Zilhouette Murders, page 13
“Well, I don’t know David but going on other victims it’s more likely we’ll find her somewhere else; but I will know more when I get her back to the lab.”
Pauline continued to shadow Anton and take photographs as he moved around the body. There was a knock on the bedroom door and David Cummings opened it to find DS Wicker.
“Yes Peter?”
“The officer who found the body is back on site Sir and the relative of the house owner is also here.”
“Thanks Peter, I’ll be right down.”
DI Cummings referred back to Anton.
“Have you ordered the body removal?”
“No, not yet David, I haven’t finished yet and I need to look downstairs and outside in the rear garden.”
“OK Anton. I’m going to interview the officer who discovered the body and the relative who reported her missing. Is there anything you need to know?”
“Just the usual please David.”
As he turned to leave the room he noticed a ‘Zilhouettes’ box nailed to the wall next to the light switch with the number 11 written in red. “What do you make of this Anton?”
“Oh, the box. Same as the others really.”
“Lipstick?”asked David pointing to the crudely-written number.
“Haven’t actually tested it yet but I would assume it is.”
“What do you make of the number 11?”
“Wasn’t the last one number 5?”
“Yes. So does this mean there are five or six yet-to-be discovered victims or is the killer trying to confuse us?” David thought aloud. Anton shrugged his shoulders.
“Can’t say David. Don’t trust anything left by this one, it’s nothing more than a message from a nutter!”
David smiled and opened the door. Made his way downstairs and outside into the fresh air which he gulped in again. DS Peter Wicker approached him.
“Are you alright Sir?”
“All right?”
“You’re looking a little pale Sir.”
DI Cummings dismissed his sergeant’s observation.
“Where are they Peter?”
“Just over here Sir.”
“You take the witness to one side and send the constable over to me please. What’s his name?”
“Constable Barrington Sir.”
Peter moved toward the pair and took the lady by the arm and led her away. He obviously told the constable to walk over to the DI.
“Good morning constable Barrington, I’m Detective Inspector Cummings. Feeling a little better I hope.”
“Morning Sir, yes, a lot better thank you.”
“Good, and don’t beat yourself up about this son, I fainted at the first murder scene I attended and it wasn’t as bad as the sight in there,” David pointed back to the house.
“Now, tell me what happened; don’t leave anything out.”
The constable took out his notebook and started to explain what had happened earlier that morning.
“At eight forty-five there was a call received in the station. It wasn’t a nine-nine- nine call, just a non-emergency call from a Mrs. Dorothy Peters who said she hadn’t seen her sister-in-law for two weeks. She had called but got no reply. She went to her house a couple of times but the house was always quiet, never a light on and her car was parked on the driveway. The duty sergeant asked me to drive over and check it out as the woman seemed level-headed and concerned.
When I got to the house Mrs. Peters was waiting outside for me and she repeated what she told the sergeant on the phone.
The lady - a Mrs. Josephine March - was nowhere to be seen. The front and back door were locked and I couldn’t find an open window. I looked through the letter box and that’s when I noticed this dreadful smell. I decided to force entry and I asked Mrs. Peters to wait outside whilst I checked the house.
The smell downstairs was terrible and it became stronger as I climbed the stairs. I was calling out Mrs. March’s name but heard nothing.”
The constable paused and DI Cummings could see his hands were shaking.
“Take your time son, you’re doing very well.”
Constable Barrington smiled weakly, and referred back to his notebook and continued. “When I got to the landing there were two doors open and one closed. Through the open doors I could see one bedroom and a bathroom – both were empty. I knocked on the third door but heard nothing so I started to open the door whilst announcing who I was.”
Again the constable paused. Took a deep breath and continued. “Inside this bedroom the curtains were drawn but I could see the bed and there was clearly someone in the bed. I could see a mass of hair but it was jet black and Mrs. Peter’s said her sister-in-law had bleached blonde hair. I reached over to gently shake the occupant and the hair fell to the floor leaving a badly-scarred skull. I instinctively pulled my hand away and in doing so caught the edge of the duvet which slipped off the body to reveal”... he paused again, cleared his throat... “two reveal the torso of a woman.”
“Then what did you do?”
“I went back downstairs and called the station. At that time, despite the hair colour I reported it as the murder of Mrs. March. No-one else entered until Professor Schwartz and his assistant arrived”
Constable Barrington folded his book and looked at DI Cummings who smiled.
“Very good job Constable. Now, you can take the rest of the day off. Go home and take it easy. If you need to talk to someone about this experience I am sure your sergeant can arrange this.”
“I’m fine Sir. I’d rather stay here and help.”
“Very well constable, go and speak with DC Whittaker. I’m sure he could benefit from your help.
The constable walked off and DI Cummings started to look for the witness who he saw leaning against one of the police cars sipping a cup of something hot.
Dorothy Peters was very upset. Although the police constable hadn’t said what he found in the upstairs she guessed by the look on his face it wasn’t good news for her sister-in-law.
