Kelly was able to use the opportunity of her team being out on the ground to soak up the scene on the incident board. DS Umshaw had done an excellent job. Kelly worked the old fashioned way. Sure, modern technology was a godsend and HOLMES did the work of a hundred officers, with no emotional baggage and no breaks. However, to Kelly, nothing beat photos, notes, string and a marker pen.

The whiteboard was half-full already, and she studied it. A photograph of the victim was posted in the middle, just how Kelly liked it. Around the edge were, to be expected at this stage, mostly questions. A photograph of the kitchen knife caught Kelly’s attention. Knife attacks always made her uneasy. The ability to plunge a blade that big into someone over and over again suggested to her a complete absence of empathy. And they were the most difficult bastards to catch.

But also the most arrogant. Amy Richmond had thought herself untouchable when she tortured and punished four women a few years back before she was caught. But she was caught. And this one could be stopped too.

Kelly paused and caught her breath.

In black pen, under a copy of the initial crime scene report and diagram of the body, someone had written ‘face up? = punishment?’

Kelly felt her skin go quite cold.

Amy Richmond’s first victim had been a woman in her fifties and she’d been horrifically brutalised and subjected to what was no doubt a long and harrowing experience.

Kelly tried to push the thought out of her head. She couldn’t jump to wild conclusions because she was being harassed by a lunatic. She reminded herself that all psychopathic killers lacked empathy and this one was no different. They didn’t have to be linked, at all.

But the timing of it.

She went back to her office and DS Umshaw put the phone down and began to speak to her, but Kelly opened a drawer and re-read the correspondence. She called a number hastily scribbled onto a piece of paper attached and asked the sergeant on the other end if any progress had been made into finding out where the post was being sent from.

She was told that the investigation into the origin had temporarily been suspended as the department moved offices, as well as the lack of direction from Cumbria Constabulary HQ.

‘It says here, ma’am, that the case is pending further instruction from yourself.’

Kelly closed her eyes.

‘Look into it, will you? It’s part of a live case now.’

It was a white lie.

‘You look as though we’ve had a new victim,’ DS Umshaw said dryly.

Chapter 22