‘No, sir, I wouldn’t do that at this early stage. The demographic couldn’t be further apart. I doubt there’s a link.’ What the hell was he playing at?

‘I went to see him last night. I promised him we’d have this wrapped up quickly. I’m glad he’s agreed to do a TV appeal. Let me know the arrangements; I’ll be there.’

Kelly rolled her eyes as she hung up. She wondered if Cumbria Constabulary, like the rest of the UK, had been given new targets to limit knife crime. She had no idea what they were supposed to do if some twat wanted to knife a woman in a park. The problem was bigger than telling kids not to carry weapons. They needed investment in education, housing, social welfare and community projects to tackle the issue. But that was all political, and way out of her control. Two fatal stabbings in less than twenty-four hours, though. No wonder Ormond was pissed off.

She turned back to the crime scene. ‘ID?’

‘Yup, she had a loyalty card on her for the supermarket on Bridge Street, 8 Till Late. Name’s Keira Bradley. Address is up there, number thirty-two.’ The CSI pointed upwards at the block of flats overlooking the scene. ‘A woman in the crowd who was here before we erected the tent ID’d her and confirmed her address.’

‘Right, I’ll go and chat to her now.’

Kelly walked round the body. It was the second victim in as many days that she’d seen motionless and pale from blood loss. The woman’s face was passive; her eyes stared dead ahead. She still had her handbag beside her. So not a robbery then. The bag was being photographed and searched; it was where they’d found the loyalty card.

‘Ma’am.’ Kelly glanced up to see who’d addressed her. It was the forensic officer who was going through the handbag. He held up a thick roll of banknotes and a small clear plastic bag containing dried herb: probably weed.

‘How much do you think is there?’ she asked.

The officer unfurled the notes and did a quick calculation. ‘About five hundred quid, ma’am.’

‘Bag it and tag it.’ Couldn’t have been a drug debt either.

Kelly went back outside the temporary tent and looked up at the flats. The line of sight was extensive. She counted at least twenty windows with a good view of where Keira had been stabbed to death. There were walkways, lift shafts and stairwells close by. She walked over to the uniforms taking statements from the public and asked if they’d had any witnesses come forward yet.

‘No, ma’am.’