Death on Tyneside

Chapter Four

Chapter FourDetective Chief Inspector Alan Johnson and Sergeant Andrews found Agnes where she'd said she would be – near the tall bushes where she had located the body.

While they were talking on the phone, Alan had suggested she might like to move some distance away from the scene until they arrived, saying it might be too upsetting for her. But she had refused, telling him that some unsuspecting children might run into the bushes for a ball and come across that poor person lying there. “Seeing something like that could scar them for life.”

Once Alan took a look at the body, he could see her point. The face and hands were very badly mutilated. Making sure he didn't contaminate anything, he leaned over the body to take a closer look. However, it was difficult to determine whether the cuts had been done by the murderer, or the crows and other birds still fluttering overhead.

“What do you think, Sergeant?”

Andrews shook his head. “That's something for the pathologist to figure out. But someone was certainly trying to hide the identity of the body. Look at the fingertips.”

Alan took another look and saw that even the tips of the fingers had been burned away.

“I could have one of the officers take you back to the hotel,” Alan suggested, when he returned to where Agnes was waiting.

He could see that she looked quite pale and her hands were trembling.

He placed an arm around her shoulder and glanced towards the entrance, just as two police cars turned in, followed by the pathologist's van.

“You've already had a long day, and now this,” Alan continued, gesturing towards where the body lay. “Besides, it's starting to get colder.”

Even as he spoke, Alan knew he was on a losing wicket. He had learned on her last visit that she was not one to step aside when there was a police inquiry.

“No, I'm fine,” Agnes insisted, though she was still trembling. “I'm not tired and I'm not cold. You can see I am wearing a thick coat and scarf.” She gestured to the heavy camel-coloured coat she was wearing.

Even though she was still in shock at finding the body lying behind the bush, there was no way she was going allow herself to be bundled off.

“Anyway, I found the body. Therefore I'm a witness,” she added defiantly.

Andrews, who had been listening to the conversation, gave a hint of a smile as he raised his eyebrows. However, he remained silent.

“She's right,” Alan said, picking up on his sergeant's amusement. “Mrs Lockwood is a witness as she found the body.”

“Yes, I agree,” the sergeant replied.

“You do?” Alan sounded surprised. “That's not like you. Why do you agree?”

“It's easier.” Andrews grinned at his boss.

“You guys know I'm standing here right next to you, don't you?” Agnes chirped. She sounded a little more like her old self.

Alan coughed. “Okay, but please stand clear when Doctor Nichols, the pathologist, and the forensic team begin checking the body.” He paused. “Did you touch anything before or since you phoned me?”

“Are you crazy, Alan?” Agnes retorted. “Of course not! I know better than to tamper with a crime scene. I took one look in the bushes and when I saw the body I backed off. Wouldn't anyone have backed away when they saw… that?” She pointed towards the spot where the body lay.

“Okay, okay.” Alan held up his hands. “But I had to ask. Anything you might have come in contact with, we'll need to eliminate from our inquiries.”

Agnes heaved a sigh. “I know.” She thought for a moment. “That's my footprint,” she said, pointing down to a small patch of flattened leaves lying in the earth at one side of a bush. “I placed one foot there and leaned forward to take a closer look at the shoe sticking out from the bush.”

She looked at Alan. “But, I didn't touch a thing. I didn't even need to pull the bush to one side. From where I was standing, I could see… I could see…” Agnes was unable to carry on and tears filled her eyes.

“It's alright, Agnes. We really understand.”

Even he, a hardened police officer and a former soldier, had been shocked when he had first laid eyes on the body. “Are you sure you don't want to go back to the hotel? I can take your statement later.”

“No, Alan. I really need to be here.” Agnes reply was slow and deliberate as she wiped away the tears. “I want to stay.”

“Now, what have we here?”

Doctor Nichols's voice boomed out as he approached the scene. He was already wearing his protective clothing, though his mask was still hanging loosely around his neck. “Who found the victim?”

“I did.” Agnes spoke before anyone else could say a word.

“Did you touch anything?”

“No. My only contact was to step onto the leaves to see what the birds were so interested in.”

“Mm, birds,” Doctor Nichols nodded. He looked Agnes up and down and smiled. “The number of times I have been called to a case because someone saw birds hovering over the scene of a crime would amaze you. I'll tell you about it sometime.”

He looked back towards the bushes, where his team was waiting to proceed. “However, for the moment, I have a job to do.”

Without another word, he strode off towards the bushes.

