Nine Lives by Anita Waller (korean novels in english .TXT) 📕

‘They decided not to go down to it as it was dangerously high, so remained at the top and then set off back for home. They saw the car in the car park, and watched because the driver was sitting in it removing clothes. The driver had breasts in a black lacy bra apparently. They stopped, figuring the person needed privacy, but it was only with hindsight, after they returned home from their break, that they realised the significance of what they had seen. She was most likely removing wet clothes, because she pulled on a red jumper after taking off the black one.

‘She drove off immediately after putting on the red jumper. They’re not convinced they could identify her because it was dark, but the man said he could identify her breasts. I think he was joking. What this means, of course, is I think we can start saying her instead of him/her, and it also confirms Will’s query of why no evidence of semen or condom use on any of the eight bodies. I’m aware one or two of us thought it was more likely that it was a woman. Any comments?’

‘They’re reliable, this couple?’ Will asked.

‘Yes, I spoke with them over the phone on Saturday. They’re both chartered accountants, work for the same company, and although both of them have a sense of humour they were quite serious about what they saw. They’ve written everything down, and they’re coming in on Wednesday to give a statement. Nice people. They were telling me that during the summer they use the pocket park most days, at lunchtime, and they litter-pick it before returning to their offices. The red jumper may not be totally accurate, but it was the impression both of them got. It was definitely a different, lighter colour than the black top she took off.’

Will nodded his thanks. ‘So you think when they saw her she had already placed Susanna on those steps?’

‘I do, but I think Susie had already been washed away, and that’s possibly why our killer was so wet. It also explains why our couple saw no trace of a body when they first went to look at the river before deciding it was too dangerous to go down to it. Our killer was out of practice with the first killing for five years, wasn’t she? The next three were all positioned away from the pocket park, and on banksides.’

There was a brief moment of silence while everybody digested the information, and Erica turned back to the whiteboard. By Susie’s picture she wrote ‘member of gym’, then ‘on way to gym’ by Clare’s photo, and on Imogen and Tanya’s pictures ‘at gym on night of abduction’. She tapped the board and turned to face her team.

‘We have a second link apart from the river. All four girls have a membership with the same gym, the Starlite. I’ve made some notes,’ she said, waving sheets of paper in the air. ‘Please take one when we’ve finished. I’ve listed all attendees on the nights the girls were killed, the times they were there and the times they signed out, although most of them apparently forget to sign out. Everybody has to sign in, however, or they don’t get anywhere near the equipment. All of these people have to be interviewed, and I want them all seeing today. I’ve allocated them by area to all of you, and that list is on the back of the sheet. You’ll be interviewing in pairs. Nobody goes anywhere without accompaniment from a colleague. This woman has killed eight times, give that fact the respect it merits and be constantly aware. Thoughts?’

Flick held up a hand.

‘Flick?’

‘Were the first four girls members of gyms? Or were we led by the nose because they all had Christian names beginning with L? This woman is strong, we know that, she carries dead bodies considerable distances. Is she strong because she trains constantly? Did we miss this link in twenty-fourteen?’

‘My answer to that is I don’t know. So here’s my gift to you, smart arse, I’ll leave you to find out all about that.’

Everyone laughed, and Flick held up a finger in the general direction of her boss.

‘Insubordination,’ Erica called out, over the laughter. ‘Okay, on doorsteps by nine o’clock, so I’ve requested early availability of breakfasts in the canteen if anyone wants one, my treat. You have to say my name to whoever’s on duty.’ She watched in amazement; the room emptied as if a switch had been used.

Flick laughed. ‘I’ll stick to my breakfast bar and a coffee, boss. Want one?’

‘Thanks, I will. Come into my office when you’ve got the coffees, will you.’

‘Good briefing, boss,’ Flick said as she placed the coffee and a granola bar in front of Erica. ‘I’ll get straight on to checking the L girls out when I’ve had this.’

‘Thanks, Flick. Back in twenty-fourteen there was never a hint of gym involvement, but quite honestly, there was never any hint of anything. It was almost as if we were waiting for the next body in the hope something, anything, would be revealed as a new clue. That’s a bad place to be in. But forget the case for a minute.’

Flick took a sip of her coffee. ‘Okay.’

‘I rang the hospital before the briefing in the hope that I could tell the team there was some improvement with Beth. I thought it would send them off on a high. However, there was no change, she was still in a deep coma, and they would be doing tests later in the week.’

‘Shit.’ Flick said the word quietly.

‘I couldn’t tell them that, but if anyone asks you, you can give them the truth. I will. As it stands at the moment, we’re the only two that know that, but I’m hoping to go to the hospital and see her parents later.’

‘You want me to go with you?’

Erica shook her head. ‘No, I’ll leave