Page 118 of Silent Scream
Cerys shook her head. ‘No. I’ll be here completing the paperwork until quite late.’ She reached for a small Tupperware tub. ‘Beads again, but of course you already knew that. There were remnants of clothing attached to the body but Daniel has those back at the lab. The garment was too delicate to remove on site.’
‘Anything else?’
Cerys pointed to a corner of the grave about one foot square. Her face was drawn and weary. ‘Unless there is something of interest just there then I’m afraid not.’
‘Did you find a denture?’
Cerys frowned. ‘No. Should I have done?’
‘It’s the final form of identification I was looking for.’
‘It certainly hadn’t come free from the body, if it was in there at all.’
Damn, without that final piece she couldn’t be sure of the accuracy of Nicola’s identification.
Kim nodded her understanding and stepped out of the tent. She paused and stepped back in.
‘Cerys, are you okay?’
Cerys turned, either surprised by the question or the person asking. She smiled but it was forced and without warmth.
‘You know what, Kim, I honestly don't know. My body is filled with a rage that I just can't shake. See, I don't care what these girls did or didn't do. I only know that they were treated as less than human. They were tortured and put into the ground and left to rot and they were only fucking kids. I want to be there when you catch the bastard that did this. I want to do the exact same things to him and what's worrying is that I feel capable of inflicting the same cruelty.’
Kim watched as her body deflated. She sometimes forgot that Cerys had not worked many crime scenes and one as harrowing as this was one hell of an initiation.
The woman looked at her and shook her head. ‘How do you do it, Kim? How do you wake up to this every day without going out of your mind?’
Kim considered the question. ‘I build stuff. I take a heap of rust and dirt and I build it into something beautiful. I create something that balances the ugliness of what we do. It helps. But do you know what really makes a difference?’
‘What?’
‘The knowledge that I'll catch him.’
‘Do you think so?’
Kim smiled. ‘Oh yes, because my passion to do so far exceeds the energy he'll need to avoid me. I won't stop until he's punished for what he did. And, everything you've done here, every clue you've uncovered, every bone you've removed will help me do that. It's bloody hard, Cerys, but it's worth it.’
Cerys nodded and smiled. ‘I know and I believe you. You'll get him.’
‘Oh, I will. And when I do, I'll give him your regards.’
Silence settled between them. Kim had nothing more to ask of the woman who had worked tirelessly for days at great cost, both physically and emotionally.
Kim moved closer and offered her hand. Although the skin was rough in places the grip was gentle and warm.
‘Thank you for everything, Cerys, and have a safe journey home. I hope we meet again.’
Cerys smiled. ‘Same here, Detective.’
Kim nodded and left the tent.
She had a denture to find.
Sixty
Daniel and Keatswere gathered around a folder on the table top when she entered.
Daniel moved away as Keats turned. ‘Oh, Detective, how lovely to see you.’
