No Going Back by Casey Kelleher (bill gates books recommendations TXT) 📕

‘I think I need to speak with Zack Lownrey again, Sarge. I think there’s something we’re missing here. And if I’m going to talk to Jay-Jay again, I need to have all my facts. Because whatever happens, he does know something. We just need to work out what.’

44

‘So, you’ve got him then. Jay-Jay Andrews? You’ve brought him in?’ Zack asked, guessing that there was a sense of urgency as he made his way into the incident room where Lucy was waiting for him.

DS Morgan had called him and asked if it was okay for Lucy to run a few things past him. And it wasn’t until Zack had arrived at the station that he’d heard they finally had the suspect of Shelby Cooke’s attack in custody.

‘Yes, we’ve got him. Only he’s saying he’s not responsible, and strangely, I believe him. Something just isn’t sitting right with me. I can’t put my finger on it. I wanted to run something past you before I go back in and speak with him for a second time. Check I’ve got all my information correct,’ Lucy said, waiting as Zack took the chair opposite her.

‘Absolutely. Always happy to help.’

‘In the first briefing that you did, you said that these kinds of attacks are very rare. That they aren’t common here in the UK?’

‘Yes, that’s correct. Predominantly, the small number of these types of attacks that have been carried out have been in America. That’s how the main study was recorded.’

‘Do you know what percentage of men have been charged for attempting foetal abductions? How common is that?’ Lucy said, knowing that if Jay-Jay Andrews was responsible for the murder and the attack on Shelby, as well as Riley Cooke’s abduction, then Lucy and her team would need something stronger than just a hunch and an accusation in order to bring him to justice. Especially if the man wasn’t willing to talk. Lucy needed all the facts.

‘We don’t have a figure. That’s how rare the attacks are. Especially by men. I mean, it’s not completely unheard of, but predominantly attacks of this type are carried out by women. Any men found to be involved have more than likely been working in conjunction with a female perpetrator. They were more likely emotionally connected to the main attacker. Be it as a boyfriend, husband or partner.’

‘And again, that doesn’t fit with Jay-Jay Andrews. He isn’t in a relationship. At least, not that we know of.’ Lucy pursed her mouth, deep in thought. ‘And the main motive for such crimes if it were committed by a male? Violent, hate crimes against women? A sadistic fetish of harming pregnant women? Because at a push, that could fit him. Jay-Jay was in for a number of offences, including GBH. But still…’

Zack shook his head. ‘These types of attacks don’t appear to be random attacks. And I certainly wouldn’t say that they were impulsive or that they’re linked to being sadistic hate crimes as such. Though I wouldn’t completely rule out an underlying mental health issue in the attacker. Crimes this horrific and callous would tend to indicate that the attacker could be experiencing an episode of psychosis, or that they may have a personality disorder. It’s very hard to speculate. Every case is so individual. But the attacks themselves are rarely about the violent act itself. The attacks are often methodically planned and executed. We’re talking months in the making. Shelby’s attacker had a rope, a knife, not forgetting the surgical implements inside the rucksack. This wasn’t just some spontaneous gruesome crime carried out on a whim. This was planned.’

‘We had the DNA results back. Shelby’s attacker is the same person who murdered Liza Fitzgerald in Richmond Park. It’s a match,’ Lucy said, sitting back in her chair now, her head spinning as she tried to make sense of the man’s motive. Something was off about all of this. ‘So, Jay-Jay would have had to have been planning the attacks on these women while he was still in prison? I don’t see it. It just doesn’t fit at all.’

‘You don’t think it’s him?’ Zack said with curiosity.

‘Do you?’

‘Well, I’d have to agree that he doesn’t fit the profile. But the issue we have is the surviving witness. Shelby Cooke saw her attacker. She can confirm it was him. And like I say, the forensic profile is usually accurate, but it doesn’t always fit the bill. Every crime, motive, and killer is unique. It’s rarely a case of “one box to fit them all”. I think the only way you’ll crack this one is to work out what the motive was. Because the vast majority of abductors in these kinds of attacks, their motive is the prize. It’s about the end game. The physical abduction of the baby. The child.’

‘And that’s exactly it. What motive would Jay-Jay possibly have to abduct a baby? He was living in squalor; he seems barely able to look after himself. And he certainly doesn’t seem to be the paternal type. I just don’t think that this was him.’ Lucy sighed, almost certain then that they’d all wasted so much valuable time concentrating on Jay-Jay Andrews when he wasn’t their man.

‘I need to get back,’ Lucy said, her head still spinning at the thought of having to speak to Jay-Jay Andrews again. She’d been hoping that talking to Zack would shed some light on the situation, that she might unveil a vital piece of information that might hold more clues.

But if anything, she was even more certain now that her hunch was right all along, and Jay-Jay Andrews wasn’t their attacker. ‘Thanks so much for coming in at such short notice,’ Lucy said, getting up and leading the way back out of the incident room with Zack following closely behind her.

‘No worries. And by the way, I enjoyed your company at lunch the other day. We should do it again. Maybe dinner some time?’

About to answer, Lucy was relieved when she didn’t have to as