Free False Witness (John Steel series Book 3) by P. S Syron-Jones Page B

had seen some bad things—especially with the first case she and Steel had worked. But nothing ever prepares you for that first sight of a body.
    Once inside the room McCall saw the ME who took the other shift when Tina wasn’t on duty. His name was Fowler, a name which matched his attitude to anyone with a pulse. He was a heavy looking man with red hair and round glasses that seemed too small for his large head.
    “Hi, Doc. McCall’s here,” Bennett announced her arrival. The ME looked over and just grunted a friendly greeting—or as friendly as he knew how.
    “Hi there. We have one Edward Gibbs, forty-five years old. He was a journalist with the Herald .”
    McCall walked round the chair to get a better look at the victim. The man was sitting in the chair with his head back, looking towards the ceiling. He had been tied to the chair using cable ties on his wrists and ankles. His eyes were open wide with a panicked stare, and, just as with the first victim, his nose and mouth had been sewn shut.
    “I take it you’re not going to open his mouth here?” she asked.
    The doctor looked up and shook his head wildly. “Unfortunately, because this is your case it goes to Doctor Franks. She can find the special treat if she wants too.” He waved at the orderlies, who were waiting to bag the corpse.
    McCall quickly took some snaps of the body before they carried it off down to the waiting ME’s car. She finished off taking pictures of the area and headed out to the sitting room.
    “Where you going?” asked Bennett, following her into the other room.
    “I am going to let CSU do their thing and then I’m going home. I’ll be back tomorrow when I have had some sleep.”
    Bennett shook his head in disbelief. “So you’re leaving the crime scene until tomorrow?”
    Sam McCall smiled and nodded.
    “I don’t blame her, she has had a remarkably bad day so far.”
    They both spun round to see a tall man dressed in a black suit, with sunglasses. His long black coat was draped over the backrest of the couch.
    Samantha McCall smiled at Steel’s timing.
    “Who the hell are you?” yelled Bennett.
    McCall raised an introductory hand towards the man. “Detective Carl Bennett, meet my partner, Detective John Steel.”
    The two men shook hands. Bennett’s eyes searched Steel’s face for any sign of emotion, but the other man’s dark glasses hid everything that could give him away.
    “I heard a lot about you, man, and I must say your appearance is just what I expected,” Carl Bennett welcomed him.
    Steel looked at Bennett, noting his high-end suit and shiny new shoes, and his well-toned muscular body, no doubt the result of good dining and working out at the gym. The British guy cracked a smile. “Same here, Carl.” His words were short but hit some sort of nerve.
    Bennett released Steel’s hand. “You only heard good things, I hope?” joked Bennett, as he stared into Steel’s poker face.
    John Steel broke a smile and shrugged. “You know how it is. Some good things, some bad.” Steel lost his smile at the last sentence and walked off towards the long corridor that led to the bathroom and the office.
    The detective in sunglasses stood at the mouth of the long stretch of landing and took everything in.
    A quiet hum from his jacket pocket alerted him to an incoming text. Taking out the cell phone he read the message, then slipped it away again.
    “Well I would love to stay but something has come up,” he told the other officers. “McCall, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He turned his head towards Bennett and gave a small head bow. “Detective, a pleasure, I am sure we will meet again.” Steel turned and hurried out of the door and headed for the street below.
    “So, that’s the limey everyone is talking about?” Bennett asked as McCall watched Steel disappear to do God knows what.
    “You mean is that the right royal pain in my ass?” she said bitterly. “Yes, that’s him.”
    Bennett grinned and stuck a