Perfect Silence. Helen Fields

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      ‘That’s a fair theory. It’s meticulous work and that level of skill isn’t on show here. Have you ever seen items made from human skin before, Luc?’ Jonty asked.

      ‘I haven’t,’ Callanach said, ‘although I’ve read about it.’

      ‘It’s labour intensive, expert work. Human skin is hard to fashion. Various monsters throughout history became quite adept at it, but this is a clumsy recreation. Let me show you the stitches. I have close-up photographs on my computer.’

      In Jonty’s office, they sat next to each other in front of a computer screen. The images resembled a child’s crude attempt at patchwork.

      ‘The knots are quite basic. In places the cotton thread has been pulled too tight and has split the fine edges of the skin. The stitches are irregular and change direction,’ Jonty said.

      ‘It’s like a work in progress,’ Callanach said. ‘A carefully thought out idea, highly symbolic, but which was poorly executed.’

      ‘Exactly,’ Jonty said. ‘But now your killer holds another young woman.’

      ‘You think the first doll was disappointing, but that it’s a learning curve?’ Callanach asked.

      ‘It doesn’t feel like a one-off to me,’ Jonty said. ‘The killer worked too hard at it. So much effort for a single pay-off. Then there’s this.’ He picked up a flat plastic folder from his desk. ‘There was a message rolled up to form a tiny scroll, right in the centre of the stuffing. I found it minutes before you arrived. I was just processing it.’

      Callanach picked up the folder and read aloud the words that were on the long strip of paper contained within.‘“If there is anyone who curses his father or his mother, he shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother, his bloodguiltiness is upon him.” Oh fuck, Jonty, this sounds like a crusade.’

      ‘Unfortunately, I agree. I was just looking up where it comes from, if you’ll forgive me crossing into your discipline. The quote is from Leviticus, chapter twenty, verse nine. There are other references here to disrespectful children being put to death. It’s proper fire-and-brimstone, Old Testament stuff.’

      ‘It’s someone who’s aware of Zoey’s problems with her stepfather then,’ Callanach said.

      ‘Not the stepfather himself?’ Jonty asked.

      ‘He didn’t abduct her – we know that for sure. He has a watertight alibi. Spent the day at a community fete, photos and all. Zoey’s mother seems genuinely upset, even though Zoey had left home and wasn’t in contact with them.’

      ‘Were other family members aware of the allegations?’ Jonty asked.

      ‘There’s a brother in the army, but we’ve had confirmation that he was away on manoeuvres and hasn’t been back in the UK for eighteen months. Plenty of other people were aware of the allegations against Christopher Myers, though. Zoey had contacted social workers, staff at the shelter and friends she stayed with at times. The police were even called in at one stage to encourage her to prosecute. She declined. If we consider everyone who knows what Zoey had alleged to be a suspect, it’ll make a long list. What about the paper it’s written on?’

      ‘It’s a section of paper cut with scissors to the shape of the quote, probably from an A4 sheet originally, no watermark on it. Looks very standard. I hope that’s not your best lead,’ the pathologist replied.

      ‘Bloodguiltiness,’ Callanach read. ‘Who the hell uses language like that these days?’

      ‘You’ll have to check which version of the Bible it’s from,’ Jonty said. ‘I didn’t get that far in my research.’

      ‘I’ll need the paper transferred to a handwriting expert. Have you tested for fingerprints and DNA yet?’ Callanach asked.

      ‘I can’t see any fingerprints, and other tests are underway, but referring this to a forensic handwriting analyst will be a waste of your time, I fear. Look at this.’ Jonty brought up a photo of the writing, grossly enlarged. Callanach sat down next to him again. ‘Every same letter – you see these letter f’s – is exactly the same. Not just the shape and style, but the precise measurements. However, each letter has a small break before the next one. The script is cursive in style but not properly joined. It’s all too regular.’

      ‘They used a bloody stencil,’ Callanach said.

      ‘Your swearing sounds much more authentically Scots these days,’ Jonty said. ‘But I’m afraid you’re correct about the stencil. You can probably source it on the internet. The font should be copyrighted.’

      ‘But it means that it’ll bear no resemblance to the killer’s normal writing. Not the pressure points or the strokes, none of it. Clever,’ Callanach said.

      ‘Clever, well organised, dedicated, passionate. Unfortunately the word obsessive is the one that’s been in my mind.’

      ‘It needs to be kept quiet, Jonty. I know you won’t say a word, but anyone on the staff here who knows about this …’

      ‘No one knows yet, and only those with access to my report need find out. It’ll be harder to control it at your end.’

      ‘Can I sign this out of your evidence log and transfer it to our custody at the station?’ Callanach asked. ‘Ava will want to see it straight away.’

      ‘You can. Would you join me this evening to open the bottle you so kindly brought?’

      ‘I can’t tonight, Jonty. I’m seeing someone, when work allows. If I leave the office at all tonight, that’s where I’m going.’

      ‘Glad to hear it,’ Jonty said. ‘I thought for sure you’d be headed back to France after the first case we did together. I’m pleased to see you’ve decided to give Scotland more of a chance.’

      Callanach smiled at him. ‘It was touch and go,’ he said. ‘Call me when you get the other test results in? Straight away, day or night.’

      Back at the station, Callanach went immediately to Ava’s office. She was wading through a mountain of paperwork, frowning at numbers.

      ‘Sorry to interrupt. I’m just back from the pathologist. Zoey’s murderer sent us a message.’ He explained what Jonty had shown him. Ava was on her feet before he’d finished, checking her watch.

      ‘Eight o’clock. The superintendent might just still be here. Come with me. I need Overbeck to sign off on the extra funding we’re going to need.’

      Together they went up the additional flight of stairs to Detective Superintendent’s Overbeck’s office, neither of them saying a word. Overbeck’s reaction to them asking for more money was always the same. Keep it below budget. Finish it yesterday.

      As Ava knocked on Overbeck’s door, it opened. Lively’s face appeared from within.

      ‘Ma’am,’ he said to Ava.

      ‘What have you done now, Lively?’ Ava asked. ‘You need to learn to watch your mouth. I don’t want any members of my squad in trouble at the moment. Get everyone together for a briefing. DI Callanach and I will be СКАЧАТЬ