Agnes glanced across to where the pathologist was working. “He seems like a nice man”

Andrews shrugged. “Yes, he is and very good at his job, too.”

“Do you really want to hang around here while Doctor Nichols checks the victim?” Alan said, changing the subject. “After that, the forensics team goes in once he gives them the nod. It could take a while.”

“But what if someone needs to ask me something?”

“Like what?”

“I don't know…”

Agnes thought for a moment. She was determined to come up with some reason why she should stay.

“Like, for instance, what if they find a thread or a piece of material caught on one of the bushes? They could want to check it didn't come from something I'm wearing.”

Alan couldn't argue with that – well, he could if he wanted to spend the time arguing when he knew he wouldn't win! Besides, it was too damn cold for Agnes to stand out here, and it was getting colder by the minute. The sun had already sunk behind the tall buildings which stood at one end of the park.

“Why don't we sit in my car while I take your statement? It will save time later – you haven't forgotten we are having dinner together?”

“Good idea,” Agnes replied, tightening her scarf and pulling up her coat collar. “No, I hadn't forgotten,” she added slowly.

“But, if you have changed your mind…” Alan sighed quietly, as though expecting the worst.

“No, I'm quite looking forward to catching up,” Agnes replied, quickly. “However, would you mind awfully if we had dinner at the hotel this evening?”

Agnes wouldn't admit it, not even to herself. However, she had suddenly started to feel tired.

“Not at all.”

Alan was relieved their meal together wasn't going to be postponed.

“Actually, I was going suggest we had dinner at the hotel tonight.”

* * *

After Agnes had made her statement, Alan left her in the car, while he went back to join Andrews and the rest of the team.

Not long afterwards, Doctor Nichols reappeared from behind the bushes and headed towards them.

“The forensic team is checking out the scene before I have the body moved back to the laboratory.”

He nodded across to where three people were trying to gather anything that would give the police a clue as to where to start looking.

“However, I have to say this is going to be a hard case to solve. So far, I've found nothing on the body to identify him. Of course, I'll be able to take a closer look when we get him back to the laboratory. There could be a tattoo, a birthmark or even dental records that would help. But on the surface, the murderer seems to have made sure there was nothing to identify the victim before dumping the body.”

“Are you saying he wasn't murdered here?” Alan asked.

“No. That's the only thing I am sure about at the moment. There isn't enough blood at the scene. He was stabbed several times in the chest and also the neck. With cuts like that, there would have been more blood – lots more blood.”

“What about his facial wounds?” Alan asked. “Did the murderer do that? Or was it the birds?”

“I'm afraid I can't say for certain at the moment. Some were very likely made by the crows, but others…” He paused, not wanting to commit himself. “I really can't say any more until I perform the post-mortem.”

The chief inspector nodded. “Thank you, Keith. No doubt you'll be in touch.”

“Are you thinking what I'm thinking, sir?” Andrews asked.

“I'm thinking Chief Inspector Aldridge might have the wrong man in custody,” Alan replied. “And you?”

“The same,” Andrews replied. He turned back to the pathologist. “What do you think? Can you see any resemblance in this case to the victims found in Gateshead?”

Doctor Nichols thought for a moment. “We know there were severe facial injuries to the faces of the victims, just as there are on this man.” He gestured towards the body still lying in the bushes. “I understand there were also a few other stab wounds on their victims. The legs and arms had been cut in several places. However, you'll have to wait until I do a full examination before we'll know if there are any of these marks on this man.”

“But there is the possibility the Gateshead Police got it wrong and the real murderer could still be out there?”

The voice came from behind. The three men swung around to find Agnes standing a short distance away.

Once she had given Alan her statement, he had suggested she stay in his car out of the cold. But now, seeing her standing there, he realized he should have known better. Agnes was not one for missing out on anything.

“We're simply thinking aloud at the moment.” It was Alan who replied. “Doctor Nichols can't commit himself. It could be a totally different case altogether – maybe even a copycat killer. We'll have to wait until the pathologist sends us his report.”

At that moment, someone behind the bushes raised their head and waved.

“I think they're ready to move the body.” Doctor Nichols waved back at his man. “If anyone wants me, I'll be in the lab.”

“And you know where we are,” Alan called out, as the pathologist strode over to his van. “Don't forget, I need to know the moment you have anything that will help us find the killer.”

By now, the body had been loaded into the van and the driver was all set to head back to the laboratory.

Doctor Nichols waved as he clambered into the van. “Got you!”

“So what happens now?” Agnes asked as she watched the van pull away.

“We wait,” Alan replied.