A Liverpool Lullaby

Chapter 2

Chapter 2New Blood

Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Agostini walked into an unusually quiet squad room, belonging to the Merseyside Police's Specialist Murder Investigation Team. Set up to investigate crimes of an unusual and particularly challenging aspect, the team had been in existence for almost eight years, ably led by Detective Inspector Andy Ross and, until recently, his trusted side-kick, Detective Sergeant Izzie Drake, now absent for at least nine months on maternity leave, with her baby expected any time soon. It was spring, 2006 and along with the change in seasons, changes were taking place in the personnel of the team.

The team had also been further depleted by the loss of Sofie Meyer, the German detective who'd been on attachment with the Merseyside Force and, her time at an end, had recently returned to Hamburg, to once again take up her duties with the German Federal Police, the Bundeskriminalamt, (the BKA).

To help compensate for these losses, the team had been joined by Detective Sergeant Fenella Church, previously with the Cold Case Unit, who had been hugely instrumental in solving the recent murders at St. Emma's Priory, thus firmly cementing her place in the team. Fenella had an impressive record with the Force, having picked up a bravery award for entering a burning house to carry out and save the life of a young child. As a result of her actions, she'd suffered severe burns to her head, especially her face, and only the fact she'd been wearing gloves saved her from severe burns to her hands. A number of skin grafts followed at the Mersey Regional Burns, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, before she was eventually cleared for a return to duty. The right side of her face was left with visible scars which she did her best to mask with make-up and worst of all, her hair had been completely burned off in the fire, the roots damaged beyond repair, and she now possessed a series of wigs. She looked on the bright side, by telling people she now saved a fortune in trips to the hairdresser and could change her hairstyle or colour in minutes.

When the chief constable had given his approval to increase the team's numbers by two, Ross, who had been impressed by Fenella when she had to present him with cold case information on the St. Emma's case, made further enquiries about her capabilities from her previous boss and had requested, and been granted approval to have her transferred to his team.

In addition to Fenella, the loss of Izzie Drake was partly compensated for by the promotion of Detective Constable Derek McLennan, one of Ross's longest serving team members to Acting Detective Sergeant. McLennan would be filling Drake's role as Ross's assistant in her absence.

The team still had one vacancy to fill, which was the reason for Agostini's visit to the squad room that morning. Nodding in greeting to Detective Sergeant Paul Ferris, the team's resident computer expert, and Kat Bellamy the admin assistant, and to Detective Constables Lenny (Tony) Curtis, Nick Dodds and Samantha Gable, Agostini gave a brisk knock on Ross's office door, and entered on hearing a brief, “Come” from inside.

The small (Ross would say, tiny), office looked especially small this morning, with Ross, McLennan and Church, filling most of the breathing space. With two filing cabinets and Ross's desk taking up most of the remaining space, Agostini walked in, closed the door behind him, and leaned against it.

“Not interrupting anything, am I,” he asked, smiling at the trio.

“Oh, yeah, sir,” Ross was in a good mood. “We're just making plans for the staff Christmas party. I know it's not for months yet, but…”

Agostini accepted the joke and replied in kind, “Well, I hope you've included DCS Hollingsworth on the guest list.”

“Very funny, Oscar,” Ross quipped. “What brings down to the land of living dead this morning?”

“Actually, I'm glad to catch you all together. You'll all be interested in what I've got to tell you.”

“Go on then, surprise us,” Ross replied, allowing a pregnant pause at the end of his words.

“Actually, Detective Chief Superintendent Hollingsworth and I have been in contact quite a bit over the last few days.”

“And?”

“Well, you know how the Chief Super said you could have two more team members? You've got Fenella of course, and so you need one more yet.”

“And the DCS has given you her ideas, a sort of 'approved short list' of candidates.”

“You're so sharp, one of these days you'll cut yourself, Andy, but yes, that's exactly right.”

“And the short list is contained in the file you have under your arm, if I'm not mistaken?”

“Well done. Top marks for observation too. Yes, I want to show you these files and get your opinion. You're not obliged to take any of them if you don't think they meet the team's standards, but the DCS…”

“Hasn't got a clue,” Ross interrupted.

“Oh, give her some credit, man. Just take a look and let me know what you think, okay.”

“Okay,” said Ross. “Oh, and good morning to you, Oscar.”

Agostini laughed. “Good morning to you all, too. How are you finding it being a DS, Derek?” he asked McLennan.

“Oh, just great, sir,” McLennan grinned. “So far the only order I've given was to ask Tony Curtis to fetch me and the boss a coffee each.”

“Oh well, we all have to start somewhere, Derek,” Agostini chuckled. “I'm sure you'll get your chance to flex your muscles when we get a new case.”

“Speaking of cases, nothing for us yet, sir?” Ross asked.

“Nope, I'll let you know as soon as we get something. You settled in okay, Fenella?”

