The Reborn (28 page)

Rhona shook her head. ‘We don’t think so, but full details of the Caesarean method, particularly the older version, are available on the internet. Butchers’ knives and hunting knives, both of which often have rough shark skin handles to prevent the hand slipping in blood, can also easily be bought online.’

Bill allowed a few moments for all that to sink in, then clapped his hands together decisively.

‘OK, I want David Murdoch, Sandie Stewart-Smith and Owen Hegarty brought back in. I also want all the kids known to have attended these parties to be fingerprinted and swabbed.’

Bill dismissed the team, aware of Magnus’s curious eyes on him. Bill had decided to ask the professor not to mention the Myrrha angle to the team yet. It was too explosive. Rhona and Magnus followed him into the office and he closed the door behind them before he spoke.

‘We’re going back to see Kira’s parents. I want them both swabbed.’

‘Are they suspects?’ Rhona said.

Bill turned to Magnus. ‘Tell Rhona what you told me.’

36

‘Is this really necessary?’

Ronald Reese-Brandon had aged ten years since their last meeting. The arrogant façade had dissolved, allowing a glimpse of the tortured soul beneath.

‘It’s useful for elimination purposes.’

Kira’s mother sat on the sofa, clasping and unclasping her hands, occasionally looking up at her husband as though for guidance, which was never forthcoming. Mr Reese-Brandon finally gave in and slumped down beside her.

‘OK, let’s get it over with.’

Rhona produced the mouth swabs. Kira’s mother looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment and her husband was grimly silent, but both of them submitted to swabbing.

When it was over, Reese-Brandon quickly rose.

‘Now can I get back to work?’

‘Can you spare a few more minutes? I wanted to ask you both a couple of questions about the doll your wife bought.’

His pale face flushed.

‘What doll?’

‘Your wife told us she purchased a Reborn doll, made to look like Kira as a baby.’

Reese-Brandon turned on his wife. ‘I told you not to do that. I forbade it.’

She cringed.

‘You were unaware she had bought the doll?’ said Rhona.

‘We discussed it. I told her it was a terrible idea. The doll would only remind Kira of the baby. We wanted her to forget it and get on with her life.’

‘Nevertheless, your wife did purchase the doll and showed it to Kira.’

‘I never knew this.’ He threw his wife a look of contempt.

‘We found the doll in the park not far from the funfair. According to your wife, she thought it was still here, in a box in her wardrobe.’

Reese-Brandon had regained some of his strength.

‘I had no idea the doll existed, here or anywhere else.’

‘So you didn’t remove it from the wardrobe?’

‘How could I, when I didn’t know it was there?’ His tone was exasperated.

‘You’re sure about that?’

‘Of course I’m sure.’

‘I also need to take your fingerprints.’

‘This is ridiculous!’

‘Dr MacLeod will do it here, or you can come down to the station.’

‘My daughter’s been murdered and you spend your time hounding us instead of looking for the culprit?’

Bill didn’t answer. Reese-Brandon couldn’t refuse, no matter how much he blustered.

When Rhona had finished processing the prints, Kira’s mother looked as though she could take no more, but Bill had to harden his heart and keep questioning her.

‘Melanie told me that Kira was afraid of clowns. Is that true?’

Mrs Reese-Brandon raised her head wearily. ‘Yes, she was terrified of them. I don’t know why, but it started when she was very young. If she went to a birthday party and they had a clown, we would have to leave.’

‘So if someone wanted to frighten Kira, that would be the way to do it?’

‘She would have had a panic attack. It was the only thing that truly scared her.’

‘What did you think?’ Bill asked Rhona, once they were in the car.

‘The father was dominant. The mother submissive, although not averse to going against his wishes in secret.’

‘Did he know about the doll, do you think?’

‘He looked pretty disgusted when the subject came up,’ replied Rhona.

‘If the doll was in the cupboard, then only a few people had access to it. Kira, possibly David, maybe the gang, and of course, her parents.’

‘I didn’t get any prints from the doll, but there was a partial on the mobile.’

