Free Reprobates by RC Bridgestock Page B

that,’ she said. ‘But we’re hopeful you will be soon, aren’t we old boy?’ Sam opened the cage door and reached in. Max moved his head towards her hand. ‘We think he might have ingested an application of coumarins, they’re a group of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds which belong to the benzopyrones family. They are commonly found in this country in rodenticide. We are treating him accordingly. You wife says he doesn’t chase rodents and doesn’t know how he may have ingested rat poison, have you any ideas where he might have come across it?’
    Dylan shook his head.
    ‘The other explanation is that he may have taken a pharmaceutical application such as an analgesic. Do either of you take Warfarin?’
    Dylan shook his head. ‘He is going to be okay, isn’t he?’
    ‘ It could have easily proved fatal, however, we are very pleased with how he is responding to treatment. He is showing signs of improvement.’
    ‘ He is?’ Dylan said looking at the dog’s hooded eyes.
    The vet nodded.
    ‘I’ll take your word for it,’ Dylan said.
    ***
    Dylan’s mobile phone rang as he opened the door to leave the surgery. ‘Sergeant Megnicks, sir. Just to let you know the bicycle we found on Watergate Road? Fingerprints have been lifted off the “For Sale” notice and we’re going out to take elims from the owner today. Whether the job’s connected or not is another matter but we may be lucky enough to catch the thief at least.’
    ‘It ’s highly probable due to the isolated location that the bike was stolen, and that whoever did take it fled on the canal towpath that connects the two incidents though, doesn’t it?’
    ‘ It does.’
    ‘ Thanks, I’m impressed,’ said Dylan.
    ***
    Kirsty Gallagher’s home was under intense scrutiny. Nothing would be left to chance. How many people did Dylan know that would honestly have the balls to break into a mortuary at night and take a body? Not many. This was no ordinary burglary. The jigsaw had to begin with the deceased and her life. The old investigators’ saying find out how a dead person lived, and you’ll find out why they died, was a good place to start.
    The investigative team ’s first briefing was at ten a.m.
    ‘ Paul, leave the officers searching at Kirsty Gallagher’s and return for the briefing. I want to ensure all the staff have the up to date information from you,’ Dylan said.
    ***
    Once everyone was assembled, Dylan chaired the briefing and outlined the discovery of Kirsty’s body at her home.
    ‘ There were no obvious signs of a cause of death, I am told by DC Granger.’ Ned Granger nodded his head. ‘He attended the scene as the night detective. Her body, as we know, was taken from the mortuary before her post-mortem and at the moment its whereabouts is still unknown.’
    ‘ What else can you tell us about the ongoing search of her home, Paul?’ Dylan said.
    Detective Sergeant Paul Robinson was a little hesitant at the start of his speech but his confidence soon grew. Dylan watched him with pride. He was more than capable of doing his new role and he covered all the salient points. ‘Somebody has taken the time to put clean sheets on the bed. There was no dirty washing in the washer or the laundry basket and her bins had been emptied and washed out. In my view, someone didn’t want us to know they had been there. We have found no mobile phones at the address and it appears that a gas pipe in her lounge where she was found dead has been interfered with.’
    Dylan concluded the briefing. ‘I want to know if she has a vehicle and if so where is it? When did she last use her bank card? I, too, think someone out there doesn’t want us to know about their relationship with the deceased. My instinct is that she has been murdered and the offender or offenders have cleaned up afterwards. I also think whoever it is has been involved in the removal of her body from the mortuary before the post-mortem to be sure we didn’t find out how she