Chris Simms - Shifting Skin

Dean?

He shut his eyes, trying to sift through his thoughts.

A door opened somewhere and he heard metal clang as a trolley was wheeled down a corridor. Soon the plastic curtains parted and the gurney entered the room, two technicians behind it. Jon glanced at the fibreglass shell coffin as they came to a halt by a stainless-steel autopsy table.

‘If you’re staying in here, you might want to hold your breath.’ This from the pathologist, who entered the room in full protective clothing.

‘What is it? Jon asked.

‘He bobbed up in the Manchester Ship Canal, right outside the Lowry theatre’s terrace restaurant. Ruined a lot of preperformance dinners he did.’

‘A floater?’ Jon said. ‘I think I’ll head for the goldfish bowl.’

‘Good move. He’s been in a good week or so, I’d say.’ The pathologist nodded towards Tyler’s corpse. ‘Can we put her away?’

‘Yes. Thank you.’ He stepped out of the theatre area and into the viewing room, wondering how to tell Rick that he’d been following Pete Gray.

In the theatre, the technicians opened up the shell coffin and hefted a large plastic sheet containing the body on to the autopsy table.

The pathologist prepared his implements on a side counter while one of his assistants cut through the adhesive tape sealing the sheet. Then she peeled away the folds to reveal a monstrously bloated corpse, the yellow skin marbled with a network of bluish lines. He was in a foetal position, ankles and wrists bound together.

Oh Jesus, Jon thought, never failing to be shocked at how death could turn the human body into a gruesome parody of its former self. He watched with a grimace as she carefully removed the plastic evidence bag the pathologist had placed over the victim’s head. The neck was twisted round, the eyeless face a blob of marshmallow, short brown hair on top of his head looking like a skullcap.

That was enough. Jon started to walk out, but paused, eyes drawn to a red mark on the corpse’s buttock. He pressed the intercom button and his voice came through the speaker in the theatre. ‘Excuse me. Could someone take a closer look at the mark on his arse?’

One of the technicians stepped round and leaned over the body. ‘It’s a tattoo of a red devil, I think. A small figure holding a trident.’

A jolt shot down the length of Jon’s spine. ‘I can’t see from this angle, but is there another one on his shoulderblade?’

She moved to the head of the table and peered down. ‘Yes. The skin’s distorting it pretty badly, but it looks like a ladybird.’

‘Thanks.’ Jon got his mobile out and called Rick. ‘You can let

McCloughlin know that Gordon Dean’s just surfaced.’

‘So the pathologist reckons he’d been in the water for about ten days?’ said Rick, sipping his gin and Coke.

Jon put his pint down on the table. ‘Yup.’

Rick’s lips moved slightly as he counted out a sequence. ‘That still puts him in the time frame for Tyler Young’s murder. Maybe he killed her then, for some reason decided to top himself.’

Jon shook his head. ‘You’re not having that tenner. With his wrists and ankles bound as they were, it couldn’t have been suicide.’

Rick rubbed his temples. ‘But if he didn’t kill Young we’re no closer to catching the Butcher.’

‘Actually, that might not be the case.’

‘Why not? What do you mean?’

Jon flipped a beer mat over, but failed to catch it. He looked Rick in the face. ‘We’ve still got the Pete Gray lead. I’ve been following it up.’

Rick crossed his arms and sat back. ‘When have you found the time for that?’

Jon shrugged. ‘Evenings. I’ve only caught him coming off his shift a couple of times. Followed him to a bar the other night.’

‘When were you planning on letting me know?’

‘I was about to when Gordon Dean’s body was wheeled in.’

‘Really?’ Rick asked sarcastically.

Jon met his eyes. ‘I was. He went to a singles’ karaoke night dressed like Elvis. Got chatting to a woman there, looked like he was about to pull. Gave her his card, then said something to scare her off.’

Rick was looking more and more pissed off. ‘You did all this behind my back?’

‘I didn’t think you’d be interested in shadowing Pete Gray after the amount of hours we’ve been putting in during the day.’

‘Don’t give me that shit. You didn’t even ask. We’re meant to be working this together.’ He drained his drink and stood up to go.

‘We are. Just hear me out, will you?’ Rick remained standing.

‘I rang Lucy Rowlands, the first victim’s daughter. She said a guy gave her mum his card at a singles’ night one time. It was in the same bar I followed him to the other night. Lucy said the guy was a total creep, called him The Fat Elvis.’

‘Did you speak to the woman he scared off?’

‘No, because by the time I got back to the bar after following him home, she’d gone. But it means he could have had contact with Angela Rowlands and Carol Miller.’

‘Good work. I’ll let you fill in McCloughlin.’ Rick walked out without another word.

Jon sighed, then took a mouthful of beer. It didn’t make him feel any better.

His mobile started buzzing in his pocket. Nikki Kingston, the crime-scene manager’s name showed on his screen.

‘Hi, Nikki. How are you?’

‘Good, thanks. Why’re you sounding depressed?’

‘Long story.’

‘Good. You can tell me over those drinks you owe me. Where are you?’

He’d finished his pint by the time Nikki walked in to the Bull’s

Head, a small briefcase under one arm.

Jon waved her over. ‘So what news have you got?’

‘Uh-huh.’ She held up a finger. ‘Drinks first.’ Jon smiled and got to his feet. ‘What’ll it be?’

‘Gin and dry martini, thanks.’

Jon returned with their drinks and sat down.

Nikki was checking the ashtray for recently stubbed-out butts.

‘Still not smoking?’

‘Yes,’ Jon protested.

She looked provocatively at him out of the corner of her eye.

‘What?’ he laughed, holding out his hands. ‘What do I have to do to convince you?’

Looking at the ashtray, she said, ‘There’s only way I could really tell none of these were smoked by you. But the night’s a bit young for that.’ She moved the ashtray to another table. ‘So what’s the long story?’

Jon’s smile disappeared. ‘That guy I’m working with, Rick

Saville?’

‘Oh yes?’ Nikki took a sip, looking over the rim of her glass. Jon remembered the glance that had passed between them at Tyler Young’s crime scene. The pang of jealousy returned and he found himself saying, ‘Liked him, did you?’

She smiled. ‘He’s not bad. Doubt I’m his cup of tea, though.’

Her answer confused him.

Nikki gave his hand a sympathetic squeeze. ‘I think he’s gay.’

Jon’s mouth dropped open. ‘He is.’

‘No shit, Sherlock? How long did it take you to figure that out?’

‘A bit. How did you know?’

‘Call it feminine intuition.’ She paused, then looked at him.

‘Was that a glimpse of the little green monster I just saw?’

‘No.’ He felt a blush creeping up his neck. Shit!

‘It was,’ she smiled, a note of triumph in her voice. ‘You were feeling jealous! Even if he wasn’t gay, he’s not my type.’ Her eyes went to Jon’s scarred hands, travelled up to his lips, then his eyes. ‘I like my men a bit rougher at the edges.’

Jon looked away. ‘I’ve been following up a bit of a lead, but in my own time.’

‘So?’

‘I didn’t let him know. Or rather, I just did let him know and he spat his dummy out.’

‘Well, there you go. Gay men can get a bit emotional.’