Exit Wounds Read Free Page A

when he was appointed to the Cardiff M.I.T. Branch, it was one exception that he was willing to excuse.
    “Local authorities were called to the scene when she was discovered by an elderly gentleman walking his dog around five o’clock.”
    Craig leant in quietly, “Why is it always old men with their dogs?”
    Tony gave a polite smile. He knew Craig’s humour was dealt out of uneasiness not malice, but he needed to concentrate.
    “The coroner’s carrying out more precise examinations as we speak, but clearly from these images, there can be little doubt that this is the nineteenth victim”, Colgan studied everyone’s face carefully before he continued. “There is indication that she was raped and her wrists were slashed, as with the other victims, until she was bled dry. The heart was also torn out.” Colgan knew this speech off by his own heart now. He wished he had never said it once, let alone twice. Yet here he was saying it for the nineteenth time. “Again, as with the other victims, her eyes were, stolen.”
    Colgan hit the enter button on his laptop, one last time, and signalled for Craig to turn the lights around the table back on. “Questions?”
    “Are we any closer to identifying the tool used to extract the heart and eyes from the bodies?” Tony asked straight away.
    Colgan shook his head, “Again as with the other victims, the heart had been taken out with precision, there were no pieces left, but we’re still no closer to identifying what the killer uses. The eyes again have been torn out. It’s unclear if the killer uses any tool at all for removing them. As I said, the complete autopsy on the latest victim is still being carried out, but I think it’s safe to say we shouldn’t expect much.”
    Tony scribbled down his own notes, already his mouth opening for another question, “Is there any connection between Green and any of the other victims?”
    Colgan nodded, as if he had anticipated Tony question. “Again, as with the others, it appears completely unrelated besides the obvious: the victim being young, female and the nature of the murder itself. I want you and Craig, to run a full background check. Start stacking up her life right away. If Lucy and any of the other victims ever bought matches at the same corner shop once, I want to know about it.”
    Colgan turned to another officer sat at the table. A young woman, with blonde hair tied back in a pony tail. She wore a white blouse and a black skirt. She looked up from her own laptop and met Colgan’s glance with her wide, green eyes.
    “Michelle, I want you to run a bag and tag at her home, local uniform is already there with the family.”
    Michelle nodded quickly, “Understood.”
    Colgan addressed the mass once more. “I want the rest of you to keep doing what you’re doing, only do it better. Harder. Press down on any leads we have and tie up those loose ends. I’ll have the full forensic report to you all within the next hour.”
    The group disbanded. Amid the others, Tony and Craig were starting towards their desks and the task at hand, when Colgan called. “Tony, can I have a word?”
    Craig and Tony exchanged a glance. Craig reluctantly continued to his workstation. Tony knew Craig didn’t like it being just Tony that the boss wanted to see. He felt left out and whilst he had no real ambition, it didn’t exactly make him happy being kept out of the loop.
    It’s something he’ll just have to accept , Tony thought to himself. He was his superior, and Craig had gotten as far as he was going to get.
    Tony joined Colgan’s side as he packed away the wires from his laptop. Craig had commented once that there was more than just a passing resemblance between the two of them. Minus the twenty-six years of hard work, stress and experience. Both had the same yellow hair, height and even shared the same tailor. The last point, Tony had neglected to tell Craig, was not by accident. “Sir?”
    Colgan didn’t even bother looking