Free Scream: A DCI Mark Lapslie Investigation by Nigel McCrery Page B

up?’
    Emma heard what sounded like a snort from the other end of the line, as if Doctor Catherall was exasperated at the lack of witty banter. Too bad. ‘I’ve got the preliminary results back on the dead girl.’
    Emma’s interest was suddenly piqued. ‘Go ahead.’
    ‘Well, firstly the sexual assault kit was negative. She had not been raped, and if there was any sexual activity then it was some days ago.’
    ‘Okay. That rules out one motive, I guess. Anything else?’
    ‘Indeed. You may remember that we took samples from beneath the girl’s fingernails. There was something there: a powdery, white substance which we sent off for analysis. The results are now in.’
    ‘Cocaine?’ Emma asked, feeling a sudden rush of excitement. A drug connection might lead to a whole set of new leads and a whole load of arrests.
    ‘No, sodium chloride.’
    And her interest subsided again. ‘Salt. Just salt.’
    ‘Don’t be so dismissive of salt, my dear. This is not your common or garden table salt. There are no anti-caking agents, such as sodium silicoaluminate or magnesium carbonate, and no iodising additives such as potassium iodide, sodium iodide or sodium iodate. There are, however, significant mineral additions: sulphate ions, magnesium, calcium, potassium, bromine and minute traces of boron and strontium.’
    ‘Contaminants?’
    ‘More like something naturally occurring as part of the chemical formulation. I think you will find it is sea salt: salt that has been created by the natural evaporation of sea water in large, flat pans.’
    ‘Sea salt.’ She remembered something that Sergeant Murrell had said earlier, and her excitement quickened. ‘They used to make salt on Canvey Island. They made it for the Romans. Apparently.’
    ‘This isn’t from Canvey Island,’ the voice on the other end of the phone said.
    ‘How can you tell?’
    ‘Gas chromatography. There is a distinct difference between the chemical composition of sea salts from different coastal regions, even if they are only a few tens of miles apart. Tidal patterns create unique chemical signatures.’
    ‘So where is this salt from?’
    ‘Maldon, if the particular percentages of the various ions are to be believed.’
    ‘Anything else on the samples?’
    Jane hesitated for a moment. ‘Let me see if I can get this confounded computer thing to cooperate.’
    There was silence for a moment, then the sound of keys being hesitantly tapped. Silence again.
    ‘Actually, I do have an email from the chemical analysis laboratory. It came in a few minutes ago, shortly after the one about the salt sample. Yes, they have apparently also analysed the blood and the various organs I sent them, which is quite unusual considering the timescales to which they usually work. Perhaps they are underemployed at the moment. Perhaps the rate of serious crime in Essex has gone through an unusual statistical blip. No matter.’
    She paused for a moment, and Emma imagined her peering through bifocals, trying to focus on the words on the screen. ‘Yes … let me see. They have found traces of an anaesthetic in the blood of the corpse. It’s a variant water-soluble form of propofol known as fospropofol. I believe it is marketed under the name Lusedra. It is a quick-acting anaesthetic which is injected into the bloodstream.’ She hesitated again, then continued as if talking to herself. ‘Interesting, because I did not notice any marks from a hypodermic syringe. Any injection point may have been hidden in the area of the nipple, or the armpit – it’s a relatively common trick.’
    ‘Yes, thanks for that. So, she was drugged.’
    ‘Indeed. Presumably to prevent her struggling when she was abducted.’
    ‘And this propofol …’
    ‘Fospropofol.’
    ‘Fospropofol. How easy is it to obtain?’
    ‘Easy enough if you are a doctor or have some kind of medical reason for using it; more difficult if you are a member of the general public. Remember, the singer Michael Jackson