The Reborn (37 page)

‘The young woman in question has definitely not given birth recently.’

‘How old is the baby?’

‘About a week. We’re running some tests, but she appears in good health and has been well looked after.’

‘I need a blood sample for DNA purposes.’

‘No problem.’

Until the baby’s DNA was checked against the umbilical cord, they couldn’t say for certain – but Bill was sure it was Kira’s child.

Magnus had gone home, professing himself keen to go through the diary again. Maybe there was more to be gleaned from the pages of rambling script. Bill was just grateful for what the professor had already found.

Magnus had been of the opinion that Geri was unlikely to have carried out the foetal theft alone, and Bill agreed. Eventually Geri might reveal how she got the baby, but judging by her current state of mind, it wouldn’t be soon.

Bill left a team of SOCOs working the house and headed for his car. He called Rhona before he left.

‘It’s Kira’s child?’ She sounded astonished and delighted.

‘I’m hoping you’ll be the one to prove that. The hospital’s sending you a blood sample.’

‘How did you find her?’

‘Magnus found a repeated reference in Coulter’s diary. It said, “I can get her another”. He thought Coulter was referring to getting Geri a baby. Not making one for her. I decided it was worth checking his theory out.’

‘Thank God you did.’

‘I know,’ he said. ‘The post-mortem on David Murdoch is at one o’clock. Can you make it?’

‘I’ll be there.’

49

When Bill arrived at the station, word was already out that they had found a baby believed to be Kira’s, and that Professor Pirie had somehow been involved.

The team were ready and waiting to hang on Bill’s every word. He took time surveying the assembled group before he spoke. DC Murphy looked like he hadn’t slept for a month, and he wasn’t the only one. The grind of a large investigation got to everyone in time. A week ago he’d cancelled all leave until they found the infant, and no one had complained. Well, their commitment and determination were about to be rewarded.

‘The hospital has confirmed that Geri Taylor did not give birth recently. They also confirmed that the baby found in her possession is a week-old girl, who she calls Daisy, and who is thriving and healthy.’ Bill paused. ‘Forensic will shortly confirm if the baby is Kira’s, but we are fairly sure of a positive match.’

A cheer went up and Bill grinned. It was the first piece of good news they’d had in some time, and he allowed them their moment of joy.

‘Professor Pirie and I believe that Jeff Coulter orchestrated the theft of the baby in order to give it to Geri Taylor, to somehow “replace” the child he killed. However, we still don’t know how this was achieved. Even if Geri Taylor was present at the funfair that night, it’s more than likely she had help, if only in locating Kira.’ He paused. ‘David Murdoch’s apparent suicide puts him in the frame for both murders, but as yet we have no direct link between him and Coulter. We have been unable to question Geri, who is too distraught at the loss of a baby she thinks is hers.’

Bill allowed time for all that to sink in before continuing.

‘Meanwhile, we concentrate on David Murdoch. The post-mortem should tell us if he did inflict the knife wound himself. The knife is similar, perhaps identical, to the one used on Kira, traces from whose handle were found on Melanie Jones. If David is innocent of both murders, then he is also a victim. I don’t have to remind you that Dr Delaney and Ronald Reese-Brandon are still in the frame.’

His brief concluded, Bill asked for anything they’d turned up in the interim. Roy Hunter spoke first.

‘The text to Delaney was sent from a pay-as-you-go mobile. Reese-Brandon’s text came from the same number. Both Brandon and Delaney admitted in interview with the DI that despite her expensive handset Kira sometimes used pay-as-you-go mobiles for private calls. We haven’t linked the number directly with Kira, but both texts originated in the vicinity of the funfair. They were sent within minutes of each other, around ten fifty-two.’

Bill said, ‘From what we’ve learned of Kira, she may well have liked the idea of orchestrating a meeting between the two. Alternatively, her attacker could have been drawing them to the funfair in the hope of implicating them in her murder. Perhaps the perpetrator was aware of the relationship between Kira and Delaney, and summoned her father in order to expose this. The only person we know so far that Kira confided in fully was David Murdoch.’

