No stone unturned

Investigation

James was not happy with Linton’s claim that Elizabeth’s death was unintentional but he knew before a further interview that he would need not only the results of the post mortem, but also to speak with Elizabeth’s friends who were at the pub and importantly with any next of kin, who should by now have been traced by Barbara. Before ending the interview James asked Linton where he currently lived.

‘I live rough.’

Then why did you say you left the pub to go home? James asked.

‘I don’t have a home as such, just a squat that I use sometimes’.

‘where?’ askes James.

‘number eight, edgewood ave’, Linton indignantly replied.

‘That’s a two-minute walk from the eagle pub where you first saw Elizabeth, isn’t it?’ Barolli enquired.

Linton made no reply and James Ulster informed her that she would remain in police custody while ‘the squat’ was searched, the post mortem carried out and some further enquiries were made about her. Linton suddenly became agitated.

‘I’ve told you what happened. It was an accident so why do you need to keep me here?’

‘you don’t just hit someone by accident, Ms Linton and the post mortem will tell us if your story is a lie or not. So unless there is another version of events that you want to tell us about, this interview will be terminated.’

There was a long pause, James began to gather up his paperwork and Barolli was about to turn the recording equipment off when Linton said that there was something she’d like to tell them.

‘Are you going to tell us what really happened to Elizabeth?’ asked Barolli.

‘I’ve already told you.’

James said that he had had enough of Linton’s truculent behaviour and that the interview was over.

Elizabeth wasn’t the first. Before her was a red head girl, exchange student from Georgia called Melissa.

‘Are you saying you’ve committed other murders or you know who has?’

‘If you let me finish I’ll tell you. Melissa was about a week ago, but she was second.

‘You just said that the student Melissa was before Elizabeth James said, and Linton interrupted him.

‘No. You’re not listening to me, are you! Melissa was the second, long before her was Amanda Jordan – she was the first.’

James was taken aback by Linton’s sudden admissions, particularly about Amanda Jordan. There had been extensive press surrounding her disappearance just over three years ago when she was only 13 years old. The enquiry, which had been quickly moved up from a missing girl case to a suspected child a*******n and probable murder, had been headed up by none other than Detective chief superintendent Mitchell Bailey.

James knew that he needed detailed answers from Linton, who appeared to relish the sudden renewed attention, but with Trey present he would have to play this by the book as he needed Linton to make a full and frank confession concerning any other murders she might have committed.

‘Have you murdered other woman?’ James askes.

‘You’re the detective, you tell me, James replied and laughed loudly.

Trey was quick to interject, suggesting that it was a good time for a break as he would like to have a private consultation with his client before she answered any more questions. James told Linton that she didn’t have to take Trey’s advice as this was her opportunity to say what happened to Amanda Jordan and Melissa.

‘Are we playing roulette, officer?’

‘Linton decides if she wants to play, Mr.Trey, not you!’

‘Well I am advising her to make no further comment.’

‘It’s a simple yes or no, Linton. Did you kill Amanda Jordan?’

Linton said nothing but arrogantly turned and nodded to Trey. Looks like Sara wants to take my advice, DCI Ulster.

As James stormed out of the room he barked at Barolli to close the interview and then meet him in the office.

James was still seething by the time he had climbed the two flights of stairs to the allocated murder squad office, where he found Joan and Barbara were inputting data into the Holmes computers and preparing the incident board. It was immediately obvious to everyone present that DCI Ulster was in a foul mood.

‘Joan, requested a copy of the Amanda Jordan cold case file from archives and check with the national missing persons bureau for a Georgia girl by the name Melissa. Get them to search back over the last three years.’

A few more details would be helpful, sir. I thought we were dealing with the Elizabeth Bennett case?

And maybe a whole lot more by the looks of it, so just do as I ask. Where are we with next of kin? Joan informed him that Elizabeth’s husband was Mike Marks, a stockbroker in the city, and arrangements had been made for a detective to take him to the mortuary at 12 p.m to formally identity the body of his wife.

James sat in his office, fully aware that there was a lot to do and little time in which to do it. He wondered what Linton was up to and if his tentative admissions to two other murders were even true. It didn’t make sense that Linton should be lying about Amanda and the unknown girl Melissa however James knew both cases would have to be fully investigated and Linton involvement proved or disproved.

The burning question was when, if at all, should he inform DCS Bailey as he was currently on sick leave recovering from a knee operation and DCS Wagner was in temporary charge of the murder squads. James Ulster made up his mind and askes Barbara to get everyone gathered for an office meeting in thirty minutes.

With the team all there James gave them a rundown of the interview with Linton, unaware that Jerry Barolli had already filled them in on why he was in such a bad mood. James had decided that the Elizabeth Bennett murder would be the initial priority and he himself would attend the mortuary for the identification by Mike Marks. He told Barbara to contact the eagle pub and see if they had any CCTV and to arrange interviews with Elizabet’s work colleagues. Joan informed James that she had asked Diggle to run an enquiry on any girls with the name Melissa but it could be some time before they got back with any results on such limited details for a three year span.

Joan also said that the owner of the van that Linton had borrowed was indeed a Ben Hully, who had a history of petty crimes and had, he insisted, been sick in bed when Linton had borrowed his van. His wife maintained that her husband had not left their flat for two days and that on the night of the 11th of October he had had a very high temperature and was in bed very ill. Hully lived on the estate close to the pub and had access to a lockup garage where he kept his van. He claimed that it was not insured or licensed because of poor business and he was planning on selling it. Linton had told him she was interested in buying the vehicle and wanted to test drive it so he let her try it out while he was ill as long as she did a few party deliveries for him. Hully alleged that he did not know Linton very well, but had met her occasionally at a local pub. He said they had played pool together and during a game he had mentioned to Linton that he was selling his van and quitting his job as a children’s entertainer. Apart from that, he knew nothing more about Linton or where she lived.

Before finishing the meeting James Ulster raised a couple of actions that he felt needed urgent attention.

‘Joan, I need you to prepare a full file on Linton. I want to know everything about her since the day she was born.’

Jerry, contact the crime scene manager and organize a full forensic search of the squat address Linton gave us. James then thanked them all for their hard work so far but continued that as there was still a lot to do he would have cancel all weekend leave for the team. There were a few sighs around the room as they got up from their chairs to go home.

Hold it, I haven’t finished yet, Linton said and they all sat down again.

The fact that we are looking at Linton for other possible murders is to stay within these four walls and there will be serious repercussions id there’s any press leaks. DCS Wagner or I will decide as and when DCS Bailey should be informed of any developments concerning the Jordan case.