as shapely as a hastily rolled snowman.
She tied back her long dark hair with a covered elastic band and placed a mask around her neck in readiness. Once she had it on, it would hide lips that had almost forgotten how to smile widely, but her eyes would still be seen. Grace knew you could tell so much by looking in people’s eyes. Her own were brown and large, with long lashes that she accentuated with mascara and sculptured eyebrows. They were her best feature – when she was happy. For now, they were skittish, glancing around, trying to take everything in.
As Nick went off to speak to a uniformed officer, Grace took a deep breath, held her head high and walked forward. A white tent had been erected around the spot where the body lay. Forensic officers already in situ were suited and booted too.
‘Do you get a lot of acid attacks in Stoke?’ Grace asked Perry as they walked.
‘Not many at all. I think the last one was some time last year.’
‘And someone from the gym called this in, you say?’
Perry nodded his head in the direction of a man in his early twenties wearing a red tracksuit at the far end of the car park. He was giving details to a police constable, talking energetically and waving his hands.
‘Trent Gibson. He was the first on shift. The gym opens at seven and he found the body in the car park about ten minutes before.’ Perry pointed to a black BMW where another forensic officer was going over it. ‘That’s Parker’s car. Not sure why that wasn’t burnt out to hide evidence. Doesn’t make sense.’
‘Well, it all seems to have been done for show, rather than someone trying to cover it up.’ Grace turned back from checking out Gibson. ‘I know we can’t confirm the body until we have positive ID, but maybe our suspect thought it would prove who our victim was a little quicker?’
They reached the entrance to the tent and, after flicking the mask on, Grace stepped inside. She still put a hand to her mouth, trying to stop her instant gag reflex as her eyes fell on the seared face and hands of their victim. He was wearing gym wear, shorts and a short-sleeved T-shirt due to the weather being unseasonably warm. Splashes of accelerant had burnt holes in the material.
There were several people dotted around the crime scene. A forensic photographer was clicking away next to a man hunched over the body. His stooped position meant Grace couldn’t see his frame, but she guessed him to be tall, perhaps early forties. He pushed up his glasses and smiled at her.
‘Dave Barnett. Senior CSI, as I’m known as now since a nifty title change.’
‘Grace Allendale.’ She smiled back, even though he wouldn’t be able to see it behind her mask. ‘DS.’
‘Yes, I know. Big boots to fill, but nice to meet you.’
‘Do you have an approximate time of death yet?’ Grace stooped down, repulsed but fascinated by the body at the same time. Even in her line of work, it never failed to amaze her what one human being was capable of doing to another.
‘I’d say he died between ten p.m. and midnight last night. His face is a mess, but he has some quite distinctive tattoos on his biceps. He has recent dates and names of two people. Caleb and Mia.’ Dave pointed at the body.
Perry gagged behind his mask and Grace hid a smirk. She already liked Dave Barnett.
‘I’m not certain of cause of death yet, although it won’t be because of the obvious.’ Dave pointed to the body. ‘But with the single stab wound to the chest as well, it looks like someone wanted to make sure he was dead.’
Having left the CSIs to do their job, Grace removed her mask and suit outside the tent. As she did so, she spotted a man waving for their attention. A leather satchel large enough to hold files or a laptop hung over his shoulder.
‘Ah, come and meet Simon. Local press.’ Perry placed the last of his protective gear into an evidence bag. ‘What are you loitering round for?’ he asked once he and Grace drew level with him.
‘I wanted to know if you have anything for me?’ the man responded, running his hand through blond, short, choppy hair as he caught Grace’s eye. Close up, he reminded her of Callum Best, the celebrity. A cheeky-chappy sort who wouldn’t look out of place if he came out with rhyming cockney slang or did a jig around a chimney up on a roof. He was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt with a navy tie that matched the colour of his trousers.
Perry shook his head. ‘Nothing yet.’ He looked at Grace. ‘This is the legendary Simon Cole, senior crime reporter for the Stoke News.’
Simon laughed as he offered his hand to her and she shook it. ‘Pleased to meet you.’
‘Likewise.’
‘Can you confirm it’s Josh Parker?’ he asked, looking at them both in turn.
‘Where did you get that name from?’ Perry narrowed his eyes.
‘It’s the word on da street.’ Simon put on a voice and grinned. ‘Is it true? Can you tell me?’
Grace shook her head.
‘Can you confirm it’s murder then?’ Simon looked at her with pleading eyes.
‘We’re looking into all possibilities at the moment,’ Grace replied.
Perry smirked.
‘So you have nothing for me?’ Simon glanced at Perry.
‘No,’ Perry said. ‘You’ll be the first to know when we do, though.’
Simon sighed. ‘I suppose I’ll go and talk to the public while I wait.’
Grace could see he was reluctant to leave. She guessed his reporter’s nose was twitching, but his manner was warm, in contrast to that of a few of the journalists she’d dealt with over the years.
‘How’s everything going with Natalie?’ Perry asked Simon. ‘Things still bitter?’
‘She’s taking me for every penny.’ Simon rolled his eyes. ‘Which would be annoying if either of us had any decent money.’
‘He got shafted for a younger model,’ Perry explained to Grace.
‘You make me sound like a car,’ Simon protested.
‘She walked all over him,’ Perry added.
‘I know, I know.’ Simon nodded. ‘I can’t help being so nice.’
Grace saw how blue his eyes were as they crinkled up. Sincere too, which she didn’t see very often.
‘I’d best be off to do my job.’ Simon pointed to the residents across the street.
Grace noticed him blushing and gave him a shy smile. She turned to Perry once he’d gone. ‘So, tattoos and the car make me feel confident Josh Parker is our victim, but we won’t be allowed to release this information until we have a confirmed ID. Nick has gone to inform his wife, even though she can’t see the body yet. For now, let’s look at the CCTV footage and …’ Grace stopped talking when she saw he wasn’t listening. His eyes were trained over her shoulder.
A
