there is no way that it could have been stitched back on to the victim?” Taylor exclaimed.
“No, it’s been lying there too long and it’s no longer viable, I’m sure if they could have they would have done, although they may not have seen it! They worked on her for a long time I believe, I think that was the least of their worries. I heard they lost her a few times before being able to stabilise her. She’s apparently a complete mess.” Taylor’s eyes were welling up a little with the thought of what the victim was forced to endure over a lengthy period.
Marcus walked the room, careful not to disturb anything; he looked at the bed frame and spotted a tooth embedded in it.
“Bloody hell, look at this! That tooth is jammed right into the wood there. Some force would be needed to do that. God, that poor woman, she must have been terrified and in agony.”
“This guy is not going to be happy that Susan’s still with us you know! That’s his first mistake.”
Taylor spoke with the SIO, voicing her concern for the victim in the future, explaining to him that if the suspect found out that she was still alive, which he would, then she wouldn’t be safe.
“She wasn’t supposed to live. He’s made a fatal error; she’s seen him and can identify him, heard him and that wasn’t supposed to happen. He’s arrogant but not that stupid.”
The SIO agreed with Taylor. “What can we do though? Are we able to hide the fact that she is still alive from him? Could we print some false information and trust those in the know to keep their big mouths shut?”
The SIO replied, “I doubt it. There’s always someone out to make some cash, blabbing to the press, spilling their guts for a back hander.”
“Are we able to protect her though? Will they part with their precious cash to look after that poor soul - properly I mean? Not the usual half-hearted shit where they make false promises. I mean really protect her, the full bhuna!”
“I’ll get on to it, there’s already a cop at the hospital. I’ll see if armed officers are an option, but I know what the answer’s gonna be - namby pamby chicken shits, frightened of the day they’ve never seen. Politics gone mad, eh?”
Taylor questioned the SIO, “I take it there are no witnesses?”
“Yes, but I think they’re the dead ones in the garden,” he replied in a defeated tone.
“What about CCTV - buses, taxis, ANPR ?”
“Nothing so far. He’s like an invisible phantom.”
Taylor asked, “How did the dog get on?”
The SIO replied, “They lost the scent three streets away. There must have been a thoroughfare of people walking there after he passed; concrete is not easy for the dogs to track on, if others have been there.”
“He’s a clever boy, or so he thinks.”
“He’ll do it again, you know!”
“I know and we’ve got next to nothing,” Taylor replied bluntly.
Taylor and Marcus left the crime scene and headed back to the office; stunned silence filled the car as they drove through the affluent areas of Edinburgh, areas where those wealthy enough to live there expected to be safe in their own homes. The properties had large gardens filled with old trees, perfectly cut grass, rockeries, expensive decking and high walls, walls which ensured privacy. For the predator, such premises were perfect: walls to hide behind, privacy to watch the victims with minimal interruption, a perfect place to wait before callously taking their innocent lives.
Chapter 5: Unforeseen News Flash
He turned over restlessly in his filthy, sweat-stained bed sheets, the stench of unclean flesh filling the room. His brow was sweaty as he turned to look at the clock. It shone brightly in his darkened room, 11.45 am boldly showing in red digital lettering.
Too early to get up
, he thought, as he was not working today. He decided to take the time to enjoy his thoughts, recapping on every vile detail of the night before; he looked at his fingers, still stained with
“No, it’s been lying there too long and it’s no longer viable, I’m sure if they could have they would have done, although they may not have seen it! They worked on her for a long time I believe, I think that was the least of their worries. I heard they lost her a few times before being able to stabilise her. She’s apparently a complete mess.” Taylor’s eyes were welling up a little with the thought of what the victim was forced to endure over a lengthy period.
Marcus walked the room, careful not to disturb anything; he looked at the bed frame and spotted a tooth embedded in it.
“Bloody hell, look at this! That tooth is jammed right into the wood there. Some force would be needed to do that. God, that poor woman, she must have been terrified and in agony.”
“This guy is not going to be happy that Susan’s still with us you know! That’s his first mistake.”
Taylor spoke with the SIO, voicing her concern for the victim in the future, explaining to him that if the suspect found out that she was still alive, which he would, then she wouldn’t be safe.
“She wasn’t supposed to live. He’s made a fatal error; she’s seen him and can identify him, heard him and that wasn’t supposed to happen. He’s arrogant but not that stupid.”
The SIO agreed with Taylor. “What can we do though? Are we able to hide the fact that she is still alive from him? Could we print some false information and trust those in the know to keep their big mouths shut?”
The SIO replied, “I doubt it. There’s always someone out to make some cash, blabbing to the press, spilling their guts for a back hander.”
“Are we able to protect her though? Will they part with their precious cash to look after that poor soul - properly I mean? Not the usual half-hearted shit where they make false promises. I mean really protect her, the full bhuna!”
“I’ll get on to it, there’s already a cop at the hospital. I’ll see if armed officers are an option, but I know what the answer’s gonna be - namby pamby chicken shits, frightened of the day they’ve never seen. Politics gone mad, eh?”
Taylor questioned the SIO, “I take it there are no witnesses?”
“Yes, but I think they’re the dead ones in the garden,” he replied in a defeated tone.
“What about CCTV - buses, taxis, ANPR ?”
“Nothing so far. He’s like an invisible phantom.”
Taylor asked, “How did the dog get on?”
The SIO replied, “They lost the scent three streets away. There must have been a thoroughfare of people walking there after he passed; concrete is not easy for the dogs to track on, if others have been there.”
“He’s a clever boy, or so he thinks.”
“He’ll do it again, you know!”
“I know and we’ve got next to nothing,” Taylor replied bluntly.
Taylor and Marcus left the crime scene and headed back to the office; stunned silence filled the car as they drove through the affluent areas of Edinburgh, areas where those wealthy enough to live there expected to be safe in their own homes. The properties had large gardens filled with old trees, perfectly cut grass, rockeries, expensive decking and high walls, walls which ensured privacy. For the predator, such premises were perfect: walls to hide behind, privacy to watch the victims with minimal interruption, a perfect place to wait before callously taking their innocent lives.
Chapter 5: Unforeseen News Flash
He turned over restlessly in his filthy, sweat-stained bed sheets, the stench of unclean flesh filling the room. His brow was sweaty as he turned to look at the clock. It shone brightly in his darkened room, 11.45 am boldly showing in red digital lettering.
Too early to get up
, he thought, as he was not working today. He decided to take the time to enjoy his thoughts, recapping on every vile detail of the night before; he looked at his fingers, still stained with
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