Page 85 of The Unforgiven

“We’ve released him on charges around harassment,” Vinny said. “Unless he was working with someone else, he’s got nothing to do with this.”

That was one of the updates.

Nate nodded. “I think you’re looking at the same killer as Morgan Skelton, just from the angle of the knife in the back. I’ll have more for you by tomorrow morning – tox will be in in the next few hours too.”

“That’s great – are we done?” I was very keen on getting out of there.

“You’re done.” He lifted up another scalpel and I was out the door before anyone said anything else.

My phone rang after I took my second lungful of fresh air outside of the building. A number I was familiar with but didn’t recognise flew up on the screen. The area code was Leeds.

“Hi, Sergeant McAllister – it feels strange calling you that! – it’s Dave Beardsley. I’m sorry I didn’t call back sooner. My daughter went into labour early and I was on grandad duties for her elder one. How can I help?”

I rested against my car, watching Vinny pace around while on his phone. “Congratulations. I hope it all went well with the baby?”

“Super, actually. I now have a grandson – little Rowan. Thank you for asking.”

I decided not to engage in any more chit chat. “I need some more information on Kelly-Anne Marsh. Do you remember what happened to her after she was discharged?”

“I do, as a matter of fact. She was eighteen and homeless, so she was put into semi-independent living and given an adult social worker. Funnily enough, I saw her social worker in the supermarket at the weekend.. We see each other quite a bit – we live near to each other.” He sounded very chipper. “I suppose you want her name – it’s Annie Grimes. She’s based at Huddersfield now, but I have her number if it’ll be helpful.”

“That would be more than helpful. What is it?”

I noted it down on my hand, juggling the phone and a pen, then ended the call, Vinny waiting rather impatiently for me to finish.

“You look like the cat that got the canary dipped in double cream.”

“You look like Dr Miz just started sending you photos from her holiday.” I kept my phone in my hand. “What’s up?”

“The incel theory’s a bust. The other two blokes on the thread both had tight alibis for the last twenty-four hours. Nick’s found where they were posting from – one was at a pub in Bolton, the other was in A and E with a broken arm, but still managing to post some really vile shit. We’ve got enough on him to look at him for a couple of other things though – fucking piece of work. What’ve you got?”

I gave him the low down about having the details for Kelly-Anne’s social worker.

“You don’t think the killer’s a women, do you?” He pulled his face, as if a woman couldn’t be capable.

“I think it could be. We know she was bullied because of her weight.”

“So this is a revenge thing?”

I started driving, Vinny fussing with his seatbelt.

“Maybe.”

“Your mate the profiler thinks it was a man though. Are you saying he’s wrong?”

“Maybe.” I was thinking about his lecture, the paper I’d seen on his desk. “He thought we were on the right lines with the incel thing.”

“Probably because it’s in the news at the moment. And we didn’t have anything else to go on.” Vinny folded his arms and I was pretty sure he was closing his eyes. I decided to break suddenly when we got to the lights.

“I’m going to phone Annie Grimes now. Can you manage to not snore while I speak to her?”

“I don’t snore.”

“I’d rather not ever find out. Here, put that number in.” I angled my arm so he could type it into the hands free.

A woman with a soft Yorkshire accent answered, quietly spoken. I introduced myself and mentioned Vinny was in the car too.

“Yes, Dave said you would call. It’s about Kelly-Anne, isn’t it?”