Page 29 of Killing Mind
‘That the sisters weren’t close or that she’s in Thailand?’ Kim asked.
‘Both, either,’ Stacey answered. ‘Sophie isn’t a massive sharer but there are definitely old photos of the two sisters together having fun, but nothing that would indicate she’s travelling abroad.’
‘Okay, Stace, thanks,’ Kim said, ending the call.
‘That’s a bit weird,’ Bryant said, hearing most of what Stacey had said.
Kim sat in the car for a moment, chewing over the facts.
In two days they’d had two victims under the age of twenty-two. One male, one female. Both had had their throats cut. Both had been students at Dudley College. Both had suddenly stopped using social media three years ago. And both had been emotionally vulnerable.
Stacey’s findings about Samantha and Sophie confirmed to her that Samantha’s parents were holding something back, which was bad enough if they were trying to protect something that only affected their daughter, but now she had a second victim whose murder commanded the same level of attention.
Kim decided that the Browns had guarded their secret for long enough.
Twenty-Five
Penn had chosen not to mention to the boss how much he enjoyed a good post-mortem for fear of appearing a bit weird, he thought, as he headed through Russells Hall Hospital.
It wasn’t that he felt nothing for the person being dissected. It was quite the opposite. He was a firm believer in respect of any living thing. If you killed a chicken to eat, then give it the honour of using every last ounce of it. Don’t just eat a breast or a drumstick; use it all and then boil the bones for a broth. The animal had died for it.
It was the same for the poor soul on the slab. If their bodies were going to be violated for clues then do it good; look everywhere, search every nook and cranny then find the bastard responsible.
The body had so much to reveal after death, he marvelled, entering the morgue bang on time.
‘Good afternoon, Penn. Your boss still out in the field breaking everyone’s b—’
‘Yep, as well as trying to find the murderer of Samantha Brown,’ he responded. If his boss was not so keen on breaking balls, the girl’s death would still be a suicide.
‘Yes, quite. Your garments are over there.’
Penn climbed into the folded paper suit and then placed the mask over his face. ‘And the hat,’ Keats said. ‘With you, especially the hat.’
By this time of day, the grip of the holding gel was no longer as firm and curls were starting to fall onto his forehead. He forced them under the blue hairnet.
Satisfied, Keats turned on the tape recorder.
‘Commencing the post-mortem examination of Tyler Short, male Caucasian, aged twenty…’
Penn stood away as Keats continued verbally recording the initial weights and measurements before reaching for the scalpel.
He paused the tape as he held the blade above the waxy, bloated flesh.
‘You ready for this?’
Penn rubbed his hands. ‘Oh yeah, let’s get this party started.’
Twenty-Six
There were some cases that Kim felt could be solved if she simply set up camp and waited long enough at one location. That’s how she was beginning to feel about the home of Myles and Kate Brown.
She was surprised to see Kate Brown answer the door instead of her husband.
‘Have you caught them?’ she asked, wringing her hands.
Kim shook her head as she stepped inside. She was unsure what the woman expected in the few hours since they’d last been here.
‘I’m afraid not, Mrs Brown. We’re here for more information from you and your husband.’
