Page 42 of Gone in the Night (Detective Morgan Brookes #16)

FORTY-TWO

Back in the car Morgan phoned Declan, but it went straight to voicemail. No sooner had she hung up than her phone rang, and she answered it to hear his smooth voice with the gentlest of Irish lilts.

‘What do I owe the pleasure, Morgan?’

‘Hey, thanks for ringing back. I know you must be so busy. I wondered if you had any results for Jack?’

‘Did you get the update about the rope fibres?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’m not a hundred per cent sure this is a suicide.’

Morgan had to stop herself from shouting yes and punching the air.

‘Why?’

‘The rope didn’t break the little hyoid bone in Jack’s neck.

It’s more likely that he suffocated. This does happen occasionally, but it’s messy when that happens, a lot of struggling, clawing at the rope to loosen it because the person is literally slowly choking themselves to death.

It’s not nice at all, well no death is nice, but this is a horrible way to go.

I see none of that. What I do see is a deep red groove just below where the hyoid bone is.

If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that someone much taller than him looped the rope around his neck and strangled him, cutting off his air supply.

But they’re strong, there was no hesitation.

It’s possible he may even have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but I’m going to need the tox results back for confirmation. ’

‘Have you told Ben this?’

‘Left him a voicemail to phone me back. You are welcome to tell him.’

‘Marc thinks Jack is responsible for the two murders and has issued a press release hinting that the killer has been apprehended and stopped.’

‘Mary, mother of God, why has he done that without all of the facts?’

‘I literally have no clue. I think he wants it to be Jack, and it would be a good result if it was.’

‘But?’

‘But, it doesn’t sit right with me.’

‘Well, it doesn’t sit right with me either. What a mess.’

Morgan smiled despite the gravity of the whole situation. It was Declan’s voice – he always managed to cheer her up. ‘Thank you, speak soon.’

‘Tell that brute Ben it’s quiz night tomorrow in case he’s forgotten.’

Morgan laughed. ‘I will. Honestly though, I don’t see why you don’t just go for a drink instead and put yourselves out of the whole always coming last misery.’

‘Ah, I can tell you why. We have an image to upkeep, it’s not every team that manages to come last week in week out. We can’t let that slip.’

‘You know for a bunch of intelligent guys you would think you’d have this quiz thing nailed. How’s Theo by the way?’

‘Doing much better all things considered. He’s still not over what Gordon did. I don’t think that will ever get any easier for him, but he’s back at work and even plucked up the courage to choose the photos for the Women’s group calendar. I admire his courage greatly.’

Morgan was laughing. ‘Poor Theo, he’s been through so much.’

‘Yes, he has. I told him they could make him a saint, but he said not with our quiz team reputation. It reflected too badly on him for that. Got to go, bye.’

He hung up, and Morgan was still giggling to herself. She really didn’t know where to go from here. Her phone rang again, and this time it was an unknown number.

‘Hello.’

‘Hi, is this Morgan?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’m Helen, a midwife at Helm Chase Maternity Unit. We have your friend Amy with us, she’s in labour and trying to get hold of Cain but he’s not answering his phone.’

‘Oh my gosh, is she okay? Please tell her I’ll get hold of him right now.’

‘She’s doing okay, but I don’t want him to miss the birth which is progressing quite fast.’

‘Give her my love. I’ll go find Cain.’

‘Thank you.’

Morgan pulled out her radio from the side pocket and dialled Cain’s collar number. It crackled to life.

‘Have you been sacked yet, Brookes?’

‘Amy’s in labour. She’s managed to get herself to the maternity unit but the midwife who phoned said labour is progressing quickly.’

‘Oh.’

‘Yes, oh. Tell Ben you have to leave. Don’t make her go through this on her own, not after the tragic news about Jack.’

‘I won’t, I wouldn’t.’

There was a long pause then he whispered. ‘Morgan, I’m scared, what if I pass out or am no use to her whatsoever.’

‘You will be amazing; all you have to do is let her squeeze the shit out of your hand and maybe don’t look down there if you think you’re going to pass out. You can do this, Cain, she needs you.’

‘I can do this, yes, I can. Thanks.’

‘Let me know as soon—’ But he’d gone, the radio chatter broke the silence in the car.

Morgan hoped Amy was okay. What a day this was turning into.