‘I’d like that checked against everyone who went to Kira’s parties.’

‘I’m not sure we have enough, but we can give it a try.’ Rhona paused. ‘Most people wouldn’t willingly give their mobile away. Even to a friend. It’s much too personal.’ She bit her lip anxiously. ‘Can you drop me at the lab?’

He nodded. ‘There was something I wanted to talk to you about before you leave.’ Bill watched her jaw tighten, but her voice was deliberately casual.

‘Oh, what?’

‘I’ve been making some discreet enquiries about the Kalinin case,’ he said, avoiding McNab’s name.

‘And?’

‘My contact at SOCA says that Fergus Morrison’s dead.’

Rhona turned to him, her eyes wide. ‘You . . . you know that for certain?’

‘No, but I plan to ask the Super outright.’

‘Oh, Bill.’

‘I know,’ he said. ‘Morrison was the only remaining witness to the skip murder.’

She seemed to be struggling with herself, as though she wanted to say something.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said.

She turned abruptly away.

‘I’ll do my best to find out more.’

‘No, don’t,’ she snapped.

‘But, Rhona, we agreed we wouldn’t give up on this.’

She was staring blindly out of the rain-splattered window.

‘We can’t bring McNab back, whatever we do,’ she replied.

Rhona was surprised to find the lab deserted, then realised that it was Sunday. Chrissy would be home with Sam and baby Michael. She briefly felt a pang of jealousy mixed with regret, then dismissed it. If she were at home now, even if she had someone to share the day with, she would do nothing but think. Not a pleasant prospect. She was better off here, and she had promised Bill a speedy return on the Reese-Brandons’ DNA tests.

Hopefully the task would keep her mind off other matters. Bill’s revelation that Fergus Morrison was dead had confirmed Petersson’s story; she hated to admit it, but a high percentage of what he’d suggested so far had turned out to be true.

McNab had been revived in the ambulance, his post-mortem results were not available and Fergus Morrison was dead, presumably assassinated by Kalinin to prevent him from testifying. She’d wanted to ask Bill if he knew whether Misha and his sister were OK, but had stopped herself, realising that once she began, she would have been unlikely to stop.

Now, worry began to nip at her. Petersson hadn’t wanted Bill involved, as he suspected someone on the inside. Bill was discreet, but if the informer – whoever it was – got to hear of Bill’s continuing interest in the case, what would they read into that? Would it serve only to reinforce the idea that McNab was alive and they were hiding him to testify later?

No. Bill had openly mourned McNab. No one could believe his anger and determination to discover the truth stemmed from anything other than a desire for his killer to be brought to justice.

She imagined Bill’s reaction if she had dared to suggest that McNab was still alive. He would have thought her deranged, or ill; unable to face up to death. He might have been right.

37

Twenty frightened kids, plus at least the same number of angry or worried parents. Bill had asked that they all be sent to wait in the biggest space they had, the canteen, and provided with tea, coffee and whatever teenagers were drinking these days if alcopops and cheap cider weren’t on the menu.

David Murdoch and Owen Hegarty were the only kids not attending a private school in the city. Kira had spread her net wider than Bill had thought, at least for the parties. He suspected, though, that the inner circle had been restricted to the Daisy Chain and David.

When he entered the room, all heads turned his way and a couple of the parents made an attempt to approach him. Bill held up his hand and asked for quiet; fortunately for him, they obeyed. He suddenly realised what it must be like for teachers in front of an unruly class, and had a moment of sympathy for his wife.

‘Thank you for coming along today,’ he began. ‘I’m sure you’re all anxious to help in our enquiries into the murders of Kira Reese-Brandon and Melanie Jones, and of course the abduction of Kira’s baby.’

He looked around at the parents’ faces. For the most part, these people were law-abiding. In fact, a few of them might be involved in upholding the law themselves. He was counting on the fact that they would go along with him on this.

‘All of you children’ – there was an indignant rumble from the assembled teenagers, which Bill ignored – ‘were friends or acquaintances of Kira’s. As such, you attended parties that Kira organised. It’s important therefore that we eliminate you from our enquiries. You can do this by giving us your fingerprints and a sample of your DNA.’

