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‘Looks like a burglary,’ Reid said quietly. Sally pointed to faint bloodstained footprints on the floor so Reid wouldn’t step in them. He looked queasy as they moved forward slowly, stopping by the decorative archway which led to a large open-plan kitchen diner. Sally repeated the taser warning and pointed to some more bloody footprints on the tiled kitchen floor by a large marble island, which they couldn’t quite see over. Sally turned the light on, illuminating a considerable amount of blood on the floor, the island worktop, kitchen cupboards and a large fridge. Reid started to move sideways.

‘Don’t step in the blood,’ Sally warned him as they moved around to get a better view of the other side of the island.

‘Jesus Christ,’ Reid exclaimed. There was a semi-naked man in pyjama bottoms lying motionless, face down in a pool of blood. He had a large kitchen knife embedded in his back and a gaping wound on the back of his head. He looked as if he had been beaten and repeatedly stabbed. Reid put his hand to his mouth.

‘If you’re going to be sick, do it outside,’ Sally said as she holstered her taser and moved forward to check for any signs of life. She leaned over to avoid stepping in the blood and put two fingers on the man’s neck, then looked at Reid and shook her head. ‘Looks like he’s dead,’ she said calmly.

‘Oh my God!’ Reid exclaimed.

‘What, what’s wrong?’ Sally asked, startled.

‘I just saw his finger twitch.’

Sally heard a siren. ‘That’s the ambulance . . . go and escort them in.’ She then contacted the control room and gave them an update.

As Reid rushed outside, another patrol car pulled up. Two officers got out and headed towards the house. He told them it appeared that the suspects had gone, then spoke with the ambulance crew and directed them to the kitchen.

While the ambulance crew worked on the victim, Sally told the other officers it was best no one else entered the scene so as not to contaminate or damage any potential forensic evidence. As they didn’t know in which direction the assailant had gone, Sally asked the officers to get further assistance to cordon off the street at least a hundred metres each way and both ends of Homer Road, which was to the right of the victim’s house.

The control room contacted Sally and informed her that the voters’ register showed Johan and Michelle De Klerk living at the premises, and the mobile phone number used by the 999 caller was registered to a man with the same name and address. Sally, Andy, and two other officers searched the rest of the house, but no one else was on the premises.

The ambulance crew were hurriedly taking the man out face down on a stretcher. The knife was still lodged in his back, but roller gauze was wrapped around the entry site to control bleeding and secure the knife in place. The driver told Sally they suspected the man had suffered a traumatic cardiac arrest due to stab wounds in his thoracic area, and they were taking him to Homerton University Hospital A&E.

‘Will he live?’ Sally asked.

‘It’s touch and go. He’s lost a lot of blood and got a fractured skull by the looks of it, but he’s young and looks fit. It’s lucky you found him as quickly as you did. Generally, with those types of injuries, they don’t survive beyond fifteen to twenty minutes without medical assistance.’

Sally turned to Reid. ‘How are you doing?’

‘I’m OK, thanks. I’ve just never seen that much blood before. It was like a slaughterhouse in there . . . on the floor, the fridge, the ceiling, just everywhere, and then that knife sticking out of his back . . .’

Sally put her hand on his shoulder. ‘There’s a first time for everything in this job. You go in the ambulance and keep yourbody camera on. I know it’s unlikely, but the victim may say something, and it would be good to have it recorded. Secure the victim’s pyjama bottoms and knife as evidence when they’re removed.’

‘I haven’t got any exhibit bags.’

‘The hospital will have plastic bags you can use temporarily. If he does peg it, you stay with the body and put some bags over his hands. I’ll secure the scene and start a crime scene log. I know this has all been a bit traumatic for you. If you feel you need counselling, make sure you get it . . . or you can talk to me. I’m a good listener,’ she said with a reassuring smile.

Reid thanked her and got in the ambulance. Sally called control and informed them the victim was in a critical condition, on his way to Homerton Hospital, and PC Reid was with him. She then requested the attendance of Forensics and the Homicide and Serious Crime night duty team.

The young handler, now back at her comms station, asked if anyone else was on the premises. Sally informed her that she and PC Reid had searched the house from top to bottom, and it was empty.

* * *

Jessica was in a deep sleep when her mobile phone started vibrating. It was just after 3 a.m., and she instantly knew it would be a call to attend a major crime scene. She picked her phone up then quickly got her notebook and pen from the cabinet drawer before answering. It was the duty chief inspector from the Met’s Command and Control room.

‘I’ll keep it brief,’ he said, first giving the address. ‘A male, believed to be Johan De Klerk, was found with stab wounds and a knife embedded in his back, probably attacked during a break-in. He’s in critical condition, currently undergoing emergency surgery.’

‘Any other casualties?’ Jessica asked as she jotted down the details.

‘No, but the victim’s wife is unaccounted for.’

‘I’d appreciate it if no one else entered the scene until I arrive. At this time in the morning, it should take me about forty-five minutes. If possible, I’d like the first officers attending to remain there so I can speak to them about what they saw and did. Can you also please contact the officer at the hospital and ask him to request a doctor take hand swabs from the victim if possible.’

‘Understood,’ the chief inspector said, ending the call. Jessica then phoned Diane.

‘We’ve got our first job, Di – a serious stabbing during a break-in in Hackney Wick. The victim is in hospital in a critical condition. You got a pen and paper?’

‘Yes, fire away with the address.’