Bill headed for the post-mortem the moment the strategy meeting was over, cursing the city centre traffic. It wasn’t yet rush hour, but it was heavy enough to make him late.

He gowned up quickly and went in to join the rest of the party. Dr Sissons was performing the post-mortem, with Sylvia acting as corroborator. A SOCO was already video-recording the proceedings and a youngish male Fiscal, whom Bill didn’t know that well, was on the scene too. His colour above the mask suggested this might be his first attendance at a post-mortem.

Bill met Rhona’s eyes and acknowledged her hidden smile of congratulation. He realised he hadn’t told her about his brief conversation with Sutherland, and made a note to try and mention it after they’d finished here. When they’d solved this case, he would have more time to spend finding out what SOCA was doing about McNab.

Dr Sissons had not yet removed the knife but David’s hands were no longer wrapped around its handle, which was rough and grey and eight inches in length. The angle of entry was photographed and measured. Before Sissons withdrew the blade, Rhona indicated she wanted to speak.

‘When I attended the scene, the victim’s hands were round the knife handle, although not engaged with it. I subsequently discovered partial prints, which weren’t David’s, on the surface beneath. I have also checked since then and found that David Murdoch was right-handed. The manner in which his hands were set on the knife suggested he was left-handed.’

After the post-mortem, Bill stripped off his suit and stuffed it in the basket provided.

‘So he didn’t kill himself?’ he said.

‘It’s unlikely,’ replied Rhona.

‘What about the partials?’

‘I’ll run them through the database, but there may not be enough for a match. What about the handwriting on the note?’

‘I’ve sent it to your forensic graphology colleagues with a copy of David’s school work for comparison.’

‘The note was in capitals.’

‘That does make it tricky,’ he admitted.

‘If David Murdoch didn’t commit suicide, then he didn’t kill those two girls either,’ said Rhona decisively. ‘Magnus is right; Coulter is the one in the driving seat. He’s controlling someone, someone who knew that Kira was afraid of clowns and who hated her enough to steal her baby.’

They left the mortuary. As the door swung shut behind them, Bill said, ‘I spoke to Sutherland about—’

Rhona cut him short.

‘It’s over, Bill. I’d rather forget about it.’

He watched her walk away, head held high, the sound of her heels sharp in the frosty air. He’d known Dr Rhona MacLeod for a long time. And he knew when she was lying. Rhona had no intention of giving up on Kalinin, but he suspected she wanted him to.

He called DS Clark. ‘I’m on my way.’

‘OK, Sir. I have some news – a backpack has been found in the River Kelvin by two young boys. It had a clown suit inside.’

‘I’ll be there in twenty minutes, wait outside for me.’

‘Where are we going?’ she asked.

‘I’ll tell you when I see you.’

50

The school was so quiet that it was difficult to believe seven hundred girls were inside. Every other school he’d visited had seemed a hive of noisy activity, kids in corridors and crossing the playgrounds, the frantic sounds of a gym lesson in action. At Morvern, quiet study was the status quo. No one was allowed to enter a classroom once a lesson was in progress, as the learning process must never be disturbed. Only the sound of the bell brought activity of sorts: quiet, well-behaved girls moving from class to class.

Bill and DS Clark arrived around three thirty. Morvern’s classes ended at four, but various after-school clubs kept many pupils in the building or the nearby playing fields until five thirty. A babysitting service for the wealthy.

Standing in the hushed school, he thought of how Margaret always complained that her afternoon lessons were hell, as the E numbers kicked in from lunch. Some of the children consumed nothing but fizzy drinks and fast food at midday, bought at the nearby shops.

No one here left the premises during the school day. The girls ate healthy lunches in the dining hall, which did not even offer fizzy drinks. You wouldn’t find a Coke machine in the corridors here, whatever profit it might make for school funds.

When the Principal arrived to collect them from reception, they were enjoying freshly brewed coffee and chocolate biscuits. DS Clark was experiencing the same first reaction to Morvern he remembered: stunned amazement that this could be a school. Obviously she had not been privately educated.

Diane Porter was dressed as before, chic but casual. He caught her scent, pleasant and unobtrusive. She smiled warmly, although he knew she couldn’t be pleased to see him.