More muttering, louder this time. One man, dressed in a smart grey suit, stepped forward.

‘I assume the DNA samples and prints will be removed from your database afterwards?’

‘If no charges are brought.’

‘And my son’s record will be clean?’

‘Under those circumstances, yes.’

The answers seemed to satisfy most of the adults, although the kids didn’t look impressed.

‘You’ll be called in one at a time and an officer will take a mouth swab and a set of prints. When that’s done you may leave, unless DS Clark wants a chat with you. And thank you in advance for your co-operation.’

Bill withdrew before any more questions could be posed. He wanted to reinterview the three who had been present at the funfair that night, and since they’d already been processed for DNA and prints, he had asked DS Clark to send them straight in. Only David hadn’t turned up.

He asked to see Sandie first. This time she wasn’t in school uniform, which made her look at least five years older. He beckoned her over and she glanced curiously around the room before taking her seat.

‘Is this a real interview?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Will you turn on a tape?’

‘Not unless you want me to.’

‘Shouldn’t I have my mum or dad with me?’

‘Are they here?’

She shook her head. ‘They’re busy. I’ve nothing to hide anyway. They know that.’

She settled herself in the seat and looked directly at him.

‘Let’s start with Kira’s mobile,’ said Bill.

‘What about it?’

‘Did she have it with her at the funfair?’

‘God, yes. She always had it with her.’

‘Do you specifically remember seeing it that night?’

She thought for a moment. ‘Yeah. She dropped it and I picked it up for her. Her belly had got so big it was hard for her to bend over.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘Yes. Why?’ she said, guilelessly.

He decided not to mention the partial print they’d retrieved from the mobile. If it was hers, she had accounted for it, assuming she was telling the truth.

‘Kira wasn’t a
good
friend of yours, was she?’

‘No.’

‘Then why were you at the funfair with her?’

‘I wasn’t with Kira. I was with Owen.’

‘You went there with Owen Hegarty?’

‘Yes. We saw David and Kira and joined them for a bit.’

‘Kira’s mother said her daughter didn’t like you.’

Her face flushed. ‘I didn’t like her, either.’

‘Why?’

‘She thought she was better than everyone else. She told lies about people.’

‘About you?’

‘She said I was a slag, when she was the one that got pregnant.’

Bill changed tack. ‘Did Kira ever mention a life-like doll? One her mother had made for her?’

She was shaking her head briskly before he’d even finished the sentence.

Bill pushed the photo of the ‘Daisy’ Reborn across the table. Sandie avoided looking down initially, then gave it a swift glance.

‘That’s horrible.’ She screwed up her face.

‘You never saw this doll before?’

‘Never.’

‘You’re sure of that?’

‘I’m sure.’

He waited for a moment, then asked, ‘What was Melanie Jones like?’

‘She was a silly cow. She got herself pregnant to be like her precious Kira.’

‘Anything else?’

‘She was anorexic. Her arms and legs were like sticks.’

‘You didn’t like her?’

‘She wasn’t as nasty as Kira. She was just a sheep.’

‘Can you think of anyone who might have wanted to harm Melanie?’

‘No.’

There was no sorrow in her voice. Whatever the Daisy Chain had said or done to Sandie had hurt her deeply. Despite this, Bill suspected that if Kira had ever offered Sandie a place in her gang, she would have accepted with delight.

Bill told her she could go and asked that Owen Hegarty be sent in.

Owen was small and slightly built, not much taller than Sandie. He had black hair, blue eyes and an Irish look about him, as suggestd by his name. He smiled pleasantly at Bill and took a seat. They had nothing suspicious on Owen so far; his story checked out and there had been no trace of his DNA on Kira or at the crime scene. His only questionable behaviour had been his attendance at one of Kira’s parties.

‘Tell me about the parties, Owen.’

It looked like the question he had been waiting for. Bill wondered how often he had rehearsed his answer since he’d been contacted by DS Clark.