Page 46 of The Other Side

Once he was sure help was coming, Drum relaxed slightly and headed downstairs. There was a book on the table in the hall. Mutiny on the Bounty. She’d never had the chance to say what she thought about it. The group would be horrified when they learned what had happened.

Drum fetched the blue and white police tape from his vehicle and tied it across the front gate. He should probably have put it across the bedroom door too, but he didn’t want to go back in again. He’d seen dead bodies before, but never an elderly woman who, as far as he knew, had harmed no one.

He stayed by the gate and began the crime scene attendance log, starting with the time he’d found the body. Until he was replaced, it was his job to record the name, time, and reason why every single person crossed the tape, including paramedics, senior police chiefs and detectives. No one could enter without a valid forensic reason. Not a husband, neighbour or friend. He didn’t think she had a husband. There’d been no signs of a man living there.

While he could, he called Osian. He wasn’t sure if he’d have figured out how to use the phone, but when he heard him say, “Hello?” it made him smile.

“You’ve not exploded when you used it then?”

“What magic is this?”

“A friend calling to tell you I’ll be late back. I found a body.”

“Oh gods.”

“I think she was murdered.”

“Really? That’s awful.”

“It is awful. She was a defenceless old lady.”

“You sound like you need a hug.”

“I do. When I’m allowed to leave, I’ll call you. Bye.”

“xxxx”

“L”

“Ooh,” Osian said. “What’s that?”

“Work it out. I’ll see you later.”

Talking to Osian had cheered him for a moment, then he thought of the victim and swallowed hard. While he was waiting, he wrote a detailed account of how he came to find her, what he’d seen and what he’d done.

The doctor arrived first. Dr Ian Cameron. 2.32 pm.

“Come on then,” he told Drum.

“Can you please try not to touch anything,” Drum said.

“Of course.”

Drum led him into the bedroom and the doctor checked her over.

“Can you tell how long she’s been dead?” Drum asked.

“She’s coming out of rigor mortis so I’d estimate sixteen hours but the post mortem will give a more accurate time.”

“Was she your patient?”

“Yes. Nice lady. Lived on her own. Has children in Manchester.”

“I think she was suffocated with her pillow,” Drum blurted.

“Do you?” The doctor looked at her eyes. “The petechiae are certainly consistent with that. I’ll leave the conclusions to pathology, but it’s a possibility.”

Drum heard cars pulling up and said, “I better go down.”