Helen Fields - Perfect Silence

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 down in five minutes.’

Lively gave a small nod, didn’t even bother insulting Callanach, and made for the stairs.

‘What do you need, DCI Turner?’ Overbeck called through the open door.

‘Is there an issue with DS Lively?’ Ava asked.

‘Nothing that a period of suspension and a diet wouldn’t cure,’ Overbeck snarled. ‘I see you brought DI Looks Over Substance with you. This doesn’t bode well.’

Ava carried on in spite of Overbeck’s jibe at Callanach. She’d never liked him, but then she’d never liked anyone, as far as Ava was aware. ‘Zoey Cole’s killer is a religious extremist, or at the very least is using that as an excuse to kill. He or she left us a note inside the doll that was found in the pram with Lorna Shaw’s baby. There’s also the possibility that the Mikey Parsons assault is linked. It’s all twisted vigilante behaviour – cleaning up the city, exacting retribution for poor life choices or whatever the offender is telling himself. I’m also concerned that this may turn out to be a serial killer, and I believe it’s going to get even nastier.’

‘Three, Detective Chief Inspector. That’s the magic number. You wait until you have three linked dead bodies before you get to use the S-word.’ She sighed. ‘You’re here for me to lift the overtime limit, extend your funding and give you a uniformed squad as backup, right?’ Ava didn’t bother to answer. Overbeck checked her watch and flicked through a couple of pieces of paper on her desk. ‘Fine. Off you go then. I’ll see to the paperwork for the funding. Keep me updated and phone me next time you need something. It’s quicker than taking the stairs.’

Ava risked a look at Callanach, who was staring open-mouthed at Overbeck.

‘Thank you, ma’am,’ Ava said. ‘We’ll need to say something to the press, but I’d like to keep quiet about the doll for now.’

‘Agreed. Work out a statement with the media team. You can put my name on the bottom of it if that keeps the communications pressure off you during the investigation.’

‘I will, thank you,’ Ava said.

‘I don’t want the number three to be reached. You understand that, right? Edinburgh has had enough death to last it a while. See to it that the funding I’m extending is an effective pre-emptive strike, Turner.’

‘Yes, ma’am. I understand,’ Ava said. ‘I’ll do my best.’