Page 47 of Little Children (Detective Kim Stone #22)

Forty-Six

It was almost midday when Bryant followed Roy Moss into the morgue at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, and he still had no idea why they were there.

The pathologist was waiting for them at the inner door.

‘Sorry but no entry until I get a proper introduction. I don’t let any Tom, Dick or Harry in here.’

Bryant held out his hand and gave his name and rank. ‘Not here to tread on any toes,’ he added. ‘Just here to assist with the missing boys investigation.’

‘Richard Wade,’ the pathologist said, shaking Bryant’s hand. ‘Although I’m not sure why either of you are here. I’ve not yet finished prepping the body.’

Bryant tried not to cringe. Over the years, he’d become spoiled by Keats referring to victims as though they were still alive, using pronouns, salutations, even endearments as though they could hear him. He wasn’t sure he’d ever heard the man refer to any victim as ‘the body’.

‘Ah, no probs, bud,’ Roy said affably. ‘Just wanted to check something real quick. Is that her?’ He pointed through the glass.

Wade frowned, and Bryant could offer nothing. Roy hadn’t let him in on the purpose of the visit either.

‘Okay, well suit up and?—’

‘Fuck me, I’ll only be a minute,’ Roy blustered, pushing his way into the sterile room.

Bryant was learning more and more about Roy with every interaction the man had with both himself and other people.

He gave the pathologist a wry smile.

‘Who did you piss off to get this assignment?’ Wade asked.

‘Just my bad luck, I guess, but I suppose if the guy gets results…’

‘Wasn’t sure he did,’ Wade said. ‘I’m afraid to say that no one around here is sure why the man still has a job. It’s certainly not due to his charm and charisma.’

Bryant tuned out for a minute as his focus shifted to his peripheral vision and Roy’s movements in the morgue.

He had approached the body on the trolley and peeled back the sheet to reveal the head and neck. As Wade continued to talk, Roy leaned over the body as though inspecting it for something.

‘You know the saying about lying down with dogs,’ Wade said, pulling his attention back.

‘Hey, no choice, I’ve been assigned,’ Bryant explained as Moss re-entered the anteroom.

‘False alarm but it was worth a shot.’

Wade said nothing, waiting for an explanation.

‘There was a recent case up in Glasgow. Similar circumstances but with bruising to the back of the neck. Just wanted to see if our girl had anything similar.’

‘Trying to offload your case onto someone else, Moss?’ Wade asked.

‘You know me, pal – work smarter not harder.’

Wade allowed the repulsion to show on his face as Moss headed for the door.

Bryant would have liked longer to talk to the pathologist. He felt he could have learned a lot, although it would probably have been anecdotal.

From Wade’s demeanour, if he’d had anything concrete, he would have shared it before, and Bryant had to be careful of not blowing his cover.

Even to Wade, he needed to appear as the disillusioned, disaffected copper just treading water until retirement.

‘What’s the case in Glasgow?’ Bryant asked as they approached the car.

‘Ah, nothing you’d know about,’ Roy said, getting into the driver’s seat.

He rubbed his hands together as though they were cold.

‘Buckle up, buddy. Time for a little distraction. There’s a girl named Pippa I’d like you to meet, and I know you’re gonna love her just as much as I do.’

Bryant said nothing as he turned to stare out of the window. He needed to think hard on this.

How the hell was he going to get out of this one?