canvas. David’s clothes have been sent to forensics for analysis. As yet there is no sign of the baby.’
When it was Rhona’s turn, she showed them the enhanced image of the dentricles.
‘I lifted these from the wound site. They’re dentricles, microscopic but easily recognisable as traces from shark skin. Butchers’ knives and hunting knives often have shark skin handles, to stop hands slipping when covered in blood.’
They absorbed that information and she moved on to the hair.
‘It was lodged under the victim’s fingernail which might indicate a struggle with her attacker. Because of the colour and length and the fact it’s not human, we think it might have come from a wig.’
‘You’re suggesting the killer wore a bright red wig?’ drawled Slater.
‘I’m not suggesting anything, merely relating what we have at this moment.’
Detective Superintendent Sutherland intervened. ‘Our main focus must be the missing baby. What’s happening about that?’
‘We’re still searching the park and the Kelvin waterway, but no luck so far.’
‘The baby’s father?’
‘David Murdoch maintains he isn’t the father and Dr MacLeod says she can prove if that’s true. So far, the parents either aren’t saying or don’t know.’
‘Foetal abduction is unusual, to say the least. We need to know more about the psychology behind this. See if Professor Pirie is available.’
Slater’s face turned puce. If he thought he had all but obliterated the old team with McNab’s death, it looked as though he was wrong. Rhona masked a smile. If she couldn’t have McNab or Bill, she would settle for Magnus.
Slater appeared about to argue when a cheer from the incident room stopped him in his tracks. When Rhona had passed through earlier, the atmosphere had been subdued. A major incident involved a lot of organisation, many man hours, especially where the death also involved a missing child.
The roar and excited babble might mean the baby had been found. Slater, for all his girth, was quick on his feet. He threw open the door, ready to admonish the crowd.
Rhona caught a glimpse of Janice’s jubilant face and knew immediately the cause for celebration. Slater barked his order for silence, then demanded to know what the hell was going on .
It was Janice who answered. ‘Detective Inspector Wilson has been cleared of the assault charge, sir.’
Slater’s expression never changed. ‘I’m delighted to hear it. Now, can we get back to work? We have a missing baby, in case you’ve forgotten.’
The return to desks was accompanied by subdued but delighted murmurs. Nothing Slater said or did could diminish the importance of the news to the men and women in that room.
7
Rhona was shocked by how much Bill had aged in the weeks since she’d last seen him. She had never really considered his age before, even when she’d attended his fiftieth birthday party at the Jazz Club.
The last twelve months had hit him hard. Firstly there had been Margaret’s cancer diagnosis, then the assault on his daughter, Lisa, McNab’s murder and finally the court case. You didn’t have to be fifty to look old after a string of bad luck like that.
She had gone in search of him after the meeting, suspecting he was somewhere in the building, avoiding jubilant colleagues and awaiting Sutherland’s interview call.
She had finally persuaded Angus, the Duty Sergeant, to tell her where he was.
‘He doesn’t want to talk to anyone before he sees the Super.’
‘I’ll pretend I found him all on my own.’
Angus gave her a reluctant nod. ‘He’s in number six.’
The corridor was silent and empty. Bill had chosen the most far-flung interview room. No chance of anyone spotting him unless they walked the full length of the corridor. She wondered if he had heard the whoop of joy that had gone up on the announcement of his acquittal. Such an outburst of approbation would have embarrassed him. He would also believe it to be undeserved;
When it was Rhona’s turn, she showed them the enhanced image of the dentricles.
‘I lifted these from the wound site. They’re dentricles, microscopic but easily recognisable as traces from shark skin. Butchers’ knives and hunting knives often have shark skin handles, to stop hands slipping when covered in blood.’
They absorbed that information and she moved on to the hair.
‘It was lodged under the victim’s fingernail which might indicate a struggle with her attacker. Because of the colour and length and the fact it’s not human, we think it might have come from a wig.’
‘You’re suggesting the killer wore a bright red wig?’ drawled Slater.
‘I’m not suggesting anything, merely relating what we have at this moment.’
Detective Superintendent Sutherland intervened. ‘Our main focus must be the missing baby. What’s happening about that?’
‘We’re still searching the park and the Kelvin waterway, but no luck so far.’
‘The baby’s father?’
‘David Murdoch maintains he isn’t the father and Dr MacLeod says she can prove if that’s true. So far, the parents either aren’t saying or don’t know.’
‘Foetal abduction is unusual, to say the least. We need to know more about the psychology behind this. See if Professor Pirie is available.’
Slater’s face turned puce. If he thought he had all but obliterated the old team with McNab’s death, it looked as though he was wrong. Rhona masked a smile. If she couldn’t have McNab or Bill, she would settle for Magnus.
Slater appeared about to argue when a cheer from the incident room stopped him in his tracks. When Rhona had passed through earlier, the atmosphere had been subdued. A major incident involved a lot of organisation, many man hours, especially where the death also involved a missing child.
The roar and excited babble might mean the baby had been found. Slater, for all his girth, was quick on his feet. He threw open the door, ready to admonish the crowd.
Rhona caught a glimpse of Janice’s jubilant face and knew immediately the cause for celebration. Slater barked his order for silence, then demanded to know what the hell was going on .
It was Janice who answered. ‘Detective Inspector Wilson has been cleared of the assault charge, sir.’
Slater’s expression never changed. ‘I’m delighted to hear it. Now, can we get back to work? We have a missing baby, in case you’ve forgotten.’
The return to desks was accompanied by subdued but delighted murmurs. Nothing Slater said or did could diminish the importance of the news to the men and women in that room.
7
Rhona was shocked by how much Bill had aged in the weeks since she’d last seen him. She had never really considered his age before, even when she’d attended his fiftieth birthday party at the Jazz Club.
The last twelve months had hit him hard. Firstly there had been Margaret’s cancer diagnosis, then the assault on his daughter, Lisa, McNab’s murder and finally the court case. You didn’t have to be fifty to look old after a string of bad luck like that.
She had gone in search of him after the meeting, suspecting he was somewhere in the building, avoiding jubilant colleagues and awaiting Sutherland’s interview call.
She had finally persuaded Angus, the Duty Sergeant, to tell her where he was.
‘He doesn’t want to talk to anyone before he sees the Super.’
‘I’ll pretend I found him all on my own.’
Angus gave her a reluctant nod. ‘He’s in number six.’
The corridor was silent and empty. Bill had chosen the most far-flung interview room. No chance of anyone spotting him unless they walked the full length of the corridor. She wondered if he had heard the whoop of joy that had gone up on the announcement of his acquittal. Such an outburst of approbation would have embarrassed him. He would also believe it to be undeserved;
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