“Yes, thank you, sir,” Church replied.

“Okay, that's it for now,” Agostini said, depositing the file he'd brought with him on Ross's desk. “Have a look, see what you think and get back to me.”

Once he'd gone, Ross picked up the file and looked at the three resumés it contained. He remained silent for a minute as he briefly scanned the documents, and as he finished one, he passed them to his two sergeants to peruse. After all three of them had read through the resumés, he finally spoke again.

“Comments, anyone?”

“I like the look of this one,” Church pointed to the first file they'd looked at.

“Funnily enough, so do I,” McLennan agreed with her.

“Well,” Ross said, “I concur with you two. I like the look of him, too. Good arrest record, good recommendations from his senior officers, and sounds like an intelligent guy.”

“Don't get me wrong, sir. They're all good, but this one stands out,” Church said.

“I thought so too,” McLennan concurred.

“Well then, as we all like the look of him, I'd better have a word with the boss, and arrange to interview him.”

* * *

DCI Agostini, having agreed with Ross's choice put the wheels in motion and a week later, after passing a detailed and gruelling interview, during which it transpired that the candidate was already friendly with one of the team, Ross was able to introduce the latest member of the team to the others, after his move from CID to Ross's team was fast-tracked. At the regular morning briefing, Ross had arranged for the newcomer to be brought in by DCI Agostini after he'd announced him to the team. Things were so quiet at present, he thought a little drama might be appropriate.

After going through the routine business of the briefing which didn't take long, Ross announced to the team,

“Okay, everyone, you know we've been looking for another body to join our team. Well, I'm pleased to tell you, we've got one. DCI Agostini is waiting outside to bring him in to meet you.”

Derek McLennan, who with Fenella Church were the only ones to know the newcomer's identity, was stationed at the door, and at a nod from Ross, he opened it to allow Oscar Agostini and their new detective constable to walk into the squad room.”

Heads turned and there were a few surprised looks when they saw their new teammate, and suddenly, Tony Curtis exclaimed, “Ishi, you rogue. You never told me.”

“Well, Tony, you clearly know DC Singh already. Everyone, this is Detective Constable Ishaan Singh, formerly with CID, and who has obviously been exposed to Tony's corrupting influence already.”

There was much scraping of chairs on the floor as everyone rose and moved to welcome DC Singh.

The newest member of the team, Ishaan Singh, had been born in Liverpool to Indian parents, who had arrived in the UK forty years previously, with their own parents, who ran a small corner shop in Wavertree until their retirement. Ishaan's father went to University and qualified as a doctor, later being part of a practice in the city. He was now approaching retirement himself. The young Ishaan grew up with a singular ambition. He wanted to be a policeman. He'd achieved his ambition, being accepted into the Merseyside Police Force at the age of nineteen. He achieved detective status at the age of 25, had picked up a commendation for bravery at the age of 26, earned, similarly to Derek McLennan for his actions in tackling a pair of armed robbers, and now, at 29 years of age, he'd reached the pinnacle of his career to date.

Ross, Church and McLennan left everyone to their own devices for a time, to allow them to get to know their new colleague, the trio retreating to the minor sanctuary of Ross's office, where Ross intended to lay out his plans for the coming week, in the absence of any 'live' investigations. Within minutes, however, they were interrupted by the jangling sound of the telephone on Ross's desk.

Answering it, Ross listened carefully to the speaker, and Derek McLennan knew from experience that Ross's body language indicated that something had taken place, somewhere in the city, that just might end their period of inactivity.

He made a signal with his free hand that indicated to McLennan to have a pen and paper ready. After DCI Agostini stopped speaking, Ross repeated most of the information back to him, thus enabling his Acting DS to make some notes.

“Right sir, definitely sounds like one for us. Female body, sand dunes at Southport, Sandhills Nature Reserve, sorry, repeat that last bit…he did what? Bugger, sounds like a bad one. Uniforms on site, got it. Consider us on our way.”

Hanging up the phone he said to McLennan, “Did you get all that, Derek?”

“Yes, sir,” said McLennan, at the same time leaning to one side to show Church what he'd written.

“When you asked DCI Agostini to repeat himself, what did that refer to,” Church asked.

“Oh yes, that bit. The bastard who did this, he cut out her heart.”

Church went pale in the face, and McLennan gasped, “Oh f**k,” as the horror of their new case struck home.

“Let's get out there,” Ross said, as he rose from his seat. “I want the two of you, plus Sam, Ginger, Tony and Nick with us, oh yes, Singh too. Miles Booker's scenes of crimes team is already en-route to the site and the pathologist's been summoned.”

“Fat Willy, sir?” McLennan asked, referring to Doctor William Nugent, the rotund and overweight, but brilliant Medical Examiner and the city's leading pathologist.

“Who else?” Ross replied. “Now, come on, let's gather the troops and hit the road. We've got ourselves a murder to solve.”