A Body in the Lakes by Graham Smith (great books of all time .TXT) 📕

A double-beep from outside signalled the taxi had arrived.

As they travelled back to Penrith, Beth took Ethan’s hand in hers. Today had been a good day and she didn’t want it to end.

When Ethan leaned in for a kiss, Beth responded with a hunger she hadn’t realised was inside her.

Seventy-Two

Beth printed off the transcription of Cooper’s interview and the subsequent confession and started inputting the details into her spreadsheet. The more she read, the more she felt that her theory about Cooper and Felicia Evans was correct.

Cooper had denied killing and sexually abusing Felicia Evans and despite seeing first-hand what a monster he was, she believed him on this point. When she’d shared her concerns with O’Dowd, the DI had been dismissive and had demanded proof, as she believed he wasn’t coughing to that murder as he’d not actually been able to penetrate the dying woman himself.

Regardless of this, Beth had spent the day poring over her spreadsheet and every report she could find.

O’Dowd was preparing to leave when Beth called her over.

‘What is it, Beth?’ O’Dowd looked at her watch. ‘It’s the hubster’s birthday today and we’re going out for a meal. He’ll also expect to come across to my side of the bed tonight, so I’m going to need time to shave my legs before we go out.’

It took all of Beth’s self-control to blot out the mental images O’Dowd’s words were painting.

‘I have evidence that Cooper didn’t kill Felicia Evans.’

‘Show me.’

Beth turned her monitor round so O’Dowd could see the spreadsheet. ‘The search of Cooper’s house didn’t unearth two vital things. Number one, Felicia’s nightie. We know he kept the clothes of his other victims, so hers being missing is an anomaly.’

‘It’s little more than circumstantial. I need something better.’

‘Please, let me finish what I’m saying, ma’am. They also failed to find any kind of sex toy that could have caused the internal injuries Felicia had. Most of all, the timings were wrong; the more I thought about it, the more I realised that he had to build himself up to the attacks. Even when he had Willow at his mercy, he took his time preparing both Willow and himself for the attack Kieran and I thwarted. There’s another key fact, and that’s that he was raping them because he needed to get his rocks off via penetration. Whomever it was who murdered Felicia didn’t have penetrative sex with her. Instead they used a sex toy.’

‘Are you sure of that? What if he did his thing and then used the sex toy to cover his tracks?’

Beth nodded. ‘I thought of that too, but it still stands that there was no sex toy found at his house. If he was changing his methods then he would have had one to use on Willow Brown, wouldn’t he?’

‘Dammit, Beth. Are you certain there’s another murderous rapist out there?’

‘Yes and no. When I got as far as I’ve just explained to you, I checked what Digital Forensics got from Cooper’s iPad. He was watching porn well into the early hours of last Monday morning. Right around the time Felicia was being killed and her corpse defiled.’ Beth looked into O’Dowd’s eyes. ‘You know all the accusations against the mayor? Well I think that Felicia was killed and the mayor’s credit card was dumped with her so the mayor would be tied to her murder. In effect, she was killed so her corpse could be used to frame the mayor. Also, Digital Forensics found a whole load of pictures of the other victims on Cooper’s mobile, but none of Felicia.’

‘Shit, shite and buggery.’ Another look at the watch. ‘He’ll go spare if I have to call off tonight. Can you track down the mayor and tell him to stay in a hotel? He needs to be protected.’

‘Of course, ma’am.’

Beth walked into the foyer of the Halston Hotel in Carlisle and asked for directions to the Lonsdale Suite. She’d remembered Forster had told her he was attending a function here, and when he hadn’t answered his mobile, she’d travelled up to Carlisle to find him face to face.

She could have done without having to drive to Carlisle as she’d hoped to meet up with Ethan when his shift finished.

The receptionist gave her directions to the Lonsdale Suite and as she walked along the corridors, Beth flashed back to childhood memories of being brought to the cinema which had once stood on this site.

When she entered the room she had to cast her eyes around every table until she found Forster. As befitted his station, he was seated at a table next to the small stage where a well-dressed man was delivering a speech about affordable housing.

Beth was aware the eyes of the room were on her as she weaved between the various tables until she reached Forster. The tap she gave his shoulder startled him, but he recovered his composure in a flash.

‘I need to talk to you. Urgently.’

A sharp nod. ‘Two minutes.’

Beth left the mayor to make his apologies and made her way back to the corridor.

Forster was as good as his word and joined Beth as she was tapping out a message to Ethan.

‘What is it?’ His face was flushed and Beth caught traces of brandy on his breath.

‘It’s not good news, I’m afraid. I’ve spent today reviewing the case against the Lakeland Ripper.’

‘Yes?’

Beth caught more than just inquisition in the single word. There was a trace of apprehension and possibly even a quiver of fear.

‘Specifically I was looking at the murder of Felicia Evans. The Lakeland Ripper denied killing her and we found no evidence whatsoever to tie him to her murder.’

‘I don’t follow you.’ A glance back at the Lonsdale Suite. ‘Can you explain what you’re getting at, please?’

‘I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but we believe that Felicia Evans was killed for the sole purpose of framing you. When you put everything together it’s a