Free Shallow Waters by Rebecca Bradley Page A

a few days, as will results from under
nail scrapings. Work is also being done on the bruising patterns found
on her body. The investigation has everything we can throw at it.”
Which was a lot considering the economic climate.
    Grey rubbed his forehead, but the sand ripples remained. “What else are we doing, other than waiting on people and results?”
    “Plenty.
There are on-going enquiries with the restaurant and banks to identify
patrons where the body was found. We're following up the alibis of sex
offenders, local CCTV needs to be gone through at a steady pace and all
vehicles identified as well as door knocking. There's a lot of work and
not enough staff as usual, but we're doing everything we can.”
    “Get this bastard, Hannah, and the sooner the better before the press eats us alive.”
     

 
    24
     
    After
updating Grey and checking through more emails that had arrived
overnight, I gathered the team in the conference room, a bland
rectangular space with several tables pushed together to form a larger
table for users to sit around.
    The
inquiry team filed in. Aaron looked healthier for a night in his own
bed. Sally looked happier, but still a little peaky. Ross, well he
looked just like Ross. Jack sauntered in with his steaming mug,
muttering under his breath about the lack of full fat milk available.
I'd asked Jack, Doug Howell the crime scene tech, and Evie to attend
this morning’s meeting. It was best practice to get everyone together
so all strands of the investigation could be discussed and nothing
missed. Claire Betts walked in with her folder and a couple of pens
clipped to it.
    “Morning, Hannah. You going to keep me busy for a while?” she asked.
    “You
know me, Claire. I'm not happy unless I'm running around and
overworked, so I need someone to join me.” She laughed and sat in a
chair, pulling it up to the table, straightening her folder. “I'd be
sorry if you didn't.”
    Grey
followed Claire in and was leaning against a wall, his frown lines well
excavated. My earlier attempts to reassure him we would deal with this
hadn't hit the right spot.
    The
local press had started asking questions of the police investigation.
I'd appraised myself of the recent articles and had seen yesterday’s
main topic was the lack of identification. Today it would take on a
whole different slant and I imagined it would also hit the national
press which would put pressure on the local reporters to get in closer.
It was after all, their community, plus we would be hit by hard-nosed
national journalists. The media would be on a rampage only they could
create, and often were unable to stop once they had started the
speeding train. I thought of Ethan. He would be working this. The
pressure was mounting.  Having an identification meant we had
somewhere to start looking from. Victimology was a better starting
point for the investigation, but it was complicated by Rosie being from
so far away. 
    I
waited for the chatter to die down, then started. “Thanks for coming
in. We need all heads on this.” I had their attention. “The operational
name has been allocated and is Operation Halyard. We'll start by
looking at what information we already have, assess it and see where we
go from there. We'll start with the crime scene. What did you find
Doug?”
    “As
we've discussed, it doesn't look like it was the murder scene. The girl
was naked which suggests she was dumped in the alley after being
murdered elsewhere. The offender had access to the alley from two
directions and no CCTV to cover it. Gives the impression of local
knowledge.”
    I nodded.
    “It
was a terrible site to process. We have so much to go through back at
the lab and most of it's going to be irrelevant so it would be helpful
if anyone can help narrow things down. Tell us what needs to take
priority and what needs testing specifically. Testing everything is
going to cost.” He paused. I saw Ross roll his eyes and I was glad he
didn't make comment.