Free Deadly Intent by Lynda La Plante Page A

for. We think it was some kind of security chauffeur-type job, but we're hoping to get more on this when the family accountant comes in later. We are waiting, as usual, on the forensic department to bring in their results, though I know they took a lot of prints. As yet, we haven't got the full ballistic report, but we do know he wasn't using drugs, so he wasn't at the squat to score for himself."
Cunningham went on to detail the fact that Frank's widow was wealthy and would gain a half million on life insurance payouts. She described the Wimbledon home, mentioned the two little girls and the ex-partner.
Anna listened intently, surprised that Cunningham seemed to have some suspicion regarding Julia Brandon. Before the DCI wound down, they were interrupted by a visitor from the forensic lab.
Cunningham smiled broadly as he approached. "Well, we arc getting special treatment. Everyone, this is Pete Jenkins, who heads up the forensic team."
There were murmurs all round. Anna got a smile of recognition from Jenkins, who seemed very relaxed as he joined Cunningham at the incident board.
He began by taking out files from a bulging briefcase. "I sensed you'd be hungry for what we have to date. Obviously, you'll learn a lot more when you come to the lab, but—"
He was interrupted by Cunningham. "How we doing on the fingerprints?"
"We have a fair amount and we're running them through the database, but that's not my department. I really wanted to discuss the blood spattering, as I think it's crucial to the case."
Jenkins pinned up a large drawing in four parts: one showing a door with bullet marks, then three of the blood-spatter patterns at the murder scene.
He took out a pen. "The first bullets went through this door. As you can see, I've made notes of the size of the victim. He was five feet eleven. The shooter, I would say, was much smaller, maybe five seven. He fired three shots at the victim through the door. Then I think he opened the door. Now, with the door open, the shooter fires again, this time at the head and face of the victim."
Jenkins pointed to the red markings. "As you can see, the blood spattering is exactly the height of the victim, but what is important is the way the blood has hit the wall behind him. There is a clear outline: there was someone else standing directly behind your victim. This person I would say is at least six feet three. He must have been covered with the victim's blood."
    He opened a notebook. "We've traced footprints from the area this person would have been standing in. They face at first toward your victim, then we have six quite clear footprints in blood as he walked away
from the dead man. We also traced further prints outside the premises; then they faded. The prints are from a size-eleven shoe which would be about right for a man of the height I believe him to be."
He flipped through his notes. "We have further footprints made by a sneaker and, as you know, substantial quantities of fingerprints— significantly, a set that have powder burns taken from the ledge and the wooded slat of the rear window. As 1 said, these will all be run by the database."
Could that someone, who had accompanied Frank Brandon to the drug squat, have been involved in the murder? Or was he the reason Frank was at the drug dealers'? Back in her office after the briefing, Anna was making notes when there was a knock at her door. It was Jenkins.
"I know you were onto that blood spatter," he said as he shut the door, "but 1 thought I should get over here to confirm it before the ritual visitation to the lab."
"I'm sure we all appreciate it. I've never known anyone to come into the incident room before. I think it's very important, next to the fingerprints—almost equally so."
"I was wondering if you'd like a drink one evening."
Anna was taken aback. "Well, I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other."
"Are you free tonight?"
"Erm, I'm not sure. I think we'll be under pressure here after what you've brought in."
"Do