Page 14

CHAPTER 14

MELANIE – D AY T WO

As she parks her car, Melanie’s thinking of everything she’s learned about bodies in water.

There are so many variations. All the ifs and the buts. Ask Forensics and everything apparently ‘ depends ’. On the depth. The temperature. The kind of water. At sea, most bodies eventually surface, even those tied and weighted. Something to do with gases. Melanie turns her head and clamps her eyes shut.

She realises as she feels to take the key from the ignition that she hasn’t dealt with a body in a canal before. Ed says the water wasn’t especially deep in the area behind the shops. What does that mean for what’s been found? And silt. How does silt impact evidence?

She wants to hurry and yet for a moment cannot move. Melanie remembers watching a television programme once where cavers were looking for the remains of an abducted girl. They discovered a bag hidden deep in a cave and found that for a while they simply could not bear to open it. She understands now. Wanting to know and at the same time dreading the confirmation.

Suddenly there’s a tap on the driver window and Melanie starts. Ed’s staring through the glass. He steps back as she gets out.

‘I was just about to ring you again. I’ve been looking out for the car.’

‘Do we know who it is?’ Melanie’s voice cracks.

‘No. But it’s not Amelie.’

Melanie clamps her eyes tight again. Hand to chest.

‘You OK?’ Ed’s tone is gentle.

‘Just need a minute.’ Melanie coughs. Lets the wave of relief course through her. Not Amelie.

She breathes in and out, opening her eyes again. She reaches out to put her hand on the top of the car door to steady herself. Finally, she finds her professional gear again, embarrassed for Ed to see this. She shuts the car door and fires the lock. ‘Sorry. It’s just difficult when it’s—’

‘Sure. We all understand.’

‘So what do we have, Ed?’

‘Adult male. We only confirmed that when the second diver went in. Ponytail threw us. And being wedged in the shopping trolley made it difficult to assess size that first dive. We have the body out now and we’ve got a tent up. Definitely an adult male. But no ID that we can find.’

‘OK. Right.’ A pause. ‘I’m waiting to confirm a team on site. What can I share?’

‘Well, like I say, he was in a shopping trolley. On its side and in a bundle. Blankets and the like. That’s what kept the body underwater. But not tied. The rats have had a go.’

Melanie grimaces.

‘Sorry, boss. Just preparing you.’

‘OK. Any guess how long in the water?’

‘You know how tricky water is, but I’d say not that long. Couple of weeks maybe? Pathologist may have other ideas.’

‘OK. Thanks, Ed. And has the team finished checking the rest of the canal?’

‘Yes, we have. No other bodies. Amelie’s not in that canal.’

‘Good. Thank God.’ Melanie starts marching alongside Ed, back towards the dive team van. As they turn the bend, bringing the towpath into sight, Melanie sees a bright light moving on the opposite bank.

‘That’s the bad news.’ Ed is following her gaze as he speaks. ‘Local TV crew. They turned up about five minutes ago. Still setting up their gear.’

‘Terrific. All we need.’ Melanie’s mind starts racing. The media are going to presume from the evidence tent that it’s Amelie. Put out something damaging. Something speculative that Matthew and Sally might see. She glances around, realising that no amount of police cordons can fix this, given the location. Cordons are already stopping access to this tow path and the other side too, but she can see more clearly in this early light that there’s a housing estate further back on the opposite side of the canal. The land slopes upwards. It’s probably possible to see the dive team’s activity from some of the upstairs windows in the distance. Early risers will have seen the tent go up. Worst-case scenario it will be on social media very soon.

‘We tried our best to get it all done in the dark, Melanie.’

‘I know and I appreciate that. I’ll ring the press office. Figure out how we’re going to handle this.’ Melanie tries to calm her voice.

Truth is, she’s thrown. There are big decisions to be made now. And quickly. This new crime, if it is a crime – a murder? – needs full attention. Respect and manpower. But it’s a curveball she could do without.

The force is already stretched. They barely have the resources to search for Amelie and now they have a possible murder victim in the canal. Right behind the very shop where Amelie was last seen. Is that a coincidence?

Melanie goes over the facts again, narrowing her eyes. So was the man in the canal murdered or was it a bizarre accident? And does it have anything to do with Amelie? It doesn’t feel that it does – this man most probably died before Amelie disappeared. But what about the bag over the CCTV camera? The coincidence of the geography?

Quite frankly, she has no clue what’s going on. Only one thing’s clear. It’s too late for the man in the shopping trolley.

Her priority remains Amelie. She has to assume the little girl is still alive.

But it’s day two.

The clock is ticking.