Imperfection (DI Gardener 2)

Gardener quickly took over, glancing at Colin Sharp. “Colin, the quote on the wall next to Janine Harper, anything?”

“Same film, sir, Phantom of the Opera.”

Gardener stared at Briggs, “that might answer one of your questions, films with the same actor or director. Phantom of the Opera is favoured here.” He addressed the rest of them. “Two quotes from the same film, Phantom, so what’s happening here? Is he obsessed with The Phantom? Was it a case of unrequited love: he stalked Janine Harper but got nothing in return? It’s definitely a lead worth following.”

“You wouldn’t say it was the same film judging by the disguise he used in Leeds on the night she was killed,” said Briggs, nodding toward Reilly.

“The CCTV from the arcade is interesting enough, but it doesn’t show us anything more than we already know.” Reilly switched on the recording and they all watched as the vampire character matching the witness statements entered the shop at nine forty-two, and left well after midnight. “No one else was in the arcade, so he was allowed to come and go unchallenged,” he said.

“Correct me if I’m wrong,’ said Anderson, ‘but the character he used there was not from The Phantom.”

“You’re not wrong,” said Colin Sharp, “I’ve watched it all the way through now and there is no character like that in the film.”

“Something else to go on,” said Gardener, “it’s not the same film so are we back to films all starring the same actor, or made by the same director?”

“How did you get on with Cuthbertson?” Briggs asked Gardener, changing the subject.

“It’s not him,” said Gardener. “He’s very strange, but he has a cast-iron alibi.”

Gardener briefed them about the interview and the things he’d uncovered.

“We still have no idea if there’s a link between Cuthbertson and White?” said Briggs. “Was Janine killed, when it should have been Cuthbertson?”

“It’s a possibility,” said Gardener. “Which could rule out the watch committee connection. But I think there’s a real urgency now to find Harry Fletcher.”

“Two murders carried out with relative ease,” said Briggs. “We’re struggling because we don’t know what he looks like. Look around the room. You’re all out there doing your job, but not one of you has come up with anything concrete. I’m not knocking any of you, I know how hard it is, but if he murders someone else, and the chances are he will, we’re all going to be back out there, looking for another job. It’s not funny. We need a positive lead.” Briggs rubbed his forehead. “What about Scenes of Crime?”

“We found Janine Harper’s mobile phone in the back of the shop, under the Dexion shelving. No idea why it was there. Maybe she was trying to call us, and in the struggle it was knocked under there. Anyway, we’ve checked it for prints and can only find hers. We’ve also gone through the contacts and all the messages, so we have a lead on the boyfriend.”

“Good work,” said Briggs. “Bring him in, let’s talk to him.”

“And we found a list,” offered Fenton. “It looks like an order for make-up, but it’s not easy to make out. It was screwed up in a bin, and it looks like it’s had coffee on it. The only thing I can really see is the name Corndell.”

“Anyone know that name?” asked Briggs.

“I do,” said Reilly. Before the Irishman had a chance to elaborate, Thornton came through the door and apologised for his lateness. He was also out of breath.

“Everything okay, Frank?” asked Briggs.

“Yes.” He turned in Gardener’s direction and had the common courtesy to offer his apologies to his superior officer. “Anyway, I’ve uncovered something interesting. The knots used to hold Janine’s legs were different to the first murder. He used a double loop bowline.”

“Which is what?” asked Gardener.

Thornton explained the technicalities of the knot. “Apparently, it was used at sea for lowering injured men from boats, one leg through each loop.” Thornton sat down, sipping the coffee he’d brought in with him, staring at the stranger in their midst.

Gardener took over. “So, once again we have a link to the navy, or the fishing industry. The first time, he used a sailor’s eye splice. This time he’s used a double loop bowline. So, someone needs to check these out. Is our killer a fisherman? Or does he simply have a good knowledge of knots and he’s using that fact to throw us?” He glanced at Thornton. “Well done, Frank. Can you keep going with that one? Find out as much as you can about the rope itself.”

“Right. Reilly–” started Briggs.

“Excuse me, sir?” The voice belonged to the youngest member of the team, Patrick Edwards. He was fresh-faced, nineteen years old, and had an earring in one ear that no one was pleased about.

Briggs glanced at him, but didn’t offer a qu

estion.

Edwards took it as his cue. “I’ve got something on a missing limo. Took a call about ten minutes ago from a company in Bradford who hire them out for all sorts of reasons. One of them has gone missing. It was hired out for the whole of last week and should have been returned on Monday. It hasn’t.”

“What? And it’s taken them till now to report it missing? Okay, as soon as we’re out of here get yourself over there, lad, and get every scrap of information you can.” Briggs turned his attention to the Irishman.