DARK CRIMES a gripping detective thriller full of suspense by MICHAEL HAMBLING Page B

was no novice at strangulation. Beyond that, I can’t add anything. I’m totally mystified as to why she needed to die, other than that maybe she knew something that he didn’t want let out. That’s if there is a reason.’
    There was a short silence.
    ‘You think it might have been done for the sake of it? No other reason? He could be a psychopath killing at random?’ asked Silver.
    ‘I don’t think that’s the case, but we have to consider it. Nothing can be ruled out at this stage. What are your thoughts, Kevin?’
    ‘I don’t disagree with you, Sophie. Thank God you’ve got someone in custody already, because three murders inside twenty-four hours would just be too terrible to contemplate if he was still on the loose. But it worries me that there are no leads here, nothing substantial to go on. Let’s follow the MOM principle, shall we? Means? He was prepared and had the cord with him. Opportunity? Early morning is quiet in this area, particularly mid-week. Either she knew him and let him in, or he’d booked a session with her. Motive? Well, that’s the unknown, as Sophie has said. We’ve already started to take statements from the other flat occupants, and the neighbours. We know her name was Susie Pater, that she was twenty-four, and that she came from Exeter. We’re trying to trace her family now.’
    ‘So where do we go from here?’ asked Silver.
    ‘If you’re asking what I think you are, Matt, then I’m quite happy to let Kevin deal with this end of things,’ said Sophie. ‘Particularly since he’s made such a good start. But if it is what we think, the work of the same man, then it has to form part of the same investigation. I’d like Kevin to report everything to me. That’s if you’re happy with that, Kevin?’
    He nodded. ‘Fine by me. It makes sense.’
    ‘I’m sure we’ll work together well. If we keep each other informed of everything we discover, then we can bounce ideas off each other. And you know this locality and the residents in it better than anyone else on the force. It would be pointless for us to muscle in and take over completely. In fact, do you want to come over and see our man for yourself tomorrow morning? I’m waiting for the results of some forensic evidence, and may end up charging him late morning.’
    ‘Absolutely. I’d like to see this guy, but I’m due in court tomorrow. Maybe Thursday?’
    ‘Fine. Has anyone put a time on her murder? Even a rough idea?’ Sophie said.
    ‘Forensics won’t commit at the moment. But the body temperature gave them something to go on and, as a rough estimate, they think it was somewhere between eight this morning and noon,’ said McGreedie.
    ‘If that does get confirmed, then it fits the time frame for when our man was hanging around at the station. He was there from mid-morning until two, when he was spotted by a transport officer.’
    ‘That was pretty stupid. Why on earth didn’t he just hop on the first train out?’
    ‘It’s complicated, Kevin. By the way, who found the body here?’
    ‘A friend of hers called Bernice Halley. I think she’s another working girl. Apparently they were due to meet for lunch at one, and when Susie didn’t turn up her friend got worried. Susie was always prompt. She wasn’t answering her mobile, and that was unusual. Her friend called by and found the door locked, yet a couple of windows were open. That was also unusual. She had a spare key, and our victim had one for her place. A sort of mutual safety plan in case of trouble, although it didn’t work in this case. She found things as you see them, had a screaming fit and then called us in.’
    ‘I wonder if she’d already been up and about, dressed in those clothes on the chair. They’re the kind of things she might have put on for breakfast and a visit to the shops. Any evidence that she’d been out?’
    ‘No. We don’t think she had. No one else in the building had heard her go out, although I expect that there are