,’ Field said. ‘Any of the other three patients could be our perpetrator, or our next victim.’
Wilson nodded, and opened her mouth to ask a question, before sticking her hand in the air.
‘Yes?’
‘We should go through the hospital admissions in the local area, in case this person has committed other stabbings, but not on our patch.’
‘Yes, good point, Wilson.’ Field paused. ‘Early blood-spatter analysis suggests that the perpetrator cut themselves during the attack. It’s unlikely they’d seek medical attention, but it’s also worth pursuing.’
Wilson nodded and made a note.
‘I also want us to look for any link between David Moore and Samantha Hughes. If they have been targeted in connection to each other, let’s not take for granted it’s solely related to the 2010 trial. We didn’t find anything on Samantha’s phone download, but I’d like to get a download of her home router, too. We need to search Samantha’s home for a second phone, and I’d like cell-site mapping done on her and David in the past three weeks, to see if they were together at any point.’
She directed most of this to a red-haired digital forensics specialist at the back of the room.
Field turned back to the board. ‘We need to expand door-to-door to include more streets, in all directions, from both scenes. Even if no one saw or heard anything, there’ll be something on one of those bastard doorbells. I want everyone and anyone who was out walking or driving on the streets of Plumstead at that time of night traced, interviewed and ruled out. We have a violent, unstable perpetrator out there.’
‘Unless they’re not “out there” anymore,’ Riley said, in a low voice.
‘Right.’ Field snapped. ‘Yes – Callum is, of course, a person of interest.’
Field had seen him, shaking in the middle of his livingroom. The state he was in, the state of the house. That animal fear – it wasn’t something you could fake. Field’s gut said that he was caught up in something much bigger, which none of them understood yet.
Field tapped the board marker against her palm. ‘Mulligan is currently undergoing an assessment in a psychiatric unit. If he did it, he’s not going anywhere, but right now we have no motive and nothing concrete placing him at David’s murder.’
‘And why is he in the unit?’ Wilson muttered.
Riley flushed. ‘Does he need a motive? He’s had a breakdown, lost it and stabbed his therapist. Then, what if Sam guessed Callum attacked the doctor, and went to confront him about it?’
He shot a look at Field, knowing he was pushing it. Wilson opened her mouth to retort, but Field put a hand up.
‘I know none of you listen to anyone round here, but if you pay attention to any instruction I ever give you, then let’s make it this one. Do not make assumptions. Let’s not assume that because Mr Mulligan has a mental illness that he’s somehow taken leave of his senses and decided to attack people—’
Wilson nodded, emphatic.
‘And at the same time, let’s not assume that Mr Mulligan is a blabbering, incompetent wreck. It could be a very clever, considered ploy for diminished responsibility, if he is guilty.’
Field’s gaze moved between Wilson and Riley.
‘Let’s make sure this case is dictated by the evidence, shall we? DS Wilson, you’re with me. Dismissed.’
Wilson followed Field out of the room. With all their officers back in the briefing room, only DCI Raynott’s team were sat at their desks. A few of the DIs eyed Field as she walked past.
Wilson shut Field’s office door behind her. ‘What’s the plan, boss?’
Field checked the time. ‘We’re going to inform Penny Moore about this second attack. It’ll have to be brief, though. I want us to be back here when Mr and Mrs Hughes arrive.’