“Good morning Ms Peters, my name is David Cummings. I am a Detective Inspector from Guildford and I am heading this investigation.” He showed her his Warrant Card and Dorothy Peter’s nodded to confirm she understood who he was and why he was here. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”
“Of course Inspector, whatever I can do to help.”
“The lady who lives here, I understand she is you sister-in-law?”
“Yes, she was married to my brother Alan.”
“Was married?”
“Yes, for about four years but it didn’t work out and they decided to split and then divorce.”
“So did Josephine marry again?”
“No, she saw a few people but nothing serious. After the divorce she changed her name back to her maiden name – March, but always referred to herself as Mrs.. She used to say it meant no questions. If she was Miss or Ms there would need to be lots of explanation and she grew tired of it.”
“I see, and where is your brother now?”
“Australia. He met an Australian shortly after he and Josephine divorced, fell in love and decided to go back to Australia where they married and now have two wonderful children. Here, I have a photograph.”
She opened her purse and handed David Cummings a well thumbed photograph depicting a young couple standing with two small children.
“Very nice Ms Peters. When did you last see your brother?”
“Like I said, he’s in Australia - it’s not just down the road you know.”
“Yes, quite, so you haven’t seen your brother since he left?”
“I have seen him and spoken to him via the internet. Every birthday and Christmas we talk.”
David Cummings smiled to defuse the situation.
“What was your brother’s name and what did he do for a living?”
“Alan Peters, Alan Malcolm Peters. I’m not to sure about work, I think he worked in a meat processing plant. He was a trained butcher but work became hard to find when the local butcher’s was forced to close after that enormous supermarket opened so he used his training and skills there.”
“One final question Ms Peters. When did your brother leave?”
“Oh, let me think; The two children are seven and five so about nine years ago, yes, that’s right, about nine years ago. They went to Sidney first and then settled in Melbourne. I think his new wife’s family were from Melbourne.”
“Oh, sorry Ms Peters, did Josephine work?”
“Yes, she was the manager of a late night mini supermarket just along the road.”
“Thank you for your help Ms Peters. Is it possible for you to get to Guildford station in the next couple of days to make a statement?”
“Yes, I can do that but tell me, have you found Josephine in the house?”
“I’m sorry Ms Peters. I cannot confirm that.”
“But you must have found something otherwise your people wouldn’t still be up there.”
David Cummings smiled.
“I am sorry Ms Peters. When we know more I will make sure you are informed. Now, if you will excuse me I need to get on. Thanks again for your time. No doubt we will meet again.”
He nodded politely and left Ms Peters, her mouth agape and about to ask more questions.
CHAPTER 27
Approximately two weeks earlier, just after nine-thirty a plain van pulled up just one hundred meters from the late night grocery store and waited for Josephine to follow her normal path home.
Just after ten-fifteen the killer got out of the van and started to walk back towards the shop, the same path walked many times since selecting the next victim. The journey had been timed over and over again and the ideal place to hide and snatch Josephine had been selected where the bend in the road would prevent any late night car drivers witnessing the abduction.
The killer wore a dark blue boiler suit over a black shirt, a black baseball cap pulled down and clear lens spectacles and a beard completed the disguise. Even if someone had seen the killer, the description would be useless to the police.
At ten-forty-five Josephine’s footsteps approaching could be heard. The killer took a small bottle of chloroform and a rag from the boiler suit pocket and at arms length the liquid was liberally sprinkled over the rag. After replacing the cap on the bottle, it was put back in boiler suit pocket. The killer took deep breathes as the footsteps got closer and closer. When Josephine was level, like a coiled spring the killer pounced, wrapping an arm around her neck and forcing the heavily-impregnated cloth into her mouth. In just fifteen seconds Josephine’s body became limp and she crumpled to the floor.
After looking around to make sure there was no-one in sight the killer started to drag Josephine fifteen meters to the van. The rear doors were opened quietly and Josephine’s body was pulled inside the van. The rear doors closed before the killer climbed into the drivers seat and drove off back towards West Byfleet. Only one other car was seen on the Journey back as the van was driven carefully and within the speed limits.
The van pulled off the road and drove along a dirt track to where a selection of old buildings stood unseen from the main road. The doors of the first building were unlocked and the lights were turned on. The killer walked back to the van where Josephine was still asleep in the back. The rear doors were opened and Josephine’s body was dragged to the edge of the van floor and after taking a deep breath, her killer lifted her out of the van and carried her back to the building.
Inside this building was a stainless steel bench and next to the bench was a trolley and on the top of this were a large selection of neatly arranged surgical instruments.
Josephine was lifted onto the bench, undressed and her killer changed into a surgical gown, cap and face mask after removing the disguise. A scalpel was selected and a deep incision into Josephine’s thigh was made, slicing into the femoral artery at the top of her leg. Blood immediately started to gush from the wound. Josephine would never wake, and only seventeen minutes after leaving the shop she was dead.
