Damaged Goods. Helen Black

both men.

      Cheney recovered first and spread his palms. ‘Anything’s possible.’

      Jack forced the doctor’s attention from Lilly. ‘But you don’t think it happened that way.’

      Cheney paused, but Jack knew it would not be in hesitation. His shambolic appearance belied a precise mind and he was a man who measured his words with care. When his answer came it was emphatic.

      ‘No. The victim would have fallen to the floor almost immediately after she was struck. Even if the killer didn’t realise she was dead he must have known she was unconscious when he began cutting her. There would have been no reaction.’

      ‘Maybe he was in a frenzy and couldn’t stop,’ said Lilly.

      ‘As I said, anything’s possible, but the person who inflicted the knife wounds wasn’t out of control. He wasn’t slashing or stabbing wildly, he moved the body, laid it on the bed and began his task in a careful manner.’ Cheney drew lines in the air with his forefinger. ‘The wounds are virtually all the same length and depth, and most are evenly spaced.’

      ‘They’re all on the torso,’ said Jack unnecessarily.

      Cheney smirked, clearly aware of his friend’s efforts to redirect both his words and his gaze. ‘Yes. Nothing on the face or neck. Our assailant wanted to make his point but he didn’t want to rip her apart. There’s a degree of respect shown that’s intriguing.’

      Now they were getting somewhere. ‘Maybe the killer knew Grace, had feelings for her,’ said Jack.

      ‘That’s highly probable. There was no sign of a forced entry or a struggle and there are no defensive injuries. It seems she let the killer in, suspecting nothing,’ said Cheney.

      Lilly shook her head. ‘Isn’t it just as likely the killer was a punter? She was expecting him, she lets him in, he gives her the money, she turns round to count it, and bam.’

      ‘Why cut her up?’ asked Jack.

      ‘Who knows what people get off on? Some like shagging dogs, some like being whipped. Men are a curious breed, maybe some like cutting people up,’ said Lilly.

      Dr Cheney considered this for a moment. ‘That would be a good theory, except the body has no evidence of any sexual activity, nor were any traces of semen found at the scene.’

      Lilly snapped open the top button of her suit and scratched her throat, leaving vicious welts. Jack resisted the temptation to move her hand.

      ‘Surely we’re looking at a man? From a purely practical point of view he’d need to be strong enough to kill her outright and then move the body,’ said Lilly.

      ‘The blow to the head could have been caused by anyone strong enough to swing a pan or a hammer, male or female. It’s the density of the weapon that proved fatal,’ said Cheney, ‘and I’m afraid the deceased weighed only six and a half stone when she died.’

      ‘Junkies don’t eat much,’ said Jack.

      Cheney nodded. ‘Anyone could have dragged the body out of the kitchen.’

      ‘Even a fourteen-year-old girl,’ said Jack.

      Lilly jumped to her feet and shook Cheney’s hand. ‘Bloody marvellous.’

      Then she left without giving Jack so much as a sideways glance.

      Cheney reached for his gloves and chuckled. ‘If you were hoping for your leg over, Jack, I think you can forget it.’

      ‘Don’t I know it.’

      At 7 p.m. Miriam arrived at the Batfield Arms to meet Lilly. She bought two gin and tonics at the bar and made for their usual table.

      Lilly gratefully accepted the drink. It was her fourth. She took a long gulp and pushed the letter across the table.

      ‘This is a copy so I’m assuming you have the original.’

      Miriam shook her head slowly. ‘It was sent to Kelsey’s mum at her request.’

      ‘You took a copy for your records and sent one to me with the other documents relating to her time in care,’ said Lilly.

      Miriam nodded. ‘Standard procedure.’

      ‘Has anyone else seen it?’

      ‘No.’

      Lilly put her forehead on the sticky table. Part of her had hoped social services, the police and the pope himself had already seen it.

      ‘It doesn’t mean she did it,’ Miriam said.

      ‘No, it doesn’t, but it’s material evidence that points in her general direction.’

      ‘I think it’s just a bit of ranting from a distraught child.’

      Lilly banged her head repeatedly against the hard wood of the table. ‘Of course you do, Miriam, which is why you’re so brilliant at what you do. You see the good in all these lousy kids no matter what they’ve done.’

      A look of deep sadness followed by quiet resignation fell across Miriam’s face. ‘Someone has to.’

      ‘But not me. I have to remain objective. I went to see the pathologist today and there’s no good reason why Kelsey couldn’t have done it. In fact, it’s likely there was a close bond between murderer and victim. I have to imagine what other people will make of that, coupled with a letter that looks like a bloody confession,’ said Lilly.

      ‘Do they have to see it?’ asked Miriam.

      Lilly sighed. ‘It might not be down to me. The police might find the original.’

      ‘This is a murder investigation, the police will have been through everything in the flat. My guess is the mother destroyed it.’

      They sat in silence. Lilly knew that Miriam had destroyed her copy as well. She drained her glass and accepted that the ultimate decision did indeed lie with her.

      ‘I would never ask you to do anything wrong, Lilly, but you know what this would mean,’ Miriam said.

      Lilly squeezed her eyes shut and imagined the aftermath of disclosing this piece of evidence. The police would have enough to pursue Kelsey. With Mrs Mitchell’s statement they might even secure a conviction. A child locked away with adult criminals. It was a pressure some kids couldn’t bear.

      ‘My duty to the court in care proceedings overrides everything else. If information comes my way that may affect the child’s wellbeing then I must disclose it. It’s then a matter for the judge whether or not the evidence is passed to the police.’

      ‘But you have a different duty in criminal proceedings,’ Miriam pointed out.

      ‘The client’s confidentiality is paramount in those cases. I’m not obliged to assist the prosecution in any way. I certainly shouldn’t actively help them build their case,’ said Lilly.

      ‘That’s a pretty heavy conflict,’ said Miriam.

      Tears stung Lilly’s eyes. ‘At the moment this is a care case so I ought to show the letter to the judge …’

      ‘But,’ said Miriam.

      ‘But I get the feeling it won’t be long before the police make their involvement official.’

      ‘Arrest her?’ asked Miriam.

      ‘Bound to,’ said Lilly. ‘And I wouldn’t want to make matters worse by waving around a letter they’ll just use against her.’

      She had no idea what to do.

      Finally she sniffed and said, more to herself than to Miriam, ‘Maybe the police will find out who killed Grace before I have to decide.’

       CHAPTER