‘Detective Inspector Wilson. I apologise for keeping you waiting. Prospective parents,’ she said. ‘I’ve sent them off round the school with two of my sixth formers.’

‘I’m sure they’ll be impressed,’ he said. His words were genuine and he was pleased to see her acknowledge them with another smile.

‘This is Detective Sergeant Clark.’

Ms Porter offered her hand and Janice shook it, almost reverently. She seemed as impressed by the Principal as she had been by the school.

‘Shall we go into my study?’

They followed her through the marble entrance hall. As before, the brass plaque on her door was polished to a gleaming brightness. Joan greeted him and asked if they wanted more coffee, or perhaps tea. Bill declined.

The scent of hyacinths still pervaded the room, along with a healthy dose of polish.

Ms Porter offered them a seat. When they were settled, she said, ‘How can I help you?’

‘Dr Delaney has made a statement regarding his relationship with Kira Reese-Brandon,’ said Bill.

His use of the word ‘relationship’ had clearly caused Ms Porter some consternation, but she made no comment, just waited for him to continue.

‘Dr Delaney has in fact confessed to having a sexual relationship with Kira. He also believes he may have been the father of the child she was carrying.’

Her jaw tightened and a spot of colour appeared high on each cheekbone. She knew what that might mean for her as Principal of Morvern, and for the reputation of the school, but she rallied, and he admired her for it.

‘I’m very sorry to hear that,’ she said evenly.

Bill was sorry to have to make things even more unpleasant for her.

‘Dr Delaney has also confessed to being at the funfair the night Kira died.’

She gasped, her eyes wide and her composure gone. This new revelation had truly shocked her; the scandal of a pupil–teacher relationship was small fry compared with the accusation that a Morvern teacher had murdered his star pupil.

‘You believe Dr Delaney harmed Kira?’ she said in disbelief.

Bill fed her a crumb of comfort. ‘We haven’t charged anyone yet.’

‘I assume you’re here because you wish to speak to Dr Delaney? Shall I ask him to come to my study?’

‘That won’t be necessary.’ He paused. ‘I’d actually like to speak to Alexandra Stewart-Smith.’

‘Sandie?’ Her voice rose in apprehension. ‘What has this to do with Sandie?’

Bill chose not to answer. ‘Can you ask her to come here please?’

Ms Porter took a deep breath and smoothed her skirt, her hands trembling slightly. ‘Of course, I’ll have her fetched from class.’

‘While you do that, may I check her data file again?’

‘I’ll get Joan to bring it up on-screen for you.’

Bill indicated to a puzzled DS Clark that she should wait in the study while he took a look at the school records. The secretary beckoned him to a seat at the rear of her office, where she retrieved Sandie’s record and displayed it on the monitor.

The last time he’d been here, he’d read the details of all the Daisy Chain girls, but hadn’t looked at Sandie’s as she didn’t seem really to be part of the group she longed to join. He’d accepted her story that she was planning to study Medicine at Edinburgh and was worried about passing her exams.

It seemed she was right to be. Based on her current performance, Sandie appeared to have little chance of achieving her goal. Bill was aware, through Lisa, that the exam results required to study Medicine at Edinburgh were high: five As at Higher Level, including all three sciences. Sandie had been nowhere near that by the end of her fifth year at Morvern, although she had gained an A in Biology. Chemistry seemed to be the stumbling block. Her record showed she’d been given extra time in the lab to try and remedy that, and another note on her file made it plain that Sandie was unlikely to gain entry to her chosen university course. Her parents had been loath to accept the school’s recommendation that she consider an alternative career.

Bill scanned the remainder of the information, discovering that both parents were doctors and that Sandie was an only child. Extracurricular activities were few – it seemed Sandie was not an all-rounder like the girls in the Daisy Chain gang. Amateur dramatics seemed to be her main interest. He made a few notes in his notebook and closed the file.

‘That’s Sandie ready for you now,’ Joan told him.

He thanked her and made his way back through to the Principal’s room. Sandie stood waiting, Ms Porter by her side.

‘Sandie has asked me to stay with her this time, if that’s all right?’