Her body was left on the stainless steel bench and the blood continued to flow along the channels at each side and down the central channel. Before leaving, her killer elevated the bed to speed up the flow of blood from the body. Her body was left for thirty-six hours before her killer returned to commence the removal of Josephine’s limbs and hair once the bulk of the blood in the body had drained away. The surgery which followed emptied organs of any remaining blood and the wounds were crudely stitched before she was wrapped in bags and then put into the freezer.
The next four hours were spent clearing up and bagging the limbs which were put into a third freezer. The cleanliness of the two rooms was double-checked before securing the buildings.
CHAPTER 28
The three detectives returned to Guildford police station and called a briefing meeting; but first DI Cummings briefed DCI Adams and then called in Viv Roberts and George Sonas to advise them of the latest victim.
“So you see, these two victims appear to have been killed by the same person using the same MO he previously displayed.” DI Cummings concluded.
“George, how are you getting on with piecing together a profile of our man?”
“I have had some valuable assistance from Viv and others and when the forensic information is available on this latest victim, I am confident I will be able to come back to you with something.” David Cummings thanked George and turned to Viv Roberts.
“How are you doing Viv?”
“All the team have up-to-date files on the victims so far and everyone receives updates as and when they come in. I will work with George on the forensic information on the latest victim and I understand DC Whittaker is coordinating the local house-to-house enquiries, witness statements and any CCTV footage from the area.”
“Good, now did anyone report on the interviews with the women who were out with Honey Bates the night she disappeared?”
“Yes Sir, if you check your pack you’ll find it in there. From memory there was nothing to help us but I don’t think all the CCTV footage has been viewed yet.”
“OK, thanks for that. Let’s get down and meet the rest of the team and update them on our latest victim.”
The group gathered their papers and followed DI Cummings down to the briefing area when the rest of the Detectives were waiting.
“Ladies and gentlemen. I am sure you already know another victim has been found and early indications from the crime scene suggest it is the same killer.”
There was a lot of low-volume muttering in the room.
“Yes, thank you,” DI Cummings said loudly.
The room returned to silence and he continued.
“The latest victim is female, thirty-five to forty-five years old and like the others, she has been scalped and her arms and legs have been removed. We do not yet know who the victim is but we do know she was found inside the property of a Mrs. Josephine March who had been reported as missing but please note, Mrs. March was a divorcee and her married name was Peters. She divorced some nine years ago from David Malcolm Peters who we understand emigrated to Australia shortly afterwards and has remarried. According to his sister he hasn’t returned to The UK since, but we need to check this. When we left the scene a couple of hours ago Anton Schwartz and his team were still working, so I don’t expect his final report for at least twenty-four hours.”
DI Cummings paused to allow his team to make their notes.
“To continue. Viv and George are continuing their excellent work. I know you are all benefiting and using Viv’s updates and George tells me the information on our latest victim will help him release a profile of our killer in the coming days. Now, can anyone update me and the team on the work being done trying to find a common thread between the victims?”
“Yes Sir,” said DC Harry Bridges. “So far more than twenty possible connections have been investigated but nothing has been revealed which connects all of them, but the details of the new victim should help.”
“Thank you, Harry. Anyone else?”
“Myself and DC Samantha Vernon are working through a list of missing persons who fit the profile and so far we have more than thirty women who are in the same age bracket of the identified victims.”
There was an audible gasp from the others.
“My God, thirty?” DI Cummings repeated.
“Anything else.”
Another DC stood up.
“DC Menton Sir. DC Black and I have gone through the witness statements and there is a siting of a British Gas type vehicle at two of the scenes. We have checked with British Gas and no vehicle has been reported missing and according to the people we spoke to, only workers with continuing assignments away from the Depot are allowed to keep the van overnight which could mean whoever is doing this has a British Gas type van of their own. We have asked traffic to tell all their drivers to look out for any British Gas van driving around late at night and to stop and search the driver.”
“Very good work, both of you, anything else?”
No one else offered any more information.
“OK, there is no doubt in my mind we will find more victims so it is imperative we find this killer before he has the chance to kill again. Let’s meet tomorrow after Anton Schwartz has completed his forensic report, Thank you everyone.”
DI Cummings turned away and collected his papers as the group dispersed. He turned to DS Wicker.
“Peter, are you making any progress with those other four early victims?”
“Not yet Sir. Steven and I are looking at half each. I know it’s a long shot but we will have finished the check in a few days and I will come back to you with our findings.”
“Very well, let’s move along. I’m sure you and Steven have lot’s to do.”
“Yes Sir.”
Both men walked away from the briefing area and back to their own work areas.
Anton Schwartz and Pauline had completed their work and were packing away when the van from the morgue arrived to collect the body. A small group of onlookers remained behind the police tape. Anton looked around wondering whether the killer could be amongst the crowd checking on his adversary’s progress. He shrugged his shoulders, climbed in to the van and headed back